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11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2

Firstly, I am truly OVERWHELMED by the support here. I honestly want to answer each and every one of you but I would be writing a 30 page novel. Please, please, please, except my sincere thanks in all the advice here, it has really helped.

To the lovely supporters who mentioned the Allan Carr book, I did read that also, it was what kind of got me into the mode to quit in the beginning. It was and is a great book and tool but felt that it was not the actual nicotine addiction I was dealing with it was the psychological one.

Also I have and am getting professional help and I have not been diagnosed with clinical depression, my GP and psychologist believe it is situational and through Cognitive Behaviour Therapy I can change. Still hoping on this one. What I am doing though is taking control of my own health and wellbeing, I will continue to visit with my health team but I believe I need to take stock and control of this myself. I honestly feel that I am just a number in the system and I want this to be dealt with and achievable within a few weeks to months, not months to years like my health team have advised. So what am I doing? Research, research and more research! Coming to forums such as this and looking at my dietary and emotional needs. I have started taking a high dose Vitamin B complex and evening primrose oil. I have started listening to meditation CDs which help me to relax. I have also allowed myself to be angry and sad. I am going to try and be kinder to myself. I have a lot more stuff that I am looking into as well. I have also found a free organisation in Australia that offers free courses for wellbeing to help cope with depression and anxiety. I am awaiting to see if I can go on this. It is a 10 week course which will be great as it gives me 10 weeks of putting my efforts into something other than the cravings. It may not "cure" me but it will give me more knowledge and power to control and beat this.

If anyone wants anymore information on this I can let them know, just contact me.

Thank you so much again, coming here was the best decision I made in my moment of madness!

Caz

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1140

Hi wildchild69,

Sorry that you are struggling right now. Some days, especially at the beginning can be disenheartening. It is important to keep your eyes on the prize when that happens. The people who have responded here already have given some awesome advice and words of support.

I also want to reiterate what our health educator said about checking with a doctor regarding depression. If this is actual clinical depression, you may need more than pep talks and relaxation strategies. You may need medical treatment to get you over the hump.

That being said, I will relate a couple of my experiences with this. I have noticed since I quit that I am much more prone to getting tearful. I haven't actually viewed this as depression. I've had real depression at points in my life. This feels kind of different for me. Instead, it's more of an emotional awakening. For all the smoking years, I was pretty tough and had a great deal of control over my emotions. I was able to do that because I would focus myself on a cigarette instead of what I was feeling. I also used cigarettes as an excuse to leave uncomfortable situations. Now, I am facing my feelings and the uncomfortable situations. I'm getting to the point where I kind of like it. I'm glad that I can be moved to tears by something sad or touching. I am also expressing some of my angry thoughts and feelings more openly instead of wandering off to "suck it up" on my own. My current state actually feels more alive to me than what I was doing before.

I've also had some push back from people around me, due to these changes. A couple of people at work have gotten upset at things I have said. I don't think I have really said or done anything horrible. I've just expressed myself, but people aren't used to me doing that. ...Perhaps it's time for the nonsmokers around us to suck it up a bit, eh?

Last thing. Don't obsess on the weight. I've gained weight and haven't lost it. It sucks. But the upward movement on the scale stopped when I stopped worrying about it. I'm still trying to get regular exercise and eat healthy foods, but I'm not going to obsess over weight. Nor am i going to quit smoking. From what I have read and heard from a friend, it's really bad news to start smoking again after weight gain. You don't lose the weight when you restart. So you end up heavier than before and smoking again. My friend said that she went through the cycle several times, adding a few more pounds at each quit/ restart. One of the motivators for her final quit was to not go through that again. So, please stay quit while dealing with your food/ weight issues.

Quit Meter

$22,541.55

Amount Saved
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Days: 602 Hours: 14

Minutes: 1 Seconds: 20

Life Gained
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4377

Smoke Free Days
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87,540

Cigarettes Not Smoked

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2778

Hey Wildchild!!!

Welcome!!! You are doing awesome so far!!! 52 days is incredible!!! You are close to completing 2 months as a ... NON - SMOKER!!! I hope that you plan a super reward for reaching that goal!!! Heed Bill's advice and check out a copy of the Alan Carr book! It has worked for many of your quit buddies here! Also, if you haven't done so, go through all the steps in the Program (MY PROGRAM) above and utilize the Tools section, too! One way to beat the nico-demon is to out think it! Use the knowledge available here on the Forums, too. Knowledge is power and at times you will need all the power you can get to kick that demon's ash!!!

Try to keep a Positive Mental Attitude while on this journey. It will make your life much more tolerable! Keep telling yourself that you CAN do this!!! If someone gives you a snide remark, just keep it right there in the front of your mind that "I AM DOING THIS!". Try taking all that negative energy I sensed in your post and turn it into something positive for yourself through exercising or doing something nice for someone else! This really helped me during my quit!

You chose to wage war on the nico-demon. Stay prepared for every battle that sucker is planning for you! There are some really great coping mechanisms posted throughout the Forums and working through the Program will invaluable to you on your journey! The main thing is to take it one day at a time and NEVER, NEVER let that stinking nico-demon win even one battle in this war! Every battle you win will make you stronger the next time that demon shows it's ugly mug!

Stick close, buddy! You have a whole bunch of new quit buddies here that are rooting for you and will help you along the way!!!

Jim

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$44,265.00

Amount Saved
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Days: 1059 Hours: 10

Minutes: 34 Seconds: 25

Life Gained
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5902

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177,060

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11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 916

Hi Wild!

Quitting this nasty addiction is the most difficult thing you are going to do, but also the most rewarding. This addiction is stronger that any drug or alcohol addiction; We give cigarrettes attributes theydont' have; we make them our friends, we use them as antidepressants , as diet pills, we need tthem for relaxation , we associate them with good times and we see them as friends in sad times.

But reading the Allen Carr book I foundout that when we live them we are not abandoning our best friend, we are breaking apart of our worst enemy; I felt depressed also, but I saw it as a part of my healing process; I had to mourn my loss, so you are not alone; This also shall pass and you will be free..

Stick to your plan, post here as much as needed, cling to the Allen Carr Book and set a rewards system. Asociate the quit with pleasant things and keep a clear mind and remind yourself (I even wrote it down and had it with me) of the reason(s) of your quit.

You deserve to be free, and this is part of the process.

I know for sure that If I did it you can do it too!

Congratulations on your decision to quit, and we are here for you!

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 792

Hi Wild, Everyone has given you great advise to help you along but you will find your own way I am sure. I thought I would suggest you read Allan Carrs "Easy Way to Quit Smoking" the title is a misnomer of course because nobody would claim quitting smoking is "Easy" but he does give you a different perspective on the journey. Good Luck and please stay with us. I guarantee it gets much easier and before you know it smoking will be something you did in the past.

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 763

WildChild,

I have been smoke free for over 5 years now, and sometimes I wondered if I'd even be smoke free for over 5 minutes! I was another one who suffered through depression for the first few months. Smoking was such a huge part of my life.

In those first months, I had to live one crave at a time. Baby steps was all I was capable of. Sometimes it took all I had to make supper for the family. Most evenings, I'd lay on the couch and watch television in order to keep my mind occupied.

I also started to take small walks, sipped on ice water, and did deep breathing. I did soooo much deep breathing. And I prayed every day for things to get easier. And so I began to think a little more positively and bit by bit, I began to feel better.

No, its not easy, but in baby steps you can do ANYTHING!

And now after 5 years, smoking is the last thing on my mind. Life is normal!

Hang in there...and keep posting, it always helps.

All the best to you,

Jan

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 579

Hi Wildchild,

Isn't it funny how quitting smoking is so simple (just don't light up) and yet so hard at the same time? The first weeks are SO tough and that's all I can say really....you are going through a period of adjustment and you have to plead temporary insanity! It does get better of course otherwise none of us would ever have survived.... You will have good hours and bad hours and when you continue the good bits get longer. But none of us got here without plenty of tears, arguments, depression etc. So what you are going through is normal and I'm so sorry, we know how tough this is.

The advice "one day at a time" is repeated often for a reason. Well you can also do "one hour at a time" on tough days. We all know we can get through an hour without smoking so on really hard days, just do one hour (and then repeat). Also spend much more time posting here - it is easier when amoungst friends.

Thinking of you.

Lizzie

Quit Meter

$8,853.00

Amount Saved
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Days: 783 Hours: 6

Minutes: 47 Seconds: 38

Life Gained
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5902

Smoke Free Days
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35,412

Cigarettes Not Smoked

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3131

Hi ,

Quitting is not an easy thing, no one quits without pain , it does get better promise, I went through depression anxiety etc, you name it, I had it . I quit 3

times before I got it right . I had my husband sign a certificate mentionning that he would understand and help me get through the bad times. So one day he said

are you going to get through this some day ( he was getting aggravated with my attitude) the crying etc , so I took out the certificate and stuck it Under his nose.

I used this site so much , I must have posted 20 times or more a day , People even commented on it , I didn't care , it was working for me , I am 7 years quit on June 13th and

sooo proud of myself and much healthier . It is one of the biggest accomplishments in my life. So keep on quitting , it's Worth it , do what it takes , smoking is not an option

One day at a time

Marie

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3307

Wildchild, love the name, I am probably the last person to give advice since I have lost count on how many quits I have had. But I can tell you what worked when I quit. I started taking walks and taking deep breaths and enjoying how good my lungs felt. Join a gym and start working out; it amazing how good you will feel mentally. Join a Zumba class that will add fun into your life plus help with the weight.

The struggle you are going through is pure hell. I been there and have the same thoughts you are thinking. But if you take one puff you have lost your quit and you will have to start all over again

. You have 52 presious days behind you, do you really want to do this all over again? NO and NO!!! You are doing the right thing coming here. We all want you to keep you quit.

Come here often and just post and post and read and read. We will be here for you. I look forward to see your numbers add up.

Keep the Quit

Sparky

PS you helped me today

11 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11214

Hi Wildchild,

I am sorry you are feeling this way. Quitting smoking is incredibly hard; when depressed it can seem almost near impossible. But it is possible. How good do you think it will feel once you get through this? There is a light at the end of the tunnel. We will help you get there. You are not alone in this. Just keep fighting.

First of all, it might be a good idea to talk to your doctor. She might be able to offer you some options with quit medication or resourses in your area. You also may want to check out our sister site the DepressionCenter.net. It is a complete Cognitive Behaviour Therapy program and support group.

Smoking will not make this any easier. Focus on the pride you will feel once you accomplish this. What are you looking forward to about being a non smoker? If you can't think of positive's right now that is ok. Go for a walk, drink some cold water, keep posting. It will pass. Take it one minute, one hour, one day at time. We are right here beside you.

Ashley, Health Educator

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