The Giving Up Smoking Thread!!

Storm

in_debt_again_but_dealing_with_it wrote: »

Storm its a little like that for me too, but I think it has more to do with momentum/motivation than nicotine, for instance when we start the quit we are highly motivated etc over time, days, weeks etc the motivation wanes as the quit becomes more "normal" does that make sense??? Thats how it felt/feels for me anyway just stay focussed and breathe through them they do get easier!!
IDA
x

I think it might also be my own expectations - when I quit last week I sent an email around my office explaining, apologising for any rattiness & asking people not to talk to me about it. It seemed perfectly 'acceptable' to be eating loads of chocolate, being a bit short tempered etc, whereas now I know the physical addiction is broken I think I shouldn't be thinking about it so much

jo1972

Storm wrote: »

now I know the physical addiction is broken I think I shouldn't be thinking about it so much

Grrr I just typed a great long message and lost it!!!

Storm, although you've broken through the physical addiction the mental addiction is still there. You've now got to get used to doing the things that you used to associate with smoking without smoking, i.e. driving, being on the phone, drinking, after eating etc. It will take a little while but the habit will be broken and then you will start to see/feel the benefits

If I click submit reply and lose this message I'm gonna smack someone right in the chops :mad:

Storm

Just noticed btw Jo - over 10,000 views of this thread now!

jo1972

Storm wrote: »

Just noticed btw Jo - over 10,000 views of this thread now!

Wooohoooo, let's hope there's loads of lurkers that have given up with this thread. Don't lurk any more, come say hello :wave:

TillyTrippit

:j Evening All,
New friends - woohoo - welcome - share your addiction beating stories and we will help. I agree entirely with Jo re the list of things that are triggers for smoking - but I must add the other trigger for smoking - breathing.
One week in and my bro asked me what were the trigger times - didn't know what he meant at first till he explained - I found that simply being awake was the worst.:rotfl: :rotfl:
Storm - love the email idea lol!!! I just ranted and ripped people's heads off - had a kind friend following most of my outbursts explaining in a kind of 'just bereaved voice' that I had parted with my friends.:rolleyes:

If it is any use, I'm one month 6 days and 19 hours in - I actually forget for most of the time now. Silkquit is a fabulous idea for anyone giving up - allows you to feel very smug.;)

To all newbies - huge welcome aboard and keep on posting - the people on here helped and supported me through potentially life threatening (other people's) lives!!!:eek:

Tilly
xx

Frizzy_2

Hi everyone!!!

Well i have been following this thread for some time now and am attempting to give up with Champix so thought I would start to post my own experiences. I am on day 9 of champix and was well on my way to having my first 24 hours without a cig but caved in about 30 mins ago

I have not really had any side effects with Champix other than my dreams being a bit more vivid and feeling generally lethargic but no sickness at all - maybe i have been lucky?

I have found Champix to be amazing although you do still need some will power. Its not so much the craving for the nicotine but more a craving to smoke something i.e the habit and I am not sure how I am going to get over that one. I also seem to be thinking about either "smoking" or "not smoking" all of the time - kinda obsessed with the whole thing - has anyone else had the same experience?

Anyway, wanted to say hi and looking forward to joining you on a smoke free journey!!!

Well done to all those who have given up so far - you are my heroes!!

Frizz

in_debt_again_but_dealing_with_it

Hi Frizz welcome aboard you are more than welcome to share your quitting experience!! There's lots of advice to be had and support by the bucket load whenever you need it! This forum (all hail Jo) has definately made the difference between success and failure for me and I found/find posting here very theraputic (even 6 weeks in - lol)!! I also try and make fun of my addiction, a sense of humour when quitting helps a lot, so my nicotine monster is Mr Nick O'Teen and I've had numerous visits from a "smoking, fun, happy devil" and a "serious, solemn, sad angel", (just think one on each shoulder) and the temptation to join the devil has often been great however the long term benefits of living with the angel have thankfully won each time!! The obsession you are experiencing is perfectly normal and very like dieters thinking only of food! Try distraction or even just allowing yourself to think about it - theres no guilt in that! It will get better over time! I found setting my quit date and then just taking things a minute/hour/day at a time to begin with - try not to look too far ahead! I also love the silkquit metre and changing my sig always helped to remind me how far I've come! Be sure you'll find your own way of quitting and whichever way you choose good luck to you!!
Sorry this has become an epic, I think I've joined TNG on his soap box lol.
Happy smokefree day people!
love and hugs
IDA
x
PS: Frizzy don't forget you'll get a pink tongue too - how cool is that!!

Storm

Well, I was having a v.bad day yesterday so went home & completely re-read Allen Carr's Easyway (used it to quit about 3.5 years ago, but obviously fell off the wagon again) There was one particular chapter that when I read I started crying actually, and thought I'd share why with you guys (and anyone that's lurking & thinking about quitting!)

When I started smoking again I didn't tell my family as I was too ashamed & my mum is so anti-smoking that I couldn't face the argument! About a year of hiding the smoking from them we went to stay at my sisters for Christmas, and I was panicking about how I'd cope, but managed to sneak off by offering to walk the dog, go pick up whatever had been forgotten at the supermarket etc.

Boxing Day came & I went to take the dog to the local park & my 5 year old nephew piped up saying he wanted to come too... What made me cry was that I was so hooked on the drug of nicotine I actually RESENTED my little nephew wanting to spend time just with me! I watched him from a distance playing with the football we'd taken so I could sneak a fag without him seeing (he would have gone & told people!) instead of being out there playing with him.

I've decided that this story is going to be my talisman as it were for stopping smoking - I am NEVER going to let an addiction ruin time with my family again. I'll never get that time back with my nephew, and if I start smoking again I will be missing out on time in the future.

Storm x

jo1972

Tilly, glad to see how well you are doing lol at your trigger being breathing!!

Frizz :wave: welcome on board! Don't worry about the slip up, it happens to most of us at some point (me quite frequently), just forget about it and start again and it will work eventually. I've not tried Champix, there's a poster on here called I Love Airdales (ILA) that takes it, she'll probably be about soon to give you her experiences. The fact that you are constantly thinking about smoking is completely normal. Previously you would've lit a fag without thinking about it but now you're not smoking you are conscious of the smoking thoughts. They will lessen over time, you're are just breaking the habit at the moment. Stick with us, let us know how you're getting on and we'll beat it together :beer:

Storm, you made me well up with tears with your last post! I have done this so many times. I was a closet smoker so literally have made an excuse to leave the house everyday for the last 8 years or more since I started again. How sad is that! I don't know how many times my kids have missed out spending time with me because I want to be alone. Thanks for this Storm cos now I shall bear this in mind too every time I have a thought or craving :T

Definately feeling healthier today, bounded down the stairs at the platform again today and charged up the platform that I usually trudge along - I can breathe again!! Oooooh and my teeth are becoming whiter see!!

weezypoos

Morning everyone!

If you don't mind I would love to join you all and have quit smoking today! The money thing has given me a kick up the backside and hubby has stopped today too!

The main reason is I'm seeing the effects of the bloody awful things. We went to my hubby's friends funeral last week, he died of lung cancer and it is not a nice way to go. He was 53. Monday, my Grandad is having a major operation to remove a large tumour in his lung. We have a 5 year old daughter who I want to be there for, what more motivation do I need?

I've quit with patches before and started again but this time, pure hatred for the suffering the cigs cause is going to get me through it..

Day 1, best of luck everyone!