Tobacco, Can You or Can't You Quit

The first thing is to realize that you can quit if you want to. We have been programmed by the government, by associations such as heart and lung and many others to believe we can’t. We as a society have bought into this. Therefore, if we believe we can’t, we can’t. Can’t never could do anything. We need to reprogram ourselves to believe and know that we can. To do this, you have to decide that you want to quit. You do not need to set a timeframe at this time. Just begin telling yourself you will quit when you are ready. As others tell you that you need to quit smoking, chewing or using (dipping) snuff, your reply should be, “I am when I’m ready”.

Make a list, physically or mentally of the reasons you use tobacco products. Make another list with two columns; one headed “Reasons I Should Stop” and the other, “Reasons I Should Continue”. There is no right or wrong reasons. This is your personal lists. Get the reasons why you should stop firmly planted in your mind by continually repeating them. As well, tell yourself constantly you will quit when you are ready. As a plan begins to formulate within you for quitting, look at setting a time. This time need not be in blood. You have the choice of moving it up or out. Give yourself the reasons for each. As you near the date and buy your last carton or pack of cigarettes, tobacco or snuff, begin to tell yourself how much you are enjoying this cigarette, etc because my last one will be on ___________ (date) or when you smoke _______ cigarettes in the carton or pack. Put an unopened pack of cigarettes, pack of tobacco or small can of snuff in a drawer in your house and in the dash of your vehicle. You want your mind to be at peace as much as possible. You do not want to freak out because you do not have access to it in the house or vehicle.

If you need help with it, use the nicotine patch or chewing gum. However, you can quit without the use of these. Also, as you are telling yourself you are going to quit, you need to tell yourself that when you quit, you are not going to want a cigarette, chew of tobacco or dip of snuff. Also, tell yourself you are not going to gain a lot of weight or be irritable. Add these to your daily self talk along with telling yourself you are going to quit when you are ready. After you quit, you can keep non-fattening foods around to munch on if needed.

You ask me how I know this will work. The reason is because I did it. I smoked for 17 years and in 1991 began thinking that I needed to quit. I had a lot going on in my life and was advised not to do that until things settled down. In 1992, I quit. From 1991 until I quit, I would tell myself “you are going to quit smoking, you will not be irritable, gain a lot of weight or want another cigarette”. I also had my automatic response ready anytime someone said, “You need to quit smoking”. My reply, “I will quit when I’m ready”.

During 1992, I decided I was going to quit at the end of the year. Then in November, I decided if I was going to quit at the end of December I should just quit now. I told the gentleman where I bought my cigarettes not to get any more cigarettes from the wholesaler for me because when I smoked the carton I was buying I quit. I smoked eight packs out of that carton. Each time I smoked from this carton I told myself to enjoy it because this was my last. When smoking the last pack, I told myself each time to really enjoy it because I had only ______cigarettes left. Then in November 1992 while at Myrtle Beach, SC, I smoked my last cigarette. It was approximately 4:00 a.m. on Saturday. We had been out and had come back to the hotel. My friend had gone out again. As I sat there, I took out my last cigarette and told myself “you better really enjoy this one for it is your last one”. I have never smoked another nor have I wanted another one since that time.

Concerning the irritability part, I only remember once getting short with someone. The evening of the day I quit, we went to dinner. We received very poor service from the waitress. I got short with her and when she walked away my friend looked at me and said, “Not going to get irritable are you”. We both had a big laugh. That was the extent of my irritability phase. I did gain a little weight but not much. I kept low fat foods around like pretzels; etc if I thought I really needed something. You can always eat healthier. In a very short time, it was as if I had never smoked.

I put an unopened pack of cigarettes in a kitchen drawer and one in my car. Several years later, I found them and thought, “I need to throw these away. They are probably so strong; they would knock someone out if they smoked them.” In the trash they went.

It is frustrating and aggravating to hear people say they or you can’t quit and talk about the millions of dollars we need to spend to help people quit. It doesn’t matter what anyone does or says or what you do unless you have made a conscious decision to quit nothing is going to work. It is up to you. You have a choice. What will your choice be?