Ready to do it.

[nsd_user663_7276]

Hello all. I have been hanging around on the forum (like a bad, faggy smell) for a week or so. I had a failed quit last week but have met some thoroughly lovely and helpful people here, and read some very inspiring posts.

I am ready to go again. Tomorrow. Arrrrgggghhhh! I am scared, please hold my hand.

The big question I am still wrestling with is whether to use patches (I already have some here) or to go CT again. I have just read the amazing Gillian Riley book (similar to Allen Carr in many ways, but better written, IMHO) and feel very inspired by her approach.

I realise that using patches will delay the physical withdrawal, but I could begin to deal with the psychological withdrawal in the meantime.

No-one can make this decision for me, I realise, but I don't know HOW to decide. Any last minute pearls of wisdom from you amazing people?

[nsd_user663_54852]

Don't be scared, you have hopefully built up a picture of what to expect. Just go with whatever will make it easier for you especially in the early stages.

Any NRT can be dealt with at a later date and there are plenty of posts on this forum which will help with that. Cold Turkey is working for me but that suits my mindset and follows on from previous experience in failed quits.

In a nutshell whichever route you choose, you have to want to quit and want to quit now ... its all in the mind

Wishing you all the best and keep posting and reading on here

Donna

[nsd_user663_7276]

Thanks very much indeed. I think I will go with the patches to give myself the best chance, and then deal with stopping those at a later date.

Sadly, I know all too well what to expect. I have honestly lost count of the number of times I've quit. Most attempts have been cold turkey, but I have also used patches once before, had hypnotherapy and read Allen Carr several times.

The ridiculous thing is that I gave up for a year each time I was pregnant/early days of breastfeeding. So that's 2 x quits of one year duration. It scares me that I could quit for that long and then go back to it. Really felt I had it cracked and then was lured back in by the myth of 'it's just a social one'.

Thinking about my numerous previous quits makes me feel negative about myself and my ability to do this and I definitely need to try to change that way of thinking as low self-esteem is really unhelpful at times like this!

Thanks all for your encouragement. Am telling myself there's nothing different about me that means I can't do this. I have the same chance as anyone else.

[nsd_user663_54958]

I share your fears about failing again. However, I do think that I have learned something from each quit and all that knowledge is going to help me. I refuse to make the same mistakes again! I know my self so much better now and can prepare for the times I have caved before.

In terms of NRT, use it when/if you need it. Im with gums and some days I can manage with a half a gum, some days I need two or three. It takes the edge of the crave away. I dont think it is same as smoking, I dont get the same high from it. It just helps me get passed a moment when otherwise I might have caved. But as people say here, whatever works for you. I use to beat my self about using nrt, but in the end, it is about NOT smoking... at least for now. One battle at a time!

Roosa.

[nsd_user663_7276]

Thanks so much Max, Smile and Roosa; thank you everyone. I am so encouraged by your posts.

Have been thinking a lot about tomorrow and how it's going to be. I will need to be at home quite a lot tomorrow (long and boring story about needing to train my kittens to use the cat flap :rolleyes but I have just been introduced to an addictive new game for my phone, so perhaps I can camp out next to the cat flap with my phone and a pile of sweets

I am thinking about going for a run in the evening and then a nice long bath. However, by then I might just feel like crying in a corner or going to sleep so I will see how the mood takes me. Don't want to start putting pressure on to think I 'must' go running and so on. The only thing I really want to achieve tomorrow is not smoking a cigarette, so if I don't manage anything else for the whole day, that'll be fine by me.

This will be so hard (Lord know I've been there enough times to know) but I can do it. It is simply a matter of not buying or smoking any fags. That is all I have to do. *repeats mantra*

[nsd_user663_54958]

I find toffees working real well. Let me know how cat flap training goes. Need to do that too in couple weeks time after my 2 kittens have been neutered and are allowed to venture out.

All and all great plan for tomorrow! You can do it!

Roosa.

[nsd_user663_20558]

I kept werthers chewy toffees in business single handed for the first few weeks of my quit. Not great for my teeth, but they worked really well with the cravings

Newleaf, don't be scared. Whatever method you use, the main thing is that, just for right now, you choose not to smoke. You could, but just for today, you're choosing not to. That's all. Not scary. One day at a time.

Helen x