How'd you give up smoking?

Several things all at once. First, I really wanted to quit. I felt like I was chained to an ashtray. I didn't want to be a slave to chain smoking anymore.

Second, the ex quit smoking, and he couldn't stand the smell of me anymore. He told me he refused to kiss me until I quit. As painful and hurtful as that was...he was a very good kisser, at that time.

Third, I got a horrible case of the flu. For two weeks I was so sick I couldn't stand the smell of food, cigarettes...anything. I couldn't drink more than a sip of water without being sick. So I decided to quit smoking RIGHT then. I couldn't smoke if I wanted to and I already felt so awful that I knew it was the perfect time.

Fourth, I began to realize that it WASN'T the nicotine to which I was the slave, because that goes away very quickly, (three weeks). It had become a habit ingrained into every part of my life. When I woke up in the morning, I HAD to have a cigarette with my coffee. When I was driving, I HAD to have a cigarette while I was driving. I had become conditioned to behave in exactly this way every single day.

Fifth, what I needed to do was re-condition my mind so that I could do something else, (substitution), instead of smoking at those moments. So I purchased breath savers breath mints. Every time I wanted a cigarette, I popped one of those into my mouth. I did that for almost five years. Then I was able to give up the breath mints.

Sixth, I kept a constant awareness in my mind that I could not pick up even ONE cigarette. I knew myself very well, and I knew that if I smoked even ONE cigarette during the first years of quitting and re-conditioning my mind, that ALL THAT SUFFERING AND SELF DENIAL HAD BEEN ABSOLUTELY WASTED AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL OF IT AGAIN!!!! So that became my moment of needing the most strength...don't pick one up. Don't be around people who smoke. Don't set yourself up, ever, to have to go through all of that again.

told him to slow down and added a little more KY jelly

By never starting that nasty shit! 😁

I gave up smoking when i met my now spouse.
It was easy.
I'd tried many times before but that time it was easy. So i guess you just need a good enough reason.

Asthma. Lung issues. I wasn't even a hard smoker. I gave it all up in favour of my lungs. If I could do it then anyone can. It's about mindset and willpower.

Nicotine patches for the cravings, Tootsie roll Pops for the oral fixation and lots of will power.

I called the fire company

.… listening.....