Stoptober club 2013 - Lets have another go!

pogg000

penelopedee wrote: »

As for the being scared bit, driving home tonight I nearly went into panic mode thinking I would never "enjoy" smoking again.

Whats to enjoy?

Waste of money, kills you quicker, makes you smell horrible, makes your clothes and home smell the list of bad things goes on and on....


(Just reminding myself why I'm giving it up)

penelopedee_2

pogg000 wrote: »

Whats to enjoy?

Waste of money, kills you quicker, makes you smell horrible, makes your clothes and home smell the list of bad things goes on and on....


(Just reminding myself why I'm giving it up)

I work behind a counter serving the general public and I can spot a smoker a mile off. The smell, even on those that obviously practice nice hygiene, is still there. Also I notice the slightly saggy face skin and a bit of a pale, ill look.

I'm sort of proud at the moment that I am making the effort not to smell and look like I don't care.

observations_from_a_hill

Hello all - I'm back on day 1 symptoms of light-headedness & overdose of tic-tacs.

Hoping tomorrow I will get a chance to experience day 2 symptoms!

Keep strong everyone.

pogg000

How is eeryonetrying to give up?

Patches, lozengers, etc.

I am vaping with nicotine included(cheating a bit i know), and even though I am on day 4 I am not missing real cigs at all.

tattycath

pogg000 wrote: »

How is eeryonetrying to give up?

Patches, lozengers, etc.

I am vaping with nicotine included(cheating a bit i know), and even though I am on day 4 I am not missing real cigs at all.

Cold turkey for me. and for the 3 rd day running I'm exhausted. Coughing a bit tonight too. The 4 glasses of wine I have just consumed next door are probably contributory factors.

vassa

No such thing as nicotine withdrawal.

What we experience as 'nicotine withdrawal' is actually self-imposed paddies that we throw because we believe we're depriving ourselves of something that we want.

The only 'withdrawal symptom' is a slight empty feeling that people often misread as hunger.

The only way to become a non-smoker (instead of a smoker who doesn't smoke any more) is to see smoking for what it is, and to really WANT to not smoke any more. Convincing yourself you like the odd one, or self imposing stupid month-long bans on yourself is 100% pointless and means you'll never really be free of it.

Once you (even as a current smoker) despise smoking and don't want to do it at all, giving up is the easiest thing you'll ever do.

There is no 'pressure' or anxiety when stopping something that you hate and don't wish to do at all, ever. Also trying to give up every now and then is no good. You need to be constantly trying to give up, even if that means buying 10 when you've convinced yourself you need it, and then instantly regretting it and throwing the pack in the nearest bin.

Candlewick

Hi Tattycath

The headaches you are experiencing are likely because your blood is becoming more oxygenated. When you smoked, less oxygen was required because of the carbon monoxide in your bloodstream.

I disagree with Vassa, nicotine is a highly addictive drug and as with all addictive drugs there are withdrawal symptoms when you deprive yourself of your regular 'fix'. Of course, everyone is different as are their experiences and degrees of withdrawal and some can handle / ride them out easier than others. I do agree though that you have to want to do it which does make it slightly easier to bear but still takes heaps of willpower and it's tiring fighting it. Finding things to take your mind off of it and changing routines helps. For instance, when I gave up, I avoided the pub and long conversations on the phone because of the association.

From my own experience, within the next few days you can expect to feel a tingling sensation, particularly in the tips of your fingers, this is because the nerve endings are starting to repair themselves.

Next will come a cough as you start expelling some of the toxins that you have been breathing in whilst smoking. This also means that the lining of the lungs (the tiny hairs, sorry can't remember the correct name at the moment) slowly start regrowing. This should ease up after a few weeks.

Stay strong. In just a couple of weeks you will start to feel better, even if it doesn't feel like it right now.

http://smokefree.nhs.uk/why-quit/timeline/

Candlewick

HPoirot

The thought of giving up is scary. Why not plan ahead? Decide on the day, say Monday and work yourself up to it. Did you know that the feeling of needing a nictoine hit lasts on average between 3 and 5 minutes? A long time when feeling desperate but it does pass, I promise you. As mentioned previously, deep breaths, sips of water and a walk will all help to subside the need.

HPoirot

Vassa: Which book is that from?

HPoirot

Candlewick wrote: »

HPoirot

The thought of giving up is scary. Why not plan ahead? Decide on the day, say Monday and work yourself up to it. Did you know that the feeling of needing a nictoine hit lasts on average between 3 and 5 minutes? A long time when feeling desperate but it does pass, I promise you. As mentioned previously, deep breaths, sips of water and a walk will all help to subside the need.

Thank you yes I am trying to prepare myself psychologically and think of techniques of dealing with it when I actually take the plunge. A walk after a meal is one I'll definitely take up. I have the patches at the ready and I think in a couple of days my resolve will be firm enough to start