Three months is magic: I don't want to... - No Smoking Day

No Smoking Day

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Three months is magic

nsd_user663_60382 profile image
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I don't want to intrude on Max's tips, so I'm creating a new thread to expand on his point that month 3 is an important milestone. For me, the three month mark is where I finally start to feel like I’m out of the woods. It concerns me when people tell new quitters that things will start to get better after the third day, because that just hasn’t been my experience at all. Having done this too many times now, I know it’s a struggle up until three months. Sure, the cravings do gradually ease and become less severe even after a couple of weeks, but they are still mighty potent and require a lot of strength and will power to overcome. If you allow yourself to believe things will be all better in a matter of days or a few weeks, you will probably get worn down and depressed long before you get to the point where it becomes relatively easy. Planning for a hard three month campaign will put your mind in the right place and give you a better shot at success. :cool:

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nsd_user663_60382
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nsd_user663_60382 profile image
nsd_user663_60382

Karri, my world would be so much easier if I could mandate that everyone must agree with me!:D Quitting is a very personal thing and everyone has their own thoughts and strategies. I didn’t mean to suggest that my way is the only way.

That said, maybe an analogy would help explain what I meant. Have you ever taken a car or airplane trip that lasts two hours, yet it seemed endless? Then again, have you ever taken an 8 hour trip and the first two hours just fly by? I’m just talking about aligning our expectations with reality. Speaking for myself, if I know I’m going to be stuck in an airplane seat for 8 hours I can somehow deal with it easier than if I’m hoping for the plane to land at any moment but it doesn’t for hours. If I prepare myself for a long flight then somehow it just doesn’t seem so long.

But I also agree with what you say about putting time limits on things. I actually feel like once you’ve smoked your last cigarette, you are a non-smoker, even if your quit is only a day old. So I’m not trying to put a time frame on anything except to say that there is a real point when you begin to feel better and the quit stops dominating your life. That point will surely differ with everyone, but it will also surely be longer than a few days or weeks.

nsd_user663_4558 profile image
nsd_user663_4558

I managed 8 months and still had a blip. I think its like you see on the films/TV re alcoholics anonymous AA - every day is a new day and a new self-challenge regardless of time. :eek:

nsd_user663_60778 profile image
nsd_user663_60778

It concerns me when people tell new quitters that things will start to get better after the third day, because that just hasn’t been my experience at all. Having done this too many times now, I know it’s a struggle up until three months.

I have to agree, It will be excruciatingly hard up to the 3 month point for anyone. Those who have quit need to be honest, it is not easy! Those who want to, (or are trying to) quit need to understand it is going to be hard and painful, the mental and physical changes you are going to experience will push you to the limits of your tolerance. If it were easy to stop there would be no smokers. A smoker is an addict, a quitter is a recovering addict who, at the very least, needs the honesty of experience and expectation if they are going to be supported and encouraged in their efforts. Don't dress it up, giving up smoking is *'kin hard no matter what your reasons for doing so.

nsd_user663_2681 profile image
nsd_user663_2681

I have to agree, It will be excruciatingly hard up to the 3 month point for anyone. Those who have quit need to be honest, it is not easy! Those who want to, (or are trying to) quit need to understand it is going to be hard and painful, the mental and physical changes you are going to experience will push you to the limits of your tolerance. If it were easy to stop there would be no smokers. A smoker is an addict, a quitter is a recovering addict who, at the very least, needs the honesty of experience and expectation if they are going to be supported and encouraged in their efforts. Don't dress it up, giving up smoking is *'kin hard no matter what your reasons for doing so.

Thanks for ur honesty I find it particularly hard after a few weeks rather than in the early days glad to hear that throwing wobblers up until the 3 month mark is normal!

NicFirth profile image
NicFirth10 Years Smoke Free

I have to agree, It will be excruciatingly hard up to the 3 month point for anyone.

It wasn't for me, once I got my mind sorted the rest followed and it was relatively straight forward. Sure there were good days and bad days but excruciating it most certainly wasn't.

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