Something strange has started to happen...

[nsd_user663_56938]

So, it's been a little while into my quit and so far I have been 100% confident and embraced being a non-smoker. The first 3 weeks were of course a bit of a struggle, but I did not once think of smoking again...

I have however noticed in the last few days that if I picture myself going somewhere or doing something, that I am.... smoking!! :confused:

For example my friend suggested a BBQ at the weekend and I thought 'ah, that will be nice - glass of wine, food on the go, fag in hand...!!' :eek:

I do not want to smoke and I will not ever smoke again (non-smokers don't smoke, after all ;)) but has anyone else had this happen?

Or is it that pesky monster playing tricks with my mind....? :mad:

[nsd_user663_54332]

That's pretty normal Madders

You've been smoking for years and it's going to take a while to get your brain used to the fact you don't!!

We're having a laminate floor done in the living room at home, and the builder is replacing the skirting boards - I love fires, so my thought was of burning them all (which i plan to) and straight off how nice it would be to sit down with a ciggie or 3 while I do it. Same for a day on the beach (hopefully) on Sunday, it's hard to picture myself there without smoking.

Haven't smoked for almost 6 months but the association is still there - even though I have no intention of smoking ever again.

[nsd_user663_57123]

At day 54, and I have the same. Sometimes I dream that I am smoking, so I wake up longing for one, tasting it in my mouth!

[AngryBear]

I have had a load of situational triggers over the course, so far, of my first year.....first Xmas, first day at work, first sunny day, first time I cut the grass, loads and loads. Some triggered waves of "craving" that lasted a few minutes, some only nudged for a second. Few came back more than once, and the more I got through, obviously the fewer they became.

Three months is great going, keep posting and enjoy the freedom

[nsd_user663_54332]

Had it on the way home this afternoon - saw girl about my age with a fag in her gob and *pang - split second of "turn the car round and buy some"* (probably 'cos I was stressed about getting ripped off in the post office) but I just said "You don't smoke any more Gem" and it went

(Yes i do talk to myself in the car - out loud and everything 'cos I'm nutz)

[nsd_user663_57123]

I feel a bit ashamed to say that since I quit,not once have I imagined myself smoking other than in a dream I had once. why would I picture myself-poisoning myself,other than some perverted self hate thing.:confused:

I do not think any of us are doing this consiously. Which is why we are disgusted with it by the time we realise it, so I don't think it is some perverted self hate thing. How is that helping people who come here for help? Telling them they have perverted self hate things. Logic prevails me...:confused:

[nsd_user663_54305]

So, it's been a little while into my quit and so far I have been 100% confident and embraced being a non-smoker. The first 3 weeks were of course a bit of a struggle, but I did not once think of smoking again...

I have however noticed in the last few days that if I picture myself going somewhere or doing something, that I am.... smoking!! :confused:

For example my friend suggested a BBQ at the weekend and I thought 'ah, that will be nice - glass of wine, food on the go, fag in hand...!!' :eek:

I do not want to smoke and I will not ever smoke again (non-smokers don't smoke, after all ;)) but has anyone else had this happen?

Or is it that pesky monster playing tricks with my mind....? :mad:

I think this is something we all experience from time to time, but as time goes on the experience becomes less and less intense, until it is no more than a fleeting thought.

I was watching a repeat of 'fatty, skinny' on Channel 4 this week, and that well known bottom activist Dr. Christian said to the fatty 'It's much harder to un-learn something than it is to learn something'.

Think of the 'something' as smoking and this is so true - how many of us can claim any difficulty with the learning process (i.e. starting smoking), compared to the unlearning process (quitting smoking).

The learning process, in this case, is nothing more that normalising something which is anything but normal. You build a lifetime of smoking experiences, which, once normalised, become incredibly difficult to 'un-normalise' - that's addiction at work:eek:

[nsd_user663_57990]

Just come through my 8th week of being free from the weed.

As I have posted previously, had a fairly ride on Tabex, and just waiting for the wall to hit.

Must say this last week or so has been a real eye opener, for some reason the 'cravings' have come thick and fast, much more than in the previous seven weeks.

[nsd_user663_8607]

hey madders, I sooooooooooo get this. This may sound crazy but i still "allow" myself to think that i "will" be smoking in certain situations or i start to dread them. So tonight im going out for dinner and the thoughts of having a great evening with friends and not smoking is still pretty horrendous so i tell myself that if i want one i can have one. In reality, the time comes and i don't - it may not work for everyone but it works for me. In other words right now i am looking forward to my cigarette tonight but in practice i won't smoke.

Yes im a weirdo