The next cigarrette is the ending of the withdrawls. I can associate with that and I believe that to be true. I'm not near as nervous between smokes as I was, but I am still hesitant to just put them down. Hopefully Saturday with actually be the day. Terry P.S. Thanks for all the helpful information

I am not sure you can see the junkie for the addictive ***** that she is until you leave her though. We are on the other side now, but before, when some one nagged us to quit, loved us and wished we would quit, we didn't want to hear it either. My husband asked "us" to quit 4 or 5 times, I refused. He came home with Chantix and I said I am ready, I am doing it with you. Just like that. Before that minute, I had no plans to quit. Just like that. I am so grateful for that moment, for how our lives are now and how I feel, but I had to be ready. Terry, I hope you are ready, perhaps the workbook will help you decide. Sue [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]5/3/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 270 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,700 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $472.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 26 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 41 [B]Seconds:[/B] 52

Llama is right. I don't think anyone REALLY enjoys smoking. It stinks, it tastes bad, it's expensive, it's a cruch and weekens you. People just think they enjoy smoking, but if you ask them what they enjoy about it, they alwasy answer something like "The way I can relax" which translates into.. "I really really like ending my withdrawls with another cigarette.." Nicotine has a very very short half life, and when you are under stress, or when you go periods without smoking, your body actually begins the withdrawal process and so the relief you feel when you smoke is just the ending of the withdrawls. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]7/17/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 560 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 42,000 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $10,500.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 50 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 3 [B]Seconds:[/B] 55

Hi,Terry, - I think what it really means, this "I enjoy smoking still", is that the nicotine receptors in your brain get what they keep asking you for when you smoke a cigarette. By that I mean that the nicotine affects both your adrenal and dopamine levels - put in plain words it means that you're getting the most sought after "rush" in the whole of the hard core addiction world - the "elevator" rush... First the addict takes cocaine and, a minute later, the heroin. The first drug, cocaine sends your mind into a 'rush' upward and the second, heroin, send you downward into pacific, painless, worryless calm. That is why it's called an 'elevator' rush. People talk about smoking a cigarette to "calm down" but in fact it is stimulating the adrenaline and dopamine actions in the brain... so there is the same 'elevator' rush as the addict gets from cocaine and heroin taken right after each other.... what is perceived with nicotine is a "clarity" , a "clearing of the head", say, and then a woozy "rush" . So, upper/speed with the first adrenal affect and then the downer/calming affect of the dopamine... So smoking is a milder form of taking "Speed" & "Chasing the dragon"... has anyone got any arguments with this theory or anything to add to it? The moderators will hit me over the head if I've misconceived information which I've gotten from the online site about the drug Nicotine... When we say that we are nicotine addicts I think that it is absolutely correct and I want to know why it is so much harder to give up nicotine than any other drug... Terry, smoking to inject nicotine into the brain is lethal and a lot of your nervousness about quitting over the last few posts is because your brain is getting short-changed now that you're cutting back from 7 a day to 3 a day... you're always in withdrawal. Next cigarette you smoke, close your eyes and try to establish what your body-system is feeling- I know that I could physically feel both the speed and the downer effects - speedy and then happy/calm. If you can perceive it I think that you'll have a better understanding of why you have to quit the nicotine drug! Never mind all the other medical horrors it slaps on the body.... I want you to quit altogether on your Quit date - I am taking Chantix and it has made quitting much easier to live with... not for everybody I guess as it's costly and you don't actually spend a lot of money on 7 or 3 cigarettes per day.... I can't remember but I'm sure our archivist, Alohakeia, can dig out the thread about Chantix from last year... Patrick [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/17/2008 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 11 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 275 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $123.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 47 [B]Seconds:[/B] 14

I look forward to that freedom as well but as of right now I do seem to still enjoy smoking. Whatever that means. I don't like all the stuff that comes with it. I'm still plugging away at this and don't have any plans to give up quite yet.

I totally missed this. I usually look for the low number replies in this section and so didn't know what I was missing! Welcome Terry-sister-of-Kelly! I didn't read all of the replies you've gotten but I'm wondering if anyone mentioned a book by Allen Carr about an easy way to quit. I have heard only good things about it and I think a lot of people put off quitting because they think it is too hard. It doesn't have to be and a lot of folks end up wondering why they didn't quit sooner. Whatever you decide, the support is definitely here for you and everyone here offers what they can. For me, it has been the BEST decision I've made and the freedom has been tremendous. :) All the best [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]8/5/2004 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1271 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 25,420 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $5,719.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 99 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 59 [B]Seconds:[/B] 58

I hear people say all the time that they enjoy smoking. I don't really buy it. No doubt there is satisfaction from inhaling that cigarette smoke but, in my opinion, it is because it provides relief from withdrawal and gets those chemicals bouncing around in your brain. The act of smoking is not enjoyable in itself nor is being a smoker...for me. Standing in the cold, waiting for the next cigarette break, coughing, wheezing, smelling like grossness, feeling stuck, burning up money, getting the disgusted looks from others and more... What about that is enjoyable? Maybe it's me, but I've always known I was addicted and I've never "enjoyed" smoking. I enjoyed the relief it gave me but that's as far as it's ever gone. I enjoy not having all of the things listed above consuming me any longer. I enjoy that tremendously. But, even with all of that, I was still afraid to quit....afraid to let go...like I was going to be missing something... It is a very strong addiction and it makes people suffer. :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]8/25/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 156 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,680 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $912.60 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 14 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 6 [B]Seconds:[/B] 56

I am addicted to the cigarrettes and don't have a problem admitting that at all. I am struggling with the fact that I am still enjoying smoking to some degree or maybe to a larger degree than I am not enjoying it. I want to finally quit because I know I need to. After over a year of having cut back and then cutting back again the last couple of months I still ask myself "Am I really ready?". I am going to keep on as if I am planning this on Saturday to quit. I will continue to prepare and deal with my cravings and pray, pray, pray. Thanks All' Terry

Terry, that is why they have the program for you to work. When you quit and I hope soon, you can be prepared. The fear, that is holding you tight is nothing but a big bully. Once you make that commitment to quit and start the bully will back off. But there is a monster that likes to make you life pure hell for some time, that is where we come in and hold your hand. There are several thing you can do to get ready. You must want to quit more than you want to smoke. I have tried more than once and learned a lot. The key for me this time was that I had to admit I was an ADDICT :gasp: That word has so much power, oh my I struggled a long time with that, but I am addicted to cigarettes, darn it. There is a book out there by Allan Carr that is wonderful, if you can read it. And Kelly can give you my phone # if she wants :eg: or my email if she wants. You keep preparing, you will know when it is time. Keep the Quit Sparky [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]4/30/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 273 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,730 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $409.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 38 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 15 [B]Seconds:[/B] 10

CK = Clever kelly and, now that you mention it, CK, he is talking about quitting on the 1st..and he has a few reasons why he's waiting, too....hehehe Terry, yep...nobody can decide for you. But once you do, we will all be cheering you on, you can count on that [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 311 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 12,440 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2,114.80 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 43 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 16 [B]Seconds:[/B] 6