so far so good...

[nsd_user663_5037]

Day 4! Feeling great today, convinced I won't think of cigarettes at all, woke up early, did some exercise (another new change in my life), at work now, everything under control.

I'll be back later when I suddenly feel the need to smoke!

Thanks again to everyone, your encouragement has been brilliant.

[nsd_user663_60964]

Well done Big!

Let us know how the day progresses.

[nsd_user663_62023]

Great start to the day ay.

[nsd_user663_2681]

Lovely positive post Big, hope work has been ok for you today x

[nsd_user663_59644]

Hey, dong magic, love this post:):)

Just keep going, you can do this

[nsd_user663_5037]

Thanks all, work day is over (without any major craving) and now chilling on couch watching TV, so I'm safe today, bring on day 5

[nsd_user663_61429]

Well done big

Xx

[nsd_user663_61170]

I used patches too.

They are fab keep positive.

[nsd_user663_5037]

Day 5.... had to cut my nails pretty short because I keep biting them. Tired of chewing gum. Keeping hands busy though, either typing or squeezing a stress ball!

Slight bit of panic creeping in today, the idea that maybe probably hopefully I'll never smoke again. Trying to tell my brain that's a good thing, not something to be sad & anxious about.

[nsd_user663_60964]

Big, if you possibly can, try not to think about forever. It'll do your head in. Just concentrate on today and let tomorrow (and next week, and next month) take care of itself.

You're doing fantasically well!

[nsd_user663_5037]

That does help. Any tips for what to do when you're really upset? Other than shouting, I've already done that on the phone.

[nsd_user663_5037]

I had one... just one, but I had one

[nsd_user663_60964]

Oh Big.....so sorry.

What happened? Did it just suddenly become too much?

OK- time to regroup and if possible, get straight back on the horse. There are very few of us who haven't had a stumble or two at the start of our Forever Quits and the thing to do now is to learn from it, forearm yourself so the same set of circumstances doesn't throw you off-balance next time, and carry on where you left off.

You CAN do this Big- honestly you can. We're all of us here to help you.

[nsd_user663_5037]

It just got too much, was stressed at work, felt like I either had to have one or my head was going to explode.

[nsd_user663_5037]

water, gum and stress ball usually work, wasn't enough yesterday

ages ago I had tried NRT and didn't like it

might get an e-cig if this happens again

didn't even enjoy it, was feeling too bad and ashamed to think about whether it "helped"

Anyway, don't want to think about that anymore, so far feel ok today, fingers crossed

[nsd_user663_2681]

Exactly, today is another day, onwards and upwards

[nsd_user663_5037]

thanks guys, definitely not in the frame of mind of "oh well I've already smoked now". Was just a regrettable and unenjoyable glitch, hopefully a one-off

[nsd_user663_60964]

Oh well done Big! It would be so easy to have a 'sod it' moment and lose the momentum completely. Instead you've picked yourself up, dusted yourself down and carried on up the road.

As Deb says though, you do need to give some thought to what you will do if (or realistically, when) the same set of circumstances arises again. I know you tried NRT a few years ago and didn't get along with it, but things change all the time and there may be something available now that wasn't available then which would work for you. Personally, I found the 1.5mg mini-lozenges were a godsend for stressful times like that and if I hadn't had them to turn to during those early days I am certain I would have lost my quit several times.

There are quite a few regulars on the forum who have used the e-cig as a quitting aid to very good effect so I certainly wouldn't rule it out as an option.

Anyway, onwards and upwards! May today be a much easier day for you.

[nsd_user663_5037]

I got some 2mg nicorette, hopefully that will sort it!

[nsd_user663_60964]

Oh good. I'm sure that knowing you have something to resort to will help a lot next time you find yourself in a stressful situation.

Well done Big