Smoking

tinkerbell

Okay, I'll prolly get slated for this but!

It's my brother. He's been smokin since he was 13 / 14. He's now 17. And I HATE it. People will prolly say that it ain't any of my business but he is my younger brother and only brother so it is my business.

He won't give up, actually I think he tried before, and kept coughing up this black stuff or something?! What was that, the tar? So he went back on them. I asked him the other day why wouldn't he jus cop the **** on and give up (because we have lost my granda and aunt from cancer in the last while) and he said he could give up anytime he could, and I was like yeah right, prove it, and he said fine so! And then Saturday night I caught him buying a packet again.

I know it's his choice and all that, but I jus hate seeing him do that to his health, it really maddens me, after seeing both my granda and aunt suffer like that, and he's jus leadin himself into that, coz we all know that the risks of getting cancer are increased by smoking.

Anyway, is there anyway I can advise him on it (even though there probably isn't). My folks don't know, obviously, but they were suspicious for a while, and went ballistic.

I'm not trying to control my brother's life, I'm only a concerned sister, I don't want him doin unnecessary damage to himself, I only want to advise him on quitting it, because I know he's totally addicted now.

Lafortezza

I don't think there's much chance of you convincing him to give them up unless he actually wants to give them up himself.
Even if he says he'll make an attempt, if his heart isn't in it, then it won't happen.

All you can do is say that you'll help him if he decides to try properly, maybe get him some info on it, but don't try to force anti-smoking health stuff down his neck or he'll just resent it.

seamus

Originally posted by tinkerbell
Anyway, is there anyway I can advise him on it (even though there probably isn't).

No. Don't bother. He's addicted. Nothing you can do about it. Tell your parents if you want, but it probably won't serve any purpose but to cause tension.

Smoking is like most other addictions. The person will only stop when they want to. 99% of the time, addicts can't be convinced to stop. It's not worth wasting your breath.

tinkerbell

Yeah, I partly guessed that there was no chance unless he wanted to give up himself.

But thanks for the replies guys, actually it was worth me even posting this topic coz this thing has been tormenting me for the last few years, so it was good to finally get it off my chest.

deimos

I am just 18 and smoke. I have been listening to parents since I was 16 about it, but I was smokin since I was 14. Only 2 years of it, but hell was I addicted and still am now (even more).
People say its only a habit/addiction, I do sometimes think that people fail to make the necessary association with these words, its harder than people who have never smoked before think. Its horrible, it feel like you lost a limb or something. I am not much older or wiser, but as seamus said its probaly a waste or time, well I think it is.

Selik

Buy Allen Carr's Easy Way to stop smoking, then give it to him to read, seriously. I'm just over halfway through the book at the moment and my desire to smoke is fading rapidly...
When I've finished the book I WILL stop smoking, of that I have no doubts whatsoever. Funny thing is you're actually supposed to keep smoking while reading the book but I think I might have smoked my last one before I even get to the last line! It really works - and if it works for me it would work for most people. I'm twenty-two and I've been smoking on average about 15-20 a day since I was fifteen...

But don't take my word for it, just get him the book and watch him stop! If he reads the book in it's entirety and still doesn't stop he's not only in an extremely tiny minority, but also stark raving mad!

tinkerbell

wow, that book must be good so! What kinda stuff is in it that is turning you off the cigs??

Beëlzebooze

here is a recent thread on the subject, might be of interest.

Jokah

What the Alan Carr book does is, it points out the obvious and help your realise that smoking is a pointless thing.

I started smoking when I was 12 and was on and off them until I was 17. Hit college and was a fulltime smoker. 20 a day. or more. In the States I smoked tons cos I was outdoors the whole time....

Over the years I have begun to regret ever starting, as smoking really is a pointless thing. Granted I loved a smoke with my coffee....loved a smoke after dinner, with pints....get off the bus and have a smoke on the way to college.....etc etc...

I use to smoke rollies to cut back cos it was a pain to make em......then of course I got good at rolling and so it was back to square one.

I have been off them now two months - I woke up one morning after a heavy night out and felt like sh!t. I had been smoking tons and dammit I was in a bad bad way...

I also play sport at a pretty high level and as I got older I realised that it was affecting my performance in a big way...people who say smoking doesn't affect fitness are talking through their arse!s....

"Smoking is like most other addictions. The person will only stop when they want to."

Seamus is very right. It comes down to the person. Some of my mates who are very anti smoking kept saying "your stupid" etc... But they have no idea how strong this addiction is...no idea...

It comes down to pure will power and cold turkey. Nicotine Gum - Whats the point in putting nicotine back in your system when that is the main cause of your addiction????? Same with patches.....

Nicotine is the addiction so cold turkey is the best option..

Since being off them I feel fitter...sleep so much better and eat properly...my clothes don't smell like sh!t anymore...

You could pester your brother the whole time about it just to annoy him, but like the others have said, only he can stop at the end of the day....

If you really want to scare him...take him to a cancer ward..that will scare the bejaysus out of him.....

Dr. Loon

Originally posted by Giles
Buy Allen Carr's Easy Way to stop smoking,

I finished this book two days ago. I smoked my last cigarette when he suggested in the book, and I've felt amazing since then. Cravings pass swiftly, but when they do come I really don't want a smoke. I'd recommend this book to anyone. Read it and take it all in, follow the instructions and you'll stop. Believe me, I didn't think it would work.... I loved my smokes so much. I was the last person I saw quitting by reading a book, but it seems to have worked.

One thing I will say, is you have to be ready and want to give up.

I don't feel like I'm going through "cold turkey". I just feel fine. I have no desire to smoke really. It's not cold turkey, cos I don't want to smoke. I'd recommend it to anyone.

Lucutus

I read it also.

I stopped when the book suggested too

"I stopped smoking and I feel great!",
"I can defeat the 'little monster'!",
"I am free! Rejoice!".

Not an 'enjoyable' read at all, I found his writing style to be repetitive and tedious, however, Allen Carr is simply brainwashing us with the common sense we already had as smokers, but never wanted to admit to ourselves, because we are filthy dirty nicotine junkies.

I'm finding it quite difficult a week in, not that I'm going to smoke or anything, just that I feel angry at myself for not allowing myself to, ok, maybe it's hard to explain on a bulletin board, but if you are a smoker who beleives that 'smoking gives substance to air' ....sweet, sweet satisfying substance....mmmmmmmm then you will understand all about the need and addiction.... cool, refreshing virginia tobacca....mmmmmmm

brb *gone to shop*





















just kiddin', I'm only fuckin with yas... you guys are al-right.

DivX

Originally posted by Dr. Loon
I finished this book two days ago. I smoked my last cigarette when he suggested in the book, and I've felt amazing since then.

Same here, i used to smoke between 20-30 most days, was out doing the xmas shopping at the start of december and saw the book on the shelves of a bookshop, picked up a copy and took it home.

Wasn't going to attempt a quit before xmas, but still picked up the book that night
and started reading, kept smoking till about half way through the book.

At that stage my desire to smoke was gone.(of course finished the book that night)

Little or no withdrawl symptoms, must say the accompaning cd's (in the latest version) were a great help.

As Dr.Loon said you have to have a desire to give up smoking, even if you're afraid that you might still fail.

I'd recommend the book to any smoker.

Lucutus

"Yippee, I'm a non-smoker."

Lucutus

Found an interesting article about the EASYWAY: Gordon MacKay - Allen Carr Article.

Victor

Drag him along to a GP and get patches or something recommended?

That or get your best looking female friend to comment within his earshot that "he's cute, but stinks of cigarette smoke". Remember he's 17.

Jokah

"That or get your best looking female friend to comment within his earshot that "he's cute, but stinks of cigarette smoke". Remember he's 17."

Now that is a great reply.....:D

moridin

Originally posted by Lucutus
Found an interesting article about the EASYWAY: Gordon MacKay - Allen Carr Article.

Ugh, trying to read that is like stabbing your eyes with knives. Can someone explain the concept of paragraphs to this person? :mad:

tinkerbell

Originally posted by Victor
Drag him along to a GP and get patches or something recommended?

That or get your best looking female friend to comment within his earshot that "he's cute, but stinks of cigarette smoke". Remember he's 17.

omg! that's perfect!!

cruel, but it might jus work

Lucutus

You'd think that, wouldn't you?

Let us all know how you get on with that

mooman_00

Agreeing with what has been said here, your heart has to be in it. I'm 20 going on 21 and ive been smoking since 13. I smoke 10 a day roughly and have done for a number of years,but that goes up to about 40+ on a night out. Ive gotten to the stage where im sick of paying for cigarettes and have become concious about the ill-health aspects but know that im still not ready to give up.I love it too much and have never sucessfully even started to quit, what im wondering is is there any hope/help for someone like me.Will the alan carr book serve any purpose if your heart isn't in it, or would it be a srious waste of time.

Dr. Loon

No I don't think it would help. Why don't you snap out of it and realise that you don't like inhaling toxic gases into your lungs?? If you can't then just wait until you get a scared enough and that will probably give you the drive.

I'm not preaching to you BTW. I also believe(d) that I loved it. I'm still unsure.... but with some deep thought I realised that I had to give up. 20 a day at 6 euro a pack?! :eek: No way. I can't go on paying that.

I suppose you could give the book a try.... it's supposed to remove the pyschological problem, as that's the main thing, not the physical nicotine craving. So it should remove the thought from your head that you love smoking, that you won't function properly without them etc...etc.... give it a shot. Nothin to lose.

LFCFan

Hypnosis is amazing for getting people to quit. My dad is a hypnotherapist and has gotten loads of people off the fags with one session. The power of the mind is amazing when it's used in the right way. 1 session is usually enough for most people and compared to the cost of cigerettes is well worth it.

Lucutus

On a related note,

I've saved €50 since I stopped smoking last week, €50!!!

€200 a month I will save!

Yep, I'm done with paying through the nose to poison myself.

Luc

LegacyUser

might sound a bit stupid but i gave up smoking an New Years Day for a bet. I was a light smoker (7-8 a day) but for the sake of winning the bet i'm going to stay off them till easter sunday. The stupid thing about it is tahat the bet is only for a pint.Its just for the sake of winning it that im doing it. 9 days gone about 100 to go!!!!

DivX

Decided to calculate how much i saved since i stopped smoking on the 22 dec '03.

Just over 20/day (and more during the weekend).

€86 to date! (cost of Allen Carr'sbook around €12) so a net saving of €74.

Costed me €210 a month or €2,520 a year! it's like a little salary increase, could go on a few extra holidays with whats saved.

IMO the nicotine therapies are only prolonging the agony, cold turkey is too hard even with the best intensions in the world, while the book or hypnosis seems to work for most ppl if done correctly.

Notice a difference in health already, more energy, hearth doesn't go into hyper-drive when i have any extra bit of exercise.... and a few euro extra in the pocket at the end of the week....