AWFUL day!!!!

[nsd_user663_31376]

omg today has been a nightmare, i have been crying and feel on the edge on a beak down most of the day what i cant understand though is im using nicotine patches so surely i shouldn't be having withdrawels and cravings to this extent, is it all in my head?? Aaarrgghhhh i could have so easily given up today and i honestly dont know how i didnt end up buying a packet of cigs, i just kept telling myself to wait a few more minutes and carried on telling myself that for the WHOLE day, please tell me this gets better?? Not sure wheather to just try going cold turkey and just get it all over and done with cos at the moment im on 16hr 21mg patches so its going to take forver to cut down but saying that if my cravings and mood swings feel this strong with the patch god knows what they would be like cold turkey, does anyone have any advice or info on going cold turkey and how long it would last?? Any help would be very much appreciated, thanks

[nsd_user663_14771]

hi there, stick with it, it will pass, all you have to do is never take another puff of a cigarette, just keep saying no! even though the patches will be taking care of most of the chemical craving for nicotine, you still have to deal with the psychological part of the addiction. That part is really well explained in allen carr's book 'easyway to quit smoking', he would say that you still believe that smoking can help you feel better, and that is why you are craving, only when you truly believe that smoking is just an empty addiction that won't help you at all will the craving leave you... great book, best thing i ever read tbh, and i've read a lot

anyway, i do hope that helps, and sorry your having such a bad day, 5mol<er

[nsd_user663_31376]

lol you make it sound so easy have you got any advice on quitting cold turkey?

[nsd_user663_14771]

lol, well, not easy, but manageable!

i don't have much in the way to offer about cold turkey proper it always drives me crazy! but i tend to go straight from the 21mg patches to nothing, i call that cold chicken and it is much easier than cold turkey and requires a smaller oven heheheh (i'm so funny!)

[nsd_user663_5920]

Hey,

Have a read of a link 'The Terrible Threes' in my signature, below. It may help explain some of the thoughts/feelings your going through.

I see your in Week 2 but the terrible threes can apply to +/- time around 'the threes'.

Stay strong and hold on to your determination. Things really will and do, get better.

I began with patches but stopped the course very early. It suited me fine but I have read posts where for some folk, it wasn't the right thing.

You need to read up and gather relevant info and decide what's best for you.

All the best,

Pol

[nsd_user663_13466]

Hi

I quit cold turkey. The reason was because I just wanted to get the withdrawel over and done with. It was a week of hell but i'm so glad I done it that way. I'm nearly at 7 months now and giving up smoking has been the best thing I have ever done.

I thought it was the end of my world when I gave up. I could never imagine not smoking again but you soon change your way of thinking.

Good Luck

[nsd_user663_20547]

Mummy21,

I quit cold Turkey too for the same reasons as the others, didn't want to prolong withdrawal lol. What you are feeling in completley normal, if you read my posts at the start all I did was rant and was so close to breaking my quit but I didn't and I promise you this gets easier! You are doing excellently, there will be a day that you will be sitting on the sofa and all of a sudden you will say "I havent thought about smoking all day, then the next stage is for a whole week". Keep going, if I can do it anyone can. You will need to use your patches less and less and that will come soon!

Jill xxx

[nsd_user663_31605]

omg today has been a nightmare, i have been crying and feel on the edge on a beak down most of the day what i cant understand though is im using nicotine patches so surely i shouldn't be having withdrawels and cravings to this extent, is it all in my head?? Aaarrgghhhh i could have so easily given up today and i honestly dont know how i didnt end up buying a packet of cigs, i just kept telling myself to wait a few more minutes and carried on telling myself that for the WHOLE day, please tell me this gets better?? Not sure wheather to just try going cold turkey and just get it all over and done with cos at the moment im on 16hr 21mg patches so its going to take forver to cut down but saying that if my cravings and mood swings feel this strong with the patch god knows what they would be like cold turkey, does anyone have any advice or info on going cold turkey and how long it would last?? Any help would be very much appreciated, thanks

Hi

Please keep your chin up (without a cig in it!) I had a great first week last week and felt brilliant. Today I'm definitely a bit on the weepy side - for no reason - just small silly life niggles. I'm not going to give in - stick with it and we'll get through. I'm doing cold turkey and it really hasn't been too bad at all. I tried patches last year but what I reckon is that you must be getting a fair hit of nicotine early on and then a fluctuating amount throughout the day. I don't think that can be good for you. I'm much calmer CT - I quit my last quit on patches because I was murderous and my poor boyfriend just didn't deserve the vitriol that came his way. My cravings have subsided into wishful thoughts....I have wishful thoughts about winning the lottery and not having cellulitic thighs too!! Take care and keep your chin up!

[nsd_user663_20558]

Hey there mummy,

I think we've all been through that stage of feeling miserable and weepy and bereft and agitated all at once, it's horrible. I can only add my voice to the others who have said it does get easier and easier the longer you go on, really it does. Grit your teeth and be strong, think about the things that have already improved (breathing? smell? money in your purse?) and do whatever it takes to get you through.You will come out the other side better, stronger, and free. It's worth the pain.

I can't advise you whether to go CT or not, because it's horses for courses. Like the others I wanted to just get it over with so I went CT and I'm glad now that I did, but I'm a fully paid up member of the 'whatever it takes' camp! It does sound to me like this method isn't agreeing with you very well, though. Maybe you're getting too much nicotene? Perhaps you could switch to the inhaler or gum?

At the end of the day however you do the initial quit, 99% of the battle is what NicFirth calls 'ongoing mental realignment'. It's all about getting in the right mindset. Reading a lot helps, as does posting here, and focusing on the positives, understanding and facing the craves without fear, learning to think of yourself as a non smoker. It's a process, it's hard sometimes, but it is absolutely, unequivocally, achievable.

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!!!!

H x

[nsd_user663_28299]

Hi there

CT was not for me but we all have to go there eventually. I think if you're really frustrated you should cut yourself some slack, explain to the children Mummy feels rough today, and try to squeeze in some me-time, perhaps a bath after the little ones have gone to bed or while you park them in front of the tv for a bit.

I know this can be hard to achieve and maybe you don't like to do that but your mood affects theirs and if you are more relaxed so will they be.

All power to you!

E