I quit smoking almost a year ago, after about 7 years.
First of all, it's only as hard as you make it out to be. So many people build it up as being so hard in their head before they do it that they are defeated before they even begin. Anyone who has quit will tell you that its 5% physical and 95% mental. So if you go into it with a bad attitude, you might as well not even bother. In the end you really need to want to quit - if your motivation is strong, your attitude wil be positive.
Dare I say it, but unless you are smoking heavily, I think that quitting smoking is really not very hard at all.
I went cold turkey. Some have taken the patch, gum, etc, and had it work. Zyban is also an option. However I only have experience w/ cold turkey so that's all I can talk about. Here's a few tips:
First of all, contrary to what you may think, you totally should not stay away from social places where you once might have smoked. This will only make things worst. First of all you sit at home alone and want to smoke. Secondly you will eventually have to face that situation, and no matter how long it's been, you will want to smoke that first time. Anyone who has taken an intro psychology course knows the concept of extinction. Instead I would say go out normally, but just don't drink (If this is a problem I would suggest that you have bigger prbolems than smoking). Controlling your urges when you are sober is much easier. In fact I would say the first few times you drink is the first huge test of quitting smoking. Wait about two weeks before you actually have a drink at a bar. By now you have mastered some of the techniques that work for you and can invoke them even when drunk. Make it your mission to not smoke that one night. Make sure that everyone you're with knows you're not smoking. Try to stay near one of them at all times. The biggest trick I used was that I would convince myself that I could have a smoke the next morning, 100% for sure, if I didn't have a one right then. this would usually calm my craving. I'd wake up the next morning and be so glad I didn't have a smoke. Also having someone who you must ask permission before you have a smoke is good (It sounds juvenille but it works). Basically having some sort of proccess to go through (no matter how weird) gets your mind off smoking and by the time you go through the steps, the craving is gone.
At work, get up and walk around on your break. Do something physical, don't just sit there.
Another thing I did was come up with a list of reasons why I should quit smoking. This included hitting up some websites and bookmarking some nasty photos of lungs and teeth and shit. When I would have a craving, I'd simply block it out by going over the list, and maybe even having a peek at the pictures.
I'll post some more tips when I think of them.
Overall Karen, you can totally do it - I mean if you're working out and stuff, you'll notice a difference right away - which is a great motivator. Don't hesitate to Email me if you want more specific info too
