Why cant i quit

[okesonker]

i smoke twice as much when i am trying to quit? I have used the patches, gum, logenzes, and i smoke twice as much while using them too.

[Jade59]

Congrats on 3mos!  You're doing great!

[weng63]

When I read your comments, I remembered just how hard it was to fight smoking. Before I was able to quit myself, I have had a many attempts. There was a time when I stopped for one year and had a relapse.

But then there comes a time when the body just seems to have had enough punishment, and you would feel the abuse. And you'll get into thinking, what the heck am I doing to myself? and then you will decide to stop smoking. Again. And when you do, decide to end it, you can.  You can give yourself a break, and let your body breathe and heal.

Before, I would decide to quit in the morning, but by evening I would absentmindedly light. And the next day still the same promise. Then  I just did it. I am now smoke free for 3 months. Yeah it can be done. Sometimes you just get so fed up, you would stop.

[Rachelsmokes]

I totally know what you are talking about. I try to quit, tell myself this is it, Im really going to quit - then I get to where I keep thinking about my cigarettes more and more - and I give in.

I feel bad because its like everything I see just makes me think of it again. I watch TV and want a cigarette. I drive to work in my car on long commutes and want a cigarette. Even when I managed to go a whole day without one, I get in my car, and smell the old stale cigarette smell, and then Im looking under the seats or glovebox to see if I have any extra cigarettes. If I do, I smoke them; if I dont, I claim its an excuse to stop by a gas station and pick up "just one more pack for the road"

Yeah right. Just one more pack, then I'll be quit. Thats what I keep telling myself too - and the more I want to try to quit - the less successful I am.

I read all the articles on quitting, and try different things, patches, gum, etc - then I buy another pack and do it all again. Sometimes Im even buying an extra pack or two while Im buying the Gum - which is even more absurd. Even the clerk at the Chevron had to call me out on it last time I did it - what an embarassment.

I hope you have better luck trying to quit than I do.

Cheers,

Rachel

[kathyjo]

That sounds like panic smoking ; ) I have been there a few times....just the thought of having to live without smoking caused me to double up on them.
I believe you are thinking that these quit aids should do all the work and it reality, that's not going to happen. You have to really commit to your quit mentally and emotionally or it won't work.
Try reading some of the articles at whyquit.com. Those were truly helpful for me and many others.
You can do it, without the OTC aids, but you really need to ask everyone for their support, which is key.
Good luck!