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Heartlander · 80-89, M
Admitting you have an addiction is a good first step!!
Addictions have multiple faces. There are a number of prescription and OTC medications to help a little. I used one (zyban) when I quit smoking 20 years ago and it really helped. Addiction can sometimes be referred to as compulsive behavior and there's a depression link, and thus the effectiveness of anti-depression drugs to help break the compulsion. Lots of people praise St John's Wort.
One thing that helped me was a plan. Fundamental to the plan was to treat "not smoking" as the most important accomplishment for the day, the hour, the minute. Every minute, every hour, every day. It took over a months before it stopped being my single most important thought, 24/7.
I knew dozens of people who died way too early because of their addiction .... alcohol, illegal drugs, legal drugs, cigarettes. Lick your addiction and you may be able to add 5, 10, 20, maybe even 60 more years to your lifespan. I was lucky and quit smoking early enough and figured I added 30 more years to my life. Put another way, I'd probably be dead now if I hadn't quit.
Addictions have multiple faces. There are a number of prescription and OTC medications to help a little. I used one (zyban) when I quit smoking 20 years ago and it really helped. Addiction can sometimes be referred to as compulsive behavior and there's a depression link, and thus the effectiveness of anti-depression drugs to help break the compulsion. Lots of people praise St John's Wort.
One thing that helped me was a plan. Fundamental to the plan was to treat "not smoking" as the most important accomplishment for the day, the hour, the minute. Every minute, every hour, every day. It took over a months before it stopped being my single most important thought, 24/7.
I knew dozens of people who died way too early because of their addiction .... alcohol, illegal drugs, legal drugs, cigarettes. Lick your addiction and you may be able to add 5, 10, 20, maybe even 60 more years to your lifespan. I was lucky and quit smoking early enough and figured I added 30 more years to my life. Put another way, I'd probably be dead now if I hadn't quit.