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Hello I'm one of your 2007 quitters


17 years ago 0 6 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I have been lurking about your excellent forum for some time now, and I thought it was probably time to introduce myself. I am 38 years old - female - and I have been quit since December 29, 2006 and I have had a really terrible time of it. I have smoked for 16 years (on and off - started as a social smoker - the last 10 years were probably a pack a day - binge behavior: none all day and then a pack at the bar) ANYWAY. I am set to get married in August, so I decided that the vices had to go. No more smoking, no more drinking (also binge behavior). Whew. This is hard to admit all this stuff! I have been to numerous doctors who all say I'm perfectly fine, so why I'm having trouble trusting them, I'm not sure. I have started counseling - but I can't sleep, my heart pounds, I feel like I can't get a full breath (so then I panic). I'm having terrible dreams. The odd thing is, the last time I quit (for about a year) I didn't experience any of this. I'm having trouble sorting out why it's so different this time (I was hypnotized to quit). I guess it's all in my head - but. . . . help! When does this stop? I'm already a month into my quit! I'm just feeling trapped and scared. I'd rather eat dirt than smoke again, but there must be some way to mitigate this? I would be so grateful for any thoughts. I'm a very big fan of this forum. Thanks so much.
  • Quit Meter

    $243,639.83

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    Days: 5958 Hours: 5

    Minutes: 23 Seconds: 54

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17 years ago 0 6 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
ChickNoodle, JaneAthena - Thank you so very much for your kind posts this am. I appreciate all your thoughts and most of all, your support. Have just returned from an NicAnon meeting, where I found out the following (which I thought was helpful): "Recognize withdrawal symptoms for their true meaning: signs of returning health and normal body and mind functioning. Your habit will try to fool you - tell you you're sick - don't let it!" So, yay. Every day. Learning. Growing. Getting stronger. It's great to have this forum to come to. JaneAthena - please wave at Colorado for me. I miss it terribly. I grew up there, and am always missing the mountains. My very best to you both. Thanks again!
  • Quit Meter

    $243,639.83

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 5958 Hours: 5

    Minutes: 23 Seconds: 54

    Life Gained

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    45434

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    1,135,850

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 6 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hello Ladies - Aunt Deb - thanks for your words of encouragement and welcome - I think the age thing MUST have something to do with it - it truly is harder to bounce back. I'm looking at things thru different eyes today, but oh geez - it really is going to be a little bit longer road than last time. . . . I think my body doesn't trust the quit yet - I've waffled so many times. JaneAthena - O.K. Let me say what your doctor didn't "WAY TO GO GIRL!!! YOU QUIT SMOKING!!!! YEEEEE HAWWWW! " We should all be congratulating ourselves and loving ourselves for having done one of the most important things we will ever do for our health! YAY! GO YOU!" The insomnia - still happening, but I keep reminding myself - it's a journey. A journey of healing. Three weeks ago I felt like I couldn't breathe at all. Today, I've had only one such bout - so - for me, it's starting to be about trust. Trust myself to be patient. Trust my body to heal. Trust that the drs know what they're doing (even if they're cantankerous old guys with face picking issues :) and Trust that God has his eye on even the sparrow (I've always found great comfort in that, even though I haven't really been terribly religious in life - spiritual, yes, religious ?) You're doing GREAT JaneAthena. Don't let anyone tell you any different. Your attitude is fantastic. How can you lose?
  • Quit Meter

    $243,639.83

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 5958 Hours: 5

    Minutes: 23 Seconds: 54

    Life Gained

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    45434

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    1,135,850

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 44 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
morning catskins... Congrats on your wedding! Such big changes goin on in your life right now I'm sure that gives way to much of your anxiety. If you've relied on smokes and drinks as your release and you've quit both, what are you doing instead? Excercise girlfriend! You've got 6months to make your fiancee drool with lust on your wedding day so dive in to a workout regimine. Maybe work out or find a sport that exhausts you so when you sleep you totally crash out. I dunno...thats just what I would do. Swimming is awesome and there's is something really calming to the soul about being in water while you are out of breath, you are just so focused on the next breath being full without any water! takes concentration. Not to mention a full body work out. sleep problems suck. I love to snowboard so on my days off I ride like crazy and am so tired when I get home I can barely move off the couch. Smoking isn't even part of my routine on those days. Of course, today's a real bummer, 12 degrees here in Vail colorado. No way I'm getting out today. which sucks, cause i was looking forward to it all week... [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 2 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 30 [B]Seconds:[/B] 35
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    $227,170.00

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    Days: 4956 Hours: 12

    Minutes: 59 Seconds: 27

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    45434

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    908,680

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17 years ago 0 44 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hey catskins! OMG, I know what you mean on the insomnia thing! Last night was the first night I truly experienced sleep problems with my quit and good lord, I could NOT sleep. At all, and I was soooo tired cause I had rode my snowboard in powder all day long. I was exhausted and sore and I could not sleep for the life of me. It was just awful and now I better understand what you are going through! Well, I've solved that problem. I had a Dr. appt. today anyway so he gave me a bunch of Ambien. And if that doesn't work, Xanex here I come. I'm not going through that again. The headache thing is bad enough, it's constant, low grade. so know what you mean about this quit being totally different than all the others. This one is way different and although I probly can't attribute it to menopause, I think age is a huge factor. Your body bounced back so much easier in your 20's! I didn't quite get the reaction from my Dr. that I was looking for when I told him I quit smoking. He said, "why on earth would you do that?" I assume he was joking but then he got into this thing about people who pick at their faces and how he wishes they would smoke! I know he didn't mean it, he tends to rattle off on tangents. But what I wanted to hear was "wow sweetie, good for you, you're doing the right thing, keep up the good work!" Ahh well... I'm sure he's heard it a million times.
  • Quit Meter

    $227,170.00

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 4956 Hours: 12

    Minutes: 59 Seconds: 27

    Life Gained

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    45434

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    908,680

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 449 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Congratulations all around! I'm newbie but having those wild dreams too and it's driving my husband insane. I curse like a truck driver (only in my sleep ;) ) but I like the dreams. I'm sorry you're finding them unpleasant. I feel like my mind has been wakened enough to rest my brain, if that makes any sense whatsoever. Congrats, congrats! I hope it gets easier. Maybe it's wedding nerves? Marie [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/3/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 37 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,113 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $277.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 2 [B]Seconds:[/B] 1
17 years ago 0 591 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
catskins, WEll it's about time...you got in here and introduced yourself girl! Welcome and I'm with you... I'd rather eat dirt than go back to smoking. As you can see, I've been here about the same time as you. My habit was worse though at 2 1/2 packs a day. and this is my 2nd "for real quit" (my first was cold-turkey for 10 years) there will not be another one. Now...on to why this quit is worse than the last time for you. You won't believe me, but it's probably menopause creeping in on you. God help you sweeetheart. I was just about your age when these things started happening to me: It took me ten years to get through it. My periods started getting gradually heavier, I was a little moodier than before, my sex drive started increasing, I felt extremely ambitious and driven. My doctors told me I was fine too..."you are too young for menopause" b---s--- I was beginning to have very mild hot flashes in the mornings. sound familiar to you yet..(back then I thought I was experiencing the night before effects from one too many drinks)Now, I know better. But about the quit...hang in there...and don't smoke. I suspect that most of what you are experiencing is a little anxiety and depression in post nicotine withdrawal. This is normal, it might pay you to get that book by Allen Carr that everyone here recommends. Also, you might want to talk to your Doctor about a mild anti depressant...(for just the times you need it). If I had known back when...what I know now...I wouldn't be on this site doing it again. My mother told me years and years ago that menopause usually takes about 10 years, although you will never get a Doctor to agree with that. good luck auntdeb :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 33 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,685 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $156.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 19 [B]Seconds:[/B] 47
17 years ago 0 449 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Welcome Catskins, And congratulations on a lovely 30 day quit! When I started this quit, I probably could've used a little counseling myself! Sleep disturbances and wild dreams are part of the quit journey, so acknowledge them for what they are and press ahead. It would make sense that panic is part of the quitting process but I'm not a doctor and have not experienced that particular symptom. Maybe some of our other members can help with that. Definitely let your counselor know about it too. I have numerous quit attempts and they all have been very different from one another. I remember thinking I was going to lose my mind if I didn't get a cigarette in a previous attempt,hello, relapse. BUT, in this, my final quit, I haven't felt that at all. I believe that its because I've armed myself with knowledge of how smoking effects our bodies and nicotine effects our minds. Makes a big difference! Hang in there, read posts here, old and new, ask for help when you feel weak, and find comfort in the fact that we are all in this journey together. Debbie [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/26/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 100 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,008 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $375 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 9 [B]Hrs:[/B] 18 [B]Mins:[/B] 49 [B]Seconds:[/B] 35
17 years ago 0 318 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
[IMG]http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p178/Trailbum/tht5lxmu.gif[/IMG] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/22/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 139 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 6,956 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1390 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 20 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 18 [B]Seconds:[/B] 53
17 years ago 0 8760 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Catskins, Welcome to the SSC and congratulations on quitting! You've received some great advice from your fellow quitters. The symptoms you are experiencing are probably related to withdrawal but be sure to keep your counsellor aware if they persist or worsen. I'm glad your meeting went well and that you are learning everyday. Keep us posted on how you're doing. Danielle ______________________ The SSC Support Team

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