SpiritualSpeaking: Ex-Smokers How did you cease smoking? Was it cold turkey or cutting back?

I do think it's different for different people. I wasn't a very major addict, in that I didn't smoke a huge amount - maybe ten roll-ups a day. But I just couldn't manage cold turkey. I did a year of having one cigarette a day, the last one before bed, which had always been my favourite. Giving up after that was easy, particularly as I'd spent the time recognising that I smoked because I believed I look cool when I smoked, and I kept observing all these people who didn't look remotely cool (we're not all Lauren Bacall :-) unfortunately/fortunately), who smelled horrible and were such obvious addicts in their desperation to make sure they had enough to last until they could get more, refusing to go to things that would mean not smoking for two hours etc.

And friends of mine, much greater addicts than me, did it purely on cold turkey. We've all been smoke-free for 15 years or more now.

I quit cold turkey. Then it came back and I only smoked at the parties or when really stressed or just wanted to take as you say the edge off. So it was like 1-3 sigs a week. Then at some point, at yet another party I smoked while drunk, it got me sick. So as a result I couldn't touch the stuff any more for a while. Then I just didn't resume. And now I don't want to, ever.

The constant bouts with bronchitis, plus the knowledge that both mother and grandmother died from lung cancer led me to go cold turkey a couple of times til it stuck. Cutting back was a joke that I played on myself for a long time; it never worked. I've been smoke-free for 7 years now, and don't get chest colds or have the sinus problems like I used to. There are times when I think I want a cig so bad, and gave in once last year, but it goes away fast.

I planned it months in advance. I told everyone I knew that as of XXX date (I don't remember the date anymore), that I was quitting smoking. I thought about it a lot, and when the day came, I just threw them in the trash and said I don't smoke anymore.

I've smoked about 5 cigarettes over the years since I quit (10 years or so ago). I think that's pretty decent, considering I was someone who smoked for well over 10 years prior to quitting.

I will say, I could always go for one--like at a party, I'll think, ooh, yeah, a cigarette right now would be good, or on a long car trip. The cravings never totally go away.

Good luck!

I quit cold turkey. I also quit a meth addiction at the same time, cold turkey. It wasn't really that hard, I just stopped buying cigarettes and stopped being around people who were smoking near me. The most difficult time I had was adjusting to the habit of not wanting a cig at the computer or after a long drive in the car. At those times, I redirected my thoughts and pretty much eliminated the desire.

Cold Turkey after many failed attemps, in October I will be 3years without a cig yipeee!. What I did was always keep a pack of ciggs so that they were there if I needed them. When I had a craving I would wait ten minutes to see if the craving would pass or if it eased off and if it did I wouldn't have one. I never smoked another cigg using this method because after 10 min it always passed :)

cold turkey the first and second time. Cutting back never worked!!! you never quit though, its always a challange, and people do start back up and quit again and again. You are never ever a non smoker, but you can do it!

and whoever said there are no withdrawl symptoms that isn't true. It depends on the person. Sure there are people who don't have any, but I get them bad.. Its the same as how some people are allergic to things and what not.. and how some people become alcoholics. I know plenty of people who can go from smoking a pack a day, to not smoking and back with no problems, so I believe the person who said they didn't have withdrawl symptoms, but it just isn't true in all cases!!!

Cold turkey. But I kept my cigarettes on my bureau for about 3 months, because I couldn't figure out what to do with my hands, so I would hold and puff on a cigarette without lighting it for a couple of weeks, then after about 3 months I threw them away. That was the hardest part for me what to do with my hands. I substituted water when I wanted a cigarette, so that was healthy. I stopped 7/1/1988.

Cold Turkey! And it was when i really really didn't want to smoke any more.

Breaking the habit is the hardest part, find something to do with your hands and I also craved a lot of sugary snacks so stock up on things like strawberries which are sweet but wont make you put on loads of weight

I did smoking and drinking both cold turkey. But I had become a family man and it was a choice between being a good dad or being a kid. So I had good motivation.