I'm a 19 year old red blooded male that likes wine and cookery programmes. Also writing peotry and ...
I'm a 19 year old red blooded male that likes wine and cookery programmes. Also writing peotry and opinions on Ciao. (contradiction in terms there eh? Well I say you get the best of everything with me ;-)). I am working full time at the Co-op as an...
I was a smoker from the age of 12 after I got into the wrong crowd at school. This was rather unfortunate as I ended up getting addicted whilst trying to be popular, only to realise that being popular wasnt all that great, and being addicted was even worse. I went from a ciggy at break with my mate to nearly 20 a day. I was still on 20 a day 5 years later when aged 17 I began to really feel the affects on my lungs. I began coughing up brown tar from my lungs in the morning and I was finding it harder and harder to breathe when doing any form of excerise, and as a main player in the school football team this wasnt a good thing. I decided to try to end my suffering by attacking the cause. I wanted to quit smoking.
THE IDEA OF THE PATCH:
The
nicotine patch is designed to help those who want to quit smoking by providing them with nicotine through another source. There are now many products available although many are more recent than my experience, so I didnt get to use them. I was left to resort to desperate measures and went for the then rather expensive patches (although it must be said they are still on the expensive side despite having come down slightly in price over the past few years). The patch attaches to your arm and provides a slow release of nicotine into the skin and blood system, hopefully combatting the craving. When you feel confident enough you can then move onto a weaker patch and then weaker again until eventually you try without a patch and you've quit smoking.
THE FLAWS:
I found the patch to work with curbing my cravings when they were newly applied, but they weren't too good at lasting, and when you are limited by medical advice as to how many you can apply per day, I quiclkly found myself craving badly again. The patches are also only allowed to over 18's, which surprised me as I look younger than I am but had no trouble purchasing them from Boots on more than one occassion. If you are under 18 you should consult a doctor before using, the nicotine in the patches is powerful and shouldnt be used without prior medical consent. Under 18 you may also be able to get a better option from your doctor for free.
The other main problem with the patch was that it only catered for the craving. This is admittedly a large factor in smoking, but I found that I didnt know what to do with my hands. I was so used to holding a cigarette that I would keep fidgeting and placing my pencil between my fingers subconciously. This only served to generate a larger craving and that meant I needed more nicotine, which wasnt allowed.
WHY IT FAILED FOR ME:
Eventually I went through a phase of shaking at night, desperate for a cigarette. It even got bad enough that I would sit and cry, not sleeping at all until I went to school the next day. My grades began to drop and I found that I had to return to cigarettes, I was physically unable to cope, aswell as mentally.
MY FRIENDS EXPERIENCES:
I have know 2 friends to try using these to quit and in both cases they failed, although one has since quit by using the inhaler version and the gum (which he said he hated so much he would force himself to go without a cigarette just so he wouldnt have to chew it!). Anyway, neither liked the patch and stopped using them after less than a month.
THE FINAL STORY:
In the end I went through the gum and the inhaler too, neither of which worked, although they did cut down my cigarette intake for a while. Once again they are intended for over 18's but I got hold of them easily over the counter. I was desperate for a way out and when my girlfriend died I hit rock bottom and shot up to 35 a day and started drinking a lot too. his affected my work, my life and left me totally empty.
After some months like this, something changed my life. I met a girl named Leah and she brought me back from the gutter, put a smile back on my face and I suddenly realised that I hadn't had a cigarette for 3 days. I hadn't even noticed. I've now been over 8 months without a cigarette and I feel I have conquered it all.
MY ADVICE ON QUITTING:
What happened to change my life was simple, I became happy. Smoking is a comfort, when you are happy you are able to cope without the comfort. If you want to quit, try to do something to make you happier than normal before you start. Nobody will meet Leah the way I did, but there are other girls out there, or perhaps its just allowing yourself a holiday abroad or something. Make something big happen for you and it will make quitting easier. Its not the total answer, you still need some willpower, but it does make it a lot easier.
Remember, patches aren't everything.
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A very inspiring and warming review, it just goes to show that to give up smoking you cant relie on just medical aids but you also have to be happy inside yourself as well, i guess willpower also has a say in it as well and how strong your own is. Good read thanx ;)
robsgirl 12.06.2001 19:52
Watching you go through the shakes and hearing you coughing up in the morning was hell, I'm so glad you quit. Debi
Advantages: get rid of that stinky. filthy, kiler habit without turning into a nervous wreck, no cravings at all, discreet Disadvantages: expensive, smaller patches aren't cheaper
Jun 11th, 2001
very helpful by (100%):
