Well after having given up smoking for 10 years (yes ten years!) and starting again, giving up for 8 years and starting again and having now been smoking for the past 5 years I have finally decided I need to quit once and for all. I've done patches, cold turkey and read the Alan Carr book so why do I find the need to go back to the dreaded weed. I am a very fit 60 year old female who goes to the gym 5 times a week and swims regularly and then who comes out of the gym and lights a fag! Deep down I have enjoyed a cigarette but like most people can't leave it at one and soon one becomes two and then a full packet of 10.
This morning stuck my patch on. If I am totally honest I would have given anything for my first ciggie of the day but feel quite proud I have resisted it. At "smoke break" today in the office I am going to keep myself busy - the danger time will be when I get home this evening and have to resist my evening fag. Any on line support will be greatly appreciated.
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I really can't say what triggered me again other than I have had a tremendous amount of stress and anxiety for the past five years which I won't bore you with but I'm sensible enough to know a cigarette does not take that stress away - bit like an alcoholic I suppose, drink doesn't take away the problem, it just masks it for a short while. Sad thing is I have never ever even finished a cigarette - I have only smoked perhaps half and then binned it. Unfortunately friends smoke and I've just been drawn into the bad habit again and that needs to be broken. Certainly I have never owned up to my family that I started again so I've been a "secret smoker" for 5 years. Perhaps the excitement (!??) that I am doing something naughty, I don't know.
welcome to the forum and Congrats on choosing to quit again. You know what is required to quit , however i suggest revisiting the Allan carr book and going through all the sites that Stuart has mentioned ....a great program to put yourself through can be found at ffsonline.org ...you can maybe do all this when you get home this evening ?
The Patches will take the edge off your craving but still drink cold water when the cravings come , be prepared to do something else when you get " fiddgety" and if you can stay as busy as possible .
You will always find support on this forum but all the hard work has to come from you , you have made a choice you will never regret ...all you have to do is work on what you have choosen to do and you will shake off the dirty habit. Let us know how you are getting on.
Water - I'm swimming in the stuff but it is working! I feel good that I've made the decision. I've admitted to everyone in the office I have quit and won't be joining others on a fag break. Will keep you posted but I will do it and will check out the links.
Some unexpected support this morning from of all places work. One member of the "fag gang" has announced she is pregnant so obviously smoking is right out of the window for her, another has gone to Thailand for a month on holiday so that's one less and another has joined me on the patches today
Water does two things , it helps with the cravings first and foremost but it also helps to flush out the intoxins in your body so keep it up.
Telling your fellow workmates that you have quit is a great idea , but watch for the smokers with quit envy who might offer you a sympathetic cig..there are plenty of these type of people about.
You should feel good that you have made the decision it is the correct one and one full of benefits . Its a decision that will reward you with better health, better wealth and you will aquire more confidence from your quit which will lead you to start feeling better about yourself in general . Heck they say it even improves your looks when you quit.!!! what more could you ask for?
Stay focused on what you are trying to achieve and when the cravings come...recoginse them for what they are and let them pass by , dont dismiss them just let them know you will not be giving into them.
Well here I am on day 2 - only one urge last night when a friend phoned with bad news but reasoned with myself having a fag wouldn't change it. Woke up this morning with clean mouth but why does my brain keep thinking about cigarettes even though I don't want one?
hope you have managed to resist the evening fag! It's the evenings that got me to start with but I am on Day 9 now and no longer miss my evening ciggie. I think of the cravings as an evil little voice that wants to trick me into smoking and I have to battle it away! So far it has worked. I went cold turkey and had no real cravings after about a week (Day 7 being the toughest). So stick with your decision, it's hard to start with but it quickly gets easier.
Remember - you are a nicotine addict for life so you know you can't take one more puff. I have quit for 4 years before and started again so I know how easyy it is to quickly get hooked again.
If that thought scares you, allow yourself to start smoking again at the age of 89. I am!
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