Good story. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

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Was your method Hypnotism Kris?


Not exactly Spick, but something a bit similar I suppose. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I think that everyone is different, so we need to find out what works best for each of us. I'm sure that hypnotism would be ideal for some. My wife tells me that some work colleagues reported that accupuncture also works well for some people. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I used a sort of "self brainwashing" idea. First I cut down to 4 or 5 a day so that the physical side of it was lessened. But the main game was working on my attitude to it, and making it as aversive as possible.

Over and over I'd conjure up negative images of smoking - stale overflowing ashtrays, rotting lungs, coughing winos, smelly clothes and hair, etc. All the bad stuff about smoking. I ended up doing it so successfully that even now I find smoking repulsive.

At the same time I worked on my strengths/weaknesses, vanity or whatever, by saying to myself "you think you've got self control, but you've let a little stick of tobacco take control of your life", "are you really so weak that you're going to fail at this", etc etc. I like to think that I can do most things that I set my mind to, so that sort of self talk had a good chance of working. And I taunted myself so thoroughly that I simply couldn't allow myself to fail! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />

I had to grit my teeth for a couple of weeks though. And smokers do miss all the accessories - the packets, match, lighter etc, and all the business of fiddling around with cigarettes. But I was renovating a house at the time, so I found plenty to occupy my hands.

Of course I didn't put the money I saved in a jar and wait 25 years until I had enough for a car (although it would have grown to enough to buy it). But I believe that some people have success with a method that involves putting the money in a jar each day. However, I think you need to cash in the reward every few days at the start.

At the time I was renovating and rebuilding the first house I ever bought so the money was ploughed back into reducing the debts, paying off loans early etc. So it was very handy, as it not only helped wipe out debt but also reduced the interest I paid, by helping shorten the term. Over the next few years it would have made a significant difference to how quickly we got on top of debt (we haven't had a mortgage or loan for many years now).

I have a brother who lives not far from Exeter, so I'll mention the site next time I email him. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />