Giving up smoking

Izadora

Thanks everyone, it's really helpful hearing what helped other people to quit.

Well done rock queen and Baileysonice - even though I don't know either of you it's really helping me knowing that there are other people going through exactly the same.

mrmechanic - I'd read that a lot of people get disturbed sleep patterns when they give up and, as someone who often has trouble sleeping, was really worried that I'd end up a complete zombie. Strangely, I actually seem to be sleeping better...

I don't want to get my hopes up too much but yesterday was a lot easier to cope with. There were still times when I really wanted a cigarette but I seem to be doing quite well with telling myself that I don't need them and the cravings are passing more quickly.

One odd thing that I've found, I feel more tight chested and am sometimes finding it harder to breathe than normal. I'm hoping that'll pass soon enough though.

I also decided to treat myself to a pretty pair of earrings and still have more money than I would've done if I'd still been smoking

Baileysonice

mrmechanic wrote: »

I stopped 11/01/2011 cold turkey.

It was tough at the start but kept on thinking after first day, if i give in now I have just wasted my time not smoking yesterday and so on every day.
As each day passed, i was more determined not to have wasted my time .

That is what is working for me. I do know that one slip will lead to having to go through all of this again and if I can hold on to how tough it is in the early days then I will make sure I am not in that position again At least now things are getting better every day

rock_queen wrote: »

Only a few cravings especially when I'm driving and after meals but they seem to be getting less intense but I'm still feeling a bit 'lost'

How are you doing Izadora and Baileysonice?

Oh yes as I walk up to car after work my first thought is the lovely long trip and copious fags now its a few puffs of an e cig

I'm doing OK I think and it is getting easier there is no doubt. Every day down is another success
The app is helping me loads strangely enough just having a quick check on how far I have come is enough to zap a few cravings

Izadora wrote: »

Well done rock queen and Baileysonice - even though I don't know either of you it's really helping me knowing that there are other people going through exactly the same.


mrmechanic - I'd read that a lot of people get disturbed sleep patterns when they give up and, as someone who often has trouble sleeping, was really worried that I'd end up a complete zombie. Strangely, I actually seem to be sleeping better...

Well done you too :j:j:j we are in this together (virtually anyway )

Sleep wise I am the same as you Izadora in fact getting out of my pit is now the major challenge!

Have a great weekend everyone and keep the faith :T

Armchair23

I stopped smoking about 30 years ago. Long before nicotine patches, gum or ecigs.

You could still smoke on buses, tubes, in offices and pubs. Nowhere was safe !

I still have yearnings from time to time, not to smoke but to roll a ciggy .
I have been known to ask people if they'd mind if I rolled one for them. I've also been known to linger behind someone so I can smell their pipe smoke - sorry pipe smokers if I've stalked you in the past.

Giving up the nicotine takes three days, but the habits you've built up take much longer to lose.

I had a long time while I struggled to make phone calls while drinking a coffee. What was I supposed to do with the hand that should be holding the cigarette ?

Leaving the house was a nightmare to start with, because I was still checking for cash and a lighter and would get stuck on the doorstep thinking I'd forgotten something.

I lost the craving for tobacco really quickly but the little rituals were a nightmare. You could still smoke in restaurants so missing the after dinner ciggy was grim.

I'd smoked 30 a day for about 15 years and enjoyed it enormously, but I wanted kids and thought I'm only going to go through this rubbish once. As previous posters have said you can only do it for yourself not to please anyone else.

Now of course I couldn't afford to smoke even if I wanted to an added incentive.

There are loads of us ex smokers out there, so it must be possible even if it seems hard.

Don't think of even having one to see how it goes and beware smoking friends who will offer you one even though they know you're trying to stop.

Learn to say things like 'I don't smoke' not 'I'm giving up '.

Keep going and very best of luck everyone it really is worth the effort X

Baileysonice

Hey fellow quitters hows you're weekend going?
Day 5 for me and doing OK I think

rock_queen

Managed to survive the weekend which involved a glass or two of red. How are you both getting along? Day 7 today!

sofaspud1234

You are all doing great so well done:-) I have been smoking around 20 a day for more years than I care to remember. I have been using patches for 2 weeks, my initial aim was to cut down, I just felt that way it was less pressure. Yesterday I went out for my first cig at 11am and I only had 5 all day.
Today I think I am going to get an e cig in the hope that I can quit for good.

Izadora

Morning all. Well done for making it through the weekend.
I managed it too and, for the majority of it, it wasn't as difficult as I'd feared. I think the biggest test was having a huge row with my boyfriend. I was so angry with him that I was shaking and very nearly caved in and had one to calm me down but I really didn't want to put myself back to square one so managed to get through it by shouting a lot instead. Luckily he's a very easy-going man...

Baileysonice

rock_queen wrote: »

Managed to survive the weekend which involved a glass or two of red. How are you both getting along? Day 7 today!

Similar but a glass or two of white for me
7 days :j:j:j:j

sofaspud1234 wrote: »

You are all doing great so well done:-) I have been smoking around 20 a day for more years than I care to remember. I have been using patches for 2 weeks, my initial aim was to cut down, I just felt that way it was less pressure. Yesterday I went out for my first cig at 11am and I only had 5 all day.
Today I think I am going to get an e cig in the hope that I can quit for good.

its working for me sofaspud so far - in fact I am now cutting down on the e cig as I am sick of having to charge the batteries!! Good luck however you do this and jump and board here its good to know you are not alone

Izadora wrote: »

Morning all. Well done for making it through the weekend.
I managed it too and, for the majority of it, it wasn't as difficult as I'd feared. I think the biggest test was having a huge row with my boyfriend. I was so angry with him that I was shaking and very nearly caved in and had one to calm me down but I really didn't want to put myself back to square one so managed to get through it by shouting a lot instead. Luckily he's a very easy-going man...

Tough test Izadora well done to you for not succumbing. That cigarette would not have helped in any way so you absolutely did the right thing:T Hope all is well

Izadora

Morning All, I hope you're still coping okay.

Day 10 and I've still managed not to smoke. It was very difficult this morning, after a very vivid dream where I was smoking - it was so realistic that I woke up wondering if I'd actually had one, but I'm still determined to stick to it. Amazingly, I haven't cheated on my diet either!!

DUKE

Well done Izadora! I've had a few mares that I started smoking again & was relieved to wake up & know that I hadn't. It's early days yet & you're doing great. Talking of mares, when I stopped the first time I had the most terrible ones, so bad I could never repeat them. Just thought I'd mention this in case anyone's had them & is worried about them. They do go away eventually.