Yep, I’ve shamelessly stolen Kerry’s subject line, because I feel exactly the same.
I used to be easy going and pretty laid back. Now I’m eight weeks into my quit and I feel terrible. I have no patience. No tolerance, no sense of humour. Seriously considered ramming someone off the road cos he was dithering in front of me. I used to like to me – I don’t now.
So I thought it might be the Champix screwing me up, so I stopped that two weeks ago – hasn’t made any difference.
Surely 8 weeks in it can’t be nicotine withdrawal can it? If it is would some kind of NRT help?
I like being a non smoker, but if things don’t start improving I swear I’m going to start again, because life is just not worth living like this.
Any help would be appreciated.
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Surely 8 weeks in it can’t be nicotine withdrawal can it? If it is would some kind of NRT help?
SteveB, I'm no doctor but I've read that nicotine mostly leaves the body within a few days, and is completely gone with a few weeks, so it's unlike NRT will help. Instead you're probably experiencing other side-effects of your body and mind reacting to "something missing".
I can't really provide any concrete advice, because people experience withdrawal in different ways. The only thing I can suggest is that you try to keep your mind focused on the benefits of having given up (did you write down your reasons? don't you feel better in some ways?) instead of allowing those negative thoughts to creep into your head.
Believe me, the negative affects of smoking by far outweigh any benefits (especially as there are none :D).
Hang in there. It will get easier at some point. You just have to be strong.
As Alex76 said you've been nicotine free for weeks now so it would be daft to start putting the stuff back in your body :eek:
You're going through some major changes at the moment - you've just got rid of your best friend and are now starting to learn how to live life as a non smoker - sure you'll feel out of sorts. Quitting is likened to the five stages of grief - I for one spent a bit too much time in the bargaining stage
YOU DEFINATELY DONT NEED NRT its out of your system now . try learning to relax get books on it watch hilarious films learn patience. look at the we quit website .theres loads of stuff for you to learn from others who have been through what your going through right now. youve lost your comfort blanket . best mate ,smokescreen. you probably smoked to cover up and cope with stuff. its important to be kind to yourself and take care.. could you see your gp and maybe get some counselling from smoking cessation. DONT DO WHAT I DID and start smoking again .i soooooo regret starting again.
Last week was a total nightmare and I thought I'd end up hurting someone, if people saw me coming their way they'd move out the way quickly! I was mad about everything and nothing, It was horrible.
That day I posted on here, I gave in and brought some cigs and as soon as I smoked one I had a tight chest, Sick and ended up having a terrible headache and so I decided to put myself back on the strong NRT patches and I am now back to feeling confident about my own situation though I dunno how it will be when I come of NRT but I will deal with that when I get there.
NRT isn't an option for you as you shouldn't have any Nicotine in you but please keep at it as I know its heard it is but we have to keep fighting don't we? or this struggle is just going to keep happening every time we attempt to quick the cigs right! And I dunno about you I don't want to keep fighting this fight! I don't won't to go back to day 1!
I had my last ciggie on the 12th of April, using Champix, (although I had to stop taking it as I was getting really horrible side effects,)
Like Steve and Kerry, I`m struggling as well, and it really is so hard not to give in.
My neighbours were helping without even knowing, as they are very heavy smokers, and the smell really clung to them, (although I obviously couldn`t hurt their feelings by telling them.) But a couple of weeks ago, I had some sort of "bug", and I haven`t got my sense of smell back yet, so can`t use "smell aversion" to help at the moment...
Logic tells me that my body is nicotine free, so I don`t understand why the cravings have come back with a vengence. It just doesn`t make any sense. :confused:
look at how long you have been smoking in contrast to how long you have been quit. quite a difference eh? i know exactly how you feel and the struggle that you are facing!
on june 1st i will hit 5 months smoke free!! it is amazing to me that i have actually got this far!
at this pont in your quit it is totally all in your mind and you need to really sit and think before you pick up a smoke! how much have you gone through to get to this point and how bad will you feel to smoke again after all your hard work
this is not easy by any means but neither is dealing with the effects smoking has on your body! you are still fairly new to the quit and need more time away from it. dont give up!! i have went through that bad mood and irritable phase as well and it does suck but it is not forever!!
you will thank yourself if you stay quit. you must think of yourself, an know that you are in control!! best of luck and think think think before you act!!
Giving up smoking has been the hardest thing I have ever done. I have had every side effect and emotion going. I gave up cold turkey and really suffered. If I wasn't in pain I was in tears because I felt so low. At times I really could have given in but I didn't. I will be 5 month quit this Friday and the feeling of that is so worth while. Every milestone you pass you will get stronger. I go days without thinking about smoking. So please be strong and you will get there it just takes a bit of time.
look at how long you have been smoking in contrast to how long you have been quit. quite a difference eh? i know exactly how you feel and the struggle that you are facing!
on june 1st i will hit 5 months smoke free!! it is amazing to me that i have actually got this far!
at this pont in your quit it is totally all in your mind and you need to really sit and think before you pick up a smoke! how much have you gone through to get to this point and how bad will you feel to smoke again after all your hard work
this is not easy by any means but neither is dealing with the effects smoking has on your body! you are still fairly new to the quit and need more time away from it. dont give up!! i have went through that bad mood and irritable phase as well and it does suck but it is not forever!!
you will thank yourself if you stay quit. you must think of yourself, an know that you are in control!! best of luck and think think think before you act!!
Terri that is a very encouraging piece of advice and i will try and remember it the next time i go through this. I too feel like a different person when I stop but i know it is temporary. I hate everyone and everything and have no patience. I finish with my partner on a regular basis cos i just feel like i want to be on my own (no-one to irritate me!) even though he doesnt do anything! lol i have also started drinkin wine through the week and i never used to drink through the week - helps relaxes me. good luck steve, remember it is just a phase we are going through and it will pass (it better!)
I am so impressed with you you went cold turkey after the Champix and haven't smoked!
you sound to me like you might be a tiny bit grieving for the ghastly stuff I've been there it's a difficult one but just keep on reminding yourself of the benefits of not smoking like nice skin, easy breathing, chances of getting cancer diminished enormously, ditto chances of getting a heart attack, if you cut yourself or are in an accident you will heal quicker because you don't smoke,
all the many reasons you will live longer and more comfortably without the death sticks.
I think you're feeling smoking would relax you; but this is just you're addiction speaking, in fact smoking is a great big cause of stress.
Be patient with yourself; it's just a phase; soon you'll feel fine again. :)
eleanor (17 days quit, two years trying, lost an 11 month quit last july, it was sooo annoying)
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(it better!)
Just knowing it was right 
Please help, not sure I can do this anymore..
Am I using too much NRT?
