Once and for all

[intoxicated yoda]

@tocevoD you need to ask yourself if you want to be tied to a crutch.  if you were getting over a broken leg you would want to get off the crutch and strengthen the leg so you could walk unaided and pain free, right?  that would be the goal.  So why would you want to keep the crutch while getting over the addiction of smoking?  To get over the broken leg and to strengthen it you must endure some pain.  This is no different.  You can't cheat the process by replacing one vice for another and expect to beat the addiction.  It's not easy but it is simple.  Don't over complicate it.  Otherwise you will just end up bouncing back and forth between NRT's and cigarettes.  Other people can give you encouragement but only you can quit.  Hope this gives you something to think about.

[Doreensfree]

I agree with what you have been advised.

If there is nicotine in them ,staying on them means you will always be a Slave to nicotine.

I would be more positive in freeing yourself 

altogether….

Try finding something else to chew or suck 

that is not dangerous.

I found regular chewing gum did the job fir me

 

[DenaliBlues]

Thanks for checking in @tocevoD.  Glad to hear you’re still smoke free! I smoked for over 40 years. And I, too, temporarily used lozenges (and patches and gum) to support the first stage of my quit. So I respect NRT as a tool in our quitting toolbox.

 

Only you can decide what kind of relationship you want with nicotine. The pattern you are describing sounds like an active addiction. Is that okay with you? Perhaps not, if you’re even asking…

 

It wasn’t okay for me. Nicotine is a super addictive chemical that distorts our brain receptors and can alter our ability to experience joy and fulfillment in other ways. I was always craving my next fix. And I was beyond tired of being imprisoned and manipulated by a chemical that was making someone else rich off of my suffering. 

 

Weaning gradually off of NRT did not work for me, because it put me in a more or less constant state of withdrawal. So I used NRT for a few weeks, to reorient some of my physical behaviors around smoking. But then I cut myself off from the lozenges, etc. It was rugged at first, but I made it. And am so grateful that I did. After things settled down, my heart rate and blood pressure improved, foods tasted better, and I became able to enjoy more of life. 

 

Everybody’s story is different - you do you. But it is 100% possible to smoke heavily for over 4 decades and then become a happy nonsmoker. I’m living proof. 

 

[QuittingGirl]

Great advice from everyone @tocevoD You have to get off the NRT's after a while, as everyone said.  I remember when I first quit, I was weaning myself off ciggies, eventually down to 2 a day, one in the AM and one in the PM and I thought maybe I could keep it like that.  Worst thing I could ever have done.  I was in constant withdrawal looking at the clock to see how many more hours I have until the next cig.  It was horrible! Withdrawal all day long.  Everyone on here told me I have to give those 2 up in order to quit so I did.  It wasn't easy, but I couldn't stand the withdrawal symptoms because they were driving me insane!  So I stuck it out. The first month was the absolute worst, but the longer you go without nicotine, the easier it gets.  You see that it works, look at everyone on here, some haven't smoked for over 5, 10 and 20 plus years.  That says that it is definitely doable!! Read the instructions on the Nicerette and follow exactly what it says to wean yourself down and totally off of them.  You can do it!! If you are really serious about quitting, that is what you have to do and only you can decide.  We can advise you and support you, but the quitting has to come from you! 

[tocevoD]

I was stewing for a bit and thinking about everyone's comments on here.

 

"What do they know."

 

"How bad can sweets be."

 

"I'll stick with these sweets if I want to."

 

Took me an extra week and a bit to realise that everything everyone was saying on here was spot on correct. I was becoming reliant on the nicotine in the sweets. I was starting to have that hankering I'd get when when waiting for my next ciggies. A sickly feeling that I thought has gone when I packed the ciggies in was continuing with the lozenges.

 

Been off the lozenges since about Tuesday. I never marked the date like when I packed in the ciggies but when I think about it it was another milestone day. 1m 1w and 5 days a non smoker and I can now add no nicotine aswell.

[Reciprocity]

That's Great News @tocevoD!!

 

You'll be much better off without that nicotine monkey on your back!

Congratulations

[QuittingGirl]

Great news @tocevoD  You will do it!  Just keep coming on here and do the daily nope pledge and you will get there!