Things or places to avoid when trying to quit.

Archeron · 10-01-2008 2:21pm #1

I thought it might be helpful for anyone trying to quit for us all to share our experiences of what we needed to avoid in order to help us quit. Smoking obviously is the main thing to avoid :rolleyes: , but I found that it helped a lot to avoid other things too.

In my own experience, the things I ended up avoiding were:

Ashtrays at home. If anyone else smokes at home, it makes it hard. What I used to do (and this is vile) was when I really wanted a smoke, but had none to hand, I would peer into ashtrays as I walked past in the hope that someone left a smoke there. Often they did, and I'd be puffing away again within seconds, so I got rid of every ashtray in the house. I hate to admit, but I once or twice smoked the remainders of butts from my brothers cigs while convincing myself that it wasnt cheating, because I didnt buy any. Ewwwwww.

Things that remind you of smoking at home. Lighters, ashtrays, cigarette papers, rolling machines, anything basically that reminded you that you used to smoke.

The office smokers. One thing I loved about smoking was the social aspect, and in work that was even more important. I ended up going for a drive or a walk at lunch time instead of socializing with my smoking friends, as with them all puffing away around me, it was very hard to resist.

Landmarks that remind you of smoking. I used to smoke like a trooper while driving, and used to have specific lighting up places on my regular routes. For example, I used to drive to work on the N3 by Blanchardstown and onto the M50. The Quinn Direct Building at Blanch was always one of my signals to light up, and whenever I saw it, the craving using to get intolerable. To conquer that, I actually changed my route to work until I got by the hardest parts of quitting. Probably not feasible for many people, but I found this really helped.

People who "jokingly" try to convince you to start smoking again. I'm sure we all come across them, they laugh and tell you how you'll only die anyway, and sure if you enjoy them, why not have one, and who will jokingly wave them in your face and make contented "aaaaah" noises after every inhalation. You know they are joking, they think they are being funny, but it still makes it that little bit harder to stay off them.

Anyone any other suggestions on what you're avoiding to help stay off them?

ali.c · 10-01-2008 4:06pm

The shop............

No seriously though, historically the shop was the next big downfall for me, before i realaised i'd be in the shop getting say milk or something and next of all i had asked for a box of smokes.

Actually now i am only on my 10th day now, but the day before yesterday i had a weird freak out where i had picked up my bag and coat and was all set to run to the shop for smokes, and then i remember tough **** hun you have no money with you.

So i am avoiding carry cash about my person at least for the next couple of weeks, i.e. i bring lunch to work and i cycle in so really i dont have any need of cash on me.

Also booze is a killer for me too so of the drink until the end of the month anyhow!

10-01-2008 9:08pm

I avoided nothing, and I quit almost five years ago!

Why avoid situations you won't be able to avoid forever?
It infers that when you do go on the piss/hang out with smoking friends you'll be back on them.

You won't!
You ARE a non-smoker now, so live your life!

Actually, the one thing I did do which helped me immensely was go to the gym a lot. I actually lost weight when I quit, got fit and it gave me a huge incentive to bust a lung when I knew I wasn't sucking poison into myself any more.

ali.c · 11-01-2008 12:35am

Deleted User wrote: »

I avoided nothing, and I quit almost five years ago!

Why avoid situations you won't be able to avoid forever?
It infers that when you do go on the piss/hang out with smoking friends you'll be back on them.

I dont see anything wrong with giving the booze a miss of the first couple of weeks, i have no intentions of abstaining forever but in the intial period I wanted to give myself the highest possiblity of success. I am still socialising i am just keeping my wits about me a bit more.

JHMEG · 11-01-2008 12:46am

ali.c wrote: »

Also booze is a killer for me too so of the drink until the end of the month anyhow!

I know the feeling, tho I tend to avoid stout and drink stuff that I wouldn't normally drink. Have gotten used to chewing gum + pints now too, and while fags + booze are perfect bedfellows, chewing gum is acceptable.

Archeron · 11-01-2008 12:41pm

Deleted User wrote: »

I avoided nothing, and I quit almost five years ago!

Why avoid situations you won't be able to avoid forever?
It infers that when you do go on the piss/hang out with smoking friends you'll be back on them.

You won't!
You ARE a non-smoker now, so live your life!

Fair play to you, thats great to hear. But it is to each their own. Some people find it harded to stay off them and would rather avoid certain things, so for those of us in that boat, I though that this thread may offer some advice.
I myself am off the cigs almost 4 years now, and the things I mentioned above certainly helped me. I didnt use any Gum or patches, so I'm pleased with the effects of what I did.
Strangely, I didnt stop going to the pub when I gave up, and especially strange considering the pub I went to at the time was a bit lax with the smoking laws anyway. People smoking outside would peep in now and again to watch the pool game. That turned into constantly peeping in which turned into standing in the pool room smoking. Dont know why the pub didnt bother me, but I was happy it didnt. Driving though was a different matter altogether.
So, the reason I would say some people may want to avoid certain situations is to get as much help as they can in staying off the smokes, and at the end of the day it is one of the most important things people can do, so any little bit of help or advice can certainly do no harm.

syngindub · 11-01-2008 1:37pm

Day 11 for me here and it's been ok so far. I did avoid the drink for the first few days just to completely eliminate that little temptation when your a bit pissed and say to yourself "just a few drags will do no harm". So i have had the odd glass of wine over the past week and the little cravings do pass after a while but it is important to be aware of them and know they will pass. It is nicotine addiction afterall, like giving up any drug. your body will try all the tricks in the book to get you back on them.

LaVidaLoca · 16-01-2008 4:24pm

for the first little while, but dont allow your non-smoking to ruin your social life.

Thats the type of thinking that'll have you straight back on em. Youre Nico-demon will whisper in your ear "You used to be cool and have a swingin social life when you smoked."

Bull****.

cee_jay · 18-01-2008 10:06am

ali.c wrote: »

So i am avoiding carry cash about my person at least for the next couple of weeks, i.e. i bring lunch to work and i cycle in so really i dont have any need of cash on me.

I am off them 3 months and 2 days today, and thats what i did. I didn't bring any money with me to work, and everyone I went smoking went were warned not to give me one even if I begged.
I avoided going round my best mate's house, because if we were there watching TV or whatever, every half hour or so she would light up, which was so tempting. So had to explain and avoided hers for about 2 weeks!

Things or places to avoid when trying to quit.

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