Can anyone give me some advice on quitting smoking?
I was a heavy smoker of 20 years and quit by using the patch. I think the key, is you have to absolutely, without a doubt, be sick of smoking and want to stop. You can’t just be in “Gee, this is SO unhealthy, I really need to stop” mode. You need to be disgusted by your own habit, disgusted at the looks you get from non-smokers, disgusted at the amount of money you burn away, disgusted at the smell and everything else associated with it. It’s odd that most people would shudder at the thought of holding a loaded gun to their head- but will happily kill themselves slowly one cigarette at a time. When you’re ready – get the patch, throw everything away including lighters, matches and ashtrays (do not allow your brain to say “Well, I might need these in case smoking friends come over” – because smoking in your home is no longer allowed, period.) … stay away from things you know will intentionally trigger you for awhile (like drinking in a bar with all your smoking buddies) … and reward
