Day 3 almost day 4

[nsd_user663_8736]

Hi, day 3 is drawing to an end for me...bed time soon then I'll wake up to day 4. I'm quite pleased with myself so far, this is my first attempt and hopefully last.

I am only using the gum which seems to be working ok so far, I wonder how much of my addiction is actually habit rather than nicotine and whether I'm better off going cold turkey. Sometimes the gum makes me feel a bit odd, hard to describe but kind of unsettled and a bit light headed. I've read you're best off using quitting aids though. I've had a lot of craving but just told myself I'm not giving in no matter what, even when I wonder what the point in all this actually is. I just have to keep reminding myself of all the many reasons to quite.

[nsd_user663_8736]

Thanks for the support today Im feeling even better, havent really felt like smoking today at all yet. I am optomistic even though your unlikely to success on your first attempt I think thats off-putting and makes you feel like you cant do it first time.

[nsd_user663_3728]

Hi Spikey Monkey

that's great keep it going

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

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

[nsd_user663_4990]

I think there is no reason at all why anyone should not succeed on their first attempt if the support is there to help them.. and if the knowledge is there to strenghthen the resolve. This forum is full of both of these things, and the only other element is you. If you put the effort in, and resist/resist/resist all them urges while craving.. i see no reason why you cannot go all the way with your first quit attempt.

Best of luck to you, keep posting on here, and above all, read our links in signatures and other info on nicotine addiction in general.

j

[nsd_user663_8736]

Thanks for the encouragement Jase and Margarat. I was reding the article suggested by MArgaret...very helpful but the part that said

'Sadly, their own studies (the results of which they hide from their public web sites and refuse to share with smokers) show that 93% of over-the-counter NRT users relapse to smoking nicotine within just six months'

Makes me wonder if going cold turkey is the best way?

[nsd_user663_8492]

Thanks for the encouragement Jase and Margarat. I was reding the article suggested by MArgaret...very helpful but the part that said

'Sadly, their own studies (the results of which they hide from their public web sites and refuse to share with smokers) show that 93% of over-the-counter NRT users relapse to smoking nicotine within just six months'

Makes me wonder if going cold turkey is the best way?

My thoughts exactly Spikey and thats what made me go CT. I called the quit smoking helpline 3 weeks after I quit as I was going through a bad patch...and they told me to get some NRT.

I tried telling them I have been clean of nicotine for over 2 weeks so why would I want to put it back in my system? They didnt have an answer and again said I would feel better on NRT. I hung up on them! Theyre on commission im sure!

Ive managed fine without it. Ive had my ups and downs believe me, but Ive had the same ups and downs on NRT during past quits.

Why dont you try the cold turkey, if it doesnt work out...go back on the NRT!

But judging by your posts I would say your pretty clued up and have done your homework! Educating yourself into nicotine, addiction and smoking cessation is the best weapon you can have to beat your habit!!!

Once you understand how you're feeling and more importantly WHY you feel like that at any point in time, it makes it easier to cope and move on!

[nsd_user663_8736]

Thanks for your reply David. I decided to try not taking the gum today as a test and it went ok but starting feeling a bit anxious. Might be the physical withdrawal symptoms or might just be the stress of worrying about what will happen. Ill persevere for not as it wouold be good to get it out my system but if its gets much worse Ill take some gum as Im in wor so dont want ot be too stressed in work.

PS I have done a lot of reading I believe to it is a good weapon