Down to three a day

brokensoul

from 20/25.

Cant seem to kick the last three though. First thing in the morning, one during work and one on the way home from work. Everyone thinks im off them so i hate sneaking those three but i cant visualise not having them.

Would it be worth getting hypnotherapy? Can anyone recommend someone good in Cork?

Dublin_Gunner

Well the first thing to remember is this - you've come from 20/25 to 3 per day, that is a great achievement, by anybody's standards.

You should be giving yourself a pat on the back.

To help with the last three, why not try to take up some form of sport if you can, even jogging etc you'll quickly find that how great you feel from the activity will overwhelm the need for the cigarettes (at least that would be the idea, as the smokes would be hampering your ability to perform the exercise)

Maybe try to not have the one during work?

Then after a while of that, try not having one of either of the other ones (I know myself, the morning one is a difficult one!)

IMO as you're right down to 3 now, hypnotherapy may be a waste of money.

Remember you're doing well, and if you can go this far, you can certainly go all the way.

Good for you.

CraggyIslander

Well done for getting it down to three

I gave them up few years ago and went from 30-40/day (depending on going out, etc) to 4/5 a day without bother..... the last ones were painful tho.

The way I did it was that I said to myself: "this packs of cigarettes is the last pack I will ever buy" and stuck by it. Within days I was down to 2 as wanted to make the pack last, then a week where I'd only have one.... at night time while chilling and congratulating myself for going from 8am -11pm without a smoke.

When the pack finally ran out I was off them. Come to think of it.... a week from today it will have been 5 years!! I remember the day as it co-incidentally also is my mothers birthday

ruffles

As good idea as it may seem top cut down (and fair play) it really is not the best way to give up smoking. What happens is the 3/4 you now smoke now become very precious to you and you start looking forward to them big time. This makes quitting completely very difficult as you now treasure these last few daily cigs much more than the 20/25 a day you were originally on as you actually smoked a lot of those subconsciously.

I highly recommend the Allen Carr clinic, i went there 2 weeks ago smoking 20 a day and smoked a dozen before going in as did everyone else there, we really didnt want to give up but i walked out a non smoker barely able to look at someone smoking . The therapist there makes you make 3 smoking breaks throughout the 6 hour session and by the last one it tastes rotten and you can't believe you ever smoked so many for so many years. it was dead easy and hardly any cavings at first and none at all now. It just works. look up easway.ie for venues. But if you dont do that then you just have to go cold turkey coz as admirable as it may seem to cut down to so little it really is exaserbating your addiction and still damaging your health. Good luck.

lyralyra

Hi Broken Soul,

This is my first post - bit nervous.

I quit at the beginning of June and for a couple of months before that I'd tried to cut down to five a day. I found it really difficult and it turned out that just stopping altogether was a lot easier for me than cutting down. It was almost a relief not having to think about smoking at all instead of obsessing over when I could have the next one of of my allowance. Like Ruffles says, those few cigarettes do become incredibly important - but in my case letting go was easier than hanging on.

Was on at least 20 a day for 16 years - here's hoping I stay off them! I think I will.

brokensoul

Still on 2 a day. Going away with my oh at the weekend though so IM building up to quitting on Friday.

I can understand the idea that if you cut down the remaining cigs become more important but iv been really concentrating on those cigs and how i actually dont enjoy them, they make me feel quesy etc.

Kinda looking forward to the weekend now to be honest. I remember from my drinking days that trying to control drinking was horrible. Tis actually easier ( for me anyway) to accept that i can never drink again than to be schemeing as to where and when i can have the next drink.

comerla

I have been on 1- 5 a week for the past 7 months, down from 20 a day.

I have given them up completely until I get drunk- I frequently would have 1 or two if I have more than 6 pints;).

Anyway this happened again on Thursday night so I got up and made an appointment to see hypnotherapist in Cork.

It cost €300 (which the wife wasnt too happy about!) but I would do anything to stamp them out at this stage. I haven't smoked since but then again I haven't been drinking. The guy recorded the session and I have to listen to this 30 times. Time will tell if this works.
he reckons it should cos the alan carr method worked on me before so this means I'm suggestible.

That_Guy

I'm doing my best to come off them. I've only had four today and I would usually smoke about 15 to 16 a day.

As long as I've got something to do in between then I'm generally fine.

My longest gap between cigarettes today was about 4 hours and it flew by because I was just watching South Park on my laptop etc.

The big test though will be when I'm going out drinking.

froosh69

cutting down to a couple a day will just prolong the agony. the best thing to do is stop altogether...if you can stay completely off for a few days, you're grand!

if you're feeding yourself smaller doses of nicotine than you usually would, you are in a constant state of nicotine withdrawal! cold turkey is really the best way for it! at least try it before splashing out on a hypnotist.

mrtaylor1981

brokensoul wrote: »

from 20/25.

Cant seem to kick the last three though. First thing in the morning, one during work and one on the way home from work. Everyone thinks im off them so i hate sneaking those three but i cant visualise not having them.

Would it be worth getting hypnotherapy? Can anyone recommend someone good in Cork?

Well all i can say, I tried hypnotherapy and it was a waste of money for me.

Aryelle

brokensoul wrote: »

from 20/25.

Cant seem to kick the last three though. First thing in the morning, one during work and one on the way home from work. Everyone thinks im off them so i hate sneaking those three but i cant visualise not having them.

Would it be worth getting hypnotherapy? Can anyone recommend someone good in Cork?

Hi
Sorry if this has come in a bit after your first posting, but I'm a newbie and just came across your question on getting hypnotherapy in Cork.
You might want to try Carrigaline Hypnotherapy - Susan Wagner. She does hypnotherapy for quit smoking
Best of luck
Aryelle