Day 16

[nsd_user663_46815]

Hi Everyone

My name is Jo and I have just joined this great forum, I have reached day 16 - up til now I have found it easier than what I thought, but yesterday and today I have felt pangs of depression creeping in, only for 5 or 10 mins then it passes, it doesn't feel like a craving, more like a feeling of utter sadness and then it is gone, just hoping these "pangs" will pass in a day or two, and hope they won't get any worse!

It's great to write feelings down I think this forum is going to be a great help.

Jo

[Hidden]

That "depression" is all about saying goodbye to something you thought of as a friend.

It will pass, as you come to realize what a lousy friend it was indeed. The depression will be replaced with self-respect and self-confidence and self-esteem.

Hang in there, and don't let the sadness overwhelm you. Begin a habit of thinking not of what you're giving up, but what you're gaining.

[nsd_user663_45836]

what DGee said

[nsd_user663_26699]

Talking about missing a "friend", it reminds me of this little essay which I read during the early days of my quit:

"My Cigarette, My Friend"

Alex.

[nsd_user663_20558]

Yep, DGee's right. It's also to do with the intial thrill of the quit (the 'OMG, yay, I made it two days/three days/a week!) wearing off a bit, and the reality of the long haul sinking in. Give it a bit longer though, and you'll come out the other side of this and realise there is nothing to mourn.

I certainly went through a period of feeling down because I just didn't recognise myself as a non smoker, and had to kind of reassess my identity. Down the line, I realise that the 'but cigarettes are part of who I am!!' feeling, and the associated feeling of loss, are just constructs of the brain. That feeling goes away and you realise you are who you are, and smoking has bugger all to do with it

I'd recommend you keep on reminding yourself how far you've come (you're never too far into a quit to celebrate that!), treat yourself to something nice, and just keep going. It gets easier and easier the longer you go on.

All the best (and welcome to the site!)

Helen

[nsd_user663_46906]

Hi Jo

I have been feeling the same so far on day 9 thinking that it has been alot easier than what i thought it was going to be i have been reading past posts and looks like some ppl have experienced the same only to be hit with major cravings down the line so hang in there and keep posting.

Kirsty xx

[nsd_user663_46636]

I am on day 16 and feel similarly today. Don't want to smoke but miserable. Hang in there, we just have to survive today!

[nsd_user663_44157]

Just remember people who have never smoked have their bad days also. Its called life and life without fags is sooooo much better, even on the bad days

[nsd_user663_7529]

Hi Everyone

My name is Jo and I have just joined this great forum, I have reached day 16 - up til now I have found it easier than what I thought, but yesterday and today I have felt pangs of depression creeping in, only for 5 or 10 mins then it passes, it doesn't feel like a craving, more like a feeling of utter sadness and then it is gone, just hoping these "pangs" will pass in a day or two, and hope they won't get any worse!

It's great to write feelings down I think this forum is going to be a great help.

Jo

Not seen this posted for a while, but this article is pretty great:

ffn.yuku.com/topic/12531

It's about the "Terrible 3's" some quitters experience. The theory is that day 3, week 3, month3 are all times where the quit seems to get harder. The reasons for that are in the link above - which may or may not make sense in your situation.

I just had a pretty difficult "week3" - but I had this in the back of my mind. It helped knowing why!