The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

System

Well I have jumped in, took a bit but gave up at 10.30 this morn after a few false starts, Main issue I find is I always smoke at regular times, like 11am, 1pm and so on, when it approaches these times it is torture, but at other times its not to bad but smoking is all I think about, I bought some nicorette gum but its bloody foul stuff so haven't had anything since, I downloaded the NHS smoking app for my iPhone which is quite useful, this evening I feel like i've lost something, does that feeling ever go away?

oldreekie

Hi everyone. Good to see so many new non-smokers :T:T:T

Nirelandguy - so pleased that you have taken the first steps. :j To answer you question re "being hard as it is made out to be" ~ it seems to affect us in different ways. Some folk find it relatively easy while others, especially those of us who have smoked for 30+ years, struggle through the first stages.

IMO it also depends on the reasons for stopping. I knew that I had to stop but did not want to. Allen Carr did not work for me but then I find all shades of NLP irritating. Like you I had hypnotherapy ... 3 sessions .... and cried for 9 weeks .... it had not worked and, therefore, I was getting by on just willpower and sheer stubborness .... spent the money so had to stop! In the end, neither I nor my family could bear my depression. My GP refused to write a prescription for antidepressants ... thank goodness .... but did write one for NRT. Once I felt better, I started on the patches etc and here I am. It gets easier each day and I have various coping strategies for the weak moments. I am not convinced that NRT is the best way to stop but some of us need all the help we can get - and at least we hare not inhaling all those terrible chemicals.

Like you, I had set times for smoking - find something else to do at those times ie walk very fast for 10 mins. I used the NRT inhalator as a substitute at those times but soon grew bored. Come on here and write down your thoughts and/or read the thread(s) from beginning to end.

I hated the gum - have you tried the inhalator or lozenges? The minis are very good for a quick fix and may be the answer for your "set times" Much research has been done on NRT and it has been showen that people who use 2 methods of NRT together have a greater chance of succeeding. My prescription was for 2 products of my choice.

The NHS app sounds great - much like the online programmes I used.

Be prepared to have this dominate your life for the next week or so - but you will move on. I do waiver at times but then I smell a smoker, hear someone "drowning" with phlegm or identify smokers with early emphysema symptoms. A couple of years ago I was rushed to hospital with chest pains - I was fine - but in the bed next to me was a lady, not much older than I, who could not breathe without oxygen - she had smoked 30 a day for over 30 years. That was one of my wake-up calls - and yet it took me ages to get around to stopping. :mad:

We will be here for you

Well done, elfen - how have you managed without the patches, today?

Silkquit says:-

3 months 3 weeks 6 days

£652.19 saved

2330 not smoked

Count the gains and not the losses :j:j

sheldon08

Hi guys:hello:

My first day of....what? Starting to stop? Anyway, whatever the correct terminology is, today is the first day of me not smoking. Going to try going at it with sheer willpower. I've stocked up on a load of fruit to snack on and am currently sucking on a lollypop lol:o

As I'm at home today I would definitely normally be on cigarette number three by now, so it's a start:T

oldreekie

Welcome, sheldon08, you have come to the right place!:hello:

You will receive masses of support here so do pop in whenever you need to chat, vent or moan.

I like to think I became a non-smoker the moment I put out the last cigarette. IMO "not smoking" seems similar to a non-drinking alcoholic and "quitting" infers a process. I guess we use the term with which we are most comfortable.

I have found the mantras " I am a non-smoker" and "I CAN do this" extremely helpful

sheldon08

Hi oldreekie, please call me shel, it's a bit less of a mouthful;) Thank you for your welcome.

I went out this morning and bought clementines, cherries and grapes. I've only started reading this thread this morning. Funny how many times clementines have been mentioned so far in the thread so far:D

It's something I have been wanting to do for a good while now so no more excuses and this is the time.

I possibly would have had about 4 cigs by now so all good so far. I had quite a craving about an hour or so ago but the lollypop really helped.

stov

40 days - champix

Quick update - Still going along nicely, sleeping better now and only suffer from nausea in the morning if i don't eat before my tab.

Can't say i feel physically better, however mentally i feel a lot better. i've had a few occassions where i've thought about it, usually when alcohol's involved!!!

Will stick at it and update you all at a later date.

Good luck to you all

frugalpam

Hello all! Just calling in to let you know I'm still happily quit - now one year and four months :j Even the strong likelihood of being made redundant soon hasn't made me think I want a ciggie - far from it! I'm just not interested in smoking any more.

Good luck to the new quitters here - I was a die-hard smoker, smoking up to 30 ciggies a day, and if I can do it, then anyone can! You've just got to be really focussed and very determined.

Pam

sheldon08

Day Two:T

I didn't smoke at all yesterday. I hit a crisis point when I received a letter from my solicitor but I stuck a lolly in my mouth instead:T I'm glad I have none in the house as I'm not sure if I would have resisted or not.

I already feel fresher and cleaner:j

jinky67

Hello Twinny, fancy seeing you here

I started yesterday, but then certain people went out their way to annoy me so i folded, but onwards and upwards eh?

sheldon08

jinky67 wrote: »

Hello Twinny, fancy seeing you here

I started yesterday, but then certain people went out their way to annoy me so i folded, but onwards and upwards eh?

:kisses3: I very nearly caved yesterday but I won't let anyone beat me like that:mad::cool:

I have found myself reaching for cigarettes after a brew, soon passes though.