Totally forgot about the stuck cigarette and burnt fingers . . . did it many times! How about dropping the cigarette or ember while driving and looking for it like mad as you drift into another lane of traffic? SCARY!!!
Slowly making my way to the 3 month mark. My doctor's office said they would change the info on my file to "non-smoker" once I attain the 3 month mark. Kinda cool! I've smoked for so long (30 years 1 to 1 1/2 packs/day) that it's hard to actually accept that I'm a non-smoker now. It's a lot of hard work but also a lot to be very proud of. How many people out there don't actually enjoy smoking but continue anyway because of fear, denial, lack of support or a million other reasons.
What I've done is put $10 every day (the cost of what I smoked in a day minus the cost of the NRT gum) into a tin from the day I stopped smoking (June 22nd). I have over $800 there which I plan to use for my trip to New York at the end of October. By the time my trip comes around the money that would have gone up in smoke will pay for a couple of shows on Broadway and a couple of nice dinners.
I agree with you. The numbers on the screen didn't quite do it for me. It's nice to go into that tin and pick up that nice thick pile of cash. I've also "withdrawn" from it when I felt I needed to treat/reward myself either because I reached a milestone or I was feeling down and craving. For example, I took some out a few weeks ago for a pedicure when I hit my 2 month mark. However, I'm probably cheating a bit because I don't take money from there EVERY time I treat myself.
They all sound like terrific suggestions but I just can't resist the chocolates and the ice cream. I never had much of an interest in sweets before I quit smoking but now I've turned into the cookie monster. Luckily I've only gained about 3 lbs. since I stopped smoking 80 days ago but I've really increased my excercise level to counteract the sweets.
Excercise is a wonderful destressor. Whether it's a workout, a sport, some gardening or whatever, it sure helps with crankiness during the quit and has a lasting effect through a good portion of the day. However, I find that when I don't get a good night's sleep (which is often) or someone at work hits a nerve, I have to really really work at controlling my temper. The irritability then in turn triggers the craving. Unfortunately it's not always possible to remove yourself from the source of the irritant, especially at work. I'm down to 16 mg. of NRT now and just chew plain gum in between when I find I'm really craving but it doesn't seem to help when the cravings are because of being annoyed. Any suggestions?
Wow! Thank's everyone. I can think I learned something from each and every reply. Talking with others who get it is so motivating to push on and it also makes you realize that no you're not going nuts, it's all a normal part of the withdrawl.
Working on it, I totallly get what you're saying on an intellectual level. I'm just prolonging the misery by reducing the nicotione bit by bit . . . but I'm just too afraid to cold turkey it yet, even though I'm down to only 14 mg. NRT gum a day. I don't want to risk blowing it. as it is, about a week and a half ago I was very very close to buyong a pack. I used my whole aresenal of tools to avaoid it . . . distract, delay, avoid, etc. It worked but I don't want to come that close again if I can avoid it. At the current pace of torture I should be nicotine free in 7 weeks.
Feeling really strong and encouraged today. A good night's sleep sure makes a difference in mental attitude plus being able to excercise again! A definite NOPE today.
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