Day 4 and counting...

[nsd_user663_38271]

Hi there I am on day 4 (I had my last cigarette on Mon 21st at around 10pm).

Firstly, a huge well done to you all for making the brave decision to give-up and for seeing it through...it's a toughie but we will get there!

I have failed several times previously but somehow this time feels different - I'm not sure why. I feel more mentally prepared with those failed attempts fresh in my mind. I can use strategies to cope when cravings hit.

I am doing it 'cold turkey', I have tried patches, lozenges and so on before but this time I figure that once the nicotine has left my body after just a couple of days (I should be nicotine-free now, right?) it's a question of dealing with the withdrawal symptoms and my brain sending me messages that I really want a fix and trying to ignore it!

This is by no means easy and I am very irritable. Zero tolerance actually! My family speak and my heckles go up. I hope being bitch doesn't last too much longer or I will have alienated everyone. I have avoided contact with most people so far...

My dilemma is, it's Friday. Usually that is good news but this week I am not so sure. I love a drink on a Friday night, white wine to be exact and of course to accompany that is my 20 lambert & butlers but no more. A fag and a drink is like having milk in your tea to me...can you have one without the other? Well I am not and never have been an alcoholic so yes it must work the other way around. It's just the association thing.

Every help website says to avoid alcohol as well as coffee and tea but I have to say I have loved coffee and tea this week. (I have also stuffed myself with junk food which will have to stop!). I think I should face this head on and try a drink. I am not going out so it's not as if I am going to be in a social situation. The sooner I dis-associate it the better...plus there will be more and more social and drinking situations as we get nearer to Christmas - fortunately most of our friends and family are non-smokers.

I am sorry I didn't intend for my first post to be so long but it all came tumbling out, I would love to share my experiences of the last few days with you all too...what are your thoughts today?

[nsd_user663_37795]

Hi there and well done on quitting and cold turkey too.

They do say dont drink but i went out on my 1st quit day and drank my usual double whisky and coke and yeah i wanted to smoke but i then told my self that i was quitting so i didnt. I even went outside with the smokers because i didnt want to miss out. I do work in the pub so i thought it was best for me to get it over and done with. I stood outside with the smokers again last night while i was on my break and it didnt bother me at all. But we are all different so what works for one may not for another.

[nsd_user663_35439]

I also faced the drink trigger as soon as possible...as an added bonus, alcohol gets rid of the nicotine quickly (which is why we smoked more when we drank), so physical withdrawal will be over sooner. The mentalness however takes just as long!!!

[nsd_user663_38271]

Wow I didn't know that! I always wondered why I practically chain-smoked when drinking. I am on my 2nd glass of wine and coping very well : ) (would love one but not feeling uncomfortable)