I want to quit smoking: What worked for you?

What should I do to quit smoking
Please help me I’m tired

Hi @houda, see these discussions where members are sharing their tips for quitting smoking.
- I want to quit smoking: What worked for you?https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/wanting-to-quit-smoking/
- Quit-Smoking Action Plan: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/quit-smoking-action-plan/

It helps to have a goal and reason to quit. What motivates you to want to quit?

I'm afraid of diseases that make me unable to lead a normal life and I'm convinced it's bad but I haven't tried yet I want some support

Hi Houda! I recently quit (less than a month ago). I have quit several times in my life, but this time I really feel will be my last! I have always done cold turkey in the past (quitting without any aid) but this time I am using Chantix. I also set a quit date well into the future- I gave myself about six weeks to get used to the idea. I listened to audiobooks about quitting smoking (Allan Carr and others), as well as meditations before I quit. The Chantix has helped immensely with the craving and mentally I felt ready by the time I put out my last cigarette. Just remember you are not alone- I have even gone on reddit just to read about other experiences people have had and to remind myself why I'm quitting. Good luck- you are making a good decision!

Well I’m needing to
Quit for several reasons. First is lung cancer has taken my birth mother, my eldest sister and eldest brother. So I take it cancer ru s strong in my
Family esp lung cancer. My dad had colon cancer and my other sister breast cancer. You think that would be enough. I’m pretty much home bound and rely on cigarettes too much to keep my attention off of pain and boredom.
More rectory
I have quit to have surgery on my
Hip so I can get around better.
Hats of to those of you that were successful. Prayers for everyone still working at it.
Thank you for listening

I smoked for 58 years (Yep, an old fart). Smoking led to PAD and I already had a stent in my right leg that collapsed. The Doctor at UF had me on the table and literally got in my face and told me I would lose the leg if I didn't quit smoking. I stopped in Dec. 2019 pretty much cold turkey. I quit drinking in Aug of '82 and this last "quit" was the second toughest I've done.
Make sure there are no cigs near you so you literally have to get into the car to go get them - gives you time for a second thought. Stay away from smokers and smoke for 90 days (psych folks will tell you that is the time to change a habit). Chew gum, but MOST importantly, find things to occupy your time and mind. Take up a new hobby, volunteer at an animal shelter, take an online course, etc.
Many others have gone before you and have been successful. If they can do it, so can you.

I will have been smoke free for 5 years this next July 28. I had smoked for 50 years. I had arteriosclerosis. I had tried and failed to quit many times. I had balloon angioplasty when I was 37. I had stents two more times after that finally leading up to a quadruple bypass in August of 2018. After spending a week in the hospital without smoking (they kind of frown on that!) I decided I had to stop. The cravings were pretty bad for the first month or so and I would sometimes use a nicotine lozenge. I found that when I had an urge to smoke if I would just start doing something, anything to take my mind off it, pretty quickly the urge would go away. I continued to practice that and slowly the urges came farther apart and I didn't need the nicotine lozenges anymore. After about three years I quite having any urge to smoke at all. It's hard. Very hard. But get the right mindset and you can do it.

To tell you the truth, one day I just put down the pack and never picked them up again. That was 13 years ago, my wife had to get the patches on her arm and it worked for her, took about 3 months but she stopped. Different strokes for different folks. Just say no.

Congratulations you’ve made a choice, and you have the common sense to know that you should have quit smoking sooner. I am a former smoker who had quit for over 15 years before having a relapse a few years ago, luckily after several failed attempts….. tried tapering off, bumming one, throwing them in garbage after buying a pack, giving them away to whoever would take, seriously it was ridiculous! I knew I shouldn’t smoke, I even hid it from my family I was so ashamed, God never stops listening or giving up on me, so I found my strength spiritually! I also went through the Mayo Clinic’s Stop smoking class at the Rochester location which was excellent and very helpful for my support!

So sorry to hear you insult yourself, and this is a good place to get encouraged. Fist give yourself a Big pat on the back for Even taking this step, and remember that your capabilities are endless