Get through it. You go, Girl! See I'm not the only one who had heart palpitations.

Hi Tina, YEA..You go girl! I was wondering how you made it through your first day. I can so relate to the panicky , heart racing, heart in throat feeling along with the "crazy" thoughts. :8o: Glad you're feeling better today. Congrats! Hang tough. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 7/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 13 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $3.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 2 [B]Seconds:[/B] 26

This is how Day 1 went: I noticed that about every hour or so I would get this panicked feeling 'heart racing, palms sweaty, head pounding, heart in throat, eyes watery' and that would last about 5 to 10 minutes tops and then it would go away as quickly as it came. I would take deep breaths when this would happen, close my eyes and imagine all of you standing in a circle around me and yelling like boxing coaches "you can do this". I also noticed several times that I would reach for my cigarettes while sitting here at the desk. I eventualy learned to put the sunflower seed cup in the spot I used to put my cigs so I would actualy get a reward for my reaching (it just wasn't the reward I wanted lol). I admit I thought about smoking smoking constantly, I don't think 5 minutes went by wihtout my thinking about smoking, watching a TV show was impossible, if someone got murdered I would think "if I got murdered I'd want a cigarette, lets go smoke" just crazy dumb thoughts lol....but the physicaly cravings only hit about every 60 minutes or so. and like I said they only lasted about 5 to 10 minutes so it was very managable. My husband called on his way home last night and asked how it was going (he's still a smoker but has quit before and knows how hard it is) I told him "the kids and dog are still alive and I haven't smoked so I guess we couldn't ask for more" lol He brought me home an ice cream as my Day 1 reward :) It was so sweet. I don't know if it was the gesture or the nicotine withdrawls but I cried the whole time I ate that ice cream it was just so sweet of him. I'm also glad I didn't smoke that cigarette yesterday when my teen and I got in an argument. Can you imagine how bad my kid would have felt? I mean we get in a little tiff and like a kid she says "just go smoke a cigarette" out of frustration and what if I would have? She would have felt it was her fault when in reality we all know it was MY choice. And the junkie in me probably would have let her feel guilty for a day or two, before finaly admitting to both her and myself that I was just looking for a reason to start smoking again. We talked about it and she said "mom I have no idea what you are going through. I don't know how to help you. I have no idea how bad it is I've never sm

AWESOME Tina, we love having you keep in touch and let us know how you are doing. Take each minute as it passes and always remember to use your mind in a positive way even when that demon trys to do otherwise. We are here with you....CONGRATULATIONS!!!! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 6/19/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 29 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 296 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $58 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 15 [B]Seconds:[/B] 20

Congrats tina and thanks for sharing :)Marie [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 6/13/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 35 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 535 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $140 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 57 [B]Seconds:[/B] 34

Tina- Congrats on day one!!! I am so proud of you!!! I have several teens and my son said something similar to me and then I slipped. I have felt so guilty since because I allowed him to feel as though it was his fault (you didn't expect ME to accept responsibility did ya?) Anyway, I am proud that you survived and the kids are still alive!!! What an accomplishment. At the worst, bury them deep in concrete--kids, husband, whatever...lol. What kind of ice cream did he bring you? Craving...Neopolitan, not nicotine (at the moment).

Congrats to you on your first day. Looks like you did really well. There will be some bad days, but do not let them deter you. It does get easier as time goes on. The more positive you are, the easier it is imo. Educate yourself and learn to hate cigarettes ... it helps to rid yourself of wanting one. Cigarettes are disgusting and good for nothing ... believe that ... it is a big aid in staying quit. [IMG]http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a17/Daniwiz/p4big.gif[/IMG] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/12/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 67 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,030 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $268 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 5 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 37 [B]Seconds:[/B] 51

Tina, Thanks for sharing the adventures of your first smoke-free day! Keep up the good work! Are the strategies you came up with coming in handy? Keep persevering! Danielle _______________________ The SSC Support Team

Hey Girl... How are you today? How's the quit? Keep in touch and great job!! Hugs Kim [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 6/7/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 42 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,060 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $170.1 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 43 [B]Seconds:[/B] 13

Congratulations Tina. Hope today is a bit better for you. Sounds like you did just fine yesterday! Hubby sounds like a keeper too :p You can quit with a teenager. I did and so have many others. Although they will try your last nerve.. but hey, they would do that even if you smoked! I think you are AWESOME and that meter looks really good on you. Keep up the good work and let us know how you are doing. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 7/1/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 382 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 7,658 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1337 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 33 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 57 [B]Seconds:[/B] 51