I am so glad that I found this site. I don't really like venting myself to family and friends, because I feel like they either don't really understand, or they just want me to shut up and get over it!
I am so proud that I have almost reached 4 months (after 8 years of smoking), but EVERYDAY I have had at least one desire for a smoke, and sometimes I get massive cravings that leave me wanting to scratch the walls and pull my hair out. I hope like crazy that these feelings will go away for good. It is reassuring to know that I am not the only person that feels this way.
I am so determined to remain a non smoker, but I might occasionally rant and rave on this site.
I am an artist, and I find that I want to smoke the most when I am inspired, so this has really affected my work in a bad way, which is mainly why I am so frustrated about the whole thing.
Steve (Antony is my middle name.)
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sorry to hear things have been difficult for you-im a month ahead of you, and i still think about cigs, but not crave-remember craves dont kill! smoking does.
I think also the euphoria, subsides and people stop praising you, and you feel alone in your battle against the addiction, things will get better though-it wont always be like this.
As for the artist thing-that hit a nerve, my dad was a popular artist and had quite a few commisions, he smoked, he died, at 56years of age-smoke related, and he was at his artistic peak!
When you are inspired-you should be painting -not smoking!!!!
sorry to hear things have been difficult for you-im a month ahead of you, and i still think about cigs, but not crave-remember craves dont kill! smoking does.
I think also the euphoria, subsides and people stop praising you, and you feel alone in your battle against the addiction, things will get better though-it wont always be like this.
As for the artist thing-that hit a nerve, my dad was a popular artist and had quite a few commisions, he smoked, he died, at 56years of age-smoke related, and he was at his artistic peak!
When you are inspired-you should be painting -not smoking!!!!
Thanks shabba for your response. I am so sorry to hear about your dad.
I think that what you say is right about people not praising anymore. At first, quitting smoking gave me a buzz. People kept saying how much better I looked, etc... After a while all of that goes away, and it is so easy to lose focus. I think it does get easier though, or at least I hope it does LOL. My eating habits are not too great at the mo, but I guess that is to be expected (it is better than smoking).
Welcome to the site and very well done on your quit so far. you will have great support here we are all going though the same things. keep posting it really helps. xxxxxxxx
Welcome to the site and very well done on your quit so far. you will have great support here we are all going though the same things. keep posting it really helps. xxxxxxxx
Thanks Linda.
This site really is great! I have been reading this site for months, but I decided to join tonight, because I felt SO close to buying a pack of cigs.
Instead, I just bought some chocolate. LOL
It is weird how you can be doing so well, and then all of a sudden the desire comes back. Whenever I get those negative feelings, I just think positive, or if necessary, I google the effects of smoking.
well done and keep going, i think minimum 70% cocoa solids and higher does the trick, just let one square melt really really slowly between your tongue and the roof of your mouth.
yes your friends and loved ones do stop praising and maybe get bored, i have already had one friend tell me to stop talking about it and get on with my life, maybe she has a point but i think you need several pats on the back a day.
well done and keep going, i think minimum 70% cocoa solids and higher does the trick, just let one square melt really really slowly between your tongue and the roof of your mouth.
yes your friends and loved ones do stop praising and maybe get bored, i have already had one friend tell me to stop talking about it and get on with my life, maybe she has a point but i think you need several pats on the back a day.
lots of virtual pats from me!
I appreciate the virtual pats. LOL
I thinks that it is important to congratulate yourself every now and them. When I first stopped, I rewarded myself with little things at certain milestones.
Try to focus on the gains that you have achieved by quitting such as health, and control rather than seeing it as sacrificing a great pleasure. In reality smoking is just feeding nicotine addiction and there is little pleasure in that.
Have a read of whyquit.com Link in my sig there is a load of useful inspring and downright scary stuff there.
First of all welcome to the forum it is a wonderful place I wouldn't ahve got this far without it
Well done on nearly 4 months quit you should feel proud of yourself and am on2 months quit and am proud of myself
I get support from my family especially stuarth who is 2 months ahead of me but this site is really great there is always someone to help through the bad times and cheer the good and no one minds if you have a good rant
It has only been 4 months for me so far, and through my own personal experiences I get the feeling that this is something that I have to learn to live with, and overcome.
I thought at first that I would get a few headaches for a week and then that would be it. Boy was I wrong!!!
I know someone that quit years ago, and he said that he wants a smoke everyday, and I also know someone that gave up 1 year ago and he is completely over it. My mother stopped smoking many years ago, and I know for a fact that there is no way that she would start smoking again. We all deal with it in different ways, which is why it is nice to come to this support forum.
Try to focus on the gains that you have achieved by quitting such as health, and control rather than seeing it as sacrificing a great pleasure. In reality smoking is just feeding nicotine addiction and there is little pleasure in that.
Have a read of whyquit.com Link in my sig there is a load of useful inspring and downright scary stuff there.
Best wishes
Nic
Thanks NicFirth. I appreciate it. I will go check out that link. Sometimes I YouTube 'stop smoking', and the video results are enough to put anyone off.
First of all welcome to the forum it is a wonderful place I wouldn't ahve got this far without it
Well done on nearly 4 months quit you should feel proud of yourself and am on2 months quit and am proud of myself
I get support from my family especially stuarth who is 2 months ahead of me but this site is really great there is always someone to help through the bad times and cheer the good and no one minds if you have a good rant
First and foremost - well done on 4 months quit, an awesome acheivment in itself (and I should know, I just passed that point a couple of weeks ago )
May I suggest you have a bit of a read, even at the point you are at a little education about the addiction and the quitting process will stand you in good stead. Quitting, as you will know, is nearly all in the head and if you find something that speaks to you it is almost magical.
and a damn good read of this forum.... then perhaps a google search!
I very much doubt that without a massive reading habit for the last 4 months that I would be finding it as easy as I am. Last week I had some urges while away from home on business. They were not craves, just thoughts that were dismissed very quickly. Those were the first ones for at least a month!
Seriously, I cannot recommend it enough.... and what have you got to lose if nothing clicks with you?
We quit around the same time and I still get quite strong urges to smoke although I know deep down it's all in my head and I will never smoke again.
I do have days where I hardly think about smoking at all and other days when I can't seem to stop thinking about it! You've definitely come to the right place here though - lots of help, support and sound advice.
I think I'm just getting on with the 'nitty gritty' of my quit now-as you've already mentioned, people don't praise or congratulate me anymore-to them I'm just another non-smoker which is good in a way but does make me feel alone with my battle sometimes. Think I will go back to doing what I did at the start of my quit-putting the money I am saving into a jar every day and spending it on something nice for myself at the end of the week-maybe you could do the same?
Anyway, well done on your achievement so far-from someone who's struggled as well.
First and foremost - well done on 4 months quit, an awesome acheivment in itself (and I should know, I just passed that point a couple of weeks ago )
May I suggest you have a bit of a read, even at the point you are at a little education about the addiction and the quitting process will stand you in good stead. Quitting, as you will know, is nearly all in the head and if you find something that speaks to you it is almost magical.
and a damn good read of this forum.... then perhaps a google search!
I very much doubt that without a massive reading habit for the last 4 months that I would be finding it as easy as I am. Last week I had some urges while away from home on business. They were not craves, just thoughts that were dismissed very quickly. Those were the first ones for at least a month!
Seriously, I cannot recommend it enough.... and what have you got to lose if nothing clicks with you?
Thanks for all those links!! I agree that reading helps. I have the Allen Carr book. I might read over it again this week.
We quit around the same time and I still get quite strong urges to smoke although I know deep down it's all in my head and I will never smoke again.
I do have days where I hardly think about smoking at all and other days when I can't seem to stop thinking about it! You've definitely come to the right place here though - lots of help, support and sound advice.
I think I'm just getting on with the 'nitty gritty' of my quit now-as you've already mentioned, people don't praise or congratulate me anymore-to them I'm just another non-smoker which is good in a way but does make me feel alone with my battle sometimes. Think I will go back to doing what I did at the start of my quit-putting the money I am saving into a jar every day and spending it on something nice for myself at the end of the week-maybe you could do the same?
Anyway, well done on your achievement so far-from someone who's struggled as well.
I think that it is good to keep on rewarding yourself. This is the longest I have quit for, so it is all uncharted territory for me, and I realize how easy it is to lose focus!
I'm a week behind you on my first and (hopefully) only attempt at stopping smoking.
I recently poste a thread about perpetuating the myth that quiting is hard - but the conclusion was it was only easy because I had this forum. Absolutely invaluable in hard times.
Thankfully the very dark days are gone, now I just come on to see what everyone else is up to - typical woman, think I'm missing something if I'm not here
I'm a week behind you on my first and (hopefully) only attempt at stopping smoking.
I recently poste a thread about perpetuating the myth that quiting is hard - but the conclusion was it was only easy because I had this forum. Absolutely invaluable in hard times.
Thankfully the very dark days are gone, now I just come on to see what everyone else is up to - typical woman, think I'm missing something if I'm not here
Talking about people encouraging you, or not - and the fact that you are just another non smoker... I know how that feels too, and it's fantastic... but hard at the same time.
We want someone to say "wow, you're doing great!", or words to that effect but they just don't care. We aren't newsworthy anymore.
I pat myself on the back, which may be a bit sad - but I like to look back over my quit diary (I started 1 week before day 1 and haven't missed a day since) to see how far I have come. That helps a lot, I just open it at a random page (after picking a random book - yes, really!) and have a read at my thoughts on that day.
Usually I end up thinking.... things have really come a long way after all! Really helps after a bad day at work or something. Plus writing your thoughts down helps me to get them straight in my own head.
Talking about people encouraging you, or not - and the fact that you are just another non smoker... I know how that feels too, and it's fantastic... but hard at the same time.
We want someone to say "wow, you're doing great!", or words to that effect but they just don't care. We aren't newsworthy anymore.
I pat myself on the back, which may be a bit sad - but I like to look back over my quit diary (I started 1 week before day 1 and haven't missed a day since) to see how far I have come. That helps a lot, I just open it at a random page (after picking a random book - yes, really!) and have a read at my thoughts on that day.
Usually I end up thinking.... things have really come a long way after all! Really helps after a bad day at work or something. Plus writing your thoughts down helps me to get them straight in my own head.
I guess everyone does things differently.
I quit diary is a great idea! I was going to start a quit blog, but I decided against it, just in case I caved in.
I have started to swim at the local gym. That seems to help.
I think writing things down is a really good idea. It is a great way to get things out of the head.
For me, quitting has become something of a journey of self-discovery. It sounds corny, but it is true.
I think all of you that have got this far have done fantastic, all i hope is that i get here to. I did think that maybe at your stage things would get easier but it dont seem to be the case.
I think a quit diary is a great idea, i wish i had thought about that at the beginning, it would definately make interesting reading to look back on your thoughts during some of the earlier days.
Anyway, well done to you all and hope things get better for you Antony.
I think all of you that have got this far have done fantastic, all i hope is that i get here to. I did think that maybe at your stage things would get easier but it dont seem to be the case.
Thanks, Denise - I have no doubt that you will get here too.
For me, it is quite easy now. Most days I do not have to think about the quit at all. I still have moments when I have to remind myself not to be daft, I don't do that any more.... but they can be many days or even weeks apart.
So don't lose heart... it really does get much easier, and I am certain that it will for Antony soon.
Thanks, Denise - I have no doubt that you will get here too.
For me, it is quite easy now. Most days I do not have to think about the quit at all. I still have moments when I have to remind myself not to be daft, I don't do that any more.... but they can be many days or even weeks apart.
So don't lose heart... it really does get much easier, and I am certain that it will for Antony soon.
Second what stuart says ... there are days when I think about smoking alot and it really p**ses me offbut on others it doesn't crop up at all...
Each and everyone of us is different in the way we react to quitting and the way our minds and bodies recover and the length of time it takes...but you will get there and it will get easier
I think all of you that have got this far have done fantastic, all i hope is that i get here to. I did think that maybe at your stage things would get easier but it dont seem to be the case.
Although I might moan about it, I can HONESTLY say that it does get a whole lot easier. Stopping smoking is the single most important thing any smoker will do in his/her lifetime. No one ever said it would be easy, but it is well worth it in the end.
After almost 4 months of fresh air I do feel a whole lot better!! I smoked for 8ish years, so I realize that it will take a while to retrain my brain.
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but on others it doesn't crop up at all...
I dont want to feel this way for months...
I went 4 days without a smoke...
Day 4 and Smoke Free Still
