So, I'm back to a pack a day.

[NuclearDem]

For context, I've been working on cutting back on how much I smoke. I used to be a pack a day smoker for a long time, but had finally cut back to about two packs a week.

I only used to smoke when the stress got too bad.

But here I am again. The stress and anger is getting to me, and I can't take it.

I honestly--and in retrospect, probably naively--thought we were done with finding bullshit excuses to bomb the hell out of the world. I thought when the country elected the guy who constantly railed against "stupid wars" that we were done with reckless military adventurism. I thought after seeing what haphazard intervention on the other side has earned us, we were finally going to stop.

But here we are.

My head hurts. My heart's ready to give out.

Is it ever going to end?

[Hayabusa]

1. Have you tried e-cigs?

I have a friend that swears by them. Might help in these stressful times.

[NuclearDem]

2. I have, and I'm working on getting a refill for the liquid.

[Hayabusa]

3. Good luck on that, Nuke.

[dflprincess]

4. Have you tried Chantix?

I know not everyone can tolerate it, but it was a magic bullet for me. Six years, cigarette free as of yesterday and I can say I honestly have not had the urge to smoke and that includes during some of the most stressful times of my life.

[Heddi]

14. Chantix for me, smoke free for 4.5 years now

It changed my brain. Like, before when I quit I had weak spots, no matter how long I hadn't smoked, I had triggers: waiting for the bus, out for drinks with friends, etc.

No triggers. Nothing. The idea of picking up a cigarette is as foreign to me as picking up a hypodermic with heroin in it.

About a month after I quit i was with friends and thought "what the hell" and took a drag.

Here I was, a month out of smoking 1/2 to 1+ pack a day for 13 or 14 years...took one drag off a smoke and I felt like I was going to die. I turned green, started choking, my throat was sore for DAYS. i puked. I couldn't get the smell off of me, out from inside of me.

It was like I had never smoked before. I felt that 1 drag (not a cigarette...a drag) for 3 days.

It changed my brain chemistry.

It saved my life.

[Politicalboi]

5. Join the club

I was on Chantix, I still haven't quit. First day on Chantix I only smoked 5 cigarettes all day. Then the first week went by, and I was still smoking. Went through the second week and still smoking even more. I still have the last weeks worth of pills if I decide to give it a try later on. If you have no insurance, go to a free clinic to get Chantix if you feel it will work for you. It's costs me nothing.

I am having a tough time between money, and outdoor cats that now need to stay indoors because my neighbor has allergies.

[Skittles]

6. yes it can end

it took me seven times to finally quit - just LEARN from your experience, LEARN what triggers you to smoke and try to deal with those triggers

as far as rich white profiteers pimping for war? that might not end

[fadedrose]

7. I quit 6 years ago for various reasons..

after smoking for a little over 52 years, and enjoyed everyone of those cigarettes.

Got tired of little holes in my clothes from ashes, the price, the cold outside cause I couldn't smoke inside, and people looking at me like a criminal, as well as having to go to the bathroom to smoke, open the window, and put it out before grandchildren arrived. Got tired of children complaining about their clothes smelling of smoke after they left my home, etc., just one thing after another, besides the high cost...

I tried to quit about 10 years ago and got a drug called Wellbutin or something like that, it didn't work.

When I made up my mind to quit, I had a carton on hand. Got many good books from the library, and went thru about 7-8 bags of cough drops, 200 per bag, and was never without one or two in my mouth at all times. Thought I was going to die from menthol.

Watching the news, books and coughdrops got me over the 2-week hump. Oh, also, I took short naps anytime I could when the desire was overwhelming. I kept the carton handy for over a year, which made quitting easier..

If I knew I was going to die in 2 weeks, I would get a 2-week supply of cigarettes and ask people not to visit because they wouldn't like the smoke. butg since I don't know when I will die, I won't start - I might have the misfortune of living till I'm over 90, god forbid...

Good luck, have one for fadedrose, or throw it on the ground and step on it for me.

[Spider Jerusalem]

8. Roll your own

roll-ups last longer (the tobacco has more moisture and no accelerants, they'll go out on their own if left in an ashtray instead of burning down). Or switch to something made with all-natural tobacco with no additives like Dunhills or American Spirit. You'll smoke less that way even if you don't manage to quit (and roll-ups cost less).

[vanlassie]

9. You might ask yourself if the current political

sutuation is worth your life? Now, I would NOT be surprised if Pres Obama has stepped up his smoking, but YOU, dear NuclearDem, are not being called on to sacrifice your precious health for this mess.

[NuclearDem]

10. Sigh, it's not.

I don't know why I let it control me like that either.

[vanlassie]

11. My ex used Lamaze breathing to get thru

early cravings. Maybe a mantra to go with the breathing? "I can do this. I WILL do this..."

[Luminous Animal]

12. e-cigs really helped me cut down. I don't smoke near as much using them...

I don't smoke tobacco in the house but I would step outside regularly to have a cig. I do smoke e-cigs indoors but surprisingly, I find myself going several hours without wanting a puff and when I do, I'll "smoke" the equivalent of a quarter cigarette and then not take another "puff" for several more hours.

As I was explaining to a friend of mine who is trying to quit, I think that when you light a cigarette, you are almost always 100% committed to smoking it to the butt building up (and maintaining) your nicotine dependent level. But with an e-cig, though you many start of puffing as regularly to keep pace with your nicotine dependency, gradually, you just stop picking it up so often. I think this happens because you don't smell the smoke that reminds you to take another puff.

[applegrove]

13. I quit using Chantix/champix. Then when I

weaned off the pill and had the odd crave I smoked only herbal cigaretts. They were gross. Not enjoyable. After a few months of that I stopped with the herbal smokes. I was then totally quit. Whenever I see someone smoking I go back to how it felt to smoke the herbals. BIG YUCK! And that is all I ever feel about smoking. Even when I smell a cigarette. I never crave. I‘m so happy with my quit. Been 5 years now. It is so worth it. The quit took strength but for only the 3 months I was on champix and the two I smoked herbal cigarettes. After those 5 months it takes no effort to be quit.