Smokefree Yank, new here, first day down...

[nsd_user663_5367]

Hi there!

After a bit of googling, I happened upon this forum. I am an American living in Arizona, so I hope you'll excuse me using a .uk forum. However, from the looks of things, this place seems like the right place for me (no other forum appeared to be as friendly, welcoming, and supportive).

I am a 21 year old university student at Arizona State (Hence my username, go Sun Devils!). I am working part time while taking a 1.5+ class load (19 credit hours). I've been a .5-.75 pack/day smoker for about 3 years (started my freshman year of university). I live with my girlfriend who has smoked since she was 16, and it looks as if I'll be going it alone. She seems rather defensive when I talk about it, despite the fact that I have told her many times that its her decision and I will not pressure her.

This is my second quit attempt (but my first REAL one). I tried to taper down for a few weeks before getting a new job, and the stress brought me right back to where I started. My decision was a bit spontaneous; I bought some patches for an overseas flight over the summer but the one on the plane made me nauseous and quite ill. I woke up yesterday morning and thought to myself (as I often had) "Perhaps I wont smoke, and just put on a patch". That worked until my g/f arose and we stepped outside for our morning routine. I had a few drags... She dropped me off at school and as she left I noticed that I forgot my smokes in her car. The nearest store was about a 1/2 hour walk away. Halfway there, I realized how STUPID it was to walk an HOUR in the Phoenix heat (43+ degrees C) in a suit to pay 5 pounds for something that I hated. I recalled that patch still in my briefcase from the trip, and put it on in the mens room. I decided then and there that I was done.

I kept putting it off, waiting for a time when I wasn't stressed. But, that was the addiction talking. I will ALWAYS be stressed, I live a high stress lifestyle which will soon get worse (graduating university and beginning my career). I figure that if I can quit while in the thick of it I'll have less of a chance of relapse.

Yesterday wasn't easy, but im PROUD to say that I have made it 24 hours without lighting up (the first time since I bought my first pack 3 years ago).

I left my patch on as I slept (dreams were more vivid than usual, but not all that intense). I woke often, but I made it through the night and the morning. I knew mornings/ early afternoon would be the most difficult. Chewing gun and eating skittles seems to help. I actually like the fact that cigarettes are often available to me (via my girlfriend and friends). I say to myself "I have a desire to smoke", "I have the opportunity to smoke", "I chose not to smoke". Rather than throwing everything away, I constantly have the ability to light up. Rather than being a temptation, every time I say "I chose not to smoke", it becomes a small victory for me.

Sorry for my longwinded introduction and thank you to those who took the time to read it. Here I am on the morning of my second day. Bring it on!!

Good luck to all the others here. I promise to contribute as much as I can.

SSD

[nsd_user663_5325]

Hey there and Hi from a fellow yank. Same story here found these forms and thought the same things about the site. I'm pretty new here too and have found everyone to be very welcoming .Form helps a ton whether your venting or looking for support or typing the support. Congratulations on the decision to quit.

[nsd_user663_5310]

Hi there SSD

Welcome to the mad house and well done for your first day and the big decision you have made.

I too have a pack of cigarettes sat there looking at me as I have for the past three weeks and it gives me great pleasure to look at them back and give them the finger.

Your girlfriend will proberly be a touch unhelpful but if you remember anyone who stopped smoking around you is just a bit annoying i.e. why cant I do that

Its your time buddy, stick with it and stick with us cos we know what your going through.

With you all the way Caroline

[nsd_user663_5365]

hi ssd

Hello mate, this is my second day of no smoke, i am using champix , not sure if it is available to you over the pond as it is to us. I have only been on here 2 days, and have to say that these people are a big help in my fight to slip the weed. Stick with it all the support you need is on here.

Being a student you proberly will allways have access to a pc, if you feel a temptation come on just get on this site, am sure some one will talk you out of it.

I have found that people arround you who smoke, seem to want to see you fail. my advice to you is make them absent in your company, this is a very difficult thing and they are proberly jealous.

Best of luck, stay with it

regards carpenter

[nsd_user663_5367]

Thank you so much for the kind words and warm welcome.

I find that the few minutes leading up to the end of a class is when I'm REALLY craving (usually when I would be anticipating my next smoke).

I totally understand my girlfriend's animosity. One of my good friends (who smoked for longer than I have) quit about a year ago, and it made me feel bad about myself when he talked about it (especially when he got preachy). I honestly wanted him to fail both because I enjoyed smoking with him and I knew that if he succeeded then I was just being lazy.

I have an exam tomorrow which will be difficult... im finding it difficult to study. But, I can live with a small slip in my grades for a few weeks if it means adding years to my life and not having anyone sit next to me during the class due to the horrible stench.

[nsd_user663_3728]

Hi SSD

Well done you must be day 2 for you now just hang in there pleased to hear that the first day wasn't to bad for you

Below is my standard welcome and advice post which I try and give 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

This link is good for the psychological part of quitting

whyquit.com/whyquit/A_Sympt...

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 xx

[nsd_user663_4990]

You can do everything you have done for the past x amount of years quite well enough without a smoke, in fact, if you stick at this and give this quit a good go, you will do most things better because you lose the need to constantly have this 'pick me up'.

Regards your partner... you could find and print out a load of how to quit tips .. well thumb them so they look very well read, then leave them just conveniently about the place.. while your quitting. You can pick them up and read them any time yourself but the real plan there is for your partner to think...'hmm, i'll have a quick look...' she may flatly ignore them.. or she may take the bait.. who knows, but this way does not involve you saying a single word to her.. or as you put it.. 'preaching'. If anything, just seeing you improve in health and well being should convince her that its worth trying.. but not everyone see's common sense like that though.

Good luck on your quit.. remember one thing though, you can only look after your own quit .. much as we would love everyone around us to stop.. its about choice at the end of the day and alot of folk haven't made the choice to try stopping yet.

[nsd_user663_5262]

Hi SSD,

Glad to hear we've got another no smoking recruit

I have the same anticipation when I'm just about to leave work and then theres always a low feeling when I realsie that I won't be getting my death stick reward but I take a few minutes to remind myself the reasons for quitting and just chill out - then I seem to be okay. Chewing gum and hitting the sweets always helps as well!!!

Hope your holding up and come back often - we're all on the same boat and theres not much you'll be going through that someone hasn't found a way to deal with

[nsd_user663_5225]

Hi SSD,

Welcome to our little non smoking family. This place is great and really keeps you motivated with others who know exactly what you're going though.

Skittles are AWESOME!!! and they taste so much better once you get your taste buds back as do: peanut m and ms, kit kat chunky, liquorice torpedoes, chocolate cake, vanilla cheesecake....any type of cake really....mmmm CAKE!!!!

Sorry just had a moment there!!!

With regards to your partner not quitting. My bf began this quit with me but he has gradually slipped back into his smoking habits whereas I have stuck with it. Remember you are only responsible for your own quit. Do not let her make you feel guilty for "leaving her behind" and do not make her feel guilty for continuing to smoke, she will quit when she is good and ready. But tell her that she must understand that you are going to do this and her support would be welcomed.

Good luck

PP xx

[nsd_user663_5367]

Thank you guys so much! I spent quite a bit of time on here yesterday digging around the fourm. I once found myself on the week 2 board and got a massive craving. "Ahhh!! I cant get ahead of myself, back to the day 2 board!!" I thought to myself.

I figure I'll go make my day 2 report and set my sights on tackling day three. I must say, I woke up in a great mood with only a fleeting moment of sadness over my ex-morning smoke.

Does the forum have a donate button anywhere? I would love to start giving back to the place that has already given me so much help and courage.

[nsd_user663_5373]

Hi SSD

Well done on getting past day 2 mate

Best of luck with day 3.