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Is there anything you picked up instead when you had the urge. I’ve never tried quitting, but I have ceased for up to a week (visiting family, etc.) and get incredibly agitated and fidgety after a day or so.


If you really want one, have one, don't fight it.

Just ensure that every time the urge comes up, you say to yourself:

"Do I really want this cigarette RIGHT NOW, or can I have it in five minutes?"

If you cannot wait then have it.

In five minutes time when. the deferral has expired, ask the same question.

Don't fight yourself, agree with yourself.

And don't attack yourself for making the decision to have one - just ensure that the next cigarette gets the same question.

This process might happen hundreds of times but don't worry about it, just keep asking the question.

It's a long series of very short term decisions.

It doesn't work if you have a rule in place that you cannot have a cigarette - this approach means you can, so your subconscious can relax - you are not depriving it of what it wants.


A different perspective is that it's decoupling the impulse from the reward. Very powerful at taming these kinds of habits.


i find this utter hogwash. Nicotine is physically addictive and tolerance builds up. When one that has been smoking moderately to heavily for years quits smoking, one goes through days of physical withdrawal.

These "simple tricks" are just another way to fail. You can postpone 1-2-3-4 cigarettes, but eventually you will smoke 4 in a row to get the nicotine high with the intensity and duration your body is used to.

Which is why the patch is effective, it helps with physical withdrawal. These jedi mind tricks don't.


Thanks, will try this out soon (with a different addiction)


The book that had an amazing impact on lots of friends who smoked is Easy Way by Allen Carr: https://www.amazon.com/Allen-Carrs-Easy-Stop-Smoking/dp/0615...

(No affiliation).

Friends report there are no lasting urges, no mental blocks, no inner demons etc. etc.

reddit testimonials: https://www.reddit.com/r/stopsmoking/comments/odyv6/anyone_t...


There is nothing, you will have to run the gauntlet of addiction. It isn't pleasant but in the end it is incredibly rewarding. You're basically given your life/freedom back. Quit a 2 pack a day habit cold turkey back in 2009. These days I get nauseous when I'm around smokers and can't believe I was once one of them.


Anecdotal, but things get much much easier after like 2 months. The first few weeks are the worst.




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