AngryBear

Please, I don't wanna go back to that habit, but I'm not feeling ok right now and I don't have a good record when it comes to dealing with these cravings

Hey Jessica, hope you're still doing as well as you were when you posted this ie resisting! If you don't want to smoke, as you said, you're already winning.

I'm 19 days in, just had a craving myself, only a small one...I read somewhere (hopefully someone will confirm this) that the craves last about five minutes or less when they come? I've been going by that so far when I get one, it works for me; I can hold out for five minutes, by then I'm normally doing something else anyway!

What's your motivation, is it a health thing? Mine was; each time I've thought about having a smoke I've breathed in, simple as that; I used to catch my breath at times and I could hear my chest rattle; after just 19 days it doesn't do that now. I'm 40 years old and my chest sounded like an old man's. Not today it doesn't! I'd like to keep it that way!

nsd_user663_48461

Hi Jessica

It's tough, and we know what you're going through. But remember you're making a life-changing (for the better of course!) decision. But it does mean overcoming a serious addiction and all the psychological aspects that go with that. You want to stop smoking, and you're already showing that you can find alternatives to it. That's the key - your coping strategy to get through the craves. Exercise, have a bath, drink wine, have a tantrum - whatever suits you to stop you from lighting up!

Go back and re-visit Allen Carr and remind yourself of all the brainwashing that is nicotine addiction. You have to untrain your brain, and that takes time and effort. But you can do it. Tell yourself every morning that you won't smoke today.

Stick with it - you will overcome this horrible feeling. It does get easier, I promise.

Shazza

nsd_user663_49415

Hi Jessica,

You're doing brilliant, that was an inspired decision this morning! I'm on day 29. Been smoking 35 years and really never thought I could quit. But I can. The dreams about smoking are really disconcerting and I find them harder than getting through the day now. Had a really vivid one last night and I got up really depressed this morning genuinely thinking I had failed in my quit. Then realised it was just a dream and felt a whole lot better.

Use this place. There are loads of lovely people much more skilled than me in giving support and encouragement, and they wont let you down.

All the best, Esso.

nsd_user663_50221

Hey all!

Thanks for the replies. Somehow I managed to resist all the cravings yesterday. I don't know if a crave lasts only about 5 minutes, maybe it does, but it's pretty annoying if those 5 minutes repeat every half hour.

Anyway..no more dreams last night, no craving today. Yay for day 11!

What's your motivation, is it a health thing? Mine was; each time I've thought about having a smoke I've breathed in, simple as that; I used to catch my breath at times and I could hear my chest rattle; after just 19 days it doesn't do that now. I'm 40 years old and my chest sounded like an old man's. Not today it doesn't! I'd like to keep it that way!

Sorry I hadn't noticed the question about my motivation when I answered earlier so editing now. It was somehow related to health. I go to the gym everyday and if I take a break from the gym it's go jog outside or swim. At some point I started feeling a decrease in my performance when it came to any type of cardio. A friend suggested it might be because I smoke especially since I had the habit of smoking at least one cigarette before the workout (if I'd workout first thing in the morning it would be more than one since I smoked 4-5 cigs with my morning coffee. So I tried to quit that one cig before the workout and I felt the difference immediately. Of course I didn't do much good to myself anyway cause I'd "catch up" right after the workout. But I guess that was the moment I started thinking about quitting for real. Three months later I actually did it. And only 11 days after quitting I have more energy for my workouts than I had in a long time

AngryBear

Hey Jesicca, glad it's working for you...I haven't been to a gym in years but my work involves lifting, and I've noticed the difference already too.

I have invested in a new pair of trainers to go jogging in; I used to like that when I was a lot younger but of course these days it's been an impossibility for me to jog more than 50 yards without puffing and panting!

Your post sounds really positive, it's been good for me

nsd_user663_34425

Hi Jessica..

If you've done 10 days, you can certainly manage another 4, just to make it to 2 whole weeks! Keep it up!

From 3 weeks, it will start to get much easier, with the cravings only coming a fraction of the frequency they do now..

Almost there!

nsd_user663_34768

Hi Jessica, well done for getting this far Early in my quit I used a notebook and when I had a crave I would sit and write about how I felt, and how far I had come etc, it passes within a couple of minutes you just need something to distract you. Keep up the good work

nsd_user663_50221

Hey all!

I'm back, I have a few problems again, I thought I should come and write here to get it off my mind.

I've been doing great these past couple of days. Even today I woke up, no cravings or thoughts about smoking. And then I accepted to go out with some friends. I admit I pretty much avoided this since I quit but I was feeling so well and it's Saturday and I didn't feel like sitting on my couch all day so I went out. We used one of the girls' car and on the way there all the others voted for a change of plans so we ended up in a place which I associate with heavy smoking. The type of place where I would smoke a pack in a few hours even though on normal days I'd smoke around 15 cigs or less. Major problem. The moment I got inside all I wanted was to have a smoke. I was watching the ones who smoked, I couldn't get my eyes off them. Torture!!! I have no idea how I did it, but I did NOT smoke. I can't believe it, I'm home right now, been back for about 2 hours and I still can't believe it I guess it helped that one of my friends kept telling me to not even consider it cause she wouldn't allow me, she'd rather tie me up to the chair than let me go buy a pack.

Only problem is that cravings are back. But after resisting that I feel pretty confident I can get through the rest of the day

nsd_user663_42390

That was massive what happened today I have been there and done that. You will settle down again but it will take a few hours it is really unsettling and thank god you didn't give in and spoil a fantastic quit. I know for a fact that those situations will become nothing more than a minor irritant instead of the torture it was today. I would avoid that sort of situation until you are more established in your quit. But bloody well done for not caving in. I wish I could be more helpful some of the people on here would be able to say that a lot more convincingly than I can but I hope that helps.

nsd_user663_44204

Temptation for a long time

Hi Jessica, good for you , you managed to resist having a fag, but do you know that temptation will be there for a long time. I was standing outside the hairdressers today waiting for my husband to pick me up and four girls were standing next to me smoking, and for a fleeting moment I thought oh a smoke would be nice, then I thought what a disgusting habit it is and smoking in public as well, just like I used to. Take care and plod on xx

nsd_user663_50126

Jessica....Go on the attack. Be quite aggressive in your mind to the poisonous stick that is trying to take your life out of your control.

If you are in a weak position, for example, a room full of smokers..stare straight at a cig and tell the little barsteward to feck off cos hell will freeze over before you allow the little demon to poison you.

Picture it all in your mind right now so that you can rehearse a little mental scenario to deal with the problem when it comes. Such Psycho-hypnotic techniques are heavily used in modern day elite sports training. Seems unbelievable but the technique does give a proven edge to those who use it.

Really, really good luck!