Cravings entering 3rd month.

[nsd_user663_17350]

Hi all.

My name is Ilias. I quit smoking before 2 months. For me it was a very difficult decision because for 5 years know i have been diagnosed with panic attacks and a level of depression which i get cause of my panic attacks and bad thoughts i make all the time. So ciggaretes were really my companion all the time because i stay most of the time at home. In the one hand i feel very proud that i have succeded and quit smoking for 2 months but i noticed that my cravings have become bigger. Is it maby cause i have more stress thesedays?

[nsd_user663_16968]

Hi Ilias

Welcome to the forum and congrats on reaching your 3rd month. Have you seen your Dr or Quit Nurse about these feelings that you get, maybe they can help with some relaxation techniques or have a better choice of medications available to help you through your cravings.

I have taken up knitting, mainly because like you i am at home all the time and need to keep busy and stop the thoughts so i have been making lots of scarves as its the only thing i can knit.

Im only on day 6 so may i say again well done and dont let the Nicodemon drag you back in again, you have come so far.

There will be others on here later with more advice but stay with us and dont give in, the cravings no matter how strong dont last long and you know in your heart that by having one it wont solve anything and all your hard work would have been wasted. As for the panic feelings, i def would try and see your quit nurse and see if there are some groups you could go to or like i said some sort of relaxation techniques you could learn, if not take up a hobby, like knitting, swimming, the gym or just for a walk.

Good luck

[nsd_user663_14114]

Hello Ilias,

I found the beginning and end of month 3 the hardest so far in my quit, so buckle in, and be prepared for a bumpy ride! On a more positive note, it will confirm to you just how desperately you want to be a non-smoker and will reinforce your motivation once you get through it.

[nsd_user663_7469]

My heart goes out to you as that was my worst of worst times during my early quit, but then they reckon there are the terrible 3s and I tend to agree, have PMed you regarding help for panic and anxiety.

Keep smoke free though as it does get better.

[nsd_user663_17350]

Hi NuttyNursee, Claire 30 and jamangie. Thank you very much for your replies.

I can see that in some parts of your text you write some information about yourselves but i havent found out how to do that too. So untill then i will just write some info here.

I am from Greece. I am a male. I discovered this site/forum accidently. I quit smoking before 2 months when i was entering the 26th year of my life. I did it because i decided that i wanted to stop looking older than people my age who dont smoke. The problem is that this is a very stressfull period of my life and i have to make very serious and hard decisions about my life and future. So now, at this time i feel that i decided to quit smoking in the worst time. I have been taking xanax for one year, i have to take hard decisions and i think to myself "are you crazy? Now at the hardest period of your life you leave smoking? Now you need it more than anything". So, in conclusion what im trying to say is that cause of the stresfull period i have this time i start to loose my faith that i did the right thing. I mean that yes, quitting smoking is the best thing someone can do. But maby someone must do it when he/she feels strong? Maby i did it at a bad time and that makes me worse than i was before i quit? Should i postpone quitting intill i find the strength? Cause really last 2 months i feel like im sleeping even when im awake.

[nsd_user663_14114]

Hi NuttyNursee, Claire 30 and jamangie. Thank you very much for your replies.

I can see that in some parts of your text you write some information about yourselves but i havent found out how to do that too. So untill then i will just write some info here.

I am from Greece. I am a male. I discovered this site/forum accidently. I quit smoking before 2 months when i was entering the 26th year of my life. I did it because i decided that i wanted to stop looking older than people my age who dont smoke. The problem is that this is a very stressfull period of my life and i have to make very serious and hard decisions about my life and future. So now, at this time i feel that i decided to quit smoking in the worst time. I have been taking xanax for one year, i have to take hard decisions and i think to myself "are you crazy? Now at the hardest period of your life you leave smoking? Now you need it more than anything". So, in conclusion what im trying to say is that cause of the stresfull period i have this time i start to loose my faith that i did the right thing. I mean that yes, quitting smoking is the best thing someone can do. But maby someone must do it when he/she feels strong? Maby i did it at a bad time and that makes me worse than i was before i quit? Should i postpone quitting intill i find the strength? Cause really last 2 months i feel like im sleeping even when im awake.

Hi Ilias,

you could look at your choice with more positivity, by saying "i am choosing the hardest time possible because i know that if i can stop smoking now, i can do anything!".

Stopping smoking is not easy, and you are doing what comes naturally to a lot of smokers, making excuses by saying "now itsnt the best time" or "it will be easier another time" or "i will stop smoking, just not now".

Please dont lose faith!

[nsd_user663_12768]

Hi there Ilias,

You mention that..." you are entering a period in your life where you have to make very serious and hard decisions about your life and future..."

Quitting smoking is one of those hard decisions you've made. So, pat yourself on the back for a healthy start into whatever you're planning for the future!

It does get easier.

All the best,

Sylvia

[nsd_user663_14598]

Ilias, the one thing you need to remember is that smoking doesn't relieve stress, infact it causes more stress!!!!

The first cigarette does relieve some of the stress, but from that point on it is the cause of additional stress as your body starts to crave the next cigarette.

Once you have that next cigarette, you are only relieving the stress caused by the craving and from that point on you are simply trying to get back to where you were before you had the first cigarette!