I haven't really mentioned it here or anywhere else for that matter, but I quit smoking in May and I wanted to share the process.
I decided to quit smoking one morning when I got up and started coughing, turns out I had a cold, but I did decide to quit. I quit once before and I did it using Zyban and this time I figured it worked once it should work again. The only problem is that they don't sell Zyban here in malaysia, but they do sell Champix*, so thats what I decided to try. The idea is the same with both, you keep smoking for 2 weeks while taking the medication and then you stop smoking but keep taking the meds for 3 months or so.
I smoked while taking the pills for about a week and then pretty much stopped completely, with the occasional cheats for a month or so. To be completely honest it was simple, as long as I took the pills I didn't want a cigarette, but if I missed a pill the next morning I wanted to smoke, but didn't. I still get the cravings, but not as frequent as before, and I haven't caved in to them since about June 15th at 5:07 am, not that I'm keeping track.
At first second hand smoke didn't bother me at all, but lately it has been really getting on my nerves, I don't know if thats normal or not, but I find I have very little tolerance for it now.
When I first came to Malaysia cigarettes were about RM5 ($1.50 CDN) and have steadily climbed to RM10 ($3 CDN) that was one of the reasons I quit, I remember saying that when cigarettes got to $10 CDN I would quit, that was shortly before I came here to Malaysia (and I didn't quit), and when I got here and the price was so low I didn't think I would ever quit. I admit it, I like smoking, I enjoy it and I know if I were to pick up a cigarette right now and smoke it, I would be smoking a pack a day by the end of the week.
So why the hell did I quit? Well I thought I would feel better, and it has been 6 months and I feel worse than when I still smoked, I keep telling myself it will get better and I will start feeling good! I chose to quit for my own reasons and anyone who knows me will tell you that I hate to be told to do anything, so quitting just had to be my choice. I think one of the reasons I quit smoking was that I didn't want to be dumped into a disgusting group of people who would do something so antisocial.
Now that I am a reformed smoker, I can tell everyone that smokes how stupid they are, because I am better than them, those evil smokers! Ok so maybe I don't feel much better, but I sure as hell am going to be that self-righteous asshole antismoker! Now I understand it all, reformed smokers don't feel physically better so they have to pretend to feel morally better. All these years I just thought reformed smokers were assholes :)
*If you happen to decide to use Champix, be sure to read the list of side effects carefully before deciding, I didn't and am glad I am not susceptible to "Suicide", yes that is one of the possible side effects, the drug is being banned in some places because of this.
I decided to quit smoking one morning when I got up and started coughing, turns out I had a cold, but I did decide to quit. I quit once before and I did it using Zyban and this time I figured it worked once it should work again. The only problem is that they don't sell Zyban here in malaysia, but they do sell Champix*, so thats what I decided to try. The idea is the same with both, you keep smoking for 2 weeks while taking the medication and then you stop smoking but keep taking the meds for 3 months or so.
I smoked while taking the pills for about a week and then pretty much stopped completely, with the occasional cheats for a month or so. To be completely honest it was simple, as long as I took the pills I didn't want a cigarette, but if I missed a pill the next morning I wanted to smoke, but didn't. I still get the cravings, but not as frequent as before, and I haven't caved in to them since about June 15th at 5:07 am, not that I'm keeping track.
At first second hand smoke didn't bother me at all, but lately it has been really getting on my nerves, I don't know if thats normal or not, but I find I have very little tolerance for it now.
When I first came to Malaysia cigarettes were about RM5 ($1.50 CDN) and have steadily climbed to RM10 ($3 CDN) that was one of the reasons I quit, I remember saying that when cigarettes got to $10 CDN I would quit, that was shortly before I came here to Malaysia (and I didn't quit), and when I got here and the price was so low I didn't think I would ever quit. I admit it, I like smoking, I enjoy it and I know if I were to pick up a cigarette right now and smoke it, I would be smoking a pack a day by the end of the week.
So why the hell did I quit? Well I thought I would feel better, and it has been 6 months and I feel worse than when I still smoked, I keep telling myself it will get better and I will start feeling good! I chose to quit for my own reasons and anyone who knows me will tell you that I hate to be told to do anything, so quitting just had to be my choice. I think one of the reasons I quit smoking was that I didn't want to be dumped into a disgusting group of people who would do something so antisocial.
Now that I am a reformed smoker, I can tell everyone that smokes how stupid they are, because I am better than them, those evil smokers! Ok so maybe I don't feel much better, but I sure as hell am going to be that self-righteous asshole antismoker! Now I understand it all, reformed smokers don't feel physically better so they have to pretend to feel morally better. All these years I just thought reformed smokers were assholes :)
*If you happen to decide to use Champix, be sure to read the list of side effects carefully before deciding, I didn't and am glad I am not susceptible to "Suicide", yes that is one of the possible side effects, the drug is being banned in some places because of this.
2 comments:
I've been quit for about 4 1/2 years now. Read a book that helped prepare my brain for the journey that was ahead. It was easier than I thought, wish I had done it years ago. Since making the decision to quit I have not even touched a cigarette, for the fear of starting again. Glad to hear you've done it.
To be honest it really was esier than I thought as well, but like you, I'm not tempting fate by cheating.
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