h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Smoking is now commonly seen as a taboo, the definitive bad habit. Now I enjoy it but I've tried to quit before now and the best way was what I call "Tea Therapy."

Basically, every time you get that little craving for a cigarette, or get a bit stressed because you can't bite your nails or whatever simply make a cup of tea, sit it in front of you then get out the digestive biscuits and dunk away. After 3 biccies and a mug of tea you'll be calm and have forgotten about your craving altogether.

Oh, and I started smoking again because I like it. Not because this doesn't work

I tried to give up smoking for 20 years before I hit a method that worked for me.

I had a heart attack. Luckily I recognised the symptoms and called an ambulance, thus when I had the second heart attack, which would have been fatal without medical assistance, I was already in hospital.

Worked for me.

Shame I didn't listen to my wife and children who'd been nagging me for 15 years.

I was 'lucky' - I had a good dose of bronchitis just before Christmas. Gives you all the fun of lung cancer without the inconvenience of dying. I've now been off the smokes for over 4 months (after 20 a day for over 20 years) and haven't felt any real cravings for a while

Now, if I could just cut back on the Scotch a little...

Good luck with your health in future Mac!

Thanks.

That was in 1999, since when they been giving me 'the tablets' Thus far I've not fallen apart too much - though something is going to have to be done about the waistline !

You've broken the back of it now - just don't start thinking that "just 1 at a party won't hurt."

After decades of attempts to give up smoking, and throwing away countless cigarettes so that I could start the next day without temptation, seldom lasting more than two hours, I finally gave up with no problems and almost no cravings after making my own version of a self hypnosis tape. I included on it all the reasons for giving up - all the potential health problems, the amount it cost every year and every decade, the discomfort of craving for a cigarette when in a situation where it was not possible to smoke, and so on.
I played the tape daily when I was feeling drowsy, lying in a relaxed posture while listening to the tape in a quiet room.
I didn't stop immediately, but I did so fairly soon with no great problems and no desire to smoke, unlike the previous occasions when I had stopped for short periods.
Smoking addiction is at least ninety five percent psychological, so if you get your mind right, the physical addiction problems are minor.

Thanks Mac - fortunately I am aware of the perils of thinking 'just one won't hurt' due to a previous episode when I gave up for around 6 months but then made the mistake of thinking I could handle 'just one'. WROOONNNNGGGG! (Actually it was all my parents' fault but that's a long story )