Help!!!!!

[nsd_user663_57194]

Today is my 9th day off the smokes but nothing is getting any easier! I don't feel any benefit from stopping & the craving yesterday almost got so out of hand I could have just caved in. After 43 years of puffing away I just don't 'feel' right - as if my whole identity has altered. I don't feel 'me' anymore. I simply think, (cop-out I know) that if I'm 63 now, I MAY have a few years left in me but do I REALLY want to spend them being as miserable as sin???????

[nsd_user663_54332]

Today is my 9th day off the smokes but nothing is getting any easier! I don't feel any benefit from stopping & the craving yesterday almost got so out of hand I could have just caved in. After 43 years of puffing away I just don't 'feel' right - as if my whole identity has altered. I don't feel 'me' anymore. I simply think, (cop-out I know) that if I'm 63 now, I MAY have a few years left in me but do I REALLY want to spend them being as miserable as sin???????

Aww it does feel tough at first!!

Important thing is that it *does* get better, and get better really quickly too. If stopping made you permanently miserable, then nobody would do it would they?

You will get the health benefits, not least because you've stopped putting all that toxic muck into your body and it's never too late to stop. It might take a bit longer after smoking for such a long time but you'll get them!!

It does feel strange when you stop at first, but you're still *you* just an improved version!! One that doesn't smell, isn't tethered to cancer sticks, and doesn't spend loads of money on the horrible things!!

How are you stopping by the way?

[nsd_user663_57194]

How am I doing it????

Just cold turkey, because I have a theory that why bother replacing one addiction with another that you perhaps come to rely on! Mind you, I must admit I DO wonder if those e- cigs might help, cos with me, it's the physical thing of hand to mouth that gets me, not the nicotine!!!! Yes, I'm obviously a weirdo lol!!!

[nsd_user663_54332]

Just cold turkey, because I have a theory that why bother replacing one addiction with another that you perhaps come to rely on! Mind you, I must admit I DO wonder if those e- cigs might help, cos with me, it's the physical thing of hand to mouth that gets me, not the nicotine!!!! Yes, I'm obviously a weirdo lol!!!

You're not a weirdo in the least, a lot of us feel like that Sandy, me included!!

If you do get an e-cig then I'd recommend getting one with 0% nicotine in it as that will satisfy your hand to mouth thing without getting you hooked on the nicotine again, like I am unfortunately!!

You're doing great, 9 days cold turkey is fantastic after being hooked for 43 years, it's just getting over the change

Maybe give Allen Carr a read too if you haven't already - although it's designed to be read by current smokers you don't hve to smoke while you read it!!

[nsd_user663_20558]

You're not a weirdo, not at all.

Thing is, a lot of people start off a quit feeling pretty confident that once they've broken the back of the nicotene addiction, it's all over bar the shouting. That's why a lot of people hit a couple of weeks, think 'but I should be fine now, obviously I'm just one of those people who are chronically addicted and I'll never get over it'... and they throw in the towel.

But the truth of smoking addiction is that 99% of it is psychological. It stands to reason - if you have done something habitually, many times a day, every day for years and years, when you stop doing it you're going to feel weird as hell. You're going to think about it a LOT. You're going to miss it, even if it was something you hated.

You smoked during every emotion, good and bad. You smoked to relax, to alleviate boredom, after meals, to wake up, to go to sleep, everything. It feels (understandably) like smoking improved things - made you less stressed, made a good time more fun, or whatever. The fact is though, this is NOT true. Smoking doesn't improve a bad situation or enhance a good one. It's just associations your brain has created with those situations and emotions. You have a coffee: your brain says 'smoke now!'. You're in a traffic jam: your brain says 'smoke now!'. And so on. In the early days and weeks you're facing prompts like this ALL THE TIME. And when you say 'no' your brain throws a full-on toddler wappy. It's really tough to take.

But here's the thing. These associations, which took years to build up, really don't take very long to break by comparison. Once you've been through a situation a few times and not smoked - your brain stops prompting you! The further you go with a quit, the fewer and further apart the prompts.

I PROMISE YOU THIS DOES GET EASIER.

I understand that 'oh I've got a few years left, I might as well enjoy them'. But consider this: those years you have left - do you want to spend them wheezing and choking and smelling bad? Do you want to throw your hard earned money away on breathing poisonous crap in and out? The quality of your life without cigs will be SOOOO much better. Stick with this. You've come so far. Tough out this battle with your subconscious for a while longer - it WILL get better, and you won't regret it.

Sorry for the long post, I do go on

Helen

[nsd_user663_57194]

Thanks girl!!

Helen, as I read your message, I understood everything you said & you are soooo right! I always imagine a 'good' parrot one one shoulder & the 'bad' parrot on the other ( Don't know why it's always a parrot in my head but it is lol), & then I start to think about this old 'mind over brain' thing & who is in control??? I mean, what controls our action - our brain or our mind & emotions??? Oooooooh, hate thinking about all that - it's like imagining the universe - sort of mind-blowing!!! Anyway, thanks for your words of encouragement that made total sense to me & I WILL stick it out!!!!

[nsd_user663_56837]

wow what a post helsbelles!

I have to say that is one of the best posts I've read. Im on day 24 cold turkey and have just finished having an argument with my son! At this point normally id go outside have a cig to calm down but instead i sat down and read that post. Good timing!

It does get easier you're right and in five mins I'll be fine again, until the next pubescant outrage. Raaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!

[nsd_user663_56972]

Stick with it and congrats on your effort so far your doing really well and it does get easier a little every day

[nsd_user663_56306]

change

Can relate to all that's been said. I'm a 40 year smoker and 57 years old - thought exactly like you ( am on day 48) and still keep having this argument. It is addiction talking and although less intense the niggling voice is still there.

Decided I want to enjoy myself and keep healthy as long as possible - still life to be lived - and intend to kick this habit - all part of looking forward to good times and exciting to think you can recreate yourself at any age - nothing is set in stone and we can become what we want to be - not easy but there for the taking.

[Unah]

It's better to use NRT than smoke. Getting rid of the nicotine addiction is the easy part. Like you I missed the hand to mouth action so I bought an inhalator. Wasn't long before I stopped changing the cartridge. I also bought an e-cig and as Gemma says, get one with zero nicotine. Don't buy from a market stall.

I smoked for 50 years and there were times I was going to start smoking again because I was so depressed. Glad I didn't because that's all in the past. It really does get better.