The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

geoffgeofftygeoff

Just checking in - now got two weeks of smoke-free-ness behind me! :j

It's going well but I'm still fighting off what seems like endless coughing and a blocked nose/throat - I'm sure this will sort itself out soon so I'm staying positive. There's been a couple of tricky occasions but nothing too taxing yet. I am wary though as I have tried to stop many times before. There are certain key events I find myself in where it seems unthinkable to NOT have a cigarette. I think I need to re-train my brain to look at the situation as it is - why on earth would a cigarette help or improve the situation? It's crazy really but I know this is the effect it has.

ggg

larmy16

Just give it time Geoff. I was a many times quitter - I have lost count! Just take it day by day. I read somewhere that the more you cough up the better as it shows your lungs are functioning very well considering our determination to make them suffer!

You are doing very well. Keep it up. It is the associations that are most troublesome but I think it's best to let them come into your mind and gently let them go instead of focussing on them and then they take hold of the mind.

Well done Geoff.

Sue-UU

Hi Pam and congratulations on such a long quit! You also larmy!!! You've both achieved so VERY much and have such a great deal to be so proud of!!! :T I'm sure it must be closer to 6 months larmy..of it isn't then it certainly seems like it! Whatever the actual time is though you have been amazing throughout it all..and look at all those that you've helped along the way! As I said, you've so much to be ecstatic about!!! :T

Brilliant news about you too Sexy Legs!!! Again, it's so very much to be thrilled about, so keep at it and stay strong!!! :T You're so right about rewarding yourselves too, it's something to give you all the incentive to keep it up and to look forward too!!

Good to see you back irishwexford!!! :T Keep on listening to the CD as it's all about what makes us feel better about coping that counts, and if that helps and calms you, keep at it! Keep occupied and get plenty of exercise, as exercising indoors and out is so beneficial and makes quitting far easier! Stay strong!

Well Done Grumpybutgorgeous, you've made the right decision I'm sure, some people can take Champix ok but it makes others quite poorly. You've at least started and now that you have, keep on chatting to us and letting your feelings out here. Also, read all the way through the posts, you'd be amazed just how positive that makes you feel. Keep an eye on your money and as Sexy Legs says, treat yourself, it's good for you and something to look forward to each week! Stay strong!!! :j

geoffgeofftygeoff wrote: »

Just checking in - now got two weeks of smoke-free-ness behind me! :j

It's going well but I'm still fighting off what seems like endless coughing and a blocked nose/throat - I'm sure this will sort itself out soon so I'm staying positive. There's been a couple of tricky occasions but nothing too taxing yet. I am wary though as I have tried to stop many times before. There are certain key events I find myself in where it seems unthinkable to NOT have a cigarette. I think I need to re-train my brain to look at the situation as it is - why on earth would a cigarette help or improve the situation? It's crazy really but I know this is the effect it has.

ggg

Great news ggg!!! :T Having come to 2 weeks is terrific news!!! :T You're quite right about the coughing and a blocked nose/throat, it will sort itself out soon. You're also right about needing to re-train your brain to look at the situation and a cigarette can NEVER help or improve any situation, it just takes us back to square 1!!!
You're all doing marvellously and have so much to be proud of, but most of all you're making yourselves healthy again and that alone is amazing! Keep it up everyone and keep with the thread!

Always wishing you well. Sue x

geoffgeofftygeoff

larmy16 wrote: »

Hi everyone!

Just managed to track the thread down as it had disappeared off my subscribed list.

I quit sometime in May. It may have been the beginning or the end as I have mislaid the book I wrote it down in - either way it is definitely 5 months if not nearer 6. I am so happy! <snip>

Big congrats on 6 months :T

funkymonkey

hi everyone - im back with my tail between my legs! back on the terrible weed but going to have my quit date tomorrow! i have a fnial essay for uni that i am finnishing tonight and then that will be it! no more smoking or stress!

larmy16

Good luck Funky. It's not easy admitting you have gone back on the weed. So well done you for your honesty both with yourself and us lot!

Nicotine is a crafty old devil and you have to be on your guard against its trickery. Still at least you have more knowledge than you did before.

All the best. Keep posting.

frugalpam

Good for you coming back, funkymonkey :beer: I think many of us have had practice quits - I've been there and got the T shirt Still, each time I learned something that helped the next time- and this time I am determined this is my final quit
Good luck to you - you'll do it!

Pam

funkymonkey wrote: »

hi everyone - im back with my tail between my legs! back on the terrible weed but going to have my quit date tomorrow! i have a fnial essay for uni that i am finnishing tonight and then that will be it! no more smoking or stress!

Sue-UU

Well done Funky!! You're as welcome now as you were back a while. It's one thing to try, but not quite make it, but it's quite another to have the courage to admit it and come back for another try. Well done you and lets hope this time is the time you'll make it for good!!! :T All the best with the essay and the QUIT!!!

Keep it up everybody, you're doing the best thing ever so keep at it and have courage!

Sue

irishwexford

I am starting second week of patches supplied by local clinic with a weekly back-up visit. Today I suddenly felt depressed and lonely, a feeling I am not used to and finding it difficult to cope with. Perhaps its the weather and not the quitting smoking but I feel I am missing something in life and assume this is a side effect. I don't want a ciggie but don't know what I do want. I smoked on average 10 per day at cost of £3 so so far saved £21, my mouth feels clean and my skin is looking better already. Anyone else have experience of feeling depressed, my OH has never smoked so would not understand how I can pine for my friend the ciggie.

Sue-UU

Hi there irish.

All that you're experiencing is typical of what most of us feel after quitting. As daft as I might seem to someone who's never been under it's spell before, what you're going through is nothing less than short-term grieving! It is, as you say, the loss of a friend, some thing that's always been beside us whenever we found situations difficult, whenever things became too much, to give us a lift, to help us through as we began a telephone conversation....or anything similar. Now you're facing life without it (your friend) and can't quite remember that before smoking you coped quite well with any form of stress having nothing to lean on, unless it was a real friend in the physical term to chat things over with or to help out.

The one thing I urge you to always remember is that (let's give it a name) Nic is nothing more than a BAD friend, a friend that got into your brain and made it make you do things that would, if you kept using him, gives you a terrible cough, awful chest, robs you of your money, risks making you very ill, or even possibly kill you!! This is no real friend at all, it's an alien being that's been taking over our lives, but deserves no place in our lives and only we as individuals have the right - and the need - to kick it right out of our lives!!! :mad: Tell that friend of yesteryear that it deserves NO PLACE in your life whatsoever, kick him out irish, you can - we ALL CAN!!! Take a look at the PM, it'll also help. You know where I am.

Thinking of you, Sue x