Get the Support You Need

Learn from thousands of users who have made their way through our courses. Need help getting started? Watch this short video.

today's top discussions:

logo

11 years and counting

Timbo637

2024-10-31 6:49 AM

Quit Smoking Community

logo

Feels like hell week all over!!

Timbo637

2024-10-30 9:38 AM

Quit Smoking Community

logo

Roller Coaster Withdrawal

Timbo637

2024-10-14 12:28 PM

Quit Smoking Community

logo

Smile....and don't shoot the messenger

Timbo637

2024-09-27 3:17 PM

Quit Smoking Community

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Most Loved

Browse through 411.768 posts in 47.066 threads.

161,303 Members

Please welcome our newest members: Geraldine, Snootz, Poul Ilsøe, Trina J Kriya, SG1501

Starting week 8 and still getting cravings


18 years ago 0 33 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I am about to start week 9 and I am still getting crazy cravings. In the last couple of days if I relax, I get the greatest urge to smoke. There are no cigarettes anywhere and none of my friends that live near me smoke, which has helped keep me from smoking. I am trying to keep busy and remind myself of why I want to quit. I just wish that I would not get these urges. I am currently using the number 2 (middle dosage) patch, and am on my last week before the number 3 (losest dosage). Because of these urges, should I continue for a couple weeks longer on the number 2 patch or go next week to the number 3. Some of your great feedback would be appreciated. Thanks [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/16/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 55 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 725 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $206.25 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 7 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 37 [B]Seconds:[/B] 18
18 years ago 0 33 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thanks for your comments and advice. I will go down to the Stage 3 patch at the end of the week, and hope for the best. I am probably just being over causious. I am trying to keep busy and it helps. I do not want to go through this again. One of the reasons that I quit smoking was that I like to travel. Flying and smoking just do not mix, dying for that cigarette while waiting to go through customs is not worth it. I intend to be smoke free for my trip to San Francisco in May. Once I get back from San Francisco, I will forcus on not smoking for my trip to Europe in October. I hope that by setting goals that I can met will help me. Thanks again. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/16/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 56 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 737 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $210 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 7 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 25 [B]Seconds:[/B] 32
18 years ago 0 2614 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
AU I would follow the manufacturers directions as closely as possible. N2K and Groove-kitty have very good information, relaxation, reaffirmation and reward. There is also some thought and information about refocusing. When you get the urge, refocus on why you have quit, what benefit you will have from your quit, what impact you quit has on your health, your body, your ability to breath. Search the posts for refocus. Congratulations on starting a new week. A week nine, no small feat. In fact a very big accomplishment. Good luck, post often I look forward to hearing your progress. Phillip [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 23 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 478 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $172.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 38 [B]Seconds:[/B] 34
18 years ago 0 214 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
You should 100% stay on the step 2 patch untill you feel you are ready to step down. Wearing the patch is better then smoking. You will be able to step down soon I'm sure. I was afraid to step down and thought I was going to have to stay on step 2 forever. I stayed on it for just a few days longer and all of the sudden I felt ready to step down to the 7mg. I did that a few days ago. Just take your time. Your body will tell you when you are ready. IWIN [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/11/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 60 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,218 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $240 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 23 [B]Seconds:[/B] 44
18 years ago 0 254 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I personally would follow the instructions on the package - there are reasons why you are getting these urges, and staying on a certain dosage of patch longer isn't going to help you figure out why!! Try to analyze what you were thinking of, what you were doing, etc when the "crazy cravings" hit. These could be hidden triggers that you need to prepare for the next time. And believe me, each trigger you successfully navigate helps the next time. You just need to retrain your mind that "just because I have come out of the grocery/bakery/doctors/school etc I do NOT get a cig. And then each subsequent time you leave the grocery/bakery/doctors/school etc you will feel less and less of an urge to smoke. It's like you are Pavlov's dog. You are retraining your brain, the REWARD center of your brain. Are you rewarding yourself enough? I use to give myself weekly rewards in the beginning........rewards are very, very important to your quit..... Stay strong, stay close to here..........you'll be fine..... [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/19/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 83 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,258 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $560.25 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 7 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 42 [B]Seconds:[/B] 58
18 years ago 0 1450 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi aubanki :) Pavlov's dog is a good analogy and I am an advocate of rewards, exercise and starting new hobbies to distract the mind. You have been given plenty of good advice already so I will only add one other idea you could explore (if you have not done so) especially since your urges are coming when you relax. -Slow breathing techniques while repeating a mantra (there's some science behind this technique. If you want more info use the search feature in this forum and look up "Stressed Out?" There's another thread that explains the science behind groovekitty's info. "Rewards, Nicotine and the Brain." [color=blue]~[font=Arial]all the best[/font][/color] [img]http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6922/n3us.gif[/img][size=3][color=blue]2[/color][/size][img]http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2344/k6ob.gif[/img] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/20/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 204 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,507 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1020 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 19 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 43 [B]Seconds:[/B] 53
18 years ago 0 82 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
This weekend was very hard, I really wanted to smoke. Days 44 and 45. I even dreamed about smoking. But I kept thinking what smoking does to my body. I made it through the weekend but I don't know why I kept dwelling on it.
  • Quit Meter

    $342,150.00

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 5367 Hours: 2

    Minutes: 6 Seconds: 29

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45620

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    1,140,500

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 12049 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
aubanki, Continue on the program until the end and see how you feel. If relaxing you makes you crave, then do the opposite and get a hobby to keep you busy. Exercise can also be a great motivator. Check with your doctor to come up with a program that is right for you and he/she may also advise you on the patch dosages and usage. Hope this helps, Josie _____________________ The SSC Support Team.

Reading this thread: