The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

jammy_dodger

Emma133 wrote: »

Thanks everyone really helps knowing other people know what its like. I'm not doing so well come down again feel upset, angry and like I wanna hit people!!

I am using the new 16 hour nicorette patch

Hi Emma133 , sounds like you are having a right rough ride , BIG HUGS x x are you in touch with any councilling services that could help you , I know other posters have utilised and benefitted from such supoprt and they would be able to advice if you are using the right NRT for YOU ..

Can you find something to occupy yourself with ? I know too in early stages of giving up , smoking dominates every waking thought and you feel like you are missing something .

Believe me thats what evil nicotine wants you to think you are NOT missing a thing you are GAINING CONTROL with every craving you pass by feel stronger and energised by being in control dont let that evil expensive smelly dominating stick win .. STAY STRONG and enjoy a smoke free life x x

Emma133

Hi Jammy dogder yeah things arn't good, this is my 3rd time this year i did so well the first time but this time its driving me mad. This patch is making me feel very sick as well, I have also had a huge family fall out which isn't helping but I know deep down smoking will not alter anything.

I am using my local support group I see the lady again tomorrow but its only like a drop in centre I will speak to her tomorrow and tell her how I feel but am worried I am going to burst into tears which is not what I want to do at nearly 34 years old!!! I do a lot of cross stitching which really helped the first time round but I just have no motivation for some reason.

I am sorry for being a whinger I feel very low, my OH has never smoked so although he gives great hugs he dosn't understand.

Thank you for all your thoughts and advice, you are all doing so fantastic.

Emma x

ameliarate

Hi Emma, try and calm down a little bit and think about why you are stopping and how wonderful it will be. I am lucky OH and sister have recently stopped so loads of support but this forum has also been great. Sometimes just writing how I feel helps.

I found when things were really bad for me nothing would distract me I just had to grit my teeth and push my way through it.

Hope it gets easier for you soon.

xx

hellnearth

Morning all and well done to those who are overcoming the first few days' cravings :j:T
There's no getting away from it, it is just a truly horrible process but like others have said, it will pass. I rarely get a physical craving now, it's more the habitual thing - like it just crosses my mind to have a cigarette.
Emma, love, I'm sure they won't mind if you have a bit of a blub. I'm 50 and I had one with my counsellor and she joined in! I had experienced that 'click' that someone else mentioned earlier and was telling her about how free I finally felt. They will have seen people go through this before and tears are very, very common and in a way you are mourning something that was very dear to your heart.
Ameliarate, I felt like you too about the choice thing. For me there was nothing worse than a non-smoker ( especially an ex-smoker!! ) telling you what you should and shouldn't do. I love smoking and it's up to me whether I do it or not - that was my reckoning.
But it was my counsellor who asked me, while we were planning this quit attempt:
'But do you actually have a choice?'
I think she was very gently telling me that actually, I wasn't in control at all. And she was right. It's taken me 30 years to stop cos even when I thought I wanted to, I couldn't.
One thing I will never forget was my son on a previous attempt when he was a lot younger. I was putting him to bed and he was obviously upset about something and when I asked him he said:
' I think you love me more when you are smoking.'
I had obviously been grumpy and snappy with him. It upset me so much that I went out and bought a pack the next day.
Now he's 14 and handling it much better!!! Guess cos it's not the first time he's seen it. I can tell when I'm being snappy now cos he just kind of gives me a look and laughs. He's not making a big thing of it, but he asks me every now and again if I'm still off them and I can tell he's really pleased.
For really major cravings, I found the Niquitin minis really good. They have a very strong minty flavour and take ages to dissolve in your mouth. In the end, I only used them about half a dozen times. Not a cop out, just stopped me from becoming a gibbering, dizzy snappy mindless wreck!!

ameliarate

Day 15 and feeling very positive today.

Emma I do hope you are feeling better. You can do it you know and, I am assured, it will be worth it and I really believe that now.

I sobbed on Monday and I, like Hellnearth, am 50. I think that it helped me somehow.

I never believed I could stop and I am quite gobsmacked that it is now (just) over two weeks.

Well done me and everyone else. :T:T:T

Emma133

Hi everyone thanks for the nice comments and everything.

Well I didn't sleep well last night was awake from about 3 am tossing and turning, got up at usual time and slapped my patch on. I had to remove it at 8.30 as I was feeling very very sick and occasionally dizzy. I went to the drop in centre straight after I had done the school run. I explained the problems with my patch and explained I didn't feel I was doing very well at all and there had been a huge family argument that dosn't look like it can be sorted out. She was very nice and said I'd done the hard bit, and that it was my choice what I did, basically if I can give up when stressed out hugely I will deal with stuff better later. She was encouraging but I am very unsure as to whether I can handle this right now I have managed to keep busy today and have a lower mg patch on which is still makes me feel slightly sick but not as much as the other one. I did ask her whether I should try the tablets, but she seems to think I have done the hard bit and stopped and I would have to go through that again.

I am not sure how I feel, I just know this is the 3rd time I have tried this year but I feel so much less confidente this time.

Sorry for rambling, I hope it makes sense I am not sure it makes sense to me..

Keep up the good work everyone you are doing really well.

Emma x

ameliarate

Emma133 wrote: »

Hi everyone thanks for the nice comments and everything.

Well I didn't sleep well last night was awake from about 3 am tossing and turning, got up at usual time and slapped my patch on. I had to remove it at 8.30 as I was feeling very very sick and occasionally dizzy. I went to the drop in centre straight after I had done the school run. I explained the problems with my patch and explained I didn't feel I was doing very well at all and there had been a huge family argument that dosn't look like it can be sorted out. She was very nice and said I'd done the hard bit, and that it was my choice what I did, basically if I can give up when stressed out hugely I will deal with stuff better later. She was encouraging but I am very unsure as to whether I can handle this right now I have managed to keep busy today and have a lower mg patch on which is still makes me feel slightly sick but not as much as the other one. I did ask her whether I should try the tablets, but she seems to think I have done the hard bit and stopped and I would have to go through that again.

I am not sure how I feel, I just know this is the 3rd time I have tried this year but I feel so much less confidente this time.

Sorry for rambling, I hope it makes sense I am not sure it makes sense to me..

Keep up the good work everyone you are doing really well.

Emma x

Emma hang on in there if you can. What about trying gum instead of patches or even cutting the patches in half, I found that pretty good last time I tried.

I hope you come through this ok, but you know what it doesn't matter how many times you have tried so long as you keep trying.

Take care.
xx

choille

Hi Emma - hope you are okay. You need to get a Docs appointment & talk all this through with them I think.
I do hope that you can maybe try & do what is best for you & to remember that you have stopped for 3 days & that it does get easier & the cravings get less strong & further apart. I think you have to think about when is a good time & when is a bad stress time & look at ways to avoid the stress or use stress reducing techniques.
Family rows are part of life I'm afraid.

choille

Monday - I managed to get an appointment with a cessation nurse over in Dingwall. She was good & I had a lot of tips given. It's a heck of a distance to travel & I had to fight to see someone - almost. It does depend on where you live how much help you are going to get.
She is going to phone me on the 15th of this month. I had hoped for more help but this is better than not getting to see anyone.

I was away at a conference thing on Tuesday/wednesday & weirdly I had far fewer cravings. When I got back last night I had really bad cravings. I have to break alot of associations & really work at changing habits about.
I am not getting a lot of sleep & feel really tired out & have done so little today I feel bad about that.


I hope everyone is doing fine.

oldreekie

Hi Choille, I have been wondering where you had got to - guessed the snow had finally melted and that you had made your escape!

I know what you mean about breaking associations and changing habits. Today, I have been up to town for the first time in months and found it quite challenging. I know all the places it is possible to have a coffee and a smoke even on the coldest, wettest days and there were a few pangs as I passed these old haunts. But then, there were the poor folk huddling in doorways ..... and the awful smell in the air and on folks clothes. I noticed the lines on faces (why do men get away with it ) just like mine and wished I had never started. Anyone know of a good polyfiller?

So pleased I do not smoke :j

3 weeks 12hours 10 mins
430 cigarettes not smoked
£120.44 saved :j:j:j

......spent most of that at the MAC counter in Harvey Nicks

Well done, everyone......we CAN DO IT