https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/wanting-to-quit-smoking/
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/comment/1302444/
Hello @eileenj1960
I join our Moderator @kelseyt in welcoming you to Mayo Clinic Connect.
I posted a couple of links from other places on Connect about quitting smoking. You may find them interesting.
I KNOW how hard it is to quit!! I was a dedicated smoker for over 42 years. There is nothing on the planet that is like nicotine addiction.
It's terrible!
I wanted to quit, because like all smokers, I knew it was bad for my health. But knowing that did not stop me from smoking for 42 years!
I honestly think the best way to quit smoking is the one that works for you. All kinds of people have quit this nasty habit, and we each used different approaches to accomplish freedom.
I use the word "freedom" because once you do...you realize what a slave you have been. There is nothing like the freedom from cigarettes!
No two people are the same, so you can bet not one single way to quit smoking works for everyone.
I quit cold turkey.
January 8, 2018.
Never smoked again.
Cold turkey smokers have a 98% chance of smoking again. I guess I am blessed to be the 2% that made it. I still miss a cigarette, but those cravings got less and less as I put more time between my last cigarette and my day of freedom.
I was a slave to them. These stupid little things controlled me. I hated that!!! Grr!!
Standing in the rain to smoke while my friends were inside laughing.
Having to stop whatever I was doing to go smoke.
Making sure I had my lighter and a pack of smokes everywhere I went.
Driving to the scary gas station convenience store at 1230 in the morning because I ran out.
Wow. Dedication right?
But the fear, and it was fear, of not having them was so overpowering. I honestly thought I would never enjoy my life again without this sick habit.
How could I enjoy a wedding? A fun party? Be able to think? Talk on the phone. Be sad. Be happy. I assigned cigarettes as the multi-purpose item I needed for all these situations.
Truth?
It's an addiction.
What really, really helped me was I wanted to quit, and I was afraid of the date. So I didn't use a date. Instead, I let the day pick me. I also got Allen Carr's Easy Way to Quit Smoking and it was life changing for me.
I learned so much about addition and it helped me by seeing the psychological stuff behind all this silliness.

The first two weeks were tough.
Not gonna lie!
But I went to the Dollar Store, got bags of cinnamon candies and every time the craving would come, I'd pop a cinnamon candy. During commercials, when I would go outside to smoke, I instead would busy myself by keeping my hands busy. Like straighten out the linen closet. Or the pantry. Or my sock drawer. I learned from Allen Carr that the cravings last about five minutes. If you can get through it...you just accomplished something good for you.
Smokers do not need people to ask them if we know how bad this is for us.
We know!
We know already, okay?!
But learning as much as you can about the psychology of addiction from Allen Carr may be helpful to you too?
I would encourage you to not give up trying to give up!
You will not believe how wonderful life is without them!
It is one of the best things I ever did for myself, and I am so glad I did.
Not what you think...which is how horrible life will be.