I Tried to Quit Smoking, well, at least, cut down Options

[fameONE]

I stay in shape by going to the gym religiously, running in this arid weather, and playing basketball, but I smoke a pack and a half a day. A couple weeks ago, I decided to cut back on smoking to just under a pack a day. I didn't feel any better. In fact, I felt worse. For the first time, I started developing a smoker's cough. It freaked me out so I tried to quit cold turkey. Shortly after, I caught the flu and I was miserable.

Now I'm back to smoking a pack a day and I feel great. What the hell is going on?

[illriginal]

Do NOT buy patches or anything that HAS nicotine just to stop smoking cigarettes. Honestly, that's pointless. You need to go cold turkey, if you drive I can guarantee before you even hit the main road, you light up a cigarette. So if you want start with cutting down... do NOT smoke in your car.

Your brain is literally programmed into believing that a cigarette or nicotine for that matter is part of your everyday life.. as if it's like eating a meal for nutrients. The only way to quit successfully and fast is by cold turkey. Otherwise the action of reaching in to your pocket for your pack, the action of reaching for your lighter, the action of moving your hands together to light up a cigarette, the action of puttin your hand up to your face, the action of putting the cigarette up to your lips, the action of taking a drag will inevitably be a physical addiction or in other words, programmed into your mind.

I used to smoke cigarettes, for 6 months actually... then decided to quit them. I realized that I was literally paying $20-$25 a week to only harm my body which will later cause me to have a degrading death.