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The effects of nicotine

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2778

Hey Island!!!

I'm happy to hear that you are doing better today and thanks for your kind words. You're definitely go through some major life changes with many challenges! That may be good because there will be less familiarity in your life being in a new environment. Many craves are triggered from associations with smoking. Something like, "I used to smoke when I was doing this or that". You won't have as many "familiarity" triggers, so hopefully "those" craves will never pop up!

Also, your energy level will be a bit low for a while and you are going to tire easily! Your life IS in transition and you are healing from the damages done to you from years of smoking! Battling the demon off and on throughout the day is also physically and mentally demanding!

Like I said before, be sure to get as much "me" time and rest in as you can! That will really help a lot!

Have a great smoke-free weekend, Island!

Jim

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13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 32

Thanks, Jim. I find your presence very reassuring. You are helpful, attentive and wise.

I woke up at 1am, in a full sweat, but I felt better. I don't know if it has to do with the patch or something else, but today I feel back up to doing things so I'm glad whatever it was has passed for now.

I took time out to write in my journal to remind myself that this is a sneaky addiction and it will take a while before I feel totally comfortable. I re-committed, using the journey idea. And it is perfect because I'm starting a whole new life up, which is a journey that's very tangible. I've moving to the City, a small apartment that has a little gym, pool and sauna so those things are ways that I can relax and be healthy. After I get settled, I start a new doctoral program. It will be demanding in terms of stamina, back-to-back classes and long days. The material won't be hard for me, but the energy level required will be a challenge. I just turned 50 so I'm not as young as most of the students. I just hope that my quit is far enough along that it doesn't get in the way. I think the excitement of starting a new program and meeting new people will help give me energy.

I have to remember that I'm in transition, both with my quit and also in my life so I'm going to feel uncomfortable at times. This site is really helping me stay committed. When I read how people were when they started and now how they are, I get inspired and realize at some point that will be me.

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2778

Hey Island!!!

If you think that you could stand it for a while, you might consider taking the patch off for a while, maybe a few hours, to see if that may help? Maybe you could rule out if it's the patch causing you to feel yucky. Hopefully taking time to rest will also help.

Many of us here have experienced those blah days during our quits and it's just part of the journey. Just remember, it's only a temporary phase and it WILL pass, I promise! Right now, take good care of yourself because you deserve it!

Jim

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13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 32

I agree with you that nicotine in a decent place would be regulated as a drug and the FDA wouldn't approve it because the form of delivery causes cancer and other serious health conditions. I wish it were illegal, but that will never happen. And then there would be crime associated with getting smokes so I guess high taxes is one way to go.

Today I actually feel kinda sick. I think the patches were a little too strong even though they were at the lowest dose possible. I feel sick to my stomach and generally. I've taken time out to rest. I'm sure this will pass. It would be nice to get to the other side of this process of quitting so I feel better and have my energy back.

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2778

Hey Island!!!

It's been said many times that nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs out there! You would think that the governments of the world would take steps to make any product containing nicotine a controlled substance! It will never happen though... cash strapped governments are "addicted" to that tax revenue and the politicians are "addicted'' to campaign donation from big tobacco!!!

In time, you will learn how to deal with the different stress triggers without smoking and if it takes using NRT's to do that in the beginning of your quit, so be it! At least yo are not smoking! One step at a time and remember what Workin' says, "Slow and steady wins the race!"

Jim

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13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1140

I did a lot of deliberate deep breathing when I began to replace cigarettes with nicotine lozenges. It is a good habit to establish for managing stressful situations. Its free, requires no candies or tools, and can be done anywhere. I continue to use it now that the nicotine lozenges are gone, too.

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13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 32

Well, the first thing that I have realized is that smoking won't make the stress go away. That was an illusion that I built up over the course of my habit. So I tell myself that first. Then do some deep breathing exercises that I learned in a hospital once about calming the vagal nerve. It turns off the sympathetic nervous system and turns on the parasympathetic so it soothes you with your own body's reaction, rather than putting chemicals in. If I have to, I have anti-anxiety medication in low doses in case I really get overwhelmed. But as a practical step, breaking down the tasks into little chunks and trying to one thing at a time will help me manage all the things I have to do. So if I stop for a minute and sit with my journal and write down how I'm feeling and try to sort it out, I usually can manage the stress.

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1853

Hi island,

Stressful events seems to be a strong trigger for many. The voice of addiction takes over and wants you to believe that a smoke will help relieve you of stress. Know that you are stronger than your addiction! It is not easy and requires determination but you are already taking steps in the right direction - joining this forum and setting a new quit date - not giving up!

What are other ways you can deal with the stress without reaching for a cigarette?

Wishing you good luck in your quit!

Vincenza, Health Educator

13 years ago 0 +0 / -0 32

I used the patch for a while, from March through June, and did well, but when I went off the patch, I started bumming smokes here and there. My anxiety level was very high, perhaps for other reasons in addition to quitting smoking, but still it undermined my confidence to some extent.

I set a new quit date and went cold turkey because I didn't really have much nicotine in my system. But even though I was doing okay, I bought some patches and started using them, the lowest dose ones.

It has made a remarkable difference. I'm actually surprised. I thought that at this point in my quit, most of it was due to psychological factors, but the difference with the patch has shown me that there is a strong physiological component still there.

I do want to be nicotine free, but I'm facing a lot of stressors in the next period coming up so I decided to go back to the patch to make sure that I was supported and not even tempted. It feels like the right decision. And if I have to, I'll stick with the patch until my life settles down again.

I wonder if people have found that there are powerful effects of nicotine.

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The effects of nicotine