Korean Job Discussion Forums

sojourner1 · Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 10:49 pm Post subject: Anyone quitting smoking?

I quit smoking 2 weeks ago, but chewing about 15 pieces of 2 mg nicotine gum a day which costs double that of cigarettes. I plan to ween off the gum soon as well. There is a good stop smoking project in progress @ http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showforum=65
Any stop smoking support projects going on in Korea right now?

If anyone else is on the quest to stop being exploited by tobacco companies, please let us all know your story. I feel like a lone ranger with doing this on my own by myself, but have the strength to do it this time for some odd reason. Maybe a pain in the chest or an irregular heartbeat scared me 2 weeks ago or I have a new anxiety building in me. I know I am very anxious to get out of here and move on with life.

I can drink beer and go to the bar and still not smoke despite everyone else toking up a storm, though I don't stay long since the bar is boring, full of smoking men, and expensive. I am committed to quit smoking for good this time since I am afraid for my health, finances, and social being such as not getting a good job when I go home over stinking in the interview or potential new friends passing you up over cigarette odors. I am very sure I lost out on many good things in life due to smoking and it's time to take a stand and gain more control of my life and live as I should.

I notice the nicotine gum began to taste very salty 4 days after quitting smoking and it continues to taste more salty today. I can even taste salt or salinity in beer and everything now. I haven't used any salt in my cooking since I quit smoking and my food tastes even better now. I notice I have a new keen sense of smell too where I can smell everything; people, foods, buildings, cars, my own breath, myself; anything, you name it. It's a new reality for me recently, sometimes pleasant, sometimes rather offending.

Is there sodium or salt in nicotine gum?

Tony_Balony · Joined: 12 Apr 2007

You should try drugs. there are 2 different meds available now, both slightly more than the cost of smokes.

Jizzo T. Clown · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Location: at my wit's end

Just remember all of the benefits of quitting smoking and that all it takes is one cigarette to start up again.

I quit nearly a year ago and am never going back. Smoke gets in your clothes and even if you haven't been smoking, others can smell it on you, which doesn't create a very favorable impression.

One day at a time is the way to go.

CeleryMan · Joined: 12 Apr 2007 Location: Seoul

IMHO the nicotine gum is a placebo. You simply need to find another vice. For me it was boxing. Whenever I had the urge, I'd put the gloves on and knock the ish outta of a punching bag.

Good luck

safeblad · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

i am 'quitting' smoking, well actually i usually dont smoke for about a 3rd of the year and am getting quite good at quitting for a while if not for ever.

i smoked one today after a week though because my bed fell apart while i was on it and i got really stressed Twisted Evil

safeblad · Joined: 17 Jul 2006

ChopChaeJoe · Joined: 05 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul

I have two habits: smoking and quitting smoking. Oh, and barely legal magazines.

sojourner1 · Posted: Sat Sep 01, 2007 1:19 am Post subject:

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

If I were you, I totally wouldn't bother with substitutes - like nicorette. Just go cold turkey. Using substitutes is essential for alcohol or heroin withdrawal but absolutely inessential for nicotine. Not only for the reason that nicotine withdrawal is nowhere as difficult as is claimed, but also, what possible common sense is there in replacing nicotine with a nicotine substitute? With illegal drugs and alcohol withdrawal, they give the addict a subby that is NOT the thing they're addicted to but something similar (like Methadone for heroin addicts) - the idea being, they take the substitute for a week or two, withdraw from the drugs and then stop taking the substitute and be clean (because it's the drug they're hooked on - not the substitute). Using nicotine to withdraw from nicotine addiction is the stupidest thing and so unnecessary given how much of a doddle quitting smoking is.

I can't resist cigs when I'm out drinking (and no - that's not every day, not even close Very Happy

) and my body has gotten used to that now. During the week, at work, after meals, etc, I simply do not crave a cigarette and I started smoking when I was 14.

Don't be a wimp. Don't use subbies. Subbies are for people who are addicted to things where withdrawal is a living hell that has been known to make people take their own lives. Alcohol withdrawal can and does kill (in extreme cases). Remember - nicotine is a harmful drug, it narrows the arteries. Nicorette is much better than smoking of course, but still, it's not healthy. If you're deadly serious about quitting, you need to go cold turkey and go through a week of mild irritation - after that you'll be all right.

And no - 'one cig and you're hooked again' is false, Jizzo. It takes time (but much less time than it took to get hooked the first time). What having one cig does is set a precedent, but you can get away with the occasional cig if you fancy.

Jizzo T. Clown · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Location: at my wit's end

SPINOZA · Joined: 10 Jun 2005 Location: $eoul

Fresh Prince · Joined: 05 Dec 2006 Location: The glorious nation of Korea

I quit smoking several years ago and it was one of the hardest things I've ever done. I tried cold turkey, and failed. I tried nicotine gum, and failed. I tried the patch, and failed. I would have tried hypnosis if it was available in my city and I would have tried expensive medication if that was available or I had the money. In reality, I would have failed at those things too.

In the end, I quit smoking by going cold turkey and just toughing it out. It was far from easy and probably one of the most difficult things I've ever done. They say that it takes 30 days to built a habit and that's about how long it takes to build the habit of not smoking, so you'll need to go at least 30 days without having a smoke. The first couple times I tried to quit by going cold turkey I ended up having a smoke after the first day and then starting back up again. I've seen people try to limit themselves to only four smokes a day or whatever but it doesn't work.

My advice to really think about why you want to quit today and before you go to bed have your last smoke. When you wake up tomorrow your a nonsmoker. It will be rough but just power through it and get it done.

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

Yeah, cold turkey is the way to go. I need to quit myself. It's bad for the heart.

I smoke 2 packs a day. At least.

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

If you smoke a maximum amount of smokes, it's probably not that bad.

Jizzo T. Clown · Joined: 27 Mar 2006 Location: at my wit's end

Quitting smoking was damn tough. I still haven't quit drinking, though--I think they put heroin and coke in alcohol.