The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

hoogervaaner

Congratulations to all of you strong willed people :T I have just quit, I am on day 3 of no ciggies and will be starting a 'ciggie money savings box' to try and keep my will power going

CompBunny

hoogervaaner wrote: »

Congratulations to all of you strong willed people :T I have just quit, I am on day 3 of no ciggies and will be starting a 'ciggie money savings box' to try and keep my will power going

Well done Hoogervaaner, your going strong!

I haven't posted here for a while, mainly because what I would have posted wouldn't be motivating for other people!

However, everything aside the one thing that it boils down to is 2 months, 2 weeks and 1 day later I still haven't lit another cigarette and neither has my partner! Thats £525 saved based on prices BEFORE duty increased.

Couldn't have done it without the initial support of this thread. Keep on posting everyone Wish the government would just hurry up and ban the vile things!

dundeedoll_2

CompBunny wrote: »

Well done Hoogervaaner, your going strong!

I haven't posted here for a while, mainly because what I would have posted wouldn't be motivating for other people!

However, everything aside the one thing that it boils down to is 2 months, 2 weeks and 1 day later I still haven't lit another cigarette and neither has my partner! Thats £525 saved based on prices BEFORE duty increased.

Couldn't have done it without the initial support of this thread. Keep on posting everyone Wish the government would just hurry up and ban the vile things!

And just to put it all into context.......................

CompBunny wrote: »

Hi everyone,

The internet at home has been down for a while (long stupid story *grumble*) or else I'd have been on here sharing the pain!

My partner and I had our stop smoking appointment at 10am on Thursday morning (was originally tuesday *grumbles again*) and haven't had a cigarette since!

The nurse had clearly never smoked herself, had no advice about tackling cravings, and didn't get us to blow into anything but prescribed us with patches. The pharmacy had run out of them so we had to go it alone for the first 24 hours. We are now gladly wearing the patches but a bit confused as to why we were only prescribed the 15mg ones!

I'd have liked the support of champix/zyban but she said I couldn't take them with my other medication. My partner chose not to take them to try with patches first.

We are coping pretty well right at this moment though. I flew off the handle last night for no apparent reason and sprayed far too much furniture polish around in the air in an aggitated fashion before angrily throwing it to the ground...oh and threw a toilet roll at the door for no apparent reason:eek: before breaking down in tears but my partner has coped amazingly and I'm feeling more human now! :rotfl: Please note I'm usually a bit of a pacifist, not violent!

We took a walk by the seaside and treated ourselves to some chips to calm down

I'd still very much love to have a cigarette but I DO NOT want to be a smoker for any longer, and point blank refuse to put my partner through this again!

Anyway just wanted to stop by to say hello :wave: again to you lovely people and to share our progress so far.

Did anyone else find themselves feeling unusually violent in the first couple of days?

Also, the patch feels like a graze-type pain, how long does this take to go away?

I hope everyone is ok and doing as well as they can

Stay strong everyone!

EDIT: In case it motivates anyone, my reasons for quitting are:
- Finances.
- I've always known I want children one day, and don't want to mess up my fertility or jeopardise the health of my future kids
- I don't want cigarettes ruining the key moments to come of our relationship. Fancy running off for a cigarette just after a wedding ceremony?
- No more smelling of stale smoke, especially winter coats, yuck!
- I have suffered from CFS/ME since I was 12. How can I expect to get better if I'm constantly battering my body?
- Depression and anxiety are only worsened by cigarettes apparently! And medication absorption can by affected by smoking so my medication should work better!

Mat_Lock wrote: »

4 months today for me !! Definitely well over it all now !! Some slight urges while I was sat in a bar on the beach in Peru the other day but other than that, nothing at all. Think I am finally fully quit now !! Woohoo !!

Good luck to all those in the early stages of quitting, keep up the good work and don't faulter, the rewards are amazing !!

dundeedoll_2

janet43 wrote: »

HI this is my first post on here but i have been reading for a while and well done all.
I stopped smoking on the 17th march using patches. This is my 3rd attempt and hopefully my final quit.
I have been on 21mg for 4 weeks and now on 14mg. I dont think about smoking everyday now but when i do they make me very down and i wonder if i really want to give up which i do and i keep telling myself this. I really hate fighting with myself but i will not go back. I feel that i am missing something in my life and how can i be happy again which i think is just my mind playing tricks on me. Thank you for reading
janet xxx

Found this online............thought it may help.


We all want this quit to be the quit -- the one that lasts us a lifetime. We're looking for permanent freedom from nicotine addiction when we stub out the last cigarette, signaling the beginning of smoking cessation -- even though most of us doubt our ability to succeed for the long-term. However, with some education about what to expect when we quit smoking and a few tools to help us along, we can all find the freedom we dream so much of -- a life that no longer includes even the slightest thought of smoking or the smallest twinge of desire for a cigarette.

Misconceptions about the nature of addiction and the process of quitting tobacco can set smokers who are trying to quit up for failure. Build a strong quit program by educating yourself about the process of recovery from nicotine addiction.

Learning about common pitfalls puts you in the best position to avoid them and finally become smoke-free.

Impatience

It is a natural tendency to quit smoking and expect to be over it within a month. That would be nice (very nice!), but it doesn't work that way.

Smoking cessation is a process, not an event.

When we quit smoking, we're letting go of a habit that most of us have carried for many years, if not all of our adult lives. It's only fair to expect that breaking down the old associations that tied us to smoking and replacing them with new, healthier habits will take some time. Sit back, relax, and think of time as one of your best quit buddies. The more of it you put between you and that last cigarette you smoked, the stronger you'll become. Have patience with yourself, and with the process.

Worrying About the Future

Nicotine withdrawal plays mind games with us early on in smoking cessation. We think about smoking all of the time, and we worry that we'll always miss our cigarettes. It's called "junkie thinking," and we all go through a certain amount of it as we recover from nicotine addiction. For the new quitter, it can be paralyzing to think about never lighting another cigarette. Thoughts like this, if left unchecked, can easily lead to a smoking relapse.

If you find yourself feeling panicked about your smoke-free future, pull out of it by focusing your attention only on the day you have in front of you. It takes practice and patience to stay in the here and now, but it can be done, and it is a great way to maintain control over your quit program. It is the truth that today is where your power to affect change in your life is, and always will be. You can't do a thing about what happened yesterday, or about what is yet to come tomorrow, but you sure can control today.

It wasn't until I quit smoking that I learned how to truly be present in my life. It was a valuable tool for my journey through smoking cessation, and I consider it to be a lasting benefit I've carried forward with me out of the recovery process.

We all spend so much time living in the past or the future, while the present moments of today go by unnoticed. The next time your mind wanders ahead or back, consciously pull yourself out of it by narrowing your attention to the moments you're living right now.

Negativity

It's been said that the average person has approximately 66,000 thoughts on any given day, and that two-thirds of them are negative. It will probably come as no surprise that we aim many of those negative thoughts directly at ourselves. Face it, we're almost always our own worst critics.

Start paying attention to your thoughts, and banish those that don't serve your best interests. Be kind to yourself and stop lamenting the things you can't change, such as the years you spent smoking. Look at past quit attempts not as failures, but as experiences you can learn from. Think about all of the positive changes you're creating in your life by quitting tobacco now, and remember to use the value of today to your advantage.

Successful long-term cessation always starts with our thoughts. Keep your eyes on the prize and develop an attitude of gratitude. We have a way of believing what we tell ourselves over and over, so don't feed yourself negatives. Affirm the changes you are working to create in your life, and action will follow more easily.

Neglecting Yourself

Early smoking cessation is a time when you should be taking extra care to make sure all of your physical needs are met. The following list of tips will help you weather nicotine withdrawal more comfortably:

- Eat a well-balanced diet
Your body needs good quality fuel now as it works to flush the toxins from cigarettes out of your system.

- Get more rest
Chances are, nicotine withdrawal will leave you feeling fatigued for a few weeks. If you're tired, don't fight it. Sleep more if you can.

- Drink water
Water is a great quit aid. It helps you detox more quickly, works well as a craving-buster, and by keeping yourself hydrated, you'll feel better overall.

- Exercise daily
Exercise benefits both physical and mental health, and it's another good way to manage cravings to smoke. Walking is a low-impact aerobic workout that is a good choice for those of us leading inactive lives. Be sure to check in with your doctor before starting a new exercise regimen.

- Take a daily multi-vitamin
Cigarettes deplete our bodies of many nutrients, so give yourself the boost that a good multi-vitamin provides for the first few months of smoking cessation. It may help you regain your energy more quickly.

Taking care of your body, especially as you move through early cessation, will help you minimize the discomforts of nicotine withdrawal. And remember, while nicotine withdrawal may not be a pain-free experience, it is a temporary phase of recovery that we all have to go through to get through.

Drinking Alcohol

I probably don't need to tell you that alcohol and tobacco go hand-in-hand. New quitters are tender. Putting yourself into a social setting where you're tempted to drink alcohol too soon after quitting can be dangerous. Don't rush it. The time will come when you can have a drink without it triggering the urge to smoke, but don't expect that to be within the first month, or perhaps even the first few months.

We're all a little different in how we move through the process of kicking nicotine addiction, so relax any preconceived notions you might have about how long recovery should take. Instead, focus on your own situation. If there is an engagement coming up that involves alcohol and you feel nervous about that, take it as a signal to proceed with caution. Consider postponing until you're feeling stronger. And if that's not an option, work out a plan ahead of time for how you'll manage the event smoke-free.

It's no exaggeration that you are working hard to save your life by quitting smoking, so give cessation the attention it deserves. Keep your quit program in the top slot of your list of priorities for as long as it takes. You should do whatever you need to do to maintain your smobriety -- period.

Overdoing It

We've talked about taking care not to neglect our physical health while going through nicotine withdrawal, but our emotional well-being is every bit as important. Stress and anger are probably the two biggest smoking triggers we face, and they can build up and threaten our quit programs if we're not careful. Early cessation creates its own tension, and that can be overwhelming when paired with the stresses of daily life -- if you let it.

Don't let yourself get run down to the point of exhaustion, and take time every single day to relieve stress with an activity that you enjoy. Whether it's time alone with a good book, a hot bath, or working on a hobby, think of this as insurance for your quit program, not as time spent selfishly. When you're well-rested and calm, you are much better equipped to meet the daily challenges smoking cessation presents, so spoil yourself a little each day.

Taking Yourself Too Seriously

You will have bad days. Expect and accept that. Such is smoking cessation, and such is life. On those off days, vow to put yourself in "ignore mode." In other words, don't focus on the negative atmosphere of your thoughts. Instead, do what you can to distract and ignore your bad mood. Sometimes the best thing we can do is get out of our own way. Our minds can make small issues big and create drama out of every little thing when our moods are out of whack.

When you have a bad day, use it as an excuse to pamper yourself a little. If all else fails, call it a day earlier than usual and go to bed. Nine times out of ten you'll wake up feeling 100% better the next day, and when you do, you'll be grateful to still be smoke-free.

Being Hesitant to Ask for Help

Statistics show that people who quit smoking with a healthy support system in place have a much higher rate of long-term success with smoking cessation. In addition to the support you might receive from friends and family, consider adding some online support to your quit program. The smoking cessation forum here offers some of the best support the Internet has to offer. Surrounding yourself with like-minded people who know exactly what you are going through is worth its weight in gold.

Thinking You Can Smoke "Just One" Cigarette

When it comes to smoking cessation, there is no such thing as just one cigarette. They travel in packs.

Many a good quit program has been lost to thoughts of being able to control our smoking habits. Don't fall for it. The only way to keep the beast at bay is to keep nicotine out of your system. If you decide to go ahead and smoke just one cigarette, or for just one night, chances are you'll be back to the slavery that nicotine addiction is in short order. You may even find yourself smoking more than you used to.

Just as success with smoking cessation begins in the mind, so does a smoking relapse. Always. If unhealthy thoughts of smoking come up, and you can't shake them, it's time to renew your resolve.

Forgetting Why You Wanted to Quit

You quit smoking for a reason. Probably several. Don't let time and distance from the habit cloud your thinking. Keep your memory green by reviewing your reasons for quitting often. They will never be less true as time goes by, but they can feel less urgent if you're not careful.

Smoking cessation is a journey. Take it one simple day at a time, and you'll find that what started out as a difficult task soon enough becomes an enjoyable challenge.

"If you want to change your life, change your mind."

hoogervaaner

Dundeedoll, you must be psychic.............. I have just smelled my FiL having a ciggie in the garden, I have a glass of wine in my hand and my nerves are 'jangling'. I'm off to clean my teeth (I don't know why this kills my cravings but it does ).

dundeedoll_2

hoogervaaner wrote: »

Dundeedoll, you must be psychic.............. I have just smelled my FiL having a ciggie in the garden, I have a glass of wine in my hand and my nerves are 'jangling'. I'm off to clean my teeth (I don't know why this kills my cravings but it does ).

I feel the same about chocolate after cleaning my teeth

Mrs_P_Pincher

Day 9 today. How do I feel? Not great. Sleeping slightly better now but still cannot control my blood sugar. I have a history of hypoglycaemia. Eating all the right things but it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference. Weight gain since start of quit 2lbs. Not wildly happy about that either as I have been on a low carb diet for a year and only lost 7lbs anyway in all that time due to underlying metabolic issues. Really don't want to put any more on!

Had my first smoking dream last night...woke up feeling very happy and very guilty.

Mr P realised something was amiss on Sunday when he saw me chewing gum. Only took him 7 days to notice...

Mrs P P

salski

Hello all! Long time no speak!
I thought I best come on and update everyone and see how your all getting on?!
3months, 3 weeks, 3 days none smoking for me
£1001.15
4022 cigs not smoked
And today my baby girl Elsie is 11 weeks old! Hehe
Finding it hard still at times, but I WILL NOT GIVE IN!
Hope everyone else is doing really well?
Sal xxx

dundeedoll_2

salski wrote: »

Hello all! Long time no speak!
I thought I best come on and update everyone and see how your all getting on?!
3months, 3 weeks, 3 days none smoking for me
£1001.15
4022 cigs not smoked
And today my baby girl Elsie is 11 weeks old! Hehe
Finding it hard still at times, but I WILL NOT GIVE IN!
Hope everyone else is doing really well?
Sal xxx

How lovely to see you, Sal! You have made my day!

I hope you and daddy are enjoying every moment of life with your very, very special little girl.

Just keep focusing on the fact that you will have absolutely nothing to gain from starting smoking again.

:T So so proud of you!

DD x

dundeedoll_2

Mrs_P_Pincher wrote: »

Day 9 today. How do I feel? Not great. Sleeping slightly better now but still cannot control my blood sugar. I have a history of hypoglycaemia. Eating all the right things but it doesn't seem to make a lot of difference. Weight gain since start of quit 2lbs. Not wildly happy about that either as I have been on a low carb diet for a year and only lost 7lbs anyway in all that time due to underlying metabolic issues. Really don't want to put any more on!

Had my first smoking dream last night...woke up feeling very happy and very guilty.

Mr P realised something was amiss on Sunday when he saw me chewing gum. Only took him 7 days to notice...

Mrs P P

Mrs P, should have left for work by now, but just have to reply to you.

Please, please don't give up trying..................smoking IS NOT going to make it all better!!!

Is there any way you could involve the doctor's surgery in your quit?

Perhaps you could see a nurse who knows about the blood sugar problems you have or they may have a cessation service who will have knowledge about it.