Sorry- I know, that's sooo negative. I should be telling myself it's an amazing acheivement etc etc BUT- I'm depending so heavily on the NRT- I'm using an inhalator and topping up with lozenges/gum- so I'm breaking neither physical dependance on nicotine, nor the habit of smoking- all I've given up is rolling cigarettes. I keep trying to concentrate on the fact that I haven't smoked- make that the primary focus, deal with habit and the nicotine later, for now just focus on not smoking, but I keep getting back to a feeling that i'm somehow cheating, or at least, not making any real progress. I was thinking today about ditching the inhalator and increasing the gum but I think if I do that I'm setting myself up with an excuse to smoke as soon as a bad day comes round- have a fag and then say to myself "I shouldn't have dropped the inhalator after all"- also, this has been my plan for a long time (using an inhalator that is)- day 6 seems too soon to make a sudden change.
Argh, sorry, that was a bit of a ramble. Anyway- hi all, I'm really glad I've found this place
Pol
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Questioning oneself about a life changing decision is I'd suspect part and parcel. Whilst you are using those NRT products you are breaking some connections. At the very least you have dramatically reduced the tar content in your lungs due to your 6 days off roll-ups.
It's probably not a good idea to ditch the inhalator at the moment. Maybe you could just put it to the side...but carry it with you for those 'emergency' times.
Have a read around the boards and also check out the links in my signature and get to a thorough understanding of the process you and your body are going through at the moment. Come here and rant, story tell, joke and make friends with folk that are going through the same process you are.
Hi, thanks, you're right I think, just randomly dropping the inhalator coz I'm giving myself a hard time isn't a brilliant plan. The key thing is that it's working I guess.
It's not that I'm questioning the decision- more, the approach, tho at the same time- I know, in some ways, the approach isn't that relevant- if u wanna stop, you stop, if you don't, you relapse- simple, yet not so simple...I must stop over thinking everything and just get on with it
No, over-thinking is fine...although I've been told it's not. To my mind...I like to think, I like to approach a thing from different angles. For me it keeps the brain ticking over. Others do it differently...life's rich taspestry!!
A number of failed quits ago I stopped using Allan Carr's Easyway. Got to 3 months quit and believe me it was the easiest quit I had. Couldn't believe how simple it was...it shouldn't be that easy. So I started to test myself by having a few cigs every Friday when out for a drink. It would be fine cos I could easily quit again on Saturday morn. Wasn't long after that I started back on my old routine having sold the easiest exit strategy I'd ever had.
Do also just get on with things...start to accept that you are moving from one thing to another in your life. Believe me it's a great thing to do...the bestest present you could ever give yourself.
Giving up smoking is hard, but NRT helps stop the craveys so badly (not completely) and gives you time to get used to doing life without smoking....Anything to make the transition easier i think.
Sorry- I know, that's sooo negative. I should be telling myself it's an amazing acheivement etc etc BUT- I'm depending so heavily on the NRT- I'm using an inhalator and topping up with lozenges/gum- so I'm breaking neither physical dependance on nicotine, nor the habit of smoking- all I've given up is rolling cigarettes. I keep trying to concentrate on the fact that I haven't smoked- make that the primary focus, deal with habit and the nicotine later, for now just focus on not smoking, but I keep getting back to a feeling that i'm somehow cheating, or at least, not making any real progress. I was thinking today about ditching the inhalator and increasing the gum but I think if I do that I'm setting myself up with an excuse to smoke as soon as a bad day comes round- have a fag and then say to myself "I shouldn't have dropped the inhalator after all"- also, this has been my plan for a long time (using an inhalator that is)- day 6 seems too soon to make a sudden change.
Argh, sorry, that was a bit of a ramble. Anyway- hi all, I'm really glad I've found this place
Pol
Hi Pol
These were my exact same thoughts at 3am this morning, I was trying to convince myself that I had chosen the correct method to try and kick this addiction, going back and forth in my mind, and reaching the conclusion that although I was taking in the nicotine, at least I was leaving out the other 4000+ chemicals.
6 days smoke free is great and you should indeed be proud of this
You're not cheating at all using NRT and you're getting far less Nicotine than you would be if still smoking and on top of that you're not getting any of the other chemicals ito your system
Please stick with the NRT for now as it's helping you you're almost a full week stopped already
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 sympathising 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
You have six days done and dusted, well done, don't change anything just now. I stopped with the help of patches and yes, I was still getting nicotine but it helped me to get used to not picking up a cigarette and eased the cravings in the beginning, giving me a chance to get used to not smoking before withdrawing the nicotine.
There's loads of real good information in our signatures which helped all of us to get our minds into the right place and help us to stay stopped.
If NRT is making you comfortable stopping then go for it, we all do this differently but the need for support is the same so congratulations on you 6 days quit and befor you know it, it will be 6 weeks and you will be so proud and so will your family this site is not just about talking about quitting its a great friend creating site were you can have a laugh which is so good for you and keep your mind occupied.
So keep posting and keep telling yourself how good you are because you realy are xx
I felt the same as you( that I was still addicted to nicotine)I stopped smoking on 15-12-09 after 42 years of smoking 25 per day.The patches made the craves and withdrawal bearable ,so now I'm on 3mg I cut the lowest dose in half ,it might take me longer but as long as I don't smoke and get there eventually what the hell. Everyones quit is different. Keep up the good work your doing great. marie xx
Thanks all for your encouraging words- it really does help, and to see other people having made it. I'm gonna stick with the inhalator (and gum..and lozenges...) I probably knew I would, but it's good to type it down and get it sorted- once it's written down it's easier to spot what I call addict processing.
I had my 1st smug moment today- went out to smoking area outside the O2 with my mum, puffed on my plastic thing well everyone else had their cigs. It felt GOOD. This time last week I was just starting my last night chain smoke binge- it's all still a bit surreal
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12 days and really struggling!!
