I think I need help...

[nsd_user663_46694]

I have just passed the 8 week mark but I am REALLY struggling to stay smoke free. I think about fags all day every day and so far I've managed to stay off them but its getting harder by the minute!

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated

[nsd_user663_48461]

Hi Beaumist

I think you will find most of us have been there. I'm just over 9 weeks, and still feel it more than I think I should at present.

Main thing to remember is it's mind over matter. Think how bad you would feel if you gave in now. Also, having a cigarette won't fix anything and certainly won't make you feel better - it will just make you feel wretched. Waste 8 weeks of brilliant effort? I don't think so! :eek:

Are you using any NRT, or are you off all that and cold turkey now? People on here are likely to give varying advice depending on your 'nicotine level' at present.

Please stick with it, you know you can do it and you want to! Stay strong.

Shazza

[nsd_user663_46694]

I went cold turkey from Day 1 - Friday the 13th (April) of all days!

Could this be the reason I'm struggling right now?

[nsd_user663_48461]

Hi Again Beaumist

OK, similar to me and similar timings - only a few days apart. So I'm going to offer personal advice which has worked for me. Hopefully others may have some additional hints and tips.

Firstly, and most importantly, your current withdrawal symptoms are entirely in your head. I don't know whether you've done much reading / research into the psychological aspects, so apologies if you already know what I'm about to say.

All nicotine leaves your body in about 3 days. Thereafter, any sensation of withdrawal is in your sub-conscious. Your body doesn't need nicotine; your brain thinks it wants/needs it. It doesn't - but you need to tell your brain that.

In my last post, I said it's mind over matter - and that's exactly what it is. Your sub-conscious went off to smoking training school xx number of years ago, got addicted to nicotine, left smoking training school with an honours degree in nicotine addiction, then maintained that education until April this year. It now needs to be 'un-trained'.

Apologies for the psycho-babble, but this is the battle you now need to fight and win. Understanding it makes you odds on favourite.

Bottom line - the phsychological addiction is infinitely stronger than the physical. I think of this now as the nicotine monster who is terrorising me to be fed, and I don't negotiate with terrorists. Therefore, I have only one option - to starve him to death. It is getting easier, and I'm only a few days in front of you. But staying strong, sticking with NOPE, and trying not to put nicotine back in your body are the keys.

If you have a good look round the forum (if you haven't already) you'll see people who are 4, 5, 6, 9 months, who still get the odd twinge, but can easily cope because they know it is going to be fleeting and rare. It won't hurt them, and it certainly won't kill them like cigs would.

Try and hold on to those thoughts - you've done in excess of 8 weeks - that's a brilliant achievement. But you want to get to the point where you don't feel this anymore; a point where you don't think about smoking and are no longer enslaved. There's only one wayt to do that ... and you know deep down what that is. Don't touch fags, and preferably not any form of NRT this far down the line.

Having said that, NRT would still be bette than a fag!! But from the day I stopped taking any nicotine (Day 10 of my quit) no matter how bad I've felt, I've refused to relieve it with NRT. I've personally just been terrified of reawakening the monster!

Do anything - shout, scream, cry, eat chocolate, get drunk, exercise, have a bath - anything but smoke!

It will get better - you know it will. You just need to stick with your decision, stay strong, and tell that lingering terrorist in your sub-conscious to, ahem, go away.

Keep reminding yourself of 8+ weeks. Big deep breaths ...

I hope that helps a bit, and hope some of the longer-termers can reassure you that it's not only a matter of time before these regular horrible feelings stop!

Keep up the brilliant effort, and keep in touch!

Shazza x

[nsd_user663_46694]

Thanks Shazza.... this makes absolute and complete sense to me! I know its all in my brain, and I have to be stronger, I think I just needed telling by someone who has been there and understands.

I see you are just about 6 days ahead of me which is neither here nor there really, but you seem to have a lot more positive thinking than I do!!

I did go to see my GP about 8 days in, and when I told him my reasons for quitting, which is more financial, he calmly told me I wouldn't do it, and that I would be back smoking within a week because I was quitting for the wrong reason! Just that meeting with him has really knocked my confidence and I keep thinking to myself that he's a Doc so he must be right!! It doesn't help when I'm in craving mode!

Thank you for listening to me... I do appreciate it!

[nsd_user663_47108]

Hi Beaumist,

So sad to hear of your experience at the GP. Is there a smoking cessation nurse at the practice you could talk to instead? I'm meeting mine again this week. It's just an informal chat really but I've found these 15 minutes every fortnight really, really helpful in re-enforcing all the positive things about quitting. Just a thought...

[nsd_user663_48461]

OMG - I cannot believe your GP. That is a terribly negative attitude and he/she should be ashamed. The NHS is committed to supporting people to be smoke free - and I don't believe there are conditions related to your reasons for stopping - stopping is the important thing! Good grief! :mad:

So let's have a positive spin on this. You said you went to your GP about 8 days in, but the negative response knocked your confidence. That was about 7 weeks ago now - and you still haven't smoked. Something in you is keeping you on the straight and narrow in your quit. Stay that way. Remember, no nicotine needed, just keep your brain focussed in the right place.

You can do this, you know you can. If you are even vaguely tempted to light up, please post on here first and wait for a response - make that promise to yourself.

Remember - you're just having a bit of a moment. We've all been there and will no doubt go there again until we've got a good few months under our belts. Giving in to that terrorist is not an option! :eek:

Stay strong, stay focussed, stay smoke free!

Sx

[nsd_user663_44157]

I did go to see my GP about 8 days in, and when I told him my reasons for quitting, which is more financial, he calmly told me I wouldn't do it, and that I would be back smoking within a week because I was quitting for the wrong reason!

Beaumist

For a start you have proved your A***hole of a GP wrong. 8 weeks is not within the week so you must feel good about that. Make sure you mention it if you ever have to go back.

Take a lot of notice of Shazza's post she talks a lot of sense.

I have been quit a bit longer than you but I am still doing similar to when I was early in my quit.

If I have any temptations, cravings etc I tell my self I dont smoke. I can smoke if I want too but I have stopped and don't want to smoke and will not smoke. I keep it clear in my mind that this is my choice. There is not argueing with the nicoman on this. I am right he is wrong end of story This quit is not open to negotiation. Failure is not an option.

or as Shazza says positive thinking. So talk to yourself positively, out loud if it helps

So get positive and don't waste 8 weeks.

Good quitting

H

[Levs 1000 Days Smoke Free]

I did go to see my GP about 8 days in, and when I told him my reasons for quitting, which is more financial, he calmly told me I wouldn't do it, and that I would be back smoking within a week because I was quitting for the wrong reason! Just that meeting with him has really knocked my confidence and I keep thinking to myself that he's a Doc so he must be right!! It doesn't help when I'm in craving mode!

Hi there,

Not been on the boards for a while and popped on for a look and came across the above. I have to say your GP is a class A d*ck. What a ridiculous thing to say, you have proved that by now being 8 wks quit. According to the NHS at 4 wks quit you are a non smoker so you have that twice under your belt!!!

I think alot of the problem people experience with quitting is they think its gonna be quick, couple of weeks of craving and then all fixed iykwim. When you get to 6,7,8 wks and still have it going on you start to wonder if there will ever come a point that you won't think of smoking. God I really started to get p'd off with my own brain, thoughts of I just have to smoke to stop myself thinking of smoking come in your head. Only problem is, if you do smoke you will always think of smoking, you will want another in a hour and again an hour after that.

If, however, you stay quit, you will get past this point, you will get to the end of a day and go OMG I haven't thought about smoking at all today until now. If you smoke now you will never get to that point.

Part of what kept me going was the fact I craved. Every craving I had made me angry that I was that dependent on it I was still craving it, that it had that much control on MY life. I used that to fight it.

8 weeks is a good strong quit, yes you are having mental wobbles, everyone does (just not everyone admits them) dont give up on giving up!!

A couple of sayings in here still go in my head, one is mine which is one minute, one hour, one day at a time. The other is one thats been doing the rounds for a long time. Keep on keeping on.

You are strong enough, you can do this and this is a great place for support use it, its what its here for.

Sian

1 year 8 mths quit

[nsd_user663_24115]

Im with Levs on this. if you start smoking again u will still think of smoking all the time AND smoke as well . whereas if you carry on along the quit highway you will only think of them sometimes and eventually less and less. even now after 8mths i tell myself a smoke would be perfect because im just having a hard moment that id rather not have, but i soon get over it and before i know it another week has gone by and im always glad that i never let that hard moment turn me into a full blown smoker again, who was never really a happy one, i was always wishing i could stop, every cigarette i smoked was a let down the next one was always going to the one perfect hit.

M

[nsd_user663_20558]

Just to second what Levs said - at 8 weeks I still thought of smoking every single day, at least once an hour! Thought I might go loopy once or twice. But it was just part of the brain retraining process and after about three months it did start to tail off.

Keep going, stick it out, because it DOES get better.

Oh, and I think you should make an appointment with your GP just so you can go 'eight weeks! In your FACE, negative doctor person!'

H x

[nsd_user663_47060]

Listen to Shazz!

Listen to Shazz, re-read, print it out (I did) and keep it handy!

Great post with lots of wisdom and truth. I quit April 9th still struggle from time to time, but I don't want to go back, don't need to go back!

Cathy

P.S. Your GP's a jerk! What was said is awful!

[nsd_user663_46694]

Oh my.... thank you all so very much for your support! I am feeling much more positive since reading your posts, and will definately be coming back on here for more support when I need it. You peeps rock!! Thank you;):D:D

[nsd_user663_45204]

I went cold turkey from Day 1 - Friday the 13th (April) of all days!

Could this be the reason I'm struggling right now?

I'm only a few weeks ahead of you and it does get easier. I remember having a tough time around the 2 month mark too.

You quit by using the best method so stick with it.

[nsd_user663_45204]

I also forgot to add that what ever you do don't use patches,gum erc now.

You have no nicotine in your body and you certainly don't want to reintroduce it again and go through all the withdrawals again.

Giving up smoking is never easy no matter how you do it. Since you have quit using CT stick with it.

[nsd_user663_10013]

Hi Beaumist

I quit for mainly financial reasons (the fact that I could no longer justify what I was spending on ciggies) and here I am two years later - tell your GP I said he can stick it up his bottom

I found saving what I would have spent a great motivator - it's scary to see how quickly it adds up and you can use it for what you need it for.

You will need to dig your heels in and try and ride this out - your brain is a devious little git so you'll need to learn how to outsmart it. It will and does get easier and everytime you get through a bad day you're a little bit stronger to deal with the next one - promise

Might be worth taking a look at whether you're still living like a smoker - it took me ages to realise I was and that I needed to have a major overhaul of my life and look at ways of dealing with things without automatically thinking a fag would cure it all. Once you start to make changes and embrace the new you it all starts to click into place.

Good luck with your journey.

[nsd_user663_46694]

Please can someone tell me what NOPE is? I keep seeing it mentioned but not sure what it is

[nsd_user663_46694]

Hi Beaumist

Might be worth taking a look at whether you're still living like a smoker - it took me ages to realise I was and that I needed to have a major overhaul of my life and look at ways of dealing with things without automatically thinking a fag would cure it all. Once you start to make changes and embrace the new you it all starts to click into place.

Good luck with your journey.

I still think of myself as a smoker who doesn't smoke now.... I just wished I could think otherwise as it scares me to think I could start again at any minute!:(

[nsd_user663_4625]

NOPE - Not One Puff Ever

[nsd_user663_4625]

Sorry, hadn't finished that post lol.

A lot of people hold dear to that knowing that one puff is all it can take to being a smoker again and it is true.

I guess it doesn't matter if you think of yourself as an ex smoker, a non smoker or whatever. What matters is that you don't smoke now, today. Small steps as we used to say and you will get there.

Gaynor x

[nsd_user663_41061]

Its ok to take the edge off with a lozenge!

I suggest a lozenge...cut in 1/2 place under the tongue..take that edge off.

It worked for me...and I have passed day 150...and you can see my signature

below of how I really did it... Good Luck!

[nsd_user663_50024]

shazza is good

Hi guys have been reading this thread and hope you're taking on shazza's advice - i just arrived and not sure how this thing works - but i was well impressed with you both (for being strong and honest and remaining quit) - but also thought shazza has such great advice so we should all tune in to her blurb more often

thanks xxx sal