The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

oldreekie

frugalpam wrote: »

I know exactly what you mean! I got more done as a smoker because I'd think 'I'll get such and such done, then have a coffee and a ciggie' Without ciggy breaks, life just goes on.... and on.....and on.... Maybe that's why my garden's like a jungle and my house ahem needs tidying and hoovering. And you do feel a bit off balance somehow with a coffee in one hand and no ciggy in the other one
Still, I'd much rather have life the non-smoking way!

You are so right :T Life does go on ..and on .....and on!! It is so monotonous which is probably why I want to run away from home I have said it before ~ I was living my life for the next cigarette; the day was planned around cigarettes and coffee/tea breaks. How sad. Now I have the WHOLE day to get things done but just cannot get started.

Well done you on nearly 18 months of being fag free and fragrant. Yesterday, I was in Boots and having a test for the right shade of a tinted moisturiser - the young lady who was applying it to my face ........her hand smelt like a very stale ashtray. It was disgusting. Heartbreaking to think that I smelt like that when kissing my "babies" good night.

Sue-UU

Well done Tixy!:D Genies indeed!:mad: Glad you reported him..he can buzz off and rub his genies [STRIKE]up[/STRIKE] elsewhere!

Great going Daz, your savings are really growing as a result too, brilliant!!

oooh dear oldreekie, you do sound lethargic...you 'nall Pam. Have you both had your thyroids checked? If not I'd so so. I have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and those are the symptoms I get when my levels are up.

I shouldn't really be saying this, but apparently, it's now thought that there's a link between giving up and problems with the thyroid. Have em checked girls, it's treatable and costs nowt!

Sue x Must dash as me batteries going. :eek:

peedie

Hiya
just wanted to report that I'm still smoke free, though might not be 'free' for much longer. Today has been the worst, I have been sorely tempted to rip someones head off their shoulders. Yep I had murder in mind.:mad: Today has been the hardiest. it would only take someone blinking in the wrong way for me to want to scream
I've not found it too difficult to stop until the day. I think the novelty factor is wearing off. At work today I was talking about the list of 5 min jobs around the house I made to help ride out the 'I want a ciggie' moments, I do find this helps, once I've done one of the jobs the urge to smoke has gone. Later in the afternoon getting back to my desk someone had put a ciggie and a lighter on my keyboard with a note 'for emergencies'. I was so angry I couldnt say any thing just crushed the fag and chucked the lighter in the bin. I kept telling myself not to react and I didnt:A. I think my blood pressure want sky high though.
I'm absolutely determined that I will not let anyone sabotage my attempts to live a healthier smoke free life.

Sorry to rant like this but I'm just so very very angry still.
Did anyone else find that others around you werent always as supportive as you would have liked, and how did you deal with it. I would love some tips.

frugalpam

Yep - I've got an underactive thyroid. I had my usual blood test some months back and all was fine. I'm just a procrastinator by nature
There is a link though - when I gave up on one of my many practice quits some years ago, I had to have my thyroxine dosage adjusted.

Pam x

Sue-UU wrote: »

oooh dear oldreekie, you do sound lethargic...you 'nall Pam. Have you both had your thyroids checked? If not I'd so so. I have an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism) and those are the symptoms I get when my levels are up.

I shouldn't really be saying this, but apparently, it's now been discovered that there's a link between giving up and problems with the thyroid. Have em checked girls!

Sue x Must dash as me batteries going. :eek:

frugalpam

Yes - anger can be a real feature of a quit, esp in the early days. I used to belong to a quitsmoking forum - they used to have a 'Hide the body committee' - you could feel free to rip mythical heads off, and they'd hide the evidence :rotfl:
It does pass honestly - you might find also you get episodes of being in floods of tears. Again, perfectly normal and usual - it's all just part and parcel, unfortunately, of withdrawal and the body and mind getting used to functioning without nicotine.
Keep at it - it honestly does pass.

Pam x

QUOTE=peedie;34962849]Hiya
just wanted to report that I'm still smoke free, though might not be 'free' for much longer. Today has been the worst, I have been sorely tempted to rip someones head off their shoulders. Yep I had murder in mind.:mad: Today has been the hardiest. it would only take someone blinking in the wrong way for me to want to scream
I've not found it too difficult to stop until the day. I think the novelty factor is wearing off. At work today I was talking about the list of 5 min jobs around the house I made to help ride out the 'I want a ciggie' moments, I do find this helps, once I've done one of the jobs the urge to smoke has gone. Later in the afternoon getting back to my desk someone had put a ciggie and a lighter on my keyboard with a note 'for emergencies'. I was so angry I couldnt say any thing just crushed the fag and chucked the lighter in the bin. I kept telling myself not to react and I didnt:A. I think my blood pressure want sky high though.
I'm absolutely determined that I will not let anyone sabotage my attempts to live a healthier smoke free life.

Sorry to rant like this but I'm just so very very angry still.
Did anyone else find that others around you werent always as supportive as you would have liked, and how did you deal with it. I would love some tips.[/QUOTE]

Sue-UU

Hi peedie, and well done for coming on here and letting it all out, it really does help to pour your heart out and that's what the thread was originally set up for by Jo. Did you get the PM I sent you the other day? If not just say and I'll send another, there are some useful tips in them, worth doing.

You're not alone with cruel blighters who think it's a joke when others give up - or, and I'm sure it's the real reason, because they're soooo darn jealous of the fact that you have the guts to go right ahead and do something they LONG to do!!!

You treated what happened beautifully and I'd be so very, very proud of your handling of it, even though it did make you seethe. Try and let it all go now and relax with a shower/bath and a cup of drinking chocolate, or similar, but preferably not coffee. Tomorrow is a new day peedie, yours to do what you want with. Don't let those fools make you throw in the towel, be strong and show them you CAN do this, as YOU have the strength which is more than they do.

The way you're doing jobs when the going gets a little hard is admirable and is exactly the way to get through the cravings. However, also be sure to have a glass/bottle of water with you always and take good sips at such times. Eating an apple takes up time, so does peeling an orange. Doodling is a great past-time, crosswords too. If you can get hold of a relaxation CD than lie down and close your eyes whilst you listen to it, with the powers of our minds and imaginations it transports us off somewhere beautiful, wherever we wish to go.

Please peedie, don't ever be sorry for ranting, it's the ones who don't bother coming on to rant that I fear for, especially if they're having problems. You did well, be so proud of yourself and all your achievements and remember that every minute, every hour, every day is a long time for someone who's smoked for a good few years, BUT you've already accomplished that and MORE!

Please take note of Pam's words you've quoted above, she's so right. Also read through this thread and see all the help that's on here, tips from others and they way they handle it too. We're ALL with you, hold us with you and feel our strength wishing you on to have healthy lungs, a healthy heart and freedom from fags! Bless you peedie.

Sue x

larmy16

Hi Peedie. I too had a lot of anger when I was in my early days. I would walk past the shops (with nicotine nagging me to buy some fags) and feel that I could literally punch the next person who came along.

It is seriously scary to think a chemical can have so much effect on your personality. Just think of all the emotions we have been supressing with our little ciggie breaks.

You are doing so well. It can be tough. I know for some people it can be a breeze but it's not always the case.

I had very little support as I was a secret smoker anyway and I was down to smoking only on a Friday evening.

It does pass as you found out by doing those jobs when the cravings came.

I agree with Sue. Most smokers want to stop. They are still living with all the fear, smell and anxiety. You are not and in a short time the anger will pass too.

Keep it up.

oldreekie

Hi Peedie, you are doing so well - don't let them get to you. I suggest deep breaths and a lump of playdough to thump Someone posted a link to a company selling playdough impregnated with essential oils for calming manic kids and nicotine quitters - just found it - Mohdoh. I keep meaning to order some to mould into little figures that I can stick with pins

Seriously, if you can cope with this then you are well on the way to a healthier, more fragrant you. As Sue said - come and rant.

Thyroid levels are fine, Sue ~ just had them checked. It is more of a concentration problem and therefore, an inability to apply myself. I used to love the hardest Sudoku but cannot do them anymore. I thought it must be an age thing but someone I know, who gave up some time ago, is doing professional exams and has started smoking again as she could neither concentrate nor retain information. I am sure it will get better with time.

Sue-UU

oldreekie wrote: »

Hi Peedie, you are doing so well - don't let them get to you. I suggest deep breaths and a lump of playdough to thump Someone posted a link to a company selling playdough impregnated with essential oils for calming manic kids and nicotine quitters - just found it - Mohdoh. I keep meaning to order some to mould into little figures that I can stick with pins

Hi again Peedie and I hope today is a bit better for you, and that your work-mates will, for want of a better phrase, grow up!! The Mohdoh oldreekie's recommended sounds really good and certainly something to help take your anger out on. If you don't want to wait for it to come then meanwhile you could always pop into a kiddies' shop and and get some plasticine to mould and THUMP!! Oldreekie also says about taking deep breaths and I thoroughly agree with her there, it really does you good to take long breaths in and slowly let it go; so too does exercise! I know I'm always banging on about it on here, but it really does help us when we're in the emotional stage of quitting as it realeases endorphins into the brain and that would really help you handle your stress. another thing, when you're home, to help with cravings is to clean your teeth, but not too hard if you're doing it more often. Sometimes it's enough to put a piece of tooth paste (the size of a pea) into your mouth and 'swill it all around. It refreshes your mouth and in so doing helps in not wanting a fag. Keep chatting to us peedie and all the very best for a good day.

Hiya oldreekie, it's good to hear Thyroid levels are fine, you too Pam. I can sympathise with the concentration problems though as I have to take pills (of the medicinal kind of course ) which really do affect me where concentration's concerned. Ah well, if nowt else, you do darned well on here OR...keep it up, please!

Keep hard at it everyone and whatever anyone else might think - you're doing this for one person, YOU and that's all that matters...well apart from your health, but then you don't need me to tell you that. There's so very much you've achieved so far to keep you feeling so very proud and whenever you reach a sticky time just remind yourself of how far you've already come. Then find the will to push on to the goalmouth! A terrific place to be! :j

Sue x

powerful_Rogue

Its been a while since ive posted, but im proud to say im currently on day 77! I always keep chewing gum in my pocket so ive got something to chew when I get the urge, but apart from that its been a lt easier then I thought it would be!