7 months, still stressed

[nsd_user663_23001]

Hello all

Hope this thread finds you well?

I've just hit 7 months, whoop whoop! but to be totally honest, I don't feel like celebrating, in fact, I'd rather have a cig.

I'm totally down, I'm a right snappy b*stard at all who know me and my kids must think, daddy's awful. I feel like that myself, so why shouldn't they.

I don't know why this is happening, I don't feel like I've been packed in one day, let alone 7 months, it's so hard and stressful at the minute.

Please help, any help would be really appreciated.

[nsd_user663_22533]

Hi Shaun

7 months for me too at the end of this week.

I am really sorry to hear you are having a hard time, a few of us are at the mo.

Here's my take on it, we got to 6 months all well and good, 12 months is the next milestone and seems a long way off. We have lost sight of all those reasons we gave up in the first place. I have just been in Menorca for a week and could easily of had one and probably made my husbands life hell. I was completely fixated on smoking.

Got back and bought a pack, smoked 2 straight off and felt ill, sore throat, light headed and omg the smell. I threw them away and will not look back. I have re-read loads of the stuff that helped initially and convinced myself to stop romanticising about cigarettes.

Start looking at your reasons, remember the wheeze, the cough, the smell and the fear of the dreaded c. Look at the smokers outside offices in the rain and cold, do they really look that happy ?

We have got to hang in there Shaun, read again and again and hopefully you will feel more positive - let us know

Take care

Tracey

[nsd_user663_22533]

I wasn't aware you were quitting again Karri, I thought you just liked the forum - good news if you have, how many days?

Benefits - no cough, no wheeze, no guilt, no health worries generally, much more relaxed, I dont smell (well not of fags anyway), my clothes dont smell, Im not embarrassed constantly about smell, I dont have to stand outside pubs and my office like a saddo sucking on a fag, I dont have a constant craving niggling around my head. My family are healthier and happy and no doubt my pets too. I am able to indulge my Clinque addition and buy the odd bits of clothes when I want them, I can meet friends for lunch more regularly and sit inside the pub ! and I dont use my ventolin inhaler at all. My phone app says I havent smoked 7396 fags and saved £2189.33p

Negatives - None other than the occasional spell (usually stress related) when you think you need a fag to help you through - you know you dont and you know its not a craving - its a bit like wanting that big fat chocolate cake that you know you shouldnt really have and it plays on your mind for a while - then you move on.

Hope that helps and please remember the forum is for everyone whether they are finding it hard to start, day one or day 501 - everyone needs a bit of backup here and there.

Would I recommend you quit - 100% best decision ever

[nsd_user663_23651]

I totally agree with you Tracey 100% It is the best thing I have ever done for myself, and the best thing anybody can do for them selves.

There is no benefits from smoking but plenty from not smoking, like Tracey I don't cough at all now and I always had a smokers cough, my clothes are fresh all day! I can go for dinner or lunch in a pub or restaurant and not constantly have to go outside for the FIX and am much more relaxed.

Only one disadvantage that is I put on a stone, not through eating more it is because smoking speeds up the metabolism and makes your heart beat faster, not a good thing. But now the weight is coming off and I can go to the gym couldn't before I was out of puff! now only half a stone to go. It is still better than smoking!!!!! and good news is loads have joined me from work, some much younger saying I was an inspiration for them to try.

So do I recommend it oh yes!!!! my grandson loves nice smelling nana

Karri this is a much better life.

[nsd_user663_23651]

Oh forgot to say I just had new windows and front door payed for with smoking money whoooooo whoooooo well pleased.

And when I blew in that thing in docs it was a reading of like I never smoked!!!

Happy!!!

[nsd_user663_22533]

My new windows and door being done on the 22nd September (thank you fag money) and yes I have put on a stone, but I have been heavier even when I was smoking so I try and keep that in mind xx

[nsd_user663_20978]

I wasn't aware you were quitting again Karri, I thought you just liked the forum - good news if you have, how many days?

Benefits - no cough, no wheeze, no guilt, no health worries generally, much more relaxed, I dont smell (well not of fags anyway), my clothes dont smell, Im not embarrassed constantly about smell, I dont have to stand outside pubs and my office like a saddo sucking on a fag, I dont have a constant craving niggling around my head. My family are healthier and happy and no doubt my pets too. I am able to indulge my Clinque addition and buy the odd bits of clothes when I want them, I can meet friends for lunch more regularly and sit inside the pub ! and I dont use my ventolin inhaler at all. My phone app says I havent smoked 7396 fags and saved £2189.33p

Negatives - None other than the occasional spell (usually stress related) when you think you need a fag to help you through - you know you dont and you know its not a craving - its a bit like wanting that big fat chocolate cake that you know you shouldnt really have and it plays on your mind for a while - then you move on.

Hope that helps and please remember the forum is for everyone whether they are finding it hard to start, day one or day 501 - everyone needs a bit of backup here and there.

Would I recommend you quit - 100% best decision ever

couldnt have put it better myself i feel exactly the same i cannot think of one advantage [and i have had a good long think still came up with nothing]

i am going to disneyland paris somewhere in the next 6-8 months thank u fag money cant wait to see the kids faces they know nothing about it

[nsd_user663_23651]

Oh brilliant Boo bet you can't wait to see their faces it is soooo worth it.

Maria. x

[nsd_user663_32615]

The first thing I spent my ciggie money on was getting my poor stinky carpets cleaned! My husband has given up as well, and between us, we are saving around £100 a week - what's not to like about that?

[nsd_user663_14771]

I'm totally down, I'm a right snappy b*stard at all who know me and my kids must think, daddy's awful. I feel like that myself, so why shouldn't they.

Hi Shaun, firstly congrats on getting to 8 months, that's an inspiration for all us following you along the path, and i mean that most sincerly, just by staying quit you power me on to my own 8 months somewhere in the distant future!

here's a thought about what you say above, apologies if it sounds a bit harsh... the aim is to be helpful...

..smoking doesn't make us better people, quite apart from the obvious hideously bad example it sets for our children and others around us...

smoking helps US cope by making us selfish of the feelings and lives of others,

not smoking makes us worry about those around us and our effect on them... this may feel like shit for US, but it is good for them,

.. quite apart from the obviously hugely positive exmaple we set for our children by dealing with the problems of life without an expensive and dangerous crutch that doesn't even work...

... if you are feeling like a snappy b*stard then get busy doing some nice things for your kids (and you are already doing a GREAT thing for them by quitting smoking), doing good things will help restore your self esteem, tidy the house, wash the dishes, make some nice food, take them where they want to go, get busy changing yourself into who you want to be, goddammit you can do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nsd_user663_7318]

Shaun,

Please don't take this the wrong way but are you sure it's not smoking that's making you feel down? Just my last quit failed because I thought I w an unhappy quitter which is something I promised myself I'd be. In hindsight it wasn't the smokes (or lack of) that were causing the problem. Within a few weeks I found myself feeling depressed and smoking....that wasn't better!

[nsd_user663_23001]

Hello all

Thanks for your responses, kind words and again extenuating the positives of not smoking.

I suppose I need to fill you all in a bit. Stav is probably right, the lack of cigs is not the problem of myself being stressed as my stress probably manifests itself in different forms, its then that the cig crutch raises it's ugly head. I have always managed to get over this, doing more of the things people have suggested, like, taking my boys out for a bike rides, cooking a meal etc etc!

On the other hand, I do so feel the benefits, healthier, fitter (though a lot fatter) and I too have done things with my family that I would never have been able to afford to do when I was a smoker.

I think that and I would really appraciate your comments on this when you first quit, it's whoop whoop, it's been x days, 1 month, 3 months and so on. However with me now, I'm in my 8 month, though its still 7month and so many days, that I think my goodness, am I always going to be that nicotine junkie?

Once again, thanks for all your kind words and the offer of advice. I have said before and will constantly repeat that I would not be at this stage without the help of this forum.

[nsd_user663_25112]

Well done Shaun for getting to 7 months. And we have all been ratty evil and all the other things that go with not smoking anymore. But I am sure you will come through it in leaps and bounds. I myself am on day 19, but would have been where you are, if I had not had that one ciggy back in june. But as you can see i have started again, and this time i have not gone to smoking cessation, I have done this one myself.

At least your not smelling of gfags, im sure your kids will understand, keep it up.

And well done to the rest of you as your all doing fab. Jacqui

[nsd_user663_33835]

Smoking tobacco is both a psychological habit

and a physical addiction. The act of smoking is

ingrained as a daily ritual and, at the same time,

the nicotine from cigarettes provides a

temporary, and addictive, high. Eliminating that

regular fix of nicotine will cause your body to

experience physical withdrawal symptoms and

cravings. To successfully quit smoking, you’ll

need to address both the habit and the

addiction by changing your behavior and dealing

with nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

[nsd_user663_20978]

Smoking tobacco is both a psychological habit

and a physical addiction. The act of smoking is

ingrained as a daily ritual and, at the same time,

the nicotine from cigarettes provides a

temporary, and addictive, high. Eliminating that

regular fix of nicotine will cause your body to

experience physical withdrawal symptoms and

cravings. To successfully quit smoking, you’ll

need to address both the habit and the

addiction by changing your behavior and dealing

with nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

agreed easy to say hard to do but can be done and once your over the worst of it then its the best thing u have ever done

[nsd_user663_5956]

Shaun, you have my sympathies, I too felt like that and its not good, but you have to stick with it, feel sorry for yourself if you like but dont give in.

I am nearly at 2 years and still have times when I could murder a fag, but I have just had the all clear again with my cancer so how could I ever go back ????

Just think of your lovely kids and the reasons you gave up, surely they are stronger than a nic stick.......

Sorry if this is a little blunt, but smoking is not worth it at all.

Every good wish Shaun

Dee