If you’re living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and smoke, quitting is one of the most important steps you can take to help manage your condition.

In conversations on MyCOPDTeam like this one, members have shared different approaches to quitting, including professional support, medications, new routines, and strategies for managing cravings and triggers.

There’s no single way to quit smoking, and some people make more than one attempt before finding what works for them.

Here are six tips MyCOPDTeam members have shared about quitting smoking. 

A quit plan can start with noticing when, where, and why you tend to smoke. Paying attention to your habits may help you recognize situations that trigger the urge to smoke. Professional support can also help you find ways to handle those situations.

“If you really want to quit, find a health professional who has been trained in smoking quits. They will help you analyze your smoking habit and find things that will work for you in each situation.”

 

— A MyCOPDTeam member

Another member described combining medication with ongoing support from their general practitioner (GP): “I gave up smoking 10 years ago. I did it with tablets and help from my GP, and I had to go to meetings once a week for six weeks.”

Talk with your healthcare provider about your goal of quitting. They can help you explore medication options, counseling, and support groups and make a plan that works for you.

Some MyCOPDTeam members used medications to help them quit smoking. Options include nicotine replacement therapy, such as patches, gum, and lozenges, as well as prescription medications such as varenicline and bupropion.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), combining counseling and medication gives people the best chance of quitting for good.

One member described combining two forms of nicotine replacement: “I used both the patch and the gum! It was hard, but with a prayer chain and determination, [I’ve stayed] healthy 15 years now!”

Another member found a prescription medication helpful: “I tried everything and every method. What worked for me was the drug [varenicline]. … It made the withdrawal manageable.”

These comments describe individual experiences, not treatment recommendations. Ask your healthcare provider which options are appropriate for you and how to use them safely.

For some people, quitting involves more than managing nicotine cravings. Smoking may also be connected to familiar routines, such as:

• What you do after eating
• When you feel stressed
• When you need something to do with your hands

Several MyCOPDTeam members said they replaced smoking with another activity. One shared, “I became busy, like doing dishes, going for a walk (weather permitting), trying to do something other than have a cigarette!!”

Another member described finding substitutes for both the hand-to-mouth habit and the urge to smoke: “It’s been almost a year since I quit smoking 🚬, one of the benefits from that is, my appetite has increased.

“A lot of days, I keep my hands busy, toothpick in mouth, anything within reason to keep me from picking up a cigarette.”

 

— A MyCOPDTeam member

Pay attention to when and where you reach for a cigarette. Having another activity ready for those moments may help you change the routine as you work toward quitting.

Some MyCOPDTeam members found it helpful to focus on one craving at a time rather than thinking too far ahead.

As one MyCOPDTeam member put it simply, “The way I quit is one craving at a time …”

Others described gradually changing their smoking habits. One member said, “I’ve gone from two packs a day to seven cigarettes. I used to smoke the minute I woke up. … Now I make myself wait at least an hour. That was hard as heck.”

Gradually cutting back may work for some people, but it may not be the right approach for everyone. If cravings are one of the hardest parts of quitting, it may help to learn more about triggers that make you crave a cigarette and to talk with a healthcare professional or tobacco cessation specialist about a plan that fits you.

Removing smoking reminders from your surroundings can be another part of a quit plan.

One MyCOPDTeam member took steps to remove those reminders before returning home from the hospital: “Before I got dismissed, I asked my grandson to clean out all the cigarettes, ashtray, etc. before I went home. Also, my car.”

Emotional triggers can be just as important to recognize. Another member described how stress contributed to returning to smoking: “Anger is my trigger. I picked them up again when my car engine blew the gasket. … Trying to quit now is not that easy.”

Learning your triggers can help you plan for them. Talk with your healthcare provider or cessation counselor about what you can do when stress, certain situations, or familiar routines bring on a strong urge to smoke.

Quitting often doesn’t happen overnight, and it may take several attempts. A lapse doesn’t have to mean giving up on your goal. Members have described continuing to focus on their reasons for quitting and trying again when an approach didn’t work as planned.

One MyCOPDTeam member captured that persistence clearly: “If I quit once, I quit 100 times. Don’t stop quitting. Dream about quitting. I compiled a list of reasons to quit.”

Smoking can also come with feelings of shame, especially after a COPD diagnosis. One member offered this perspective:

“Forgive yourself. 🥰 Shame only brings you down, and that sadness can affect your ability to breathe. Stay in the moment and look for the blessings. Keep hope in your heart.🤗”

 

— A MyCOPDTeam member

Quitting smoking may also help lower the risk of COPD flare-ups. Even if quitting takes more than one attempt, each effort can be a step toward protecting your lung health.

Find What Works for You

Your path to quitting may look different from someone else’s. MyCOPDTeam members have used professional support, medications, changes to their routines, trigger management, and persistence to work toward their goals.

Your healthcare team can help you find an approach that works for you.