How to Stop Smoking - a Quitter's Diary

I wanted to give up smoking for years and used cigarettes as a comfort blanket during times of work-related stress or actually, for any reason at all. I enjoy smoking however smoking was killing me. Here is my diary during my six week battle with the dreaded weed:

WEEK 1:

Dragged myself to the Doctor puffing away at least 20 fags in anticipation of quitting. He forwarded me to a lovely woman called Hayleigh and the program was to begin. I was asked why I wanted to give up cigarettes and the only thing I could come up with was they were in control of me and I didn't like not being in control. Hypnosis was given and I begin to progressively relax and Hayleigh asks my subconscious mind to help me to quit smoking. On leaving Hayleigh I have myself three days to gather my thoughts and then I would quit smoking. D-Day arrives and I puff my LAST CIGARETTE and visit Hayleigh to try visualization and see myself happier and not a cigarette in sight .... the next few days I was like grumpy out of The Seven Dwarfs.

WEEK 2:

More hypnosis to reinforce my strength and I am happy with my progress. The only thing bar being completely unbearable to live with due to my mood swings was my absolute desire to eat anything within my sight. I put on a few pounds and tried not to worry too much about it. I could fix my weight by going to the gym after I quit smoking.

WEEK 3:

Hayleigh suggests mild exercise such as walking, swimming or anything that will help me to realize that I am never going to have a cigarette again. My eating has calmed down and I am beginning to drink water. It is only when I have a glass of wine with my meal that I get this sudden urge to root around the entire house to see if I can find a single butt of a cigarette. This urge is overwhelming and if I saw a half-smoked cigarette lying on the side on the road I would have taken it there and then.

WEEK 4:

At last the non smoking begins to get easier and my chest no longer is hurling up years of black tar. I crave spicy foods and try another small session with Hayleigh to boost my strength. The exercise is slow however I have begun to walk for 20 minutes every evening. I am beginning to relax and not as jumpy as I have been over the past few weeks.