I've been cutting down steadily for the last few days and on sunday night I had my "last" cigarette. I've smoked for about 5/6 years and began when I was about 14. On the average day I can smoke anything between only 3 and as much as 20 cigarettes in one day. So I would say I'm a bit of a sporadic smoker. Yesterday was hard, I have anxiety problems and it seems that stopping smoking aggrevated them slightly.
Today, Day 2, I have been feeling similarly anxious but also really craving a cigarette. It's like I have a void that needs to be filled. Even though I know that when I have a cigarette it will be like there was never really a void to fill (if that makes any sense!). This is only day two, PLEASE telll me it gets easier?!
Also, I'm meant to be going out this weekend... and this involves drinking... which usually involves smoking. Thing is, I might be able to do what a lot of my friends do and only smoke when drinking? I wanted to know what you guys thought of this.
Sorry for over-blethering! Well done to you proper quitters out there! Now I know how hard you've worked!
essjay
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Hi Ess you are doing fine and I am sure that within a few days and using this forum you will feel even better, as for the Anxiety I can promise you that although it want be an instant fix the Anxiety will get better as I too used to get it big time and although I do still have my moments dont let any one tell you that smoking helps it, it doesnt it actually makes it worse.
As you said having a cig will NOT make you feel better it will just get you addicted again and thats what you dont want, if you are fairly young and fit get out there running or cycling or even walking if you are out of condition.
Exercise is a great lifter of spirits and also sweeps away the craves, you will see that a lot on here have become addicted to it instead, how much better for you is that.
The void is only there in your head because the most time you would have spent smoking is about an hour a day you can fill that up dead easy.
As for going out with your mates drinking there must be at least one who doesnt smoke,latch onto them and just keep reminding your self that girls and men prefer the smell of a none smoker, I myself even when I smoked prefered none smokers.
I'm on my second day aswell, similar age to you aswell! From what I've read for most it does get easier, however it's different for everyone!
All you need to do is when you have a craving, just take some slow deep breaths for 20 seconds, and think about the reasons you are quitting, and how it will benefit you.
Hope it all goes well Jay!
Hi everyone!
I've been cutting down steadily for the last few days and on sunday night I had my "last" cigarette. I've smoked for about 5/6 years and began when I was about 14. On the average day I can smoke anything between only 3 and as much as 20 cigarettes in one day. So I would say I'm a bit of a sporadic smoker. Yesterday was hard, I have anxiety problems and it seems that stopping smoking aggrevated them slightly.
Today, Day 2, I have been feeling similarly anxious but also really craving a cigarette. It's like I have a void that needs to be filled. Even though I know that when I have a cigarette it will be like there was never really a void to fill (if that makes any sense!). This is only day two, PLEASE telll me it gets easier?!
Also, I'm meant to be going out this weekend... and this involves drinking... which usually involves smoking. Thing is, I might be able to do what a lot of my friends do and only smoke when drinking? I wanted to know what you guys thought of this.
Sorry for over-blethering! Well done to you proper quitters out there! Now I know how hard you've worked!
essjay
Hi EssJay
Welcome to the forum and well done getting past day 1.
I have some good news and some bad news for you......first the good, as time passes it does get easier, but as everyone is different how long it takes is unknown.
Now for the bad news.....there is no such thing as a social smoker...you either smoke or you don't be it 1 or 20 your a smoker. :eek:
If you donn't think you will be able to stay quit when you have a drink then don't drink for a while....there will be plenty of other times to have a drink later on when you are secure in your quit, but I am sure a few members will tell you that if you lose a quit it can take some time to get your mojo back and quit again...some have taken years.
im on my first day today,did quit fo 3 years!!neway fell off the wagon 6 months ago,im glad i saw your post as i too suffer with and anxiety,on citalopram for it,im worrying already that if i have a pa etc i cant have a fag so i know where your coming from,just remember that smoking makes anx worse!! its a vicious circle x
It seems you are well placed to have a less traumatic quit than most - as a sporadic smoker there should be less of an addiction to nicotine than a regular 20 a day guy, and they say that all nicotine is out of the system inside 3 days anyway so by the time you wake up Thursday morning you're body will be free of the stuff.
As for the weekend, no question that drinking /so******ing increases the urge to smoke or weakens the resolve to reject a smoke (both I guess), this is where the 'toys' come in; the inhilators, nasal sprays, patches etc, they're all designed to help you through the first few weeks, you might want to go to your local GP/clinic and see what suits you best.
But I can assure you it does get easier, I quit cold turkey 29 days ago, this means I've had 4 weekends (of drinking) to endure, not easy to start with with but less of a problem for me now, I'm now addicted to late night Nandos and Bombay Mix !
Hi jamangie thanks for the support! My anxiety is always up and down too but hopefully this is me being strong against my addiction. Weirdly, I've been craving exercise, I am fit and healthy but struggling a bit with confidence! Hopefully I'll manage to get out for a run soon. thank you so much! :)x
Hi Matt thanks for getting in touch, so good to hear that theres someone else at the same stage! Breathing does seem to help. Im on holiday just now so at a total loose end as well with nothing to do. Scared that if i go out i'll go straight to the shop! goodluck with your quit! and thanks :)x
Hi John thanks for replying to my message! Im glad that it gets easier, do you still get cravings even now? Yeah, this is my second attempt at quitting this year, but Im so motivated to quit this year! Thanks very much :)x
Hi Becca thanks for your message. Sounds like you have the power to do it! I've refused all drug therapy for my anxiety and got CBT which is great. But i know what you mean about reaching for a fag, its like you think it will help you but after a few draws your heart races and its not any better! All the best with this new attempt, I'm sure you can manage. thank you x
Hi horse Thanks for your post. man that gives me so much hope! Im hoping that once its out of my system I'll be ok. I'm not really having physical symptoms (shakes, sickness etc.) more mental. I think id have to quit cold turkey as I dont like the idea of NRT...seen as it isnt really getting rid of the addiction, just the smoking! Glad that you've managed to go out drinking and not given in! thats awesome. Best of luck with the rest of
I've always known the biggest battle is re-training the mind - at the moment there are a million situations where you currently think about smoking, perhaps after dinner, walking to the shops, at a pub, walking the dog etc etc etc, for a quit to succeed you have to get through each and every one of those situations until the conscious mind stops thinking about cigarettes at a specific time.
It really isn't easy and someone raised the point a couple of weeks back that there'll be new 'situations' that challenge you all the time.
When you travel to a place you last visited as a smoker it can create a mental weakness even if you've not smoked for months/years, but certainly getting through the pub visits/drinking is a huge step, do that and you're well on the way - have a back up plan when at the pub (plastic cigarette, gum, pork scratchings maybe !)
Think your all doing excellent, when i were day two i struggled and people helped me a lot. so am hear to say keep it up.
I found taking on as many facts about withdraw and the health affect of not smoking helped me.
Other than that put a fiver/tenner or what ever away a week/day (what you spent on fags) then treat your self and think not smoking bought me that. ive nearly got £50
I found it use full to treat each craving as a little battle. once its passed think "that were easy." (even if it wernt tell your self it were). Also thinking its me vs a little white stick and im not going to get beat by a little stick.
I found it use full to treat each craving as a little battle. once its passed think "that were easy." (even if it wernt tell your self it were). Also thinking its me vs a little white stick and im not going to get beat by a little stick.
Sounds childish but worked for me.
Dan
Well, thats it.
It doesn't matter how you do it as long as it works for you.
I visit this forum every day and have picked up a few funny little tips about things. Things they wouldn't dream of writing in a 'quit smoking' book but things that have been a god send at the time for someone and are then passed on to hopefully help others.
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