You’re not alone. 411,000+ real posts from people who showed up for each other. Read a thread, share a win, leave a tip - your words could be the nudge someone needs today.

today's top discussions:

logo

New to the journey

AnotherHarshWinter

2026-05-02 9:34 PM

Depression Community

logo

Morel Mushroom Season

Timbo637

2026-04-19 2:41 PM

Quit Smoking Community

logo

Two Factor Authentiication

Trevor van Mierlo

2025-12-31 12:28 PM

Quit Smoking Community

logo

New Year, New Me!!?

Timbo637

2025-11-19 5:53 PM

Quit Smoking Community

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Most Active

Timbo637 Posts: 1 Threads: 0
AnotherHarshWinter Posts: 1 Threads: 1

Most Loved

Browse through 411.788 posts in 47.077 threads.

162,621 Members

Please welcome our newest members: HabitatNA, SeekingHelp27, Sarif, Genie1Sm, AnotherHarshWinter

Is it normal to still crave?


Danielle, Bilingual Health Educator
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
Danielle, Bilingual Health Educator
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
18 years ago 0 8760 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Tryagain, Really sorry to hear that you are struggling today. Unfortunately, it isn't uncommon for cravings to increase as you step down to a lower dose of nicotine. If you are still using the 2 mg, your body will continue to crave nicotine. If you aren't there is still an adjustment period after going nicotine free. Be sure to continue utilizing your coping strategies and reward yourself! My goodness you deserve it for continuing to persevere! Cheering you on! Danielle, Bilingual Support Specialist
jen_quit
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
jen_quit
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
18 years ago 0 25 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Bobbi...I noticed in the first year of my quit, my emotions felt like a raw nerve at times. Anger could come out of nowhere and it was hard to handle. And other days were okay. On the not so good days, get out your list of coping strategies and do them. It's okay to check out for awhile and take care of yourself. When was the last time you rewarded yourself for a fantastic quit? Sometimes that can make a huge difference in how you're feeling. Tryagain you are about six months into your quit. It's a big milestone and the way you're feeling is just about right. There have been so many changes for you now that you don't smoke, and it can be overwhelming at times. I fell into a major funk at six months as well as my husband and many others that were posting on the board at that time. I used the gum as well for awhile until I realized I wasn't chewing enough of it to soothe my cravings. I kept myself in a state of constant craving. When someone pointed that out I went cold turkey, suffered for about three days, then began feeling much better. Getting off nicotine is difficult, but worth it. Keep hangin' tuff! :) Jennifer [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]7/27/2002 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1827 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 54,810 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $7,764.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 207 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 8 [B]Seconds:[/B] 59

  • Quit Meter

    $96,912.90

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 7057 Hours: 2

    Minutes: 49 Seconds: 38

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    46149

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    553,788

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

tryagain
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
tryagain
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
18 years ago 0 519 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Last night I prayed, that I would not wake up with a craving. With whatever that takes. It didn't work. I'm still here. Still craving. What happened to those days early on when cigs didn't cross my mind? When I felt wonderful! What happened at the step down because that is when it changed. I went from the 4 mg gum to the 2 and that's what started the downward spiral. But, that was four months ago! Surely I would have weaned down by now, surely, surely. Should I go back and try again? Maybe I did something wrong way back. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/27/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 182 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,460 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,820.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 23 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 53 [B]Seconds:[/B] 11
Bobbi
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
Bobbi
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
18 years ago 0 710 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Well John in NC here is another one who feels like pokerbrat and tryagain, and I do know there are alot more who feel the same as us, you are so fortuneate if you do not, if the three of us could just be so blessed. The last time I quit was cold turkey, did a 6 mo. stint, 15 years later here I am again, this time with the use of the patches which I am done with and seems alittle bit easier, not much, but this time I will never smoke again, my main problem is the emotions and learning to be a new person after 50 years of smoking. tryagain and pokerbrat I sure do know how you feel and it is soooo horriable But we must continue to be non smokers, and will! hugs and prayers, Bobbi [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/27/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 123 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,690 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $307.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 17 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 48 [B]Seconds:[/B] 57
jen_quit
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
jen_quit
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
18 years ago 0 25 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi pokerbrat, When I first came to this site, everyone used to say that quitting is not for sissies, so true. You have to be a fighter and do whatever it takes to not smoke. In the first year there were a lot of ups and downs for me and for my husband. I wouldn't want to go through all of that again for anything! Keep hanging' tough and one day, it'll all be better. When you're feeling down, it's difficult to see how one day, you won't even be able to imagine yourself smoking. You can only feel that freedom if you never smoke, no matter what happens. There are only excuses, and never a good reason to smoke. It's time to put your coping strategies into place. I found that exercise can do wonders for the low times. I used to bounce on my mini-trampoline when it got tough; it always helped to elevate my mood. Do whatever it takes, just don't smoke! Good luck and stay close to this site, that helps too! Take care. Jennifer :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]7/27/2002 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1826 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 54,780 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $7,760.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 207 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 42 [B]Seconds:[/B] 4

  • Quit Meter

    $96,912.90

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 7057 Hours: 2

    Minutes: 49 Seconds: 38

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    46149

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    553,788

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

grace
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
grace
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
18 years ago 0 583 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Poker, My two cents. Cravings will come and go. I am almost at year and I have severe thoughts of smoking. I shut them of quickly so I won't call the craves. They are nothing like those first 3 months. Yes 3. Somebody on here back in the day use to say It is better to be a non smoker with an occasinal thought of smoking. Than to be a smoker with a constent desire to quit. Quiting is Hard, but so worth it. Just hang on for your dear life. That is what you are fighting for, you life. Remember your reasons for quiting. Also remember how brutal those first days were. That kept me going. It gets better. I promise. One day you wake up and relized you have not thought about smoking in a week, or weeks. That is a awsome day. It will come. Grace [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]8/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 352 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 7,040 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,408.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 25 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 6 [B]Seconds:[/B] 19
Changing
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
Changing
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
18 years ago 0 1155 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hey Gang. There's no denying it -- this is one of the hardest things any of us will ever go through. It is a marathon of endurance. Poker - you mentioned that smoking was the only thing that gave you pleasure - I've felt this way too, but that's over-idealizing. The truth is that: (1) Smoking gave me pleasure on occasion, but was more often a heavy burden and (2) There ARE plenty of other things in life that can give me pleasure. [color=Orange] We have to do this. We can do this. We are doing this. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]2/24/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 152 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,320 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $988.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 12 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 48 [B]Seconds:[/B] 14

  • Quit Meter

    $1,153,725.00

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 6105 Hours: 8

    Minutes: 20 Seconds: 46

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    46149

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    922,980

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

PB
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
PB
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
18 years ago 0 363 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I sometimes wish non-smokers could experience what we have gone through for just one day. I can guarantee there would be no more laughing. 500 years from now, what we are all going through will be considered one of the most horrendous crimes against humanity there ever was, all for a profit. Hang in there tryagain, I understand where your coming from. Just beat it one crave at a time and know your doing yourself justice.

  • Quit Meter

    $42,628.95

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 1138 Hours: 17

    Minutes: 37 Seconds: 35

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    6246

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    187,380

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

tryagain
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
tryagain
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
18 years ago 0 519 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I quit cold turkey last time. I was motivated beyond belief. I was in the best shape of my entire life. At 5'7" I was at 125 pounds with a 4.5% bodyfat. I had the body of a competitive bodybuilder and I worked at it day and night, day and night. If I quit smoking I would be "perfect". It was unbelievably hard. If it were not for that supreme motivation I would not have made it. As it was, I gained 60 pounds, lost my desire to workout, lost my will to do just about anything but stop smoking. After a year I had accupuncture to rid the lingering effects. After three years I just gave up. I had had it. I had three years of not smoking and decided it wasn't worth it anymore. That was 20 years ago. Now my even though my health deteriorated, I needed to stop smoking more than anything, the motivation isn't there. I do what I do because I have to. I do it every day because I have to because I don't want that cough anymore, and frankly I don't want people laughing at me anymore. I don't want to be humiliated anymore. If I had to quit cold turker, after what I went through, younger, stronger, more motivated, I wouldn't do it. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/27/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 180 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,400 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,800.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 23 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 56 [B]Seconds:[/B] 57
PB
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
PB
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
  • My Logo
18 years ago 0 363 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Lainey, thank you, what an interesting perspective on the "quit". I was laughing as I read it, only because I couldn't figure out where I'm at in those stages. I think I may be bouncing back and forth between 2 of them...if thats possible.

  • Quit Meter

    $42,628.95

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 1138 Hours: 17

    Minutes: 37 Seconds: 35

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    6246

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    187,380

    Cigarettes Not Smoked


Sign in to reply Register new account

Reading this thread:

We use cookies to help us learn about how our platform is used and how we can improve your experience. To learn more please see our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

More Information