The Giving Up Smoking Thread!!

JoeHel

basilcat7 wrote: »

it's funny but the other day I was thinking it was a bit like bereavement- albeit no way near as bad....... it IS like grieving a 'friend' isn't it !!

seems like everyone are saying the bad things about giving up- how about us all thinking about the good things- I have loads more money for example !!!

oh I can remember how I felt at every one of the five stages and I'm soooo glad I'm out the other end now!!! :j

I have tried the "positive" things about quitting but that's not going down very well today... I am finally realising that people need to work through the five stages in their own time and no amount of people telling them that it can be done will help. Maybe it's just good to be here now and again as proof that there IS a "happiness on the other side of acceptance" for when people are ready to hear it? I dunno...

basilcat7

I know....everyone in their own time..

I'm off now anyway- getting into bed.
Night all x:D

JoeHel

basilcat7 wrote: »

I know....everyone in their own time..

I'm off now anyway- getting into bed.
Night all x:D

Another day crossed off. :j

You're doing great. Night night.

MJay

Hi folks... 'Well dones' all round

Another day smoke free but now not sleeping well....

Basilcat, this is definately a 'loss' situation so most of the theories on bereavement could apply.... I have smoked for longer than I have done any other single thing.... Marriage / jobs / relationships... Anything! So it isn't surprising that it is a challenge to stop. the nicotine goes out of your system pretty quickly but the social connections are those that cause the real 'pain' for me.

I have (just) completed my 13th day (to the hour) and found I had several bouts of cravings today... One triggered by the lingering smoke of another in an open area, others triggered because of going through old photos looking for something in particular and remembering loved ones who have died.

Nirelandguy, I think the more you fight it the harder it hurts.... I am trying hard to 'be in' my cravings, accept and not fight them and recognise that I am choosing not to smoke (today). Be kind to yourself.

oops_a_daisy

Well done Mjay :T it will be 2 weeks tonight for all of us New Year Quitters.

I am going away this afternoon for a couple of days training at head office including an exam really really should have revised :rolleyes: I am hoping that a complete change of routine for a couple of days will keep my mind off the dreaded weed. I may even take my gym stuff as there is a gym at the hotel but better not overdo it :rotfl: The last time I went down for training a few months ago I had to go outside every hour or so to have a puff - I will not miss the freezing ridiculous sight of me stood under my umbrella next to a bucket at the end of the car park

Right must start revising - have a great couple of days everybody and stay strong!

basilcat7

Morning all- well on the eve of my 2 weeks as a lot of others are !! well done ! Another weekend completed without the fags too.

The awful taste in mouth that I seemed to have permanently has gone too, I never felt I had a clean mouth no matter how many times I brushed my teeth- now I feel fresh all day (sound like an advert !)

MJAy- I too have smoked longer than anything else; I have smoked for 21 out of 34 years of my life...... terrible.. think of how much damage that has done to me and how much cash that has gone.

Have a good day everyone.

basilcat7

Hey Oops- have a good couple of days !!:j

tattycath

Well done to all of you, I am so proud, that's quite an achievement. You should all be very proud of yourselves. continued success to all.

MJay

G'Luck Ooops and enjoy the days away.... With so much more free time!

Basilcat, I'll see your 21 years out of 34 and raise it!! For me, 44 years out of 58!! We started at the same age... 13!! I was very naive and started to make myself look grown-up for my first party.... Dear oh dear. My eldest grandson defied his (I hate cigs) Mum and (to her horror) tried it at 14... He hated it.... So does my eldest granddaughter!! Two down, three to go but (please God) the younger ones will make the same choices.:j

They could use my face as an advert for 'why not to smoke' but it is getting better!! An aquaintance used to be in Market Research and said she could spot a smoker because of the aging effect on the skin.... For the first time in my life, I have started a skin routine as another activity to prove I value myself.

People are saying how well I look and I am sure it is the combination of not smoking and taking care of myself better

basilcat7

tattycath- well done to YOU !! you've done over 6 weeks now isn't it? Thats fantastic......

I am quite lucky that I have fantastic genes and my parents always looked younger than they are/were- father died a few years ago...

My skin doesn't seem to show all the damage that it could have done but I look SO much better due to not smoking now I'm sure of it.

The thing is about smoking now is that its SO unfashionable ! Hardly anyone I know now smokes, over the years my friends have given up one by one and I have told myself I can do it at any time but never really tried apart from once. Hopefully MJay you're grandchildren will realise this and never try it.

One friend I was talking to the other day said she wanted to smoke desperately when she was younger but just didn't like it !! Wish that had happened to me !