Hello LPG,

I know I should stop.  I am talking about smoking and that is all the more on my mind now that we have reached October or should I say Stoptober again.  I am now in my 7^th decade on earth and I have spent the past five of them as an addict of this habit.   I started in my late teens, soon after I joined the army, and just about everyone did back in those days.

The stats make grim reading (►►►) but in spite of the change in the smoking laws (►►►), the depressing pictures on the packets and the thought of how much per week it costs me I just can’t kick the habit.  I have tried patches, anti-smoking chewing gums, tablets and sprays for years without success and I even tried just not doing it unsuccessfully. 

Some ten years ago I actually found a patch which worked for about three months but I was at a family party and offered just one and it was that just one that lead to another and before I knew it the habit was back with me.

Last year I redecorated my living room and when the pictures came off the walls I realised the true effect that smoking has on my house.  I mentioned it to of my friends one of whom took me out and made me get an electronic cigarette which, like everything else that I have tried, incurred quite a heavy initial cost and using them was an interesting activity.   I really tried hard to work with them for about a week but they did not work for me.

I draw the line at hypnoses because, to my mind, the expense will not justify the means.  I have friends who have had sessions and both of them report that it did not work.  It is said that you  have to adopt a state of mind that is accepting before this is effective and I think that I would just find the whole thing funny and not be a serious candidate.

I can’t explain why I think I need them so much although I live alone and only ever smoke at home. I have been quite ill recently and had many tests to work out if that is smoke-related but they have all been inconclusive. 

I wonder if my inability to stop is just in my head sometimes.  I cannot put my finger on why it is not working for me.

I have to ask the British government why they don’t just ban the sale of the things instead of giving out mixed messages.  If the little sticks of tar were not so available it would be easier for people like me to give them up, but while the establishment are the first to agree that they are no good for us, they cannot kick the habit of collecting all the revenue that this national addiction makes for them and the companies that produce the cigarettes.

Perhaps we should ask the government to kick the habit!

CJ, Brockley.

LPG has come to the conclusion that giving up is not easy but we have found some information that we hope might help…

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Note that some of the sites above are offering services and we are not endorsing them in any way.