Thanks John. I didn't realise the link had ceased to be.
HALT : Fi, one of the supportive folk on here of old often reminds us about HALT ..... hungry, angry, lonely, tried.
Any one of these or a mix of, can be easily felt or thought of as a crave. Thinking through and identifying if possible what is causing a crave can sometimes result in the feeling being one of those and not actually a smoke crave.
Right, off to find a better explanation and to replace the broken link
I have had some craves too recently. There is so much hype about stopping- and I am guilty of this when encouraging the newbies, and sometimes I feel great and believe it all as well.I think my craves are when I mess up- its almost like I think life has to be perfect now because I dont smoke. It isnt. Sometimes it's great and sometimes it's rubbish.
Hi Sandymarsh
I think I get what you mean. It's a bit like the health benefits we hear so much about. I am not saying they do not exisit because of course they do, however I have not felt so bad as I do since I quit with coughs, sore throats etc.
Now someone is bound to say that it is the time of the year for colds and flu, but all I know is that I didn't feel this bad last year when swine flu was all the rage!!!!
Hi John, rant all u want. Thats what this place is for lol.
I have only managed a quit of just over 3 months since I joined here. I haven't experienced coughs colds etc luckily. Not even the initial getting rid of the muck cough which I always find odd because I cough like a trooper when I am smoking.
As far as craves go I think (find) that in the early days of a quit you are so determined & focused it is relatively easy to get through but further into a quit we have lost that inital bloom of willfullness. Is that a word lol.?
That is the time to revisit why you quit in the first place. To read & re-read the reasons why & what smoking does to you. It is that lil old monster having a last ditch attempt & trying to trap you again. If you give in he will have one & you will be caught in that cycle you fought so hard to get out of.
Sooooooo, read, read, read. remember why you did this without lighting a fag because that is truly the worst thing you can & will do.
Sadly I did not make a quit list as I thought I would remember the Dentist saying to me "I can see white spotting on your tongue which could be cancer" and the feeling of complete horror as it sunk in that I might not see any of my 3 girls get married or have kids (12, 3 and 18 months).
Or indeed when the 3 year old said to me "Daddy stop smoking we don't want you to die" (I think she was put up to this by the older one)
Ah turns out I didn't need to write them down after all, I am sitting here looking at the 3 most important reasons for my quit!!
You most decidedly do not need a written list at all.
Bless you, every time you have a weak moment you have the greatest reasons in the world to beat it & I am sure you will. It is SO easy to light fag after fag & put the bad thoughts to the back of your head but too late when & if the worst happens. Sounds horrible I know but it is what happens. The time when you thinks shit (sorry) this is it, pushed it to far. Lets make sure that NEVER happens to you.
Gaynor xxx
Luckily it turned out to be nothing serious, but I can tell you one thing - I never want to feel like I felt that day again!!
Hi john I've nothing to add here really - looks like it's all wrapped up.
Bless, I can only imagine how long it took your 12 yr old to coach the little one into saying that
"No - not like that! Your eyes must be bigger, rounder and try to look like they're welling up....."
Keep on keeping on John. As gaynor says - the alternative brings us possibilities we don't really want.
Thanks Looper
This post was written at a pretty low point - I must say that the further along I get the harder it becomes - which is very strange as you would have thought it would become easier!!
I must say though I am as determined to quit today as I was on day one - this will not beat me - much like davofgy I find solice in humour so try to keep my posts as light hearted as possible, but somtimes.... well you can see by this post.
Still stay strong and in a year or so's time this will all be a distant memory!!!
This post was written at a pretty low point - I must say that the further along I get the harder it becomes - which is very strange as you would have thought it would become easier!!
I must say though I am as determined to quit today as I was on day one - this will not beat me - much like davofgy I find solice in humour so try to keep my posts as light hearted as possible, but somtimes.... well you can see by this post.
Still stay strong and in a year or so's time this will all be a distant memory!!!
We all have our moments love, wouldn't be human otherwise....
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