How I Stopped Smoking

[Woodznutz]

I quit by only allowing myself one cigarette per hour, to be smoked on the hour, plus or minus 5 minutes. If I missed that time restriction I couldn't smoke for another hour. I believe this defeated the common, often unconscious, psychological triggers that most smokers have, triggers that caused you to reach for a smoke basically anytime for any reason. Smoking by the clock replaced all the other triggers and became the sole focus. What I also found was that when the hour came, sometimes I didn't desire a cigarette and waited until the next hour to have one. I often actually forget to check the time, and so missed my hourly smoke. It was then that I knew I could finally quit, and I did about two weeks later. That was 52 years ago and I haven't desired a cigarette even for a moment since.

 

[hjmick]

306 days, not one slip. No cravings, no personality change. Yes, I realize my experience is not the norm.