Smokers

[zelda]

I have smoked since I was 18 - I give up easily when Im pregnant - dont even want to smoke then.  But straight after giving birth to each of my children I have started smoking again.  I tried to give up this year - I cant .  I keep saying I will when I have less stress - my excuse...  I am a light smoker really - max 10 a day.  I know I need to give up, and also know it affects my game when I play live (watching the clock).  I just cant give up . Do the patches work?

[Trace]

This patch is keeping me going fine at the moment.

Ask me again tomorrow though, it may be a completely different story!!!

[actionjack]

i had been smoking for 20 odd years and had tried several times to give up (including hypnotherapy). a poker friend in Belfast gave me a book by Alan Carr on how to stop smoking , which i though sounded good ( based on how it succeeded in stopping him from smoking) but reading never really appealed to me and also my nicotine addiction allowed me to twist my own mind into not reading it just in case it worked . It allows you to continue smoking as you read and there is a "final cigarette" chapter at the end . I was shrewd enough to read all bar the last chapter and then put the book away so i could continue smoking like a good un . I then went on holiday with my family to Spain and after much verbal encouragement , particularly from my 6 year old son who asked me to stop smoking so i didnt die , i decided to read the final chapter , which i did and i have not had another cigarette since .
The main thing with the book is that it educates the reader as to the myths of being a smoker . all that information was known to me but i kept thinking as i read , 2 oh yes , i never thought about it like that before" and it worked . Using will power to stop smoking is very difficult because this method requires you to deny yourself something that you think you want . The book trys to enable you to not want the cigareete in the first place. Which may sound pedantic but think of it like this .
IF you are walking down the street and you do not want to cross the road , how much will power does it take for you to not cross the road. Virtually none i would guess is the answer . Simlilarly, if you can convince yourself that you do not want a cigarette ( by whatever method) in the first place then you need little will power to not have one . or so the thoery goes , but it worked for me and i am stubborn lazy and selfish so it must work also for nicer people.

[ACE2M]

i failed after 3 weeks. i gave up on new years eve. going to re group and try again. GL Trace.

[Bongo]

I've heard that book recommended on other forums when this topic has been discussed - always good reports.

so much so that I'm interested in reading the book and I don't even smoke.

[snoopy1239]

Hi Paul. How did hitting runner-up at the Blonde Bash compare to some of your other honours? Still smiling?

[Chili]

i had been smoking for 20 odd years and had tried several times to give up (including hypnotherapy). a poker friend in Belfast gave me a book by Alan Carr on how to stop smoking , which i though sounded good ( based on how it succeeded in stopping him from smoking) but reading never really appealed to me and also my nicotine addiction allowed me to twist my own mind into not reading it just in case it worked . It allows you to continue smoking as you read and there is a "final cigarette" chapter at the end . I was shrewd enough to read all bar the last chapter and then put the book away so i could continue smoking like a good un . I then went on holiday with my family to Spain and after much verbal encouragement , particularly from my 6 year old son who asked me to stop smoking so i didnt die , i decided to read the final chapter , which i did and i have not had another cigarette since .
The main thing with the book is that it educates the reader as to the myths of being a smoker . all that information was known to me but i kept thinking as i read , 2 oh yes , i never thought about it like that before" and it worked . Using will power to stop smoking is very difficult because this method requires you to deny yourself something that you think you want . The book trys to enable you to not want the cigareete in the first place. Which may sound pedantic but think of it like this .
IF you are walking down the street and you do not want to cross the road , how much will power does it take for you to not cross the road. Virtually none i would guess is the answer . Simlilarly, if you can convince yourself that you do not want a cigarette ( by whatever method) in the first place then you need little will power to not have one . or so the thoery goes , but it worked for me and i am stubborn lazy and selfish so it must work also for nicer people.

VERY well said mr Jack.  I also read Allan Carr's book and stopped for 18 months.  It really is an inspiring book into changing your mindset about smoking.  I met a guy on Monday night who smokes 100 / 120 fags a DAY.  I cannot imagine how he can smoke so many but he says he wants to give up because he couldnt breathe or sleep properly anymore!!  I talked about the book (not for the first time) and tried my best to convince him to read it but i'm not confident he will take the advice. 

After all that  - i did start again after 18 months (explained more in previous post in this thread), and am ready to stop again.  I have had a goal for quite day for a couple of months now and this will be the day when my business is sold!  It is in its early stages at the moment, but the day i hand over the keys to the new owners, i will light the longest cigarette out there and that will be my last and final cigarette EVER.  There! i have written this down instead of just saying it so i will hold myself to it.

[Trace]

Bloody good luck Chili.  These patches seem to do the trick.

I've still not had a ciggy since 7am.  Only at one point today did I really really want one and that was when my stress levels went through the roof, there are none in the house, and I sat and thought what is the point of going and buying some when you've had this patch on all day and lasted this long.  That taste is still at the back of my mouth, but I can and do ignore it.

Every now and then automatic pilot takes over and I go to reach for them and then realise I can't, that's a bit of a downer.  I love smoking, I don't want to quit, but I have to.  £35 a week is just too much money for me to burn!

So up to now I am proud of myself, tomorrow morning will be the real test as it was the first thing I did EVERY morning when my alarm went off or my eyes opened.  My house seems to smell fresher already.

T
xx

[Sark79]

Ok, I am possibly not the best person to give advice on stopping smoking, but I will tell you of a technique which may help. I am not a smoker, but I recently read two of Paul Mckenna's books on hypnosis. I love these type of books and read anything about mental training I can get my hands on writen by him.

In Paul Mckenna's most recent book " Instant Cofidence" he outlines a technique which has been proven to help combat phobias, addictions and irrational fears. This technique is called -Thought Field Therapy. If you have seen any of Paul Mckenna's recent series on Sky1, he demonstrates this skill on his subjects. It basically involves tapping on pressure points throughtout the face, hands and under the arms while re-prolgramming the mind.

I know that Mckenna has written many books which cover all sorts of hypnosis related issues. I am sure he has written one aimed at quitting smoking. If you have an image of Paul Mckenna as a showman who only performs on stage and makes people do silly things, think again. He is recognized as one of Britians leading hynotists( Probably the world) and he also has a PHD in Psychology.

You should be able to pick up a book by Mckenna for around £10 in most good book stores( all these come with a free CD ). Look for these titles, "instant confidence", " change your life in 7 days"," I can think you thin", " The hypnotic world of Paul Mckenna" and also look for his CD and Audio materials. I have seen a Paul Mckenna quit smoking CD/DVD in bargain books.

This guy is amazing. When I read his books, I don't have any particular issues which I feel I need to deal with. I am relaxed and fairly balanced. However I can't help smiling to myself and thinking " this guy really know his stuff". It is like watching Phil Ivey or Gus Hansen play. Seeing someone who has a great ability perform his/her skill is an honour to wittness. Paul Mckenna has this sort of talent. I wish I had taken psychology at Uni instead of History. He is a true expert on the mind. Really consider getting your hands on one of these books above. Although some may not deal directly with the issue of smoking. They will equip you with the ability to conquer your unwanted smoking habit.

Run a search on Amazon Uk and read the reviews of titles above. Then get you hands on one of these.

Sark..good luck.

[SKIPPYSKIP]

Never smoked once dont intend to, only one in gfamily that don't being around it from a young age has done that!

[actionjack]

coming second in the blonde bash was great though i would have loved to have won it . Then again no disgrace to be beaten by a great player like Simon

getting back to smoking . The Alan carr book should be ( or something similar) forced reading for all school children then i think a lot less would start smoking in the first place.
As far as patches are concerned this is a difficult way to stop because it effectively satisfies the nicotine addiction by another method rather than addressing the addiction itself . Not to say they dont work but, there are now people who no longer smoke but are addicted to the patches . It is the nicotine that is the main problem.


anyone going to brighton this weekend ?

[snoopy1239]

I'm pretty sure Tikay's going.

Rendez-Vous isn't it?

[byronkincaid]

Sark

My girlfriend stopped smoking after attending a Paul McKenna seminar so I thought he was really cool too. IMO many hypnotherapists can get a person who truely wants to give up smoking to do so. It's not very hard at all. If you go a bit further though into as you say phobias, addictions etc then again IMHO Paul McKenna goes about it in completely the wrong way. As you say you are relaxed and balanced and from that POV I can understand how what P McK does is interesting. If you really did have a phobia though, would it not perhaps make more sense to find out what actually caused it and deal with that rather than just blowing it out of your mind only for the underlieing cause which has not been treated create another symptom.

I fear that I am thread hijacking here but if you are interested in this sort of thing I would recommend reading the 2 David Lesser books which can be found on this website. Helen Lesser is, I truely believe, the best hypnotherapist in the world.

http://www.aqch.org/

[Sark79]

Thanks for the link mate. I see what you are saying about Paul Mckenna's ideas. However, I know alot of people who have suffered pretty intense phobias find comfort in his teachings. Anyway, I appreciate the link, I will look at it tonight.

[lazaroonie]

good luck trace - One piece of advice if you are using the patches - make sure you have enough the night before the next day if you know what I mean. It sounds obvious, but you dont want to be trawling round tesco at 6am like a smack addict then it makes sense.

I gave up 5 years ago - and promptly took up smoking cigars. the bigger the better. My missus jokes that I am the only person who gave up an expensive habit at took up a more expensive one.

I do now occasionally enjoy a cigarette, like if I am away for a weekend (away from her indoors ), so maybe I have failed , but I go months between smokes sometimes so I know it doesnt control me....