I feel like something inside me is eating me up...

[nsd_user663_59042]

Like there is a little gremlin in my tummy that is dying for a cigarette. Doesn't help that I had a champagne brunch, does it?

But I will not smoke today. I'm almost there. Day 3 is almost done. I am so looking forward to 10 o' clock so that I can sleep. It comes and goes...the urge. It can be so strong at times that I consider going downstairs to look for a smoker to bum a ciggy. Then I think, why? It's all in my mind. I don't actually NEED a ciggy.

Any good ideas on what to do specifically when the urge feels strongest?

[nsd_user663_54332]

That's why we call it the nicotine monster

It does feel like that, have had times when I've been crying, ranting, desperate for a fag.

Yeah like a proper drug addict. :(

It goes though, really it does!!

[nsd_user663_59042]

Thanks, Genma-Lou. The nicotine monster indeed. The funny thing is this. Whenever I quit while pregnant (usually within the first 2 weeks), I didn't suffer cravings and such. But whenever I quit just for me, whether using Zyban or patches, or CT, the cravings are killer huge!!!

I wonder...why am I capable of turning my desire to smoke off COMPLETELY when pregnant and incapable of doing the same when not? I have a feeling the secret lies in the answer. Maybe I should imagine I'm pregnant....

[nsd_user663_54332]

Thanks, Genma-Lou. The nicotine monster indeed. The funny thing is this. Whenever I quit while pregnant (usually within the first 2 weeks), I didn't suffer cravings and such. But whenever I quit just for me, whether using Zyban or patches, or CT, the cravings are killer huge!!!

I wonder...why am I capable of turning my desire to smoke off COMPLETELY when pregnant and incapable of doing the same when not? I have a feeling the secret lies in the answer. Maybe I should imagine I'm pregnant....

That's odd!!

Maybe it's an instinct thing - not wanting to harm your baby?

[Unah]

I stopped smoking with both my pregnancies and didnt even think about it until they were born and immediately lit up both times. In those days most people smoked so there hadn't been any pressure to stop. I just did. I think it's natures way of protecting the baby.

[nsd_user663_59042]

First of all, Gemma...I misspelled your name. Sorry!

Max, I love Allen Carr. I have the book on my tablet and I keep referring to it for some wisdom. I really wish I was paying attention when I stopped smoking while pregnant. The thing is I think (I can't recall) I believed I would be able to smoke later when the babies were born. Just like taking a long flight. You kind of know you can't smoke but you're okay with it because at the end of the journey, you know you will smoke.

Of course I don't want to go down that road again... day 3, 1 more hour to go.

[nsd_user663_59042]

I stopped smoking with both my pregnancies and didnt even think about it until they were born and immediately lit up both times. In those days most people smoked so there hadn't been any pressure to stop. I just did. I think it's natures way of protecting the baby.

Hmmm.... I wish nature could fill us in on how to protect ourselves!! Our instinct is to protect the baby. Why isn't there an instinct to protect ourselves from cigarettes the way we do fire, sharp objects, wild animals, etc?

Amazing. I'm sitting on the balcony of my suite and because this is where I spent all my smoking time, I'm triggering like crazy!! Better go back inside and watch them crown Froome!

[nsd_user663_37244]

The bit in Allen Carrs book that I thought helped was to visualise the Nico Monster really picture what it looks like. Then realise that the craves were it staving and take strength from the fact that your are killing it before it kills you

Really good luck you are doing great AND you are winning not the monster. Enjoy watching the murdering little bu**er suffer

[nsd_user663_54332]

Hmmm.... I wish nature could fill us in on how to protect ourselves!! Our instinct is to protect the baby. Why isn't there an instinct to protect ourselves from cigarettes the way we do fire, sharp objects, wild animals, etc?

There is but we override it :/

If you can remember when you started it felt rubbish but you *wanted* to smoke. It probably made you cough (although I'm odd and it never made me cough) it tasted pretty minging, and it made you feel horrid - that's instinct!! Your body was saying that it's wrong.

Sadly, we're all brainwashed into thinking smoking is cool/sophisticated/naughty/whatever so we keep working hard at liking it. And heck, so many people smoke every day and like it so it must be good, right?

For me, I couldn't smoke regular cigarettes 'cos they made me feel like heaving - did I think "oh these are nasty I won't do it"? No, I smoked menthols instead 'cos they didn't make me sick.

Allen Carr says we work hard to get addicted in the first place - and he's right, we do. Now we need to work just as hard to kick the addiction!!

I really reccommend Allen Carr's books 'cos they do help you change your mind about smoking - he can be pretty irritating but his message is good.

[nsd_user663_59042]

The bit in Allen Carrs book that I thought helped was to visualise the Nico Monster really picture what it looks like. Then realise that the craves were it staving and take strength from the fact that your are killing it before it kills you

Really good luck you are doing great AND you are winning not the monster. Enjoy watching the murdering little bu**er suffer

Lol! That's really funny. Thanks.

[nsd_user663_59042]

There is but we override it :/

If you can remember when you started it felt rubbish but you *wanted* to smoke. It probably made you cough (although I'm odd and it never made me cough) it tasted pretty minging, and it made you feel horrid - that's instinct!! Your body was saying that it's wrong.

Sadly, we're all brainwashed into thinking smoking is cool/sophisticated/naughty/whatever so we keep working hard at liking it. And heck, so many people smoke every day and like it so it must be good, right?

For me, I couldn't smoke regular cigarettes 'cos they made me feel like heaving - did I think "oh these are nasty I won't do it"? No, I smoked menthols instead 'cos they didn't make me sick.

Allen Carr says we work hard to get addicted in the first place - and he's right, we do. Now we need to work just as hard to kick the addiction!!

I really reccommend Allen Carr's books 'cos they do help you change your mind about smoking - he can be pretty irritating but his message is good.

Me too. I smoked menthols for years because I found the normal cigarettes disgusting. Then I started smoking normal cigarettes hoping that I would smoke less. Recently, I fell for the Switch cigarettes. You know what I'm talking about? The menthol and eucalyptus ones. God help smokers because I swear that this new invention has so many of them excited like crazy. Now I was addicted to pressing and hearing the capsule break before I light up. Nuts.

Well, guess what? No Switch here!! Forced myself to smoke regular "disgusting" cigarettes and managed (unbelievable) to smoke a pack a day!! Can you imagine how hard I've worked in the last month to get used to a cigarette brand I find disgusting? Stupid really!!

Yes, Allen Carr is permanently on standby. I consult him when I'm beginning to lie to myself about how much I supposedly need ciggies. Right now this is happening at least once every 2 hours.

[nsd_user663_54332]

Me too. I smoked menthols for years because I found the normal cigarettes disgusting. Then I started smoking normal cigarettes hoping that I would smoke less. Recently, I fell for the Switch cigarettes. You know what I'm talking about? The menthol and eucalyptus ones. God help smokers because I swear that this new invention has so many of them excited like crazy. Now I was addicted to pressing and hearing the capsule break before I light up. Nuts.

Well, guess what? No Switch here!! Forced myself to smoke regular "disgusting" cigarettes and managed (unbelievable) to smoke a pack a day!! Can you imagine how hard I've worked in the last month to get used to a cigarette brand I find disgusting? Stupid really!!

Yes, Allen Carr is permanently on standby. I consult him when I'm beginning to lie to myself about how much I supposedly need ciggies. Right now this is happening at least once every 2 hours.

It really is daft when you think about it!!

Could go through half a packet of menthols in an afternoon when I social smoked but normal ones made me feel sick. Even dafter - when I had a heavy cold I'd smoke menthols because my usual ones made me cough but they didn't :S Um hello Gem your body was telling you something!!

Haven't heard of Switch, are they an extra filter then?

Well done for keeping Allen Carr handy, the number of times I caught myself nodding or thinking "oh wow that's me" in those books...

The longer you go the less you'll need him though