6 months in 12 days..

[nsd_user663_5213]

Hi all,

I've just stumbled upon this forum. I had my last cigarette on March 12th - it was the first time I had been ill enough not to be able to smoke and so giving up was completely by accident. (I never got to enjoy that final cigaratte!) After a week and feeling better, I decided that it was stupid to start again after going all that time without. The past 6 months have been pretty hard - I smoked around 10 a day for 14 years. The first 3 months were hell and I was pretty constantly preoccupied with not being able to smoke. It began to get better from then onwards and now there are probably only 2 or 3 times during the day where I could really, really do with a cigarette. I even dream about smoking and in my dream, I'm gutted that I gave in, but so pleased upon waking to find that I didn't actually light up! However, I still miss smoking - will that ever go away? All the time I miss it, I'm concerned that I'll cave in...

Really interesting reading your stories, makes me feel not quite so alone!

[nsd_user663_4754]

hey emm,

welcome to the forum - good to have you on board!

well i cant really comment as im only a month in myself but i can definately relate to being relieved about the not smoking dreams.

you've been quit for ages now though so must be great to see it getting easier.

maybe your still missing smoking because you never really said your goodbyes mentally by giving up whilst ill as you say.

sounds like some good reading of the right material might help "get your head in the right place"

theres loads of people with links to great stuff to help with that in thier signatures.

cheers,

Bman

[nsd_user663_5213]

Hi Bman, thanks for your reply!

I think you're right in that I fell like I didn't choose to give up - that decision was made for me (because of being ill) and I almost feel cheated! Stupid, I know, especially as I clearly did choose not to start smoking again, and I choose every day not to smoke. It's like losing a friend - sometimes I find myself wistfully remembering the good times...

Athough I wouldn't wish the dreams on anyone, I'm quite relieved that I'm not the only one. They're so vivid! They did die down after a few months and now they're not quite so frequent.

You're right - it is good that it's getting easier because I truly thought I would never say that. When I was at your stage, I couldn't see how it could ever get better but it does, and without you really noticing until the gaps between thinking about smoking get longer and longer. I hope this doesn't sound over the top but the only thing I can liken it to is the grieving process. You can't ever believe that thinks will get better but somehow, they do.

Anyway, thanks for your advice and congratulations on your month!

[nsd_user663_4990]

Emm,

All i can say really is that although initially you didn't choose to give them up and that choice was rather made for you, don't you think that now you've come this far you should just go the distance anyway?

Believe me, the benefits of quitting will make themself perfectly clear anyway, but at this moment i'd say that although you didn't choose to give up, can i ask one thing? did you choose to become addicted? Its fair justice that you should leave them the same way you found them.

Theres plenty of folk who would be very glad to be as long quit as you though, and although they are choosing to quit.. the benefits of being as long quit as where you are are for many exactly what they need.

Stick this out, stay quit and see where this takes you.. having more money and better health to name just 2 tiny things are the tip of the iceberg of the overall benefit that not smoking will bring you.

Keep this up.. good or bad.

Jase.

[nsd_user663_3728]

Hi Emm

Well done on almost 6 months quit that's great at least when you'd been ill and unable to smoke you didn't do as I did and start again

I can understand how you feel though and wouldn't normally send the following to someone so long quit but I think it may help you even so

Below is my standard wlecome and advice post which I try and sned all new members

Welcome to the forum and well done on the decision to quit possibly one of the most important you will ever make and you will be losing nothing but you will regain control of your life and that has to be good

You will find all the help and support you need on here as we all help each other just like a family we are here for you every step of the way cheering the good days and sympathiseing with the bad but the good far outweigh the bad

Read the posts on here you will find a lot of tips and advice and in the signatures of a lot you will find links to other sites just click on them Here are 2 I find very good to start you off whyquit.com and woofmang.com Read, read and then read some more as the more you read and learn about why you smoked and about your addiction the easier your quit will be

Post often to let us know how you're doing, to rant, rave have a moan whatever you like pretty much anything goes on here OK

Love

Marg