The Giving Up Smoking Thread!! Part 2

stroppy

Thank you!:D

Naomim

Stroppy & Ameliarate, I don't think it's odd, I think the cravings do get worse a while in rather than the first few days. Maybe they're not so often but definitely stronger. As I said before, I obsessed about cigarettes for about 3 weeks and then it sort of went so maybe this could be what's happening for you.

I have noticed my sense of smell is better but that is it. I can't say my skin is glowing and I haven't had a cough or anything. I'm obviously hanging onto the muck in my lungs

Naomi x

helnag

Naomim wrote: »

Stroppy & Ameliarate, I don't think it's odd, I think the cravings do get worse a while in rather than the first few days. Maybe they're not so often but definitely stronger. As I said before, I obsessed about cigarettes for about 3 weeks and then it sort of went so maybe this could be what's happening for you.

I have noticed my sense of smell is better but that is it. I can't say my skin is glowing and I haven't had a cough or anything. I'm obviously hanging onto the muck in my lungs

Naomi x

I agree, I 've given up a couple of times before and the first 3-4 days were ok, it was always just at the 5-6 day mark where it got hard and I started again. Today is my day 9 (exc. a brief blip last Thurs which I'm not counting as I know mentally this will set me back) This is the first time I've ever given up for more than 1 week and also the first time where I've had a blip and not gone straight back to smoking again. I got a great booklet from my nurse with lots of tips on how to change your habits around not smoking which has helped.
Everyone's different, try telling yourself you don't smoke when you get cravings. I had read and heard this so many times and just thought it was silly but it worked for me today.

I lost my keys this morning walking to school, after walking the ten minutes to school and then home again 4 times I was getting more hysterical by the minute. I called into my local shop to check if they'd been handed in and could of so easily bought ten, just for today to get me through the stressful time but I didn't. I told myself I don't smoke anymore. Normally it would have been the perfect excuse to fail. I AM SO PROUD OF MYSELF!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Come on guys, keep at it, I know it is so hard but you can do it.

System

I'd like to know, how do you get to the point where you know you have to stop? I would like to stop but it seems so hard and it seems like it would be easier just to continue, I know I don't like smoking or I wouldn't be asking this question. If I look in my cupboard I have patches,gum,microtabs and an inhilator, not to mention Allen Carr and Paul Mckenna books, so the idea is there

I tried before and lasted only a few days, but the thing that really got me was, I am in a really boring job, my smoke break every hour or so give me a break from the boredom, if only for a couple of mins.

Any advice very much appreciated.

whathavewedone

Amelieorate, I know people who have read the Alan Carr book a page a day. And not the Easyway book, the original 300 odd pager.

Probably shouldn't say that...

The first time I quit was with Alan Carr, I think he has some really good points which do help you quit for good but his insistence that cold turkey is the only way and that giving up smoking is wonderful and fun and exciting is where he and I differ. In fact I remember 2 weeks in ringing the helpline and leaving a hysterical and nasty message. I was crying and throwing things at the wall.

That doesn't happen on patches. You still feel like you'd quite like a fag sometimes, but you don't feel like that.

I'm on medium strength patches now and I will stay on them for a couple of weeks, then go cold turkey. Those 5mg children's plasters ones are just placebos really.

ameliarate

nirelandguy wrote: »

I'd like to know, how do you get to the point where you know you have to stop? I would like to stop but it seems so hard and it seems like it would be easier just to continue, I know I don't like smoking or I wouldn't be asking this question. If I look in my cupboard I have patches,gum,microtabs and an inhilator, not to mention Allen Carr and Paul Mckenna books, so the idea is there

I tried before and lasted only a few days, but the thing that really got me was, I am in a really boring job, my smoke break every hour or so give me a break from the boredom, if only for a couple of mins.

Any advice very much appreciated.

There is no easy answer to that everyone is different. For me I suddenly started to notice how bad my house and car stank plus OH had decided to stop. You kinda need to have a conversation with yourself, write down how you feel, pros and cons and all that, perhaps there is something you want, new car or holiday?

It's not easy that's for sure, had a row with OH tonight and guess what - straight to the shop!!!:mad:.

Now I need to think again about why I am stopping, it's not for him its for me. If you have a go and can't do it first time don't worry. Do a trial run, perhaps cut down for a while, see how that makes you feel. Whatever works for you,

Good luck

System

ameliarate wrote: »

There is no easy answer to that everyone is different. For me I suddenly started to notice how bad my house and car stank plus OH had decided to stop. You kinda need to have a conversation with yourself, write down how you feel, pros and cons and all that, perhaps there is something you want, new car or holiday?

It's not easy that's for sure, had a row with OH tonight and guess what - straight to the shop!!!:mad:.

Now I need to think again about why I am stopping, it's not for him its for me. If you have a go and can't do it first time don't worry. Do a trial run, perhaps cut down for a while, see how that makes you feel. Whatever works for you,

Good luck

Thanks, I suppose I am just waiting for the day when I'll wake up and not want to smoke, but I don't think that day is ever gonna come

stroppy

The day of waking up and not wanting to smoke never comes.....I wish it would though, How cool would that be
My reason was my chest and lungs always felt congested and I had started having chest pains which frightened me a touch also I felt like a leper (especially round other mums/teachers at school) I was also was a bit fed up with always wanting a fag...could easily smoke 20+ a day more at weekends,would have smoked non stop if i could of....
If it was still socially acceptable to smoke and I knew it wasnt bad for me I could have happily chuffed away for the rest of my life :rolleyes:
Even now im not convinced I want to stop...more a I need to stop (I think)
Stroppy xx
Oh dear reading that back sounds awful!x

Aeshna

Hi all

I've not been back to this thread for a while - partly just because I found it easier after a bit not to think about it/talk about it, so I just kept away. However, in retrospect, it was perhaps not the right thing to do!!!

My quitmeter, which I keep intending to delete/change says I haven't smoked for 1 motnh 2 weeks and almost 21 hours - BUT that's not the case I'm afraid. I had a real melt down around the 3 week point, had a boozy night with my best friend spent the night/early hours smoking and drinking and blethering like we always used to do. Of course, next day, I just kept right on smoking. I let it ride for about a week, and quit again, but I have to admit to having had the odd puff and I KNOW that's just a slippery slope. Anyhow, I feel I need to have the right frame of mind, not sure if I do right now, but I haven't quit quitting, it's just more difficult than I reallly realised!

Sue-UU, I'm hanging on in there, thanks to your pm which I printed off and carry with me. You've been a great source of support and I truly thank you. Once I get my head together, I'll be back here regularly, as I don't have anyone at home right now supporting/pushing me and I suspect I need that. No doubt see you over at the knitting thread which is, as I mentioned, my new addiction!!

Keep it up everyone, it's damn hard, but has to be worth it and like I say, I won't quit quitting, even if I have to try, try, try and try again!

Aeshna x

whathavewedone

Hi everyone

Nirelandguy, we all hope for that day when we just don't want to smoke again but Stroppy is right, it never comes.

Like Stroppy I was congested and started getting chest pains and felt like a skanky mum. I also worried about looking grey and lined and having yellow teeth.

The main reason for me though was for my children rather than for myself.

How old are you? How motivated are you to stop and what are the reasons why you'd like to stop? Maybe have a read of the Alan Car book and see how you feel after that. I sounds like you are at the stage where you are considering quitting as opposed to being 100% ready to quit.