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5 years ago 0 +0 / -0 175

No confidence

Ohhhh Fisherman.....dont give up now. I have found the same thing with my quit....that it got worse after it got better and that surprised me. It was like two steps forward and one step back. The thing is if you tough it out it does get easier again. Youve done the hardest yards and it feels like whats going on? Why am l still craving? But if you wait it out you will feel stronger again....l can assure you. Your down mood wont last forever. Tim brought up a good point about NRTs. Maybe you could use something just to get you through this rough patch. Ive been using the nicotine spray and it has helped me tremendously. The thing is its only 1mg nicotine per spray and you take 2 sprays when youre craving so you're not having a large amount of nicotine. For me its more the act of doing something and the intense minty hit that takes your mind off wanting a smoke. I know cold-turkey is the ideal way to do things but youre better off going to buy some NRT than you are going to buy smokes. And the eating is so normal. Ive been eating the house out. Who cares at this stage....whatever takes yoir mind off smoking. I recommend getting some of the most intense minty lollies you can find. The intense mint takes my mind off smoking. Youve come so far. Dont give in now. Follow your heart not your mind. Good luck and keep us posted.

5 years ago 0 +0 / -0 175

The many norms of quitting

Another thing l forgot was for me it got worse after it got better. I started to really miss smoking at about week 4. Looking back now the first 2 weeks l craved most intensely and most often and l thought that it would progressively lessen so it took me by surprise when l was suddenly really missing smoking but l found that toughing it out made me stronger. Those feelings were fairly recent so l know l need to be vigilant and strong.

5 years ago 0 +0 / -0 175

The many norms of quitting

Breathfree - thanks so much for sharing. I can relate to much of what you said. I also experience depression and it hasnt been easy with quitting smoking. I have felt extremely low at some points and really missed smoking to soothe me. Quitting is going to benefit our mental health by giving us more strength and confidence and like you said giving us back our sense of control. We are learning to be self-sufficient by no longer relying on something external to soothe our emotions. Im really happy for you as it sounds like it has not been an easy road for you and youre sticking with it. Keep up the great work!

Pappy - thanks for sharing your quitting experience. Haha....you made me laugh when you said that some people are a trigger for you....thats so true. You describe many triggers and thats the thing for us every emotion and situation was answered with a smoke and we are relearning and readjusting to life. You say it well - 'the nasty addiction controlling every aspect of our lives'.....that describes it perfectly. Im so happy for you that you have regained control and lm pumped to be on this quit journey with you. Way to go comrade!

5 years ago 0 +0 / -0 175

The many norms of quitting

Pappy l relate to what you wrote in another post. For the most part l dont crave smoking but occassionally (usually when lm out somewhere) a craving will hit and l think 'ohhh if only l could have just one right now'. The intensity of the craving takes me by surprise....l actually picture myself enjoying one. The difference with cravings these days is they dont last long. My mind is soon diverted to thinking about something else. l never thought cravings would be with me so long. I dont think l would ever go back to smoking but as long as this happens l feel like l still have my training wheels on and l dont feel truly safe. I'll say it again.....l cant wait until l never think about smoking again. Then l'll be truly freeeeee

5 years ago 0 +0 / -0 175

6 weeks smoke free

Hi Pappy

I regret that l missed this post and l just want to congratulate you on what is now 7 weeks. Wowww!!! Can you believe that you are soon going to be celebrating 2 months?? That is so freakin awesome. Gone are the early days of uncertainty and self-doubt, all the intense cravings, yearning, grieving, all the tests of strength....you survived it and now have a good chunk of time under your belt. Im so grateful that all that difficulty is behind me. Ive done it and l never have to go through it again....Alleluia. lm seriously so happy for you Pappy......your family must be so happy for you. Heres to good health for both of us!!!

5 years ago 0 +0 / -0 175

Celebrating 2 Months smoke free!

Just awesome Pappy! Big congrats to you! I hope you think of something nice to reward yourself with. I spoilt myself with a massage which was such an enjoyable reward. To think that a few short months ago you probably thought this wasnt possible and now here you are. Soon youll be celebrating a quarter of a year. Keep at it always.

5 years ago 0 +0 / -0 175

PSA: Check you medication and the side-effects before deciding how to quit smoking.

Wow who would have thought?? Its such a great thing you realised what was going on or you probably would not have succeeded in quitting. I cant believe nicotine could have such a powerful effect. Good on you for continuing in your battle and succeeding in your quit. Keep it up!

5 years ago 0 +0 / -0 175

Second day of no smoking

Hi and welcome. Congratulations for making the decision to quit. As Pappy said the first week is the hardest for most of us. I can relate to your feeling of loneliness as you feel like you are missing your go-to for everything. It feels like losing a friend when in actual fact its your brain readjusting to losing a habit and even this early your brain is healing. Hang in there....it gets easier. Keep us posted.

5 years ago 0 +0 / -0 175

Just joined help me

Hi Sasha

I feel for you as l understand struggling with mental health issues and it makes quitting an addiction even harder but by no means impossible....lm living proof. I struggle with depression and before l quit l thought it would be impossible for me.....now l see l was building it up in my mind to an awful experience it didnt have to be and turns out it wasnt.

I think the suggestion of being active is a really important one. Maybe you can do exercises at home. A yoga dvd is a good idea and maybe some meditation to quiet the brain. Also l would start leaving the house by taking short walks and increase them. Maybe go to the shops for 5 minutes and increase on it when you feel comfortable.

About quitting.....it feels extremely overwhelming when you are battling mental health problems but it doesnt have to be. It becomes a mind over matter issue. If you look at it as youre just changing a habit and sit with the discomfort you can definitely do this.

I started by keeping a journal and reading a lot about quitting on the net, also reading many posts on this forum. Make lists......the reasons you want to quit, what you will gain from quitting, why you hate smoking etc and very importantly a list of coping strategies. Refer to these when youre having cravings . Journal how youre feeling or even better write it on here so you can get support.

Are you planning on using any nicotine replacement therapies? I use the nicotine spray and it has hleped me tremendously. I dont think l could have done it without it. Keep busy in the early days with things you enjoy. Cravings come and go. Honestly l didnt find the first couple of weeks as hard as l expected it would be. Arm yourself with mints or lollies....something to suck on when a craving hits .

If you really want this and you sound like you do, it is within reach. Good luck and keep us posted

5 years ago 0 +0 / -0 175

2000 Days Smoke Free

Wow 2000 is incredible!! That number is unfathomable to me. I bet it feels like it was in another life you smoked. Why did we ever even pick it up in the first place?? Its such a dead end thing to do. But you are testament to the fact that we can reclaim our smoke free lives back. You give us hope and you are a great support to all of us. Thankyou and WTG!!

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