New and starting second week

[nsd_user663_63782]

Hello all -- I quit CT on March 2... so about to start Day 10 now... after 25 years, 1 pack/day.

Days 1 & 2 were awful physically, then it got much better and almost easy. But for the past couple of days, I've just been thinking about smoking so much. When does that stop?

The hardest for me, like it is for SpanishEyes, is the morning after breakfast, when I used to get so much work done with a cup of coffee and a cigarette. I am pretty useless now in terms of "getting work done," if it involves my brain in any way...

I only discovered this forum a couple of days ago, and am grateful for it!

[Incy_Wincy]

Hi Alma - I'm only a day ahead of you, so don't know when the thoughts stop I'm afraid! But I do know that this forum is incredibly welcoming, friendly and supportive

I had to do a MAJOR change of routine in the mornings - even though I never smoked till I left the house for work on weekdays, and not till a good few hours after getting up at weekends. I found that I had to sit in a different room, and do everything in a different order in the mornings, just to keep on top of it. So I sat in the living room with my morning cuppa, instead of the kitchen, I read a book instead of checking facebook/email, I showered before breakfast instead of after, that sort of thing...Could a plan like that help a bit? Do you work from home?

Good luck and nice to meet you Alma

[nsd_user663_63114]

Hi Alma,

Congratulations on day 10 and sorry to hear you having a hard time. It does get easier and as you can tell on here all our experiences differ. For me, after 2 weeks and a wobbly day in week 3, it's been recovering like a slow dripping tap. You do stop thinking of smoking and it does get easier I promise. Your quit will be unique to you so it's difficult to say when, but you will feel different in a week, and even better a month from now

[nsd_user663_42220]

Welcome to the madhouse Alma

Impressive stuff getting to well over a week on your own, you should be proud of yourself

Just take a moment to think about the fact that you smoked 20 a day for 25 years. Every 30-40 minutes or so for 25 years you went through the physical act of smoking , whilst giving yourself a hit of nicotine and all the other nasty chemicals it came with. That's a deeply ingrained habit and you can't expect to break a 25 year habit in a few weeks.

If you can accept that, and accept that for a few weeks and months you'll have good days and bad days, it will make your quit journey easier to handle. If you know you'll have some bad days, even after a month or two, you won't be surprised or disheartened by them will you.

One thing I can say is that as time progresses the good days start to outweigh the bad days and the bad days start to get easier and easier to handle as the craves get weaker and weaker. Like every new quitter, you'll probably find that hard to believe, but every successful quitter takes that leap of faith and trusts that it's true. Time really is a healer in a quit. You've smoked for 25 years, at least give yourself 6 months to try and change that habit

Sometimes you do have to change your routine, as Incy says, to break the associations between various situations and smoking. Drink tea or orange juice instead of coffee or replace the cigarette with something else.

You've done so well so far and you'll get lots of support, help and tips on here from people who have been through, or are going through, what you are. Stick closely to the forum and post daily. If you feel you are about to smoke please, please post here first and give us a chance to get you through it.

You've done brilliantly so far, take it minute by minute, hour by hour and you will make it through

Why not start a thread in the Week 2 room. Be proud of what you've achieved so far, you've earned it

[GrahamA 3 Years Smoke Free]

Well done Alma, and welcome. Capitan makes a good point regarding breaking 25 years' worth of habit. I found that after day 50 or so I was still counting the days, although not physically craving. By a few weeks later I wouldn't have a clue which day or week of my quit I was on, without checking, only approximately. I still think about smoking when I see someone do it on tv, and still have to be vigilant.

[AnnMarie74]

Hi Alma

I quit on 26/02/2015 CT too after 25+ years. I am doing ok, actually quietly pleased today as its day 14! I found day 10 tough so rooting for you today. You're nearly at two weeks x

[nsd_user663_4609]

Hi Alma, congratulations you have done amazingly well...my concentration levels are ridiculous at the moment , I forgot my pin yesterday that I have had over 15 years...had to walk away from ATM then try again 5 minutes later! It will pass...I hope xx

[nsd_user663_42220]

Tell me what your PIN is Ali, I'll remember it for you

[nsd_user663_4609]

Its , erm, its...on the tip of my tongue erm.

Nope forgot it....

[nsd_user663_42220]

:p.

[nsd_user663_58050]

Hi Alma and welcome. I've only been using the forum regularly for about 10 days, the support and encouragement here are excellent, and am on Day 5 with Champix. Beyond the suggestions above, and I manage to use some of them, at the moment I'm also finding comfort in breaking the time passing into goals. For example, I had a dodgy hour or so yesterday afternoon, but because I was over half way to making week 1, I just knew I would not smoke. That I would reach one week without.

Changing routine is an excellent strategy and needed, otherwise we're just doing exactly the same without the smoking (and a lot of our routines are based around smoking anyway. My day is/was broken down into smoking intervals) and that leaves a gap. Orange juice instead of coffee, shower on rising, go out for a quick walk, taking deep breaths, dancing to music, meditating, whatever. Anything. Plus I'm trying to change my thinking towards Yes! I'm so happy I'm not smoking! instead of I'm really missing smoking! A challenge. I'm expecting this to take time so I'll probably be going through all of this when I have done as well as you and have reached 10 days.

All the best.

[nsd_user663_63782]

Thank you so much everyone for the warm welcome and kindness and advice... this forum is really wonderful.

Yes, I have changed my schedule, especially in the morning --- and yes Incy, I am a writer, so I am pretty much useless right now... This is, for me, the single factor that could make me smoke again: I do very much hope I am going to be able to concentrate and write again very soon, because I need to be able to do so...

Capitan: will post in the Week Two section.

[Incy_Wincy in reply to nsd_user663_63782]

You will! My concentration is coming back - I'm doing distance learning, so on my days off I 'work' from home, too. It is difficult, but I'm getting the hang of it and so will you

[nsd_user663_2681]

Hi alma there is not much I can add I just wanted to pop in and say hi and welcome,

It's great to have so many new members here if it's any consolation my concentration span is...... Oooh chocolate....... keep ploughing on hun, it

Truly does get better for me it's around the 3 month mark which is why I always ruin it and have "just one" as I think I am ok, not this time xxx

[nsd_user663_62294]

Hi Alma. Welcome and good luck with your quit. Well done for making the decision to improve your health. I smoked 27 years, didn't quite quit ct but used an ecig very occasionally for a month or so. It does get better in a few weeks from what I remember and I'm almost 10 months now, I NEVER thought for a minute that I could stop smoking but I have, and you can. Be positive and take it one day at a time. This forum is pretty good for support so keep posting.

[Jess9 1000 Days Smoke Free]

Well done Alma, I'm 3 weeks in CT and I still have days like that (today being of them) but we are nicotine free and I don't intend on going through this hell again x

[nsd_user663_63782 in reply to Jess9]

We are nicotine free, and it makes me feel so good to be able to say so! -- Well done to YOU!... it's inspiring to see others in weeks 2, 3, 4...