The Giving Up Smoking Thread - Part 3

Sue-UU

Hi Tricia and thank you. It's very true what you've noted about sitting far more instead of taking trips outside to smoke, hence me always going on about taking excercise. Well done on the distance you've traveled already!

Hi M and what great news that you AND your Wife will be quitting tomorrow! Get yourself mentally set up to do all the things that will help you to get through this wonderful event. All best wishes for you both...and how proud your lads will be!


Hi Sally and well done on another day of success, and however you're viewing it, that's exactly what it is! You're very early into stopping smoking so feeling a little low is very, very natural, but then add to that all the hormonal changes you're going through and have been through and you've come along way so you be proud of how wonderful you're doing! You have come on heck of a long way in order to become pregnant and if you can lose 10st then I wouldn't have thought you've too much to worry yourself about; however, keep eating healthily from here on and exercise, even just brisk walking, as much as you can and gently you CAN keep to the weight you are now. To help a lot use water, it's such a help for quitting fags AND for helping fill yourself up so you don't eat so much or pick on things. Also do as Caz does, and buy yourself some Ice Poles/Ice Pops....they're also remarkably helpful re quitting and diet wise. You have a wonderful gift to look ahead to, Sally, and came a LONG way in order to get your beloved baby - keep looking ahead to a wonderful future for you both. Your little one will have a Mum who went all out to get back into great health for him/her and for you! Be happy and soooo very proud Sally, there's not too much pity coming from your posts, you're handling it all very well, keep on doing so! x


You've got the idea, Penelope, look for the bodily hints to show you the visual affects that stopping smoking is already giving you, then listen to the insides, such as the wheezing that is no longer there. The main thing that really urged me onwards - I was shocked how quick it went and it delighted me. The part I was thrilled to read was the following:

<<"I don't wake at 2am wheezing and needing to sit in a chair.">>

Thank Heavens you gave it up, Penelope and how quick to lose that particular problem. You made a wonderful decision in stopping. Delight in having your hair done and keep right on treating yourself...and when you look at yourself in the mirror tomorrow after having your hair highlighted, be so very proud of all you've done to achieve the new you that is smiling back again. :happylove Maybe not quite like that, but.........! Very well done, Penelope! :T:T

Az, there's no need to worry about an 8 hour period, you do at least that during the days anyway. You'll be ok, you're getting along well and know lots of tips to help you - don't panic when you might not even feel yourself affected in that time. You can't do anything to avoid it, so relax and take it in your stride - you CAN you know!

Back in a little while folks.

Sue x

penelopedee_2

CompBunny wrote: »

My partner and I would love to quit but I've failed so many times before Any depression sufferers on here successfully quit?

Yes.

It is possible, have a read through the threads, it will definately help with your stress levels.

Good luck x

determined_new_ms

Azkaban wrote: »

HOW MUCH!!!!!! What's wrong with it? (I take it something is wrong and not buying a car?)

AZ xx

dundeedoll wrote: »

:eek::eek::eek: Oh no!!!! What's got to be done?

a number of things - i put water in the power steering tank months ago by mistake and ignored it for months (ostrich (sp?) syndrome) and now need the power system to be completely replaced, the clutch has gone, some dodgy wiring connection and the brake lights keep stop working & the batt light & engine warning light keeps coming on (these are all connected to the wiring) and I've got a bit of welding that needs doing

I tell you life is throwing me some right curve balls at the moment!

my ds obviously felt for me earler after he found me crying and took me out for a run to "motivate" me :eek: all I can say is he is a sadist! I wasn't allowed to power walk at all and had to run continually much faster than I would have and his "motivational" talk was slightly harsh - was in stitches! :rotfl:

really glad for the running this week I can tell you :T

Azkaban_2

CompBunny wrote: »

My partner and I would love to quit but I've failed so many times before Any depression sufferers on here successfully quit?

Hi CompBunny

I've tried to stop smoking approx. 7 times and always seemed to go down the wrong road about it. I'm on day 11 and I can honestly say this thread has given me the best advice ever.. Smoking has been the bane of my life, caused no end of problems for me (personally). You'll find lots of help and advice on here, read through some of the post and I'm sure it will help make your minds up, hopefully you will make the right decision and we will be here for you. I can't really help with the 'depression' bit but I'm sure someone on here can ~sorry~

Good luck
AZ xx

CompBunny

determined_new_ms wrote: »

Hi comp I suffer from depression but haven't ad a major set back for a while (I ave learnt to control it on a day to day basis through moderate excerise & diet and surrounding myself with people who make me happy and this stops me going through the major ups & downs) I would say that it has been relatively easy to stop but I have been going through a bit of a loop but again managable, I'm a bit weepy - but then I've had a few things go in this week that would have been upseting whether I was quiting or smoking. I think you can do it, if you suffer from depression ur going to have ups & downs whether you smoke or not, and I've felt so fantastic for ctually stopping.

What I'm trying to say but not very susinctly is bout 6 months ago I finally accepted (at 35 - why didn't I do this before) that my personality type means I am prone to becoming depressed, with that in mind I started to look after myself on a day to day basis to limit & control the low periods, of course I have low days (and no doubt the black dog will be back but when I've had a crap day I don't fall into the hole I go for a run, or spend time with someone who makes me happy - I still cry but its only one part of my life and I don't let it control me anymore hths x

Thankyou - I've also recently accepted that depression/bi-polar is always gonna be here and started realising that I need to start putting coping mechanisms into place too to try and normalise life a bit!:T

With regards to the smoking I always think "if I hardly cope with day to day life as it is, what will I be like without cigarettes?!" and it just doesn't seem possible - but I guess you have proved that it is! :beer:

Sue-UU

CompBunny wrote: »

My partner and I would love to quit but I've failed so many times before Any depression sufferers on here successfully quit?

Hi CompBunny and partner and a warm welcome to the thread where, if you're seriously looking to quit, you're very likely to succeed, depression or not! I too have had a lot of depression in the past, ironically before I quit 12 years ago. Since then I've had a load taken off of me and feel so very much better that it#s almost unbelievable. Take heart both of you and should you decide to quit then use the thread to take tips, advice and support - as well as giving vent to any feelings you have inside as it's far, far better to let them out.

If you should decide to quit, how do you think you'll do it, what means? If you're known to your Dr with your depression then go and see him/her first and get all the advice possible as well as seeing your Cessation Nurse, that way you'll have both physical help and support as well as our here too.

As a former depression sufferer over several years, my advice to you would be, get the fags out of your life and you could end up feeling so very much better as the majority of stress goes when the fags do! Bekieve it or not, it's all caused by fags and the nicotine and chemicals from them!

Come and join us and give it a go, you have nothing to lose and a healthy life to regain.

Sue x

determined_new_ms

CompBunny wrote: »

Thankyou - I've also recently accepted that depression/bi-polar is always gonna be here and started realising that I need to start putting coping mechanisms into place too to try and normalise life a bit!:T

With regards to the smoking I always think "if I hardly cope with day to day life as it is, what will I be like without cigarettes?!" and it just doesn't seem possible - but I guess you have proved that it is! :beer:

my life is no more difficult and I am no more prone to being depressed than I was when I was smoking, that stays the same as its part of what makes me who I am. I also read "The art of happiness" by the Dali Llama and would really recommend it as another tool to manage feelings on a day to day basis (It made me realise that if I feel sad about one part of my life there are lots of other parts that are great, I can feel sad about the sad bits & happy about the good bits, when I go through something trying I don't have to beat myself up emotionally

penelopedee_2

CompBunny wrote: »

, what will I be like without cigarettes?!"

You will be less stressed, smelling less like an ashtray, better off money wise, less face puffy (as I've found out this week ), having a heart being much stronger, less chance of a nasty smoking illness.

Its a nice feeling once the grim bit is over, honest

dundeedoll_2

CompBunny wrote: »

My partner and I would love to quit but I've failed so many times before Any depression sufferers on here successfully quit?

penelopedee wrote: »

Yes.

It is possible, have a read through the threads, it will definately help with your stress levels.

Good luck x

I apologise for the length of this post, but it may be helpful

It reduces my stress and helps calm me down
This health intellectualization is false. The body's pH balance is delicate. Nicotine is an alkaloid and stress an acid producing event. The more stressful the event, the quicker the body's remaining nicotine reserves are neutralized (in the same manner as pouring a baking soda solution on an acid covered car battery terminal). The stressed smoker is thrown into early chemical withdrawal adding additional anxiety to the underlying original stressful event. It's why the anxiety associated with a flat tire causes smokers to reach for a cigarette while the non-smoker reaches for a jack. The anxieties build until the doubly stressed smoker cries out "I NEED A CIGARETTE!" Within eight seconds of the first puff, the smoker's nicotine blood serum nicotine level rises and their withdrawal anxieties subside. The addict is left with the false impression that smoking cured the underlying stressful event when in fact the tire is still flat. All non-smokers experience stress too. The difference is that they don't add early nicotine withdrawal to it. In truth, stress nicotine depletion causes smokers to experience far more anxiety than non-smokers. In truth, it is much easier and calmer being the real "you" than it is living as a chemical slave.
The nicotine smoker's mind has been conditioned to believe, through association, that smoking is central to their entire life. Telephone calls, computer time, work, meals, driving, talking, walking, stress, joy, sorrow, and even romance, may have developed a subconscious association with smoking. The truth is that none of these activities will be altered whatsoever by the absence of tobacco.

It wakes me up and keeps me alert.
This dependency rationalization uses a basic truth (nicotine releases adrenaline and a host of other hormones) to hide the fact that nicotine deprives us of the ability to enjoy prolonged periods of deep conscious relaxation. If always at the peak of alertness because we are addicted to and chemically dependent upon a central nervous system stimulant then when do we truly relax? This dependency rationalization also subverts and ignores a host of natural alertness techniques ranging from a simple deep breath to brief periods of stretching or moderately exhilarating activity. Instead of engaging life on life's terms, a powerful puff of nicotine starts a neurochemical chain-reaction that increases breathing rate, accelerates heart rate, constricts blood vessels, elevates blood pressure, causes the liver to release stored cholesterol into the blood stream, the adrenal gland to release glucocorticoids, the thyroid to release metabolism hormones, the hypothalamus to release corticotropin-releasing hormones, a decrease of progesterone levels in females and testosterone in males, digestive tract shut-down, a glucose release into the bloodstream followed by a boost in insulin to metabolize it, pupil dilation, and your blood to thicken. Inside those highly constricted and over-pressurized blood vessels, carbon monoxide eats away at their teflon like lining (endothelium) while nicotine amazingly vascularizes fat buildups, causing arteries to harden. More smokers die from circulatory disease each year than from lung cancer, yet denial kept almost all of them from wanting to know how or why. What goes up must come down. Once the hormones wear off and that drained feeling begins to arrive, a new puff of nicotine again whips every central nervous system neuron in a tired body like some overworked horse never allowed to rest. Alert, yes, but somewhere in that endless cycle between alert and exhausted resides the "real" you.

My concentration is better.
Vast quantities of carbon monoxide do NOT improve concentration. Although nicotine is a stimulant and does excite certain brain neurons, it also constricts all blood vessels. Feel how cold your fingers and toes get when deprived of blood flow while smoking. Imagine what's happening to the blood vessels in your brain. If nicotine results in a stroke we probably won't need to worry much about concentration. Fresh air and exercise are far healthier brain stimulants. When quitting it's important that you understand the role that nicotine played in regulating blood sugar as its absence may cause the temporary impairment of concentration and clear thinking. If you are experiencing any concentration problems be sure and drink plenty of fruit juice the first three days if your diet and health permit (cranberry is excellent), as it will help stabilize blood sugars. Also don't skip meals! Nicotine released stored fats into our blood and in a sense fed us with every puff, but not anymore. Don't eat more food each day, just spread your normal intake out more over your entire day so that you keep fuel in your stomach and your blood sugar level.

dundeedoll_2

Sue-UU wrote: »

Hi CompBunny
As a former depression sufferer over several years, my advice to you would be, get the fags out of your life and you could end up feeling so very much better as the majority of stress goes when the fags do! Bekieve it or not, it's all caused by fags and the nicotine and chemicals from them!

Come and join us and give it a go, you have nothing to lose and a healthy life to regain.

Sue x

See, Sue said in 1 sentence what I've waffled on about in 3 long paragraphs :rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:


(Lovely to see you, Sue )