We’d like to remind Forumites to please avoid political debate on the Forum.

This is to keep it a safe and useful space for MoneySaving discussions. Threads that are – or become – political in nature may be removed in line with the Forum’s rules. Thank you for your understanding.

📨 Have you signed up to the Forum's new Email Digest yet? Get a selection of trending threads sent straight to your inbox daily, weekly or monthly!

ex smokers

Good Morning

I stopped smoking 2 weeks ago and although I am doing pretty good I find the mornings most difficult.

I always got up at 6.45 and had a cup of tea and a ciggie (outside) before daughter got up but now I am hitting the snooze button until the last possible minute to get up and ready.


I know I need to stop this as I am then rushing about trying to get ready for school and work but when the alarm goes off I just can't face getting out of bed.

Will this pass? Do I just need to give myself a kick?

Thanks
«134

Comments

  • kwmlondon
    kwmlondon Posts: 1,734 Forumite
    Well done. Seriously, you've done an amazing thing.

    You've done possibly the most difficult bit, making the decision to quit and you need to give yourself a huge pat on the back for making it to two weeks.

    Yes - it will pass.

    That's the good news.

    With a "but" in there. The but is that it comes in waves. Within a couple of weeks you'll find that you've gone a whole half hour or hour without thinking about smoking because you'll be hit with a craving. The good bit is you'll start to have these periods when you forget about the smoking, the bad news is you'll remember!

    Just bear this in mind - the cravings only last for 10 minutes at a time. That's all the willpower you need. Just 10 minutes. I know, it's a hard few minutes, but trust me it will pass and once you are 15 minutes in you'll wonder what you were stressing about so much.
  • fluffnutter
    fluffnutter Posts: 23,179 Forumite
    Yes, it will pass. The thing to remember about nicotine cravings is that they only last a few minutes. Distract yourself at the times when you're likely to get them - like when having your first cuppa in the mornings. Do something, anything. A bit of tidying, making some lunch for later, just something to fill your time for a few minutes.

    At two weeks, you're over the worst in terms of craving, but you're still in the danger zone. Keep reminding yourself of your motivating factor - the one reason you want to be a non-smoker, be it money, health, the smell whatever. It doesn't matter what it is, it just has to be meaningful to you. Keep yourself busy until the craving passes. I found chewing gum (normal not nicotine) useful.

    Good luck. It really does get easier.
    "Growth for growth's sake is the ideology of the cancer cell" - Edward Abbey.
  • Bufger
    Bufger Posts: 1,857 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Combo Breaker Debt-free and Proud!
    I quit a number of times. I quit for a year once and for 3-4 months another time. Eventually I quit 2 days before my lad was born nearly 3 years ago.

    There is no magic answer. You quit for you or for someone you love and when you quit properly you just wont ever want to do it again.

    Keep going with your normal lifestyle minus the cigarettes and every time you want one just shout at yourself 'no!' and dont listen to any of your own excuses you'll make up (stressfull day etc).

    Even now I sometimes smell one and like the smell and feel like i'd like one. Not very often but it happens! Just say no :)
    MFW - <£90k
    All other debts cleared thanks to the knowledge gained from this wonderful website and its users!
  • kwmlondon
    kwmlondon Posts: 1,734 Forumite
    Don't worry about next week at the moment. Just deal with right now, and today and I can tell you (and so will every other person who has quit) it will get better.

    I promise, it will get better!

    Your skin will improve, your gums will improve, your breath will smell better, your breathing will get easier. I could go on!

    There may be a period when you cough up a lot as the little hairs in your throat start to work again and you begin to repair all the damage you've done, and you may find your skin being a bit greasy as your blood starts to flow better, but within a couple of months any grey eyes will become more pink and it will be like you've spent thousands on cosmetics!

    I used to have to use moisturiser around my eyes to deal with dry crackly skin, now I never get any of this.

    Oh, and you want to know the best thing about quitting?

    It's less stressful. Seriously! The only thing smoking a cigarette does for you is set you up for the next one. It doesn't reduce stress, it increases your blood pressure and heart rate and actually makes you more tense, it's just the relief of getting nicotine into your system that you get.

    Nobody who hasn't quit knows how well you've done getting to two weeks. Make it through one more week and it all starts to get easier and easier.

    Good luck!
  • kwmlondon
    kwmlondon Posts: 1,734 Forumite
    Bufger wrote: »
    I quit a number of times. I quit for a year once and for 3-4 months another time. Eventually I quit 2 days before my lad was born nearly 3 years ago.

    There is no magic answer. You quit for you or for someone you love and when you quit properly you just wont ever want to do it again.

    Keep going with your normal lifestyle minus the cigarettes and every time you want one just shout at yourself 'no!' and dont listen to any of your own excuses you'll make up (stressfull day etc).

    Even now I sometimes smell one and like the smell and feel like i'd like one. Not very often but it happens! Just say no :)

    I think that when you're ready you just have this feeling of "that's it! I've had enough! I HATE these damn things and I am not going to smoke them any more! I AM NOT A SMOKER."

    Once you've made that decision about who you are, that you are not a smoker, then everything else is part of the process. You don't think like an addict any more, all the cravings and moods are a problem that a non-smoker is dealing with.

    Sure, a pain, annoying and will drive you bonkers, but once you decide that you don't smoke any more you have crossed the line.
  • Shepherd1
    Shepherd1 Posts: 307 Forumite
    Thank you all for your words of encouragment and sharing your experiences that has really given me a boost.

    I have gotten to the stage that I hate smoking, the smell, the money spent, the always thinking when I can have the next one and most importantly I want to see my daughter grow up.

    It really is the one thing in life that I regret.
  • fluffnutter
    fluffnutter Posts: 23,179 Forumite
    Keep hold of that thought, Shepherd1. And keep busy. It also helps if you have someone you can talk to each day about it, who will encourage you. I talked about how I felt incessantly to my OH when I was giving up. A few months later, he gave up too and talked at me for hours. It's good though - it really helps.

    Also make sure that friends who smoke (if you have any) will encourage you too. I've seen too many times a 'friend' say to another who's trying to give up 'Go on! One won't hurt!' because it makes them feel better about their own habit. Totally selfish, IMO.
    "Growth for growth's sake is the ideology of the cancer cell" - Edward Abbey.
  • Hi Sheperd1,
    Ive not smoked a ciggie for the past 6weeks which is amazing considering I had smoked since I was 14 and smoked at least 30 rollies a day.
    Now the only way I have managed this is by using my e cig,its been a Godsend.Ive had no cravings whatsoever.Its just like smoking a real ciggerette but without all the crap chemicals which goes with smoking.
    Ok it may seem your going from one type of ciggie to another but for me it works.
    Have you considered one??
  • fluffnutter
    fluffnutter Posts: 23,179 Forumite
    My OH used an e-cig. Worked well for him too.

    Shepherd1, I wouldn't bother though. You've done the hard bit. No point using a nicotine substitute now. Your cravings are only going to get easier and easier. Keep doing what you're doing.
    "Growth for growth's sake is the ideology of the cancer cell" - Edward Abbey.
  • ILW
    ILW Posts: 18,333 Forumite
    I stopped 13 months ago. I still miss them most of the time. Just accepted that the craving will probably never go away.
This discussion has been closed.
Meet your Ambassadors

🚀 Getting Started

Hi new member!

Our Getting Started Guide will help you get the most out of the Forum

Categories

  • All Categories
  • 352.1K Banking & Borrowing
  • 253.6K Reduce Debt & Boost Income
  • 454.2K Spending & Discounts
  • 245.1K Work, Benefits & Business
  • 600.8K Mortgages, Homes & Bills
  • 177.5K Life & Family
  • 258.9K Travel & Transport
  • 1.5M Hobbies & Leisure
  • 16.1K Discuss & Feedback
  • 37.6K Read-Only Boards

Is this how you want to be seen?

We see you are using a default avatar. It takes only a few seconds to pick a picture.