Just had my last cig

[John2001]

That's is, after reading all your posts, dealing with the addiction, and the endless taxes on the cigs, I'm done.
As of 3:15pm on 3-5-02, I had my last cig.

Tryed having less per day, didn't work. Tryed Zyban for 3-weeks, didn't work. I was standing in front of the display of patches and gum thinking, what the h~ll an I doing?!?! They still contain nicatien in them, which is the addiction. (Besides mentally)

Threw out everything that is associated with smoking. Ash trays, lighters, emptyed the trash so not to smell anything with smoking too.

Will see how it goes tonight. Figure if I hold out tonight and not buy any, busy myself, I'll have a track record going I won't what to break tomorrow.

I've quit drinking (3-1/2yrs), quit high carb foods (9-months), now quit smoking ( 10-minutes ) :roll:

I am determined to do this now.

Cheers, John
PS: See I can't even spell nicat.... something. lol! No cig box in front of me

[fiona]

That's great progress - going from strength to strength. :clap: Powerful decisions.

As you will know from the withdrawal symptoms with the alcohol or with the carbs the same is coming with the nicotine. It is one good way of doing it though.

You should hear all the pathetic excuses bf keeps coming up with as to when exactly he is going to start cutting down ;) .

Remember there is light at the end of the dark tunnel and you will see it very soon.

Take care.

[Gillian]

I just have one question?

What are we going to do with you now that you're darn near perfect? :D

:thup: Awesome -- one step at a time!

[John2001]

7-hrs down and the craving for the damn cigs is incredible! Can't believe it.
I can feel the crave / urge to have one like every 10-15 seconds.

Grrrr this is going to be a long night and next couple of days! 15-yrs of cigs. Keep putting in my mind, that if I go get one, I have to start over again and go thur the same withdrawals!

"%#$~*%#~ " , John :mad:

Gillian - Far from perfect, just trying to aim towards that direction.

Fiona - The withdrawal symptoms from alcohol or the carbs, were no where near the intensity of this.

[shawj11]

Wow..
Good for you. I would love to quit smoking (not bad enough apparantly). I hope it works out for you. I know it will be a hard journey. Dont be too hard on yourself.
:wave:

[John2001]

Made it thur the night, now on hour 16 smoke free. Never thought that I would have withdrawals like this.

Anybody who says cig's are not a drug, is dead wrong!

Quitting high carb foods, sugar, and coffee, was easier than this!
On with today, don't want to give up now, don't want to go thur those first hours again. Figure it can't get worse than this.

Grrrrrrrr, Cheers,
John

[Gillian]

John, you're doing great! I think that I pretty much slept for the first three days of withdrawal -- was dizzy, had major brain fog etc. It's not fun, but you only have to do it ONCE! Read alot at Freedom and Whyquit -- everytime I read that stuff, I get something different out of it. Make sure you join Freedom in, 53 hours? Did you get a quit meter downloaded? It's fun to watch the minutes of not smoking tick away! :-) Keep posting here until you can join Freedom -- there's great support here as well!

[John2001]

Still hanging in there. Getting a little better. Am mixing cranberry juice with water. Cranberry juice is good for flushing out the nicotine. Chewing sugarless gun and some sugarfree mints. Lots of water, I'm floating.

Will have to check out the counter thing Gillian, I saw others that had it. But didn't know where to get one. Would be cool to watch the counter go.

The cravings are starting to lessen now. Good thing, only one person at work smokes (now ) and he has been going outside and since I'm not smoking, he's only had 2-3 cigs all morning.

Sprayed air freshener all over the place, office, furniture, carpets, and my truck.
Hung car air fresheners in the truck too. It's amazing what you can smell now. I can smell musty smoke in clothes, hair, and even when someone passes by. No wonder non-smokers or X-smokers hate the smokers. I'm starting to reliese how smoke really smells.

Grrr.... Cheers, John

[Gillian]

How's it going, John?
I love all your Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrs and the 'Cheers!'
The thought for today is that every craving will pass. If it's really bad, tell yourself that you can have one, just not now, a little later. Then, you feel better because you aren't really being deprived and saying you can't, but by the time later comes, you don't want one anymore anyway! This is a war and fighting this must be your only priority for awhile! There were a few days when my husband asked what I had done that day and I replied that, "I didn't smoke." :rolleyes:

Good luck, hope you're having a great day!

[John2001]

Ahhh, counter says: 1-day, 23-hours, 9-minutes, 25-seconds. Since last cig.

Withdrawals are basically gone. Boy, kept thinking, if I give in now and decide to quit again later, I don't want to have to go thur the first day and a half again. That's really what kept me on track and honest. Brutal to say the least.
Shaking, lost on what to do, not too mad, and eyes bugging out of my head on the first night and day. Just wired up like crazy.

No convincing me otherwise, Cig's are drugs. I would rather quit drinking and high carb food, sugar, and caffee all at the same time, rather than quit smoking again, for the first 2 days.

Think it's all out of my system now. The smell in my truck, furniture, home and office is unbearable. Been spaying air fresheners like mad. Just finished shampooing the carpets in my truck, washed inside and out. Much better now.
Kept thinking that in a week I'll be able to have one, but not now. Figured by then, the smell alone would make me not even concider it.

Small " grr "

Cheer, John

[fiona]

:clap: That is stretching your comfort zones to the limit. You did it. {....since I'm not smoking, he's only had 2-3 cigs all morning. } Already you are an inspiration for others, who are being forced to change because you are changing!!

My bf has got the link to this forum, too - I've stepped up the "polution lecture" and I am soooo glad you are living up to my faith that you will do it.

Watch out for any inbuilt triggers that would, in days gone by, have had you reaching for a cig. Find a replacement - reach for a glass of water instead!

Keep it up John.
Take care.

[John2001]

Made it thur the day, no problem. Went out to dinner, with my 3 favorite friends, "me, myself, and I". Then, on to shoot pool with a couple friends, all the while, people are smoking around me.
Funny, it's like I almost, wasn't ever a smoker. Just sort of burned out of me.

Also the fear of having to go thur those first 2 days to quit again, is enough for me not to pick one up.

Not all my friends know I quit yet. One of them is picking on me now. He goes, " You don't drink, you keep eating all this LC food stuff, no sugar, soda, caffee, and now - no smoking...... What are you gonna do for fun? "
Told him, I'll feel, look, smell, and breath better than you, for starters. Probably live longer, ... be stronger, ........ He cut me off at this point. ( Good thing, I was running out of things to say anyways!! ) He's the last of 2 smokers now. Think it's getting to him. lol

I've tried to get he on board with the LC WOL, just won't go for it. All I can do is offer.

I figure if I can do 2-bars in the same night and not have the urge for a cig, then I'm cured. I still keep lots of sugarless / sugar-free gum and mints around for those times I want to put something in my mouth. That habit is not gone yet.

( No more "Grrr's ") just,...... Cheers, John
PS: Fiona, wait til the new, sort of gf, finds out I don't smoke anymore.

2002 The year of : Whatever I set out to do, failure is not an option:exclm:

[fiona]

{You don't drink, you keep eating all this LC food stuff, no sugar, soda, caffee, and now - no smoking...... What are you gonna do for fun? " }

Fun?????? How do we buy into the idea of self-destruction as "fun". Not that I haven't done it myself!!

Take care.

[Betsy]

Just wanted to pass on a few things that got me through.....
An urge only lasts for a moment, so just let the time pass.
Mind can't think of two things at the same time, so get distracted.

Sometimes we think we are craving a cig when what we are craving is really the deep breathing that used to go with it. I cut thick straws, like the size from McDonalds, cut them the length of a cig. When I wanted to just relax like I used to with a cig, I'd sit down with my straw and just inhale through the straw. Amazing how satisfying it was and during stressful times it still is for me.
My worst time was after dinner, but the straw became my replacement when ending my meal.

Don't give up, take it a day at a time. Days turn into weeks, weeks into months, ..................for me it's turned into 5 years.

[dizzyd]

Sounds like you are doing awesome! I am on day 13 of not smoking, but I'm using the patch (I feel like I'm cheating, but whatever works!). I'm just not strong enough to go cold turkey. I know what you mean about smells! I can't believe the stuff that I can smell now. I drive by an Italian restaurant every day on my way home from work and I can always smell the tomatoe sauce now. And I made the horrible discovery that one of my friends has awful BO!! :lol: Some things are just better not known! Oh well. As for your furniture, car, etc. I have one word for you... Febreeze! And lots of it! Stuff works like a hot damn! You won't smell the stale smoke anymore which should help any cravings that creep up on you.

Keep up the good work, and remember that you are not alone!

:bhug:

[John2001]

Never thought I'd be saying that! Hard battle at first, but got easier as time went on. Even chewing less sugar-free gum now. Have a few mints from time to time, that's about it.

Yes, the urge is still there once and a while to go have one. Don't ever want to be a slave to cig's again stops me from having one. Not to say the new tax on them, some .60-cents more, now brings the price of cig's to $5.00-$5.25 a pack!!
Can't bring myself to buy one.

Got my friend to stop smoking too. He's been good for almost 2-weeks now. He was only smoking a pack, every couple days, so not as bad of me and a little easier for him to quit.

Lot's of people I know are quitting now too, due to the taxes that were just raised on them. Maybe the state did a good thing by hiking up the prices, it's making people quit!

Cheers, John

[lotuslaura]

Good for YOU!!!!!! :cheer:


I am celebrating 3 weeks not smoking. I know that LC eating has HELPED me stop smoking. When I stopped before I would binge on sugar and carbs, then freak out about my smoking and go on what I would call the *nicotine diet* - smoking instead of eating.

Never thought I could do both at one time!!

Congrats!

[John2001]

Doing both LC and quitting smoking at the same time! Wowsers. I wanted to do both, but felt no way I could. Figured I'd wait til towards the end of the weight loss to quit the cig's.

Congrats to you on 3-weeks clean!

Cheers, John

[kodi10]

Way to go....I quit smoking two weeks ago tomorrow and I feel great. I started with the patch, which helped the first two days, but then I left it off. I went through some pretty bad craves last Saturday, but the craving comes in peaks and goes away. Just ride it out. I did not want to go back to the patch because it was like.....duh, I just quit nicotine, I don't want to put any back in my system. However, I do think it was great at first.

Good luck. It may sound silly but I wore (hey, that was past tense and sounded great!) a rubber band around my wrist. Everytime I felt a desire for that cig, I smacked myself. I quite once for 12 years (ok, dumb to start up again), but did so with the rubber band method.

What I did learn was that as much as I love that cig (and I do love it) I can't have it just sometimes. That is the mistake I made when I went back to smoking and I know better this time.

[fiona]

What I did learn was that as much as I love that cig (and I do love it) I can't have it just sometimes. Isn't that the nature of all addiction, be it carbs, alcohol, cigarettes, sex, etc.

It serves the purpose of assuaging a "need". I view it as sweeping a problem under the carpet so I can't see it ... or pretend I can't see it. Eventually I have two problems: the growing mound and the original problem!

Important lesson to grasp.
Take care.

[kodi10]

I wish it were as simple as just quiting smoking, or eating the wrong things. Too bad there is so much baggage we lug around with us and it weighs down our life, tieing us to additions. I have tried to quit smoking (and have done so, I think) :thup: , and have repeatedly tried to loose weight, :thdown: and I personally have a lot harder time with the latter. You see, when I quit smoking there are no choices to make, but changing my eating....that is tough. But I hate being tied to these additions like some sort of druggie!

[fiona]

Kodi,

Next time you get into that "fed-up" mood write down all the reasons why you hate smoking, and being fatter than you want to be and being addicted.

Whip yourself into such an emotional frenzy about it that you reach the point where you are ready to say NEVER AGAIN - I have had enough of this and WILL DO whatever it takes not to feel like this again.

I have found LCing to be an easy diet to stick to - I'm never hungry, I've made a lot of new friends doing it.

Take care.

[lotuslaura]

You see, when I quit smoking there are no choices to make, but changing my eating....that is tough. But I hate being tied to these addictions like some sort of druggie!

You hit the nail on the head there. I am in recovery for other addictions too (12 step programs), one being for alchoholism. This is what I tell my recovering alchoholic friends who DON'T understand my food issues:

"If you want to try to understand what people like me deal with EVERY SINGLE DAY, try some controlled drinking 3 times a day and see how insane you become." (as you probably know, alchoholics are incapable of having JUST ONE drink ;) )

They just sit there and stare at me dumbfounded and say, "oooooh wow, that would suck" :lol:

Hang in there. This forum has been such a help to me. Everyone is so supportive :)

Laura

[kodi10]

Laura,

Although I do not know what one goes through when fighting alcoholism, I can only assume that it is similar to quiting smoking, but worse. Really, I think it is worse to quit eating the wrong things, but others find quiting smoking harder. I image neither one is as hard as fighting the bottle.


Fiona,

Thanks for the advise. I got the smoking licked for the time being. I really think it helps to take the focus off the cigs by begining my fight with carbs. I know I can eat meat, but I am confused about something. What can I have with my meat? Everything, even green beans for heaven's sake, has carbs. I can't just eat meat. Do you have any recomendations to to a meal plan, filler stuff. Since I won't be eating bread, potatoes or rice, it leaves a big whole in my diet. :daze:

[momsbroke1]

I quit this morning, and I want to DIE!!!!!! No, I want to shoot people!!!! Not really, but I am so anxious!!!!! My DH smokes (he's just not ready to quit), my manager/friend smokes (he was going to quit with me today, but couldn't hang!!). I'm not going to ask everyone around me to quit, or go outside, because this is my choice and my battle, but the smoke smells so good (better than it ever tasted).

I went and bought some patches about an hour ago (haven't smoked in 13 hours), and it is helping some, but I am a wreck! Does anyone out there have any other devices (besides the patch) that are helpful???

I am DETERMINED to beat this -

Anna

[John2001]

Hi Anna,

I know what you are going thru! The first 2-3 days are nothing short of hell.

The only thing I can say is, try a drinking straw, cut in half. Pretend it's a cig when you want one.
Take a drag thur it, when you crave a cig. Seemed to help me a little.

Also try something like sugar free gum or mints. Just having something for flavor in my mouth seems to help too.

Just think how much pain you will have to go thur again if you give in now! That's what helped me make it the first few days - week. I didn't want to go thur that hell of withdrawal ever again!

Be strong! Stick it out! You too can say your not a slave to the cig's very soon!

I'm over 6-weeks myself, never thought I'd be saying that!

You CAN do this!! John

[fiona]

Kodi: I can't just eat meat. Do you have any recomendations to to a meal plan, filler stuff. I'm posting this in the wrong section (Nicotine Club) but since you ask we are allowed lots of vegetables. It is only the first two weeks we need to stick to 20g. I sometimes wrap my beef in lettuce and have it that way.

Often I have it with cauliflour or broccoli. Sometimes I stir-fry it with pepper and beansprouts.

Whatever struggle we are facing is the "hardest" ever. It really is. It is like fighting your way through a field of dense overgrown grass. As you keep taking the same path day after day you wear down a path and clear a way for yourself. It gets easier.

Hang in there Anna and Laura - it will be well worth it.
Take care.

[momsbroke1]

John & Fiona and all:

Day 2 - and I know I will live after all. It looks like I might not even go postal, and won't shoot people! The cravings are still HORRIBLE, but the anxiety and headaches and slight nausea are much slighter. The drinking straw thing is a bit of a help. I also got some of the spray breath stuff - a taste in my mouth helps also.

Did anyone else notice a keener sense of smell so quickly?? And, I , like someone else who posted in this forum, am finding that everything tastes much saltier. I brought 2 slim-jims to work this morning, and they taste so salty, I'm not sure I like them anymore. Same with the pork rinds. Actually, everything is tasting off - which is probably a good thing. I am not yet at goal, so I'm glad that the thought of hich carb food isn't tempting in the least.

Another question - was anyone else very tired?? Is this another withdrawal symptom. I was in bed by 8:30 last nite - very unusual - and woke up late (6:30 rather than 5:30). Do not smoking slow our metabolism? If so, what can we do to raise it, or does this pass with time? And - my IQ seems to have dropped about 100 points!! Really, I can't seem to think straight - everything (daily activities at work) are taking much longer than usual because I have to struggle through the thought processes.
Am I really weird, or is this part of my private withdrawal hell??

Anna :mad:

[John2001]

Good job, on day 2 !

All normal stuff your going thur. I was a bit foggy with thinking straight the first week. Tired : yes, the cig's give you a boost / kick. I noticed being more tired the first week, then it got better. Now have just as much or more power and strength. More than just being on the LC WOL too.

Smell's : Augh! want a difference. The house, the car, and the office.. ewwww just awful smelling from years of cig smoke. Had to re-wash clean clothes, that were in my drawers, and washed already. The smoke get's in to them. Shampooed the car and sprayed it with air fresheners.

Food: Havn't noticed a big taste difference personally. Taste a little bit more in spices.

Anxiety and headaches: Headaches passed in the first 2-3 days. Anixety has lasted for a while now. Not sure if it is just from quitting the cig's. I feel like my heart is racing a little and you want to do something. Like your forgeting to do something. (Probably forgeting to buy or carry cig's and a lighter with me) That to me is still a little weird, always thinking I'm out of cig's, have to go get some. lol

Glad to see you stuck it out ! Congrat's on day 2. Day 3 is coming quick!

Cheers, John

[kodi10]

Moms, you are doing great. If it helps, the cravings get further and further apart and shorter and shorter in duration. When people suffer from depression we tell them the same thing, and it is true here too. I am over my 2 week period and if I can do it ANYONE can, because I am obsessive about smoking (or at least I was). I truly liked it, so it felt like loosing a good friend....but that friend was killing me. Kinda like being in a really bad relationship, but you took the right move and got rid of that pesky beast....and it is not a friend.


Learn from my mistake, too. When I first quit smoking, over 15 years ago, I had a strong reason to. So I quit cold turkey and it lasted for 12 years. I would not have had to go through this again if I did not give in to a nagging thought...."can't I just be like others I know...you know, the type that claim they can take or leave that cigarette." I know now, bad thing to try. You see, I still like cigarettes and never grew to hate them. So one day I picked up a cigarette "just to see" and that lead to another, and another and...well, three years later I quit again.

I feel great and know my limitations now. The smoking dreams have started (I remember them last time). But that's ok, I really do not want one bad enough to really even tempt me. Trying a LC diet is keeping my mind off the cigs, too.

So good luck, and hang in there, and if you get tempted, remember what happened to me.

[momsbroke1]

I lived thru day 2, and have started day 3. I really thought today would be better than yesterday, but it isn't. Although it is nothing compared to day 1. I am still getting headaches, am in a rather foul mood (but I'm not sure that is a withdrawl symptom or just petulance because I really want a cig and can't have one), and am tired and weak. And I still REALLY want a cig. I am also still experiencing alot of anxiety - I haven't done my work-out routine since Mon because of the tiredness thing, but I did it last nite and my muscles are fatigued today - not achy, but literally fatigued. Joints ache, etc.

LCing, even on Induction, was much easier than this - at least you still got to eat, even if it wan't exactly what you craved!! I think a big part of my prob is that I smoked when I relaxed - took a little break from work, took a little break from cleaning the house, etc. I really don't know how to relax anymore without the cigs. Food is still not tasting good, so I don't have to worry about replacing cigs with food. Any relaxation techniques (that take less than 5 mins??? It's all the time I have to myself at a time)!

Oh, well, enough whining for now!!

PS - when does this get better?? A few days, a week, a month????

Thanx,
Anna

[John2001]

Congrat's on the day 3!

It will get better, I think it was about at the 3-rd day, I saw the change. Today or tomorrow you'll feel the pressure start to fade. Everyday a little better. It did take me about 72-hrs to get the nicatine out of the system. Try sipping on a little cranberry juice too. Watch the carb count but supposed to help get the nicatine out of the body faster.

I know how you feel about wanting a cig. I got a "dear john" call today from a gal I "was" dating for the last 2-1/2 months. The craving for something is bugging the hell out of me. Got to keep thinking of not subsituting one thing for another. Why start smoking because of this. Have so much unchanneled energy right now it's crazy. Been working out all morning, on and off. Doing push-ups with my feet elevated up 2-1/2 feet in the air and I'm still going thru set after set. I will not give in to the cig.

Anyway, it WILL get better, very soon. The first few days are hell, then it get's so easy at points that I sometimes can't remember being a smoker. If you can believe that!

Regards, John

[gwilson38]

Some excellent advice and support here. I am on day 27 and its going great! Now I did take the wimps way out LOL [patch] but its cause I am real concerned about weight gain. Fortunately I have been nicely developing my non-smoking lifestyle. ANNA- when U have the urge to smoke I have heard going to wash your face with cold water can help. Or going for a walk can take your mind off it. Drink extra water and it will flush your system out fast too.

[momsbroke1]

Today (day 4) is MUCH better. I'm actually making it through about 10 minutes (or longer) at a time without thinking about how bad I want a cig!! I have managed to catch a summer cold (maybe that's another reason I felt so horrible - was trying to fight off the cold as well as withdrawals. My immune system lost and I woke up hacking and stuffy). Cold or no, I still do feel much better today than I did.

I didn't use the cranberry juice, John, because I still haven't gotten to goal, and these last lbs are creeping off - in fact, I haven't lost a lb in almost a month - but am losing inches and clothing sizes. Anyway, I have a real prob with cravings (food) if I eat anything with even a small amount of natural sugar (not sweetner), and I just don't think I could handle chocolate cravings along with cig cravings!!! I did go get myself a large cafe latte yesterday - a big treat for me. And, by the way, I hope you made it thru the "girl trouble" without a cigarette. If she wasn't "woman enough" to tell you face-to-face, then she certainly wasn't worth ruining your lungs for!! Or going thru these horrible withdrawals AGAIN for!!


I have been drinking lots of water - and, strangely enough, my caffine cravings have greatly dwindled (I used to say I lived on caffine and nicotine). I have also found that rinsing my face with cold water does help.

I used a patch the first day, cut a patch in half for my second day, used no patch on the third day, and am home free now, I think!!!!

Thanx All,
Anna

[gwilson38]

About your cold.....I had been super healthy the whole time I have been low-carbing which is over a yr now. Soon after I quit smoking I came down with a bad chest cold. Im sure losts of smokers, once they quit find this happens. Its our body saying " ok U arent filling my lungs with that crap anymore,guess I will get rid of the stuff thats in here" LOL Anyway Im over it now and guess its a small price to pay for having health lungs again. Just wishing U contined success!

[John2001]

Yes, take extra care of your self right after you quit smoking. Don't know if the lungs are trying to dump the crap in them or someone told me your body is mad at you for not giving in nictatine anymore and punishes you by getting sick easier.

Myself, within the first 2-weeks came down with pheumouia! Couldn't believe it, I've had chest colds before, but this wiped me out. Be very careful.

Didn't go for a cig over the gal trouble, wanted to like crazy, but stayed strong. Turns out she may just want to date with no long term commitments in mind. Will see.

Good for you with the patches too. You have to get off all nicatine, completely, by using the patch, you are (were) still on the drug the is the addiction. It's like cutting back on smoking, but not quitting.

It does get easier and better everyday from here on. Some days harder than others, but nothing compared to the first few!

Congrats, you are making it! I knew you could do it!

John

[kodi10]

You have gotten past the hump and it easier from here on. I know, I have done it twice now.

Day three seems to be the worst for me. Then I found this time that on the 7th day I was very, very close to buying a pack. I went to the store and the urge was overwhelming. I told myself I would not buy, but I would go to a smoking friend's house and bum a cig. On the way there, with tears streaming down my face I turned the car home.

I tell you this to be wary of those times when it seems to overwhelm you. But listen carefully. As bad as it seemed at the time, when I made up my mind not to get the cig, the crave went away. That was it, that was the hardest single day...but really, it only amounted to the hardest 30 minutes! After that, it was gone.

Looking back I realized that the craves are temporary. If you get one, it will go away...just keep that in mind.

Congrats,

Dyna (day ... oh my gosh...day 19 since I quit cigs..and feeling great)

[momsbroke1]

Day 5 has been pretty smooth. Still having probs finding other things to do to "cue' me to relax, but the horrible physical "my body is screaming for Nicotine" is over - for now. I haven't encountered many terribly stressful situations this week, and I'm sure I will want a cig when they come along. I am, like John, always a little anxious - like I need to keep myself occupied. Unfortunatley, I, too, really enjoyed smoking. It hadn't gotten to the point where I was waking up hacking, or making noise when I breathed, or anything like that. However, whay let myself get to that unhealthy point. My children are thrilled - they really teach the anti-smoking thing at our school - as they should. I have let the kids know just how difficult this is for me - I want them to fully realize how addictive this stuff is and hope they stay away from it.

I am still feeling crappy - chest cold, etc., but imagine how much worse I would feel if I were to smoke!!! There were times I had strep throat, and still "had" to smoke that cig, even though it physically hurt!!! That's true addiction. And stupidity!!!


Thanks for the kind words, Dyna - I will keep them in mind the next time I really want to give in!!

Hope you all have a great, smoke-free weekend!!

Anna

[John2001]

I know......I know, how could you go and have a cig after 6-weeks. It was a one time episode. Have another confession, I drank that night too after almost 4 yrs clean, and again, will be a one time deal.

Have a lot of stress in my personal life right now and after working out like mad for a few days, trying to burn off the energy building inside and only getting more hyped up inside, couldn't take it. Needed something to calm myself. Fought it over and over in my mind soooooo much too, before endulging in the badness. I am paying for it now. Wiped out and drained for days now.

Am seeking out one of my friends to talk with about my personal life, where to seek help, and have started reading the section here on depression / addictions too.

I know all this other stuff doesn't really belong in this thread, but wanted all to get an understanding of how / why I picked up a few cig's that night.

John

[gwilson38]

Im sorry to hear U R having a rough time of it right now. 1st thing ------- just because U may have done some "negative" things doesnt make U a bad person. I have quit smoking for 5 weeks now....and I hope I never smoke again....but Im human so who knows. It is a good thing U R looking to talk to someone about the things that are troubling U. Im sure that will help and if not maybe seek professional coucelling. Good luck.

[dizzyd]

I just read your thread. I'm sorry things are rough for ya at the moment.

The most important thing for you to remember right now is that you are human, and just because you had a drink and a smoke at a time of extreme stress or anxiety is no reason to beat yourself up. (I assume you had more than a passing acquaintance drinking?) I'm not in anyway trying to enable you to continue with any addictions you may have, but remember that you quit once, and you can quit again. And you can do it today. One day at a time, no pressure, no guilt.

Here's a cyberhug for you, and remember that you are never alone! There's always someone here to talk to!

:bhug:

[John2001]

Thanks for the kind comments.
I'm not myself right now. Talked with a friend tonight that helps kids in school with problems. Helped a little to talk about it one on one with someone. Still not getting a full nights sleep. Broke sleeping pattens right now. Will probably see the Dr tomorrow about the physical end of this. Will get thru this, just takes time.

Thanks again, John

[fiona]

I have to say how proud I am of the courage, determination, strength of Will (even if it might feel to you as if your will-power is not there), commitment to stay with it despite how difficult it gets.

Be gentle and kind with yourself about any momentary weakness - Rest if you must but don't quit : or should it be quit in this particular instance! ;)

You are all Winners - just for attempting it in the first place. Each successful day is to be celebrated.

Take care.

[John2001]

Saw Dr yesterday and today. Had bloodpressure and an EKG done. Rapid heatbeat and bloodpress are high due my current emotional state. Dr has put me on 3 drugs, one to slow my heartrate down, one to help me sleep,and an antidespressant for my problem. Coming down to axniaty / panic attacks, moderate to servere depression / manic depression basically.
Todays readings were fine and the med's are working / calming down.

Have continued to smoke again, but at a much..much less rate. A pack every 3-4 days. For me thats fantasic, was smoking 2-3 packs a day. I will deal with this and go for the quit again in the next few weeks. Need some time to relax and let the stressful situation of this pass first. Just need some time.

Have to learn how to live / deal with lifes everyday problems / stress better, so something like this doesn't happen to me again. I am a pretty good mess right now. Will pass and hopefully with talking to some people and some medication I'll be able to beat this and enjoy life like other people. I'm understanding now how I have not been happy / enjoying life like other people and now have to learn how to do this. ( Sadder Than Sad - syndrome ) I take too many things to heart basically. Been coming for a long time.

John
PS: Thanks again F-vina-S
Hope your enjoying you time with family. Enjoy yourself, don't worry about this. I mean it. U help soo many, take time for yourself
Happy B-day too!

[gwilson38]

:there: I am so sorry for your troubles. I realize I dont know U and Im not sure all what U are going thru but I can sympathsize. About 8 years ago [I wont go into all the details..lol] I found myself very anxious, always feeling a sense of doom. It took me several months of finding the right medication to help but once I did I felt so much better. In my case it was undiagnosed fibromyalgia that was behind all my problems. When U are in a depression U feel so lonely BUT you are not alone. Continue to seek treatment and help. It will get better. Good luck.

[kodi10]

John, you are my inspiration. When I get down and wishing for that cig/food, I think of you. You are battling several demons at one time...food/alchohol/nicotine...and on top of that you have a tendency to be bi-polar. My God...you are incredible.

If you are having a hard time.....NO DUH! You are battling many foes. You have been successful on most fronts, so don't beat yourself up over the slip, just get back on track and keep getting back on track. I applaud your efforts.

I wrote earlier that my craves for cigs are temporary and if I keep that in mind it helps. Funny, but I was going to mention at that time that it was like depression (maybe I did say this, don't remember). I learned that depression is temporary too. Although it lasts longer than a 30 minute crave for a cig, it is no less temporary and will go away. You must realize this too having suffered from depression, but sometimes it helps to point this fact out. That way when it is at its worst, please remember, that it is a temporary state of being and will pass. It will pass!

[John2001]

Feeling much better recently. I stopped taking the anti-depressents. Started feeling dead inside. That is, no drive, ambition, or motivation in general life and work. After a day or 2 now, I seem to be back to my "normal" self. (whatever that is...lol )

Also only had to take the heart medication 2-times in the last 2-3 days. Seems normal now,... the heart beat.

I, for some reason now, have a handle on both addictions, cigs and the booze. I have been able to have 3-5 cigs a day without going crazy for one. Some days none. It's like a "treat", if you follow me on this.

Also have gone out to the bar / grill and had dinner and a couple drinks without the problems coming up, with being out of control, like I tended to be years ago. Seem to have "balance" in all things now?!?

Very weird but as long as this trend continues, who knows. If it get's out of control, like in the past, I'll stop, until then I'm gonna ride with it for now. I seem more relaxed as well by doing this. I don't "crave" either one badly.

Again thanks for the support and good job with your conquest too.

Cheers, John

[dizzyd]

Glad to hear things are looking up for ya! :sunny:

There have been times in my life when it seems like too many things have been going on at once (relationship problems, career decisions, weight issues, health issues) and that's when I have decided to take a step back and decide what the most important thing was to work on at the moment. Sounds like that's what you are doing now, and I wish you all the success in the world. It's times like this that we need to remember that we are all "works in progress". Face one battle at a time and you are more likely to win them all in time.

We're all rooting for you!!
:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

All the best,
:bhug:

[kodi10]

John, you have me a little concerned. Let me explain. I know that if you are, in fact, bipolar, then you will have a tendency to want to come off your meds when you are going through the manic phase. (Who wants to bring themselves down when feeling great). But this is a double edged sword because it also prevents the depressed times from getting so bad. Only you know whether this is what you are doing, but please talk to your doc about meds. Wouldn't want it to cause more problems down the line.

I think if you can control your cigs to 2-4 a day, and your drinks to a minimum that is great, but is that really what you can do? I could not do that, but always wished I could. Just be watchful of the "just one more" syndrome. You know, when you are sitting there and reflect on the fact that you have already had four cigs, but just one more, you can have just one more......you can handle it........same with drinks.

Keep us posted on your progress. I still have not lit up, but I did bum a puff the other day. That is just too scary, cause I liked it too much. Three or four a day would never satisfy me....

Starting back on induction tomorrow, so wish me luck.

[lilshug]

Hi Everyone!
I've never posted here before because it didn't immediately hit me that this particular link has something to do with me! I'm in my late 20's, and have been smoking since I was 14 (perfect time to start, wouldn't you say?? ;) ), tried to quit 3 times to no avail.
Then an ex-smoker friend of mine suggested a book that might help me. A BOOK. Oh, please, I thought. No book could ever succesfully shield me from my nic cravings!(a pack-packandahalf/day)No way. I was a hardcore, confirmed smoker- pathetically even smoked while pregnant :eek:
One day I finally picked up the book and read it after having it in my posession for some time (I think I was bored that day). It took me about 1 month to finish. You can finish it in a day if you want to!
See, the book operates on the basic principles of hypnotherapy. It actually speaks to your subconscious. Sounds hoakey, I know, believe me but I've been a non-smoker since THE BOOK told me to put out my last cig. (You smoke the whole time reading it- he actually advises AGAINST cutting down)
That night I went out for drinks with friends. NO problem! I remember thinking that I SHOULD be wanting one...but I'm not! And I haven't in 6 months!
The name of the book is "Allen Carr's Easy Way To Stop Smoking". I bought the book for a ton of my friends and family that Christmas. So far a friend of mine has quit (after 11 yrs), my sister (after 20 yrs) and the one that makes me so happy I could pee :D --- my MOM has quit after just over 35yrs!!!!!!The others haven't read it yet. They will!
Please give the book a chance. It's a tad repetitive, but know that 's the method behind the madness. For some reason a lot of people I know from Europe are familiar with this method and it's successes. Yet not many Westerners do. Go figure. Something to do with big buisness, I'm sure. :thdown:
If this solution has already been posted, please forgive me. Just take this as an incredible success story. I was suckin' on those things like there was no tomorrow(note the irony :rolleyes: ) And I'm a singer! UGH!
Much much love and strength!
xoLilshug

[razzle]

hi lilshug. Great suggestion!

What you could do is repost this info under a new thread on this forum--use a title that will help others find the info if they want it.

I quit biting my nails through hypnosis--worked like a charm, but of course nail biting doesn't involve a physical addiction to a set of drugs!

[MunchyP]

Congrats on y'alls decision to quit smoking!!

With the help of Nicorette gum (2mg), it's been 15 weeks without any cigarettes for me. I've been off the gum for the last 3 weeks, and I feel wonderful. I found that when I cut down on carbs, the last of my nicotine craving was totally gone too.

I work with a bunch of people who smoke, and sometimes I felt like they didn't want me to quit!! I mean....they'd be blowing smoke in my face and constantly offering their cigarettes to me even though they knew I was trying to quit. But I did it!! Now it doesn't bother me to see other people smoking because I don't have to need to smoke. I can smell a lot better now, and food tastes much better too!!

Good luck on quitting!! It's definitely worth it!!

:rose:

[SharonC]

Know what you mean! Those first couple of days are a killer but, you're past them now. You are going to start feeling great, I quit 6 months ago for good(I had tried several times before), the only way for me was cold turkey too. I think I sweated out the nicotine though (the chills in the night).

It takes a tremendous amount of willpower to do what you have done and my thought on quitting cigs is: If you can quit smoking there is nothing else you cannot do! :clap:

Keep up the great work and be very proud!

Sharon

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Do not follow the common path. Go where there is no path and leave a trail.

[dizzyd]

when it feels like those around you don't want you to quit. I have a friend and we used to be smoking buddies as we live in the same building and neither of us smoke indoors. She kept saying things like, "Oh well, don't feel bad if you fail" and other comments that were veiled to sound supportive but I felt were actually quite non -supportive. :confused: And one co-worker just said, "you'll be back". Nice.. thanks for the support, jackass! :mad:

Just remember, you are stronger and better than any old addiction, and you can just prove all the naysayers wrong by continuing to be a non-smoker. That's my plan! :thup:

We all have something to be proud of!

Three cheers for us! :D

:cheer: :cheer: :cheer: