Strangely easy....

[jjbabes]

Hi guys!!

I'm currently on my 6th smoke free day &I thought I'd join this to seek advice from fellow quitters. I've been smoking for around 10 years and smoke around 20 roll ups a day. I'm going cold turkey but I'm just a little concerned that I'm not finding giving up smoking hard? I mean there are times at work (1 or 2 times a shift) I have a craving that lasts 2-3 mins but I don't really think about cigarettes or have real urges to smoke. I am surrounded with smokers btw!

Any ideas on why must I not be finding giving up smoking difficult? I'm not complaining I have read a lot of stories on chats like this website on how difficult it's been for people. Is it going to hit me on my second week? was I really not addictive to the nicotine it was just because I enjoyed smoking?

Thanks In advance

[Hidden]

Hey there, everyone is different, my son stopped with me and he is over his cravings and it's been a month now for the both of us. Myself on the other hand has had a difficult time. The 1st week wasn't bad but week 2 and 3 were pure hell. I was angry, short tempered and couldn't stand for someone to give me encouraging words, especially a non smoker!!! I wanted to just inhale once and damn the consequences. I truly felt like I was going crazy. It sounds made up or fabricated but I was staying dizzy, felt drunk, head was pounding 24/7. I knew if I smoked I would feel better and all this would go away, well, I still haven't smoked, been a month now and I feel good. Urge is still there, more like a whisper but I found out from my doctor that what I was feeling was my mind convincing myself I need to smoke to live, weird, I know but true. So I retrained my brain, really had to let myself have panic attacks , which I had a lot of, especially at nighttime and prove I didn't need a cigarette. Doing better but please don't over estimate the power of nicotine and the hold it can have. I have never felt like this and never want to again.

[CocoaXChange Valued Contributor]

Congrats on quitting JJ. As Holly said everyone is different. The first week is unbearable for some people, but for others it hits the 2nd or 3rd week. The euphoria of quitting helps some people at the beginning, but then they get "bored" with their quit and the cravings get worse. But just stay positive and hope the worst of it passes you. But if it doesn't read some of the relevant posts or otherwise check in here.

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free]

Welcome jjbabes and congratulations on almost reaching your first big milestone of 1 week - well done

Like Holly and Cocoa said, everyone is different in how they cope in their quitting journey.

My take on it is, what your smoking mindset or smoking reason was/is and if you go cold turkey and get the nicotine out of your system straight away too - my husband gave up a year and a half before I gave up, cold turkey, the first week of his quit was the worst for him but found it ok and relatively easy as he only smoked as he thought he enjoyed smoking and was addicted to smoking and really done it out of habit.

17 months ago, I quit cold turkey and by Day 8 I was pulling my hair out and climbing the walls and only got some level of normality at the 6 month mark but my reason for smoking was that it was my crutch that I leaned on and hid behind in my every day life as I believed I could only function by smoking and that it helped me with work, dealing with stress, worries, socializing, celebrating, grieving, coping - the list is endless, so it was so hard to get my head around that I would have to do all these smoke free - I am now at peace with this and have accepted and embraced my new life without smoking - it feels good but still have the odd nostalgic feeling for 'just one smoke' for old times sake - but my mantra is strong now and is settling firmly in my mind, 'Not One Puff, Ever!'

Keep in touch with us and let us know how you are getting on.....

[jjbabes 1 Year Smoke Free]

Thanks for the responses guys!

Day 7 today!!! I can't actually believe I've gone a whole week cold turkey!😱 I'm still not really 'craving' a fag, if I get frustrated or angry at work that's the time I go for a smoke so it's now finding something to chill me out without it involving smoking!

I am a little worried for the next 7 days because it's gone so well this week, easier then I ever expected. I'm concerned week 2 is going to be hell 😩😩😩

[ericmartin 1 Year Smoke Free]

Hello, that's great to hear. The first time I quit, it was much easier for me. I remember week 2 was more difficult than week 1 because you start realising that you cannot smoke ever no matter what, but I accepted the challenge and everything went according to plan. After week 2, it becomes easier. Just fight every craving during week 2.

I relapsed after 5 years, and this is when I'm finding quitting much more difficult, week 1, 2+: much more difficult than the first time. Week 1 was even difficult for me if it makes you feel better, the body just reacted weirdly. I got sick, coughed a lot, felt cold at times, hot at times.. You're doing great!

And just keep going at it (specially at peak cravings, usually week 2) and don't relapse as it gets more difficult to quit when you do. Good luck