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Gradual Smoking Reduction: Hand to Mouth Habit

by Pat

Calgary, Alberta
Canada

I had smoked for 35 years (started when I was 12). When I decided to quit I decided to use multiple methods as I saw fit. First I weened myself down from 20 cigarettes a day to 6, weekly increments (12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2). I took Zyban during that entire time and stayed on Zyban while switching to the patch. I went to the step 2 patch for two weeks, then the last step 3 patch which I am on for my second week. I believe I will need to use this patch for another 2-3 weeks to rid myself of the hand and mouth habit. I am over the physical addiction and, in fact, was over that by day 3. Psychologically, I feel smoke free, just need to get rid of the hand/mouth habit. It is another win everytime I am in a situation where I think what it would be like to smoke again, but resist the urge to buy cigarettes or even bum one. I add every win to my belt of notches and remember the agony of the first 3 days and remind myself I do not want to have to go thru that again. One inhale could do it! I workout a little more than usual and take a walk and breathe deep when a craving comes over me. It only takes two minutes and it is over, and they are becoming fewer and further apart. So, for me, I weened down using Zyban to reduce my nicotine intake then switched to the patch to get rid of the hand/mouth habit. Extra workouts and deep breathing are a few of the things I do when I do get an urge which is seldom now. The multiple methods is working for me!