How to quit smoking: five tips from a smoker who stopped after 35 years
Mark Sharp has smoked since he was a teenager. After a number of failed attempts, he’s now been able to avoid having a cigarette for over a month. He offers advice on kicking the habit for good
Almost three weeks into my new, nicotine-free life and I’m in a taxi – or maybe it’s a tram. I’m with a friend, though I’m not sure who. I pull a pack of cigarettes from my pocket and light one up. After two deep drags, I stub it out. My mysterious companion asks how it feels, to which I reply: “Tastes disgusting.”
After 19 days without a smoke I feel pretty lousy about this relapse – until I awaken with a surge of relief at the realisation that it’s just a dream; a potent fusion of psychology and neurochemistry playing games with my vulnerable mind.
At the time of writing this, I’ve made it past the one-month mark, and am determined not to turn back. So what makes me think I’ve won the battle this time?
It’s said that it’s easier to give up smoking after a number of failed attempts, and I can see why. I’ve tried nicotine gum (it also “tastes disgusting”), Allen Carr’s classic self-help manual The Easy Way to Stop Smoking, and the drug Zyban, which does not contain nicotine but staves off the symptoms of withdrawal. This time I decided to grit my teeth and go cold turkey.
The advantage of having tried quitting before, is you become familiar with the pitfalls. You know it’s advisable to avoid smokers socially for at least the first week. You know the triggers that will bring on cravings – coffee in the morning, break time, beer in the evening. It’s also helpful to be in an unfamiliar, new environment where there will not be as many trigger memories.
