6 months smoke free - hit with cravings???

[Exnico]

Hi everyone, my name is Nicola and today I'm 6 months smoke free! I am delighted and never thought I would make it by 6 hours never mind half a year I stopped cold turkey on 40 birthday last year as think when you hit the big 40, you start to think and reflect about life and the future so decided there and then to stop. I done it cold turkey and went through all the up and downs, good days and bad days and feel so much healthier, happier and appreciation of my life now...........

But......all this week, I have had these out of the blue cravings that are a bit harder now to shrug off than before. I think its because I am getting the sense of spring/summer on its way and will be first smoke free summer in 27 years. This week we have had lovely sunshine and evenings are beginning to get longer and brighter (although winter seems to be back again for the next 7 days bringing arctic conditions here in Ireland ).

These cravings have knocked me for six as didn't expect them at this stage - well not to be so severe, has others experienced this and is it normal?

Thanks for reading

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free]

Huge welcome to our community Exnico and congratulations on 6 months smoke free, well done!

These out of the blue cravings are perfectly normal but can be very disheartening so far on in your journey - I posted below link here of my experiences with these which tend to occur in our first year, but the good news is, once you go through them for the first time you won't or will be less severe the next time. You are strong enough to deal with them, I promise, attack with all you have as you almost on this final stage to reaching the light at the end of tunnel.

healthunlocked.com/nosmokin...

Have a read through the other pinned posts and also other members journeys as quite a few of our members here are experiencing the same as the seasons change and reach certain milestones ( Exsmo )

[Exnico 1 Year Smoke Free in reply to RoisinO1]

Thank you so much for the warm welcome Roisin, it is a huge relief to read that is normal as was getting paranoid that I had maybe been inhaling nicotine subconsciously

I will continue to be on my guard as advised in your link, will read up too, how long have you stopped now?

PS Loving my badge, nice surprise

[RoisinO1 Administrator 3 Years Smoke Free in reply to Exnico]

Your very welcome Nicola, I will be 2 and a half years smoke free on St Patrick's Day, I remember when I hit my first 6 months on my first one, while in the pub had very strong cravings for a sneaky smoke but got through it....

[taurean7 2 Years Smoke Free]

Hi Nicola, welcome, and huge congrats on 6 months smoke free! I hear you. I found warm summer evenings hard, probably because they were so pleasantly tied to sitting outside smoking. The good news is after you get thru them once it becomes much easier, and the less the hold it has on you. You're in it to win it, keep fighting!

[CocoaXChange Valued Contributor]

Congrats Nicola. For me they came throughout the first year. I am 2+ now and I still occasionally get them. Very infrequently and they don't last. Sometimes I think I understand the trigger (but maybe imagine it) and sometimes it seems totally random.

But they definitely get less frequent and shorter as time goes by.

[casinolife 1 Year Smoke Free]

Welcome my friend. I am a newbie, 1 month, 2 week, 2 days. The other members are so helpful, you are in good hands.

Good luck, it is a struggle every day but each day is also a reward.

So proud of you for your accomplishment. A true figure to follow.

[Chinnup 1 Year Smoke Free]

Thanks for the heads up and hope your cravings pass very soon, 6 months is fantastic, keep going strong

[Exnico 1 Year Smoke Free]

Thanks for your replies and advice everyone, much appreciated and reassuring that it is normal which is half the battle to plod on

[Hercu Valued Contributor]

Exnico...It is a desperate attempt of the nicodemon to get you back because he know he is losing you....!

Well done on your six months smoke free and it just gets easier from here on...Never get over complacent and always be alert and you will be smoke free forever..!!

[Exsmo]

Hello Exnico . I have EXACTLY the same thing happening... feel free to look under my name. I have been whining, begging etc... Thankfully i had some forewarning on the pinned posts here and there are such lovely people who have/are walking me through this. It is much better but the crave feels as though its hiding around the corner waiting to pounce. Am very glad its fone back ro its corner! Those nice days are going to be tough AT FIRST until we fet through the first craves. After overcoming they will get better. Every thing ive read on here has pretty much been exactly what happened. I used to landscape and chain smoke as i worked. Recently we had very nice 70 degree F weather. It was wonderful...until nicodemon raised his ugly head! 2 days i had craves nonstop it seemed. 3rd day was better. Now its cold again so that may have been waht stopped it. When/If it hits again come here and stay close. Answers come pretty quick so you don’t have ro feel alone in it. Also you can type how you’re feeling and other similar posts may come ip to read. Very glad you’ve come here! Welcome to the best quit site for positive real support!

[Exnico 1 Year Smoke Free in reply to Exsmo]

Thanks Exsmo - yeah, Roisin kindly tagged you in her reply so read up on your good and bad days. Since I posted it has been huge relief and reassurance to know it is normal, battling through them but was really taken back and didn't realize these nostalgic, milestone and even seasonal cravings would occur, will be so better the next time knowing this - hope things stay settled for you (and me) and that your health issues get sorted so that you can start enjoying your new smoke free life, it really is the best.

The pinned posts and others stories are really invaluable, so glad I found this site