nearly driven myself mad but.....

[nsd_user663_9175]

it will be 8 weeks tomorrow!! I haven't posted much over the last few weeks but I come on the forum almost every day to try and draw on the support from some great people on here. I have really found the last few weeks difficult, stepped down my patches and my head has just been full of not smoking, I have felt very low (depressed??) and generally not myself at all. Although I haven't smoked I have been feeling like I'm only one step away from lighting up again so generally haven't been in a good place, which has been frustrating. Added to that has been the weight gain:eek: and the general moodiness:eek::mad:

Anyway, I have started taking St. John's wort and as of today am starting back at the gym (with the money saved by not smoking) as I know exercise is a great mood buster.

On the plus side - headaches have stopped, my son thinks I'm fantastic!, I don't smell of fags any more, I've saved almost £250.00, my chest doesn't hurt any more, my nightime cough has gone.....I could go on but I'll stop now

For any newbies that may read this - don't be put off by my post, as you will notice that although I've had a little moan about how I am feeling I STILL HAVEN'T SMOKED!! So it can't be that bad

[nsd_user663_10279]

I feel exactly the same way and I am almost at 8 weeks....can't stop thinking about it, but haven't actually lit one up....I don't want to undo all the good work that I have done.

...but am still struggling dreadfully with these cravings, and just wish it would go away....

[nsd_user663_5028]

it will be 8 weeks tomorrow!! I haven't posted much over the last few weeks but I come on the forum almost every day to try and draw on the support from some great people on here. I have really found the last few weeks difficult, stepped down my patches and my head has just been full of not smoking, I have felt very low (depressed??) and generally not myself at all. Although I haven't smoked I have been feeling like I'm only one step away from lighting up again so generally haven't been in a good place, which has been frustrating. Added to that has been the weight gain:eek: and the general moodiness:mad:

Anyway, I have started taking St. John's wort and as of today am starting back at the gym (with the money saved by not smoking) as I know exercise is a great mood buster.

On the plus side - headaches have stopped, my son thinks I'm fantastic!, I don't smell of fags any more, I've saved almost £250.00, my chest doesn't hurt any more, my nightime cough has gone.....I could go on but I'll stop now

For any newbies that may read this - don't be put off by my post, as you will notice that although I've had a little moan about how I am feeling I STILL HAVEN'T SMOKED!! So it can't be that bad

Hi Vicstar

congrats on the quit so far and hanging in there when things are tough, know what you mean about the depression thing, i think the key thing to remember is for the past x amount of years we have all been doing something in our lives that became natural to us, wake up have a fag, eat have a fag, do some work have a fag in fact almost everything we have done always relates to the fact that our best friend was with us along the way. However now we have ditched our so called friend we are suddenly at a loss what to do with ourselves things dont feel the same anymore, we get fedup bored frustrated and generally downright Effed off with everyone and everything. Vicstar i am not suggesting you do anything radical but we have to replace that habit retrain our minds and bodies to do something different so that becomes habit forming and replaces our old mate.... running swimming cycling are all great to release different chemicals in our bodies, even if you are not a sporty type there are endless ideas out there for you to keep busy weather it is a simple social clubor getting stuck into your garden now summer is here. Change your habits Vicstar you will be surprised how better you feel with yourself and before you know it those craves will be gone , life will be happier, this is an ideal time now summer is here (well not if your in Manchester) keep going although you feel guilty and fed up you have made the right choice hang in there freedom is just around the corner ....

[nsd_user663_7469]

Congrats on your 8 weeks quit , that is some achievement and I know from your thread that you are proud of it, It is a shame that there are also little niggles that follow or should I say run along the side of you on your smoke free road, but don’t let them get to you for they are only a small part of the quit are they not, they will get smaller and smaller until the time comes were when you hear them they will be so small you will struggle to work out what they are saying, yes there will be days where they will find enough strength to shout but those days will become less and less and you will become stronger and will be able to shout back, Keep reading all the threads and posts and as you said that gives you extra support, and most importantly think of your child being so pleased with his mum and now you know he will not have to lose you when he is no more than a child.

Well done xx

[nsd_user663_1658]

hey vicstar ..how good are you 8 weeks into quit ....Moods do get better i promise that....dropping patch strength i think is a big step ..& can play with your mind a bit too.. xxx cant advise on st johns wort ....but im sure someone can..x

Awh feel for you I do.......just always remember the wanting a fag is just a thought..nothing else ...Trouble is I get mixed up with a thought & a want....xxxxx suppose its just all takes time

Keep posting & dont stay away ..its good to hear you xx

[nsd_user663_9175]

Thanks everyone for your support - Bradders you must have read my mind because I went for a swim at lunchtime and feel really good now! You are so right about replacing the habit with something else - and no, I admit that eating chocolate doesn't count no matter how I try and excuse it?!!

Part of the problem is that I work from home and I wasn't making time for myself - instead of having an hours break at lunchtime I would do a quick bit of housework or shopping instead, then straight out to pick up the kids when work finished. My husband works very long hours so there is no chance of me going to the gym in the evening, so I've decided to take 3 lunchtimes a week for 'me time' Three whole hours a week - woo hoo!!

Seriously - thanks for your support, there are a lot of people on here who wouldn't be so far in their quit without you

[nsd_user663_8676]

Hi Vicstar

You doing fantastic and don't you forget it I agree with all that has been said so far and I also work from home so it is not always easy to make time for yourself. I have set up my Wii fit in my spare room and I jump on there when I can. Trying to keep the weight down is proving difficult but hey we are still not smoking

[nsd_user663_9407]

hi Vicstar

I am 8 weeks friday and i am the same too there has been a few times the last couple of days, the easy way out would be to lit up ....... but i have not, my mood swings seem to be the same as week 2 and im meant to drop down patch next week but dont know weather too or not ???? what does everyone think ???? but coming on here does help and makes you realise that im not the only one who is going through the same i hope you feel better 2moz and chin up we can beat this xx

[nsd_user663_9356]

Hi Vicstar

I'm also 8 weeks quit tomorrow and feeling exactly the same as you with feeling depressed. I've been on champix and the doc has told me to cut down to 1 a day since last week so getting bad cravings plus the rest of the package that comes with quitting. Anyway the only thing that is keeping me off the cigs is the weight that I have put on and am now TRYING to loose (it doesn't seem to be shifting:mad:)- I don't want to go through this weight gain again.

On the plus side I'm healthier so can now run more that 2 miles on the treadmill (could never have done that before) and my purse is fuller