Trying To Quit Smoking

i have tried going cold turkey, but it just doesn't work for me. i have found that cutting down, along with herbal supplements, diet changes, and patch work for me. the cravings are just too bad. the withdraws are just much too much. i am a survivor of depression, so this is also not a fun part of trying to quit smoking. cutting down gives me a feeling of control. i don't feel like it's just another thing i can't do, or have. or maybe it seems like  just another something that i HAVE TO do (quit smoking). promises are also something that i have decided to quit. lol. from the time you lay the plan down to have "your last cigarette forever", you have already messed up. it's an automatic set up for failure, if you go in to trying to quit smoking without a plan. furthermore, it's killing to the motivation and spirit, if you have a slip. after all, you did make the promise and failed, right? i tend to be more realistic about my goals. i am down to about 2 cigarettes a day, max. this is coming down from about 10 cigarettes a day (give or take a few). i know, i know. i wasn't that big of a smoker, but i have been doing it for almost 10 years now. i have quit in between. the longest time frame was 3 months. one day, i had a disappointment and just decided to give up and have a cigarette. after i started back, i went back full force, smoking twice as much as i did before. 

this time i am going to do it smart. i feel better about having a plan of action that i can follow. i can actually see myself eventually giving up the habit totally. when trying to go cold turkey. i could never see that. i thought that i would have to spend the rest of my life battling nicotine addictions, and craving cigarettes all day. that was unimaginable to me. this is probably one of the reasons why i didn't succeed in the past. i could not fathom my life with out cigarettes. what would i do when i feel like i want to kill someone with imaginary death beams from my eyes? lol. now, i am able to implement some of the advice that i use to get from others like, " find another hobby, or something else to replace your smoking". this is because i am just cutting back and weaning myself. my mind and body can hold out that way. the chemicals in my brain are not bothering me to smoke all day long, to the point where i can't think. the herbal teas i drink are better than the sodas i use to, while smoking. for me, sodas were synonymous with having a cigarette. so, i enjoy the tea because it does not link to having a cigarette, psychologically. furthermore, the tea is an aid to help with cigarette withdraws. yes, it does work! i love it. i also am eating more fruits and vegetables. this also reduces the need to smoke, because fruits and vegetables are natural blood cleansers. they help get all the toxins, and chemicals to help keep you addicted to cigarettes, out of your body. of course, i also do modified weight training (i am partially disabled), so that i can keep my nice and toned athletic figure. exercising helps to counter act all the eating i have been doing, since i cut down.

if any of you out there are trying to quit smoking. please add me. i need all the support i can get. i would also like to be a support to others. maybe we could start a smokers 12 step on Apsense or something. lol. i just need to hear from people who may be going through the same thing. tell me what you are going through. what are your experiences quitting smoking? what works? is there anything that doesn't? feed me knowledge. lend me your shoulder and i will lend you mine. i will be sure to keep you posted.