Day 4 and still doggedly hanging on......

[nsd_user663_40053]

Here we are, a personal record for me - Day 4.

Had some bad news yesterday; my friend has had a heart attack 4 days ago so this has kinda made me a bit more determined to stick it through this time. She is quitting too, so we had a conversation yesterday and compared notes. She is going to use inhalators to quit.

Spent most of yesterday sticking the patch back on with sticky plasters etc = obviously have not got the kind of skin that they stick to and it fell off in the night anyway. They are a real pain and I do not seem to get anything from it at all except red and itchy skin.

So, I am trying a different method today. I have got lozenges, which I am going to use when I get the cravings - but only when they are really, really bad. Other than that, the patches are going to stay in the drawer and I will cold turkey it through.

Thanks for all the cravings advice yesterday, folks, and am compiling my list of what helps and what doesn't at the moment.

Tomorrow I will be on set, which is going to be a real test as most film crew smoke and that is going to be really hard to be exposed to.

How long do the cravings normally last on average? I keep reading about this benefit and that benefit but not about cravings!

[nsd_user663_18145]

those patches are a right pain and yes some skin it just wont stick

the cravings are going to be with you for a while its not withdrawel from nicorette cravings you have to deal with its the nic demon that lives inside you and will always be there like any addict your going to crave but they do get easier and the gaps between them do lenghen but every now and again the demon will rear its ugly head and try its best to entice you back :eek: just be on your guard and not give into his demands especially the its only one puff or one ciggy demands its not going to hurt

sorry if that scared you but its the truth but with your determination and support you will beat this just read all the successful posts of how others continue to stay smoke free with my demon i just ignore him like i would an annoying kid he sulks alot but he lets me know he is still there but he is weaker now and will get weaker as long as i carry on ignoring him and thats what it boils down to

well done btw for making it to day 4

[nsd_user663_20558]

Hi Pixie,

It really depends how you define 'cravings'. As time goes by they mutate. The intense physical cravings and symptoms of the first few days of nicotene withdrawal are not the same as the strong 'want' craves of the first couple of months (feels like something is missing, etc), which in turn are not the same as the thoughts/false memories of smoking which can happen later on in the quit.

The process of subconscious readjustment is a battle, and can produce symptoms which feel surprisingly physical. How long it takes varies from person to person. Ultimately, it's a question of beating the triggers one by one as you encounter them. You'll find that once you've been on set two or three times, for example, it won't affect you so badly any more. I know the first time I was in the theatre for a tech day since quitting, despite being nine months into the quit, it still caused massive 'craves' because it was a strong association that needed to be broken. As you get past more and more of these triggers and adjust to life without fags it becomes easier and easier.

No matter what stage you're at the techniques for getting past smoking urges are pretty much the same: just take it one day at a time, deep breaths, keep busy, sip water, distract yourself etc. Whatever works for you. Just keep focused on the goal.

Fantastic job getting to day 4. Woot!!!

Helen

[nsd_user663_39959]

Yup. From 1 - 4 is the worst, then it gets a lot easier. If you can get through that, then fighting craves is just a question of sticking two fingers up at them. What does it for me is imagining my other half calling me a wuss and telling me to man up whenever I complain about it. I imagine thinking about your friend's heart would do it for you! (hoping she's ok, btw).