I Quit Smoking!...Need a bit of encougragement (I'm jonesing!!!)

[Cat]

So I haven't posted here in a while, I've been really busy trying to get ready to go back to school as a 30-year-old freshman (among other things.) Anyway, I decided about two months ago that I was going to give up smoking for good...I've tried a dozen times to quit, but I finally just realised that I was done with it. I've smoked for about fifteen years, and luckily never had any health problems (aside from the usual diminished stamina, not being able to walk up a flight of stairs without stopping, that sort of thing.) Today was my quit day.

Anyway, I'd just like to talk to some people here that have successfully quit and get some ideas on how to stay occupied or deal with it without losing my mind. Today's only my first day, so I know the next couple days are going to be the worst. Luckily, my state has a program where I get free nicotine patches as well as get to talk to a counselor for free, and all sorts of other stuff. The patch is definitely helping, although there's still that craving and oral fixation...and if I eat any more candy or anything, I'm going to throw up!

I keep reminding myself why I'm doing this (mostly for myself, for my daughter and for a very special girl in my life...today's her birthday and so I figured it was a good day to quit, especially since she's always bugging me about it!) I know it's for the best, and I know I'll save nearly $2000 a year! But still, that stuff has a way of making you just want to stab the nearest person for no apparent reason! I know if I can make it through the next three days or so, I'll be okay as far as the really bad cravings go (trust me, I've tried to quit many times, and the first three or four days are the absolute worst for me!)

Anyway, if there are any ex-smokers (or even people who just want to cheer me on), I could use the company!

[Mike1]

Tell me this - are you bigger than the cigarettes, or are they bigger than you? Are you going to allow your life to be ruled by something as trivial as a cigarette?

You can beat it. Don't think you can, you need to KNOW you can.

People always wonder how I can remember 14 May 1984 as the day I quit. I tell them I remember because it really is that important.

Change your routines a bit, so you are not always finding yourself in situations where you would be tempted. Take it one hour at a time. Then one day at a time. Let the days become weeks and so on. After the first 6 or 7 years, it gets pretty easy.

[Eujeankilt]

Congratulations. Like Mike said, take it a hour at a time, a day at a time. The first three days are the worst. I used Werther's Toffee to satisfy the oral craving. I quit in October of 1995 -both chew and cigarettes. If other people can quit, you can too. You'll make it. Keep your resolve. Think of how much money you will save. Put away half of what you would have spent on smokes and save up for a kilt!

You can make it.

Dale

[Cat]

Put away half of what you would have spent on smokes and save up for a kilt!

That's funny you should mention that...I decided that I would do exactly that about a week ago!

Anyway, thanks guys! I've tried this a dozen times in the past, but this is first time that I KNOW I want to do it!

[PaulX608]

I quit it October 1997, after 12 years of nicotine addiction. I was a 2½ to 3 pack a day nonfilter smoker. Mostly Camel and Lucky Strike. The amazing thing is that now, more than 10 years later, I can't even remember what it was like. Be strong, it gets easier as the years go by. The first few days were rough, but it was very worth it.

[McMurdo]

I too tried a few times to quit and always went back to them, however it's been close to 4 years now for me and honestly I could not see myself going back this time. You can beat this addiction, use the resources available, if you have to talk to someone try the counselors if you feel you have to I am sure they have helped out many in the same situation.
If I can do it, Mike can do it, and so on, well then so can you.

[Mike1]

The amazing thing is that now, more than 10 years later, I can't even remember what it was like.

If I mindlessly put my hands in my pockets, I will usually come to the sudden realization I've misplaced my lighter. Even now, after almost 24 years.

I sure don't miss the doggone thing leaking lighter fluid whilst in my pocket, leaving me with the chemical burns on my leg!

[Standard]

Good luck Cat. Keep your goal in mind at all times, and remember who you are truely doing this for... You. It is a tough row to hoe, but as others here have said, you are not the first to go through this, and you have all of us as a support group cheering you on.

[auld argonian]

All right...I just said it again today when I saw several people smoking...I quit several years ago and I always figgered that I was going to be the last person to quit. I loved smoking...I loved sitting at a bar with a beer in one hand and a smoke in the other. But I finally quit...went through a couple of periods where I would cheat but I finally stopped entirely and will not go back (if for no other reason than going back now just makes all of that time that I've been "clean" a waste).

It's something that you can well live without. It's an addiction pure and simple and you don't want to be dependent on anything in order to just live a nice happy life. If the price of a pack of smokes isn't enough to get you to just say "screw it", I don't know what else is.

Tough it out and stay busy with something that you'd rather be doing.

Save the money that you would have spent on smokes and buy a frickin' tank with it. You'll enjoy it that much more.

Best

AA

[sharpdressedscot]

Congratulatioms! I don't smoke and never will, but that's my decision.

Glad you quit, so much crap comes along with that stuff.