Looking for some advice, new member

[gibbers]

Forgive me for this being extremely long. My ADD tends to get me lost in thought and I'd like to give as much information as possible for others may have been in the same boat as I'm in. I tend to consider myself a quit-smoking veteran, I've got advice for everyone but myself lol. Been smoking for 18 out of my 30 years on this planet and have attempted to quit at least 6 times while only succeeding twice (once when I entered the military out of inability to use tobacco in training and once using the Nicitrol inhaler). As the time that I quit of my own free will was nearly 10 years ago and my situation was different, I was younger and not as into the "habit" as I am now I can't rightly remember when the cravings stopped/subsided.

Up until I quit, I was smoking between half a pack to a pack a day of full flavor Camels. I've read that quitting for the sake of others is never the way to go as you have to want it for yourself, but my son has been requesting that I quit for years (he's 9 now). I had been throwing around the idea of quitting for a couple months but never really committed. I've spoken to my doctor about Chantix but she wanted to get my ADD medication stabilized before pumping more drugs into me which was totally reasonable. My girlfriend brought an e-cig home that her mom got her (she is mostly a stress/occasional smoker who never really got hooked) and I tried it. They've come a long way from when I tried them years ago. They didn't have the vapor/clearomizer ones back in the day and I must say I was encouraged to give it a shot when I tried hers.

I've been using an e-cig with 24 mg nicotine content liquid for three weeks on Thursday. So far it's been good but my cravings for a real cig have gotten worse as time goes by (as I recall this is the hardest part right before it gets better). The worst ones are while I'm at work (I'm the only person on-site for 8-9 hours overnight), no real "triggers" as I would just smoke whenever I pleased. Predictably, my usage was much higher than when I was at home (where I have no problem happily puffing on my e-cig and not thinking about tobacco smokes).

Does anyone have any suggestions? I'm not much of an eater/snacker as my meds really curb my appetite. I've tried going outside when using my e-cig to mimic the act of smoking. I'm beginning to think that I'm more addicted to the lack of oxygen and introduction of chemicals than the actual nicotine (this has been the case with other illicit things I've done). Not to sound emo or anything, but am I a lost cause? Seems that without knowing what exactly I'm addicted to, I don't even know where to start.

I know I'm on the right path and I'm really enjoying not running out of breath as quickly. My senses of taste and smell are coming back in full color, my vocal abilities are astounding me. I refuse to go back to cigarettes and I know that there is no magical cure, quitting is hard work but aside from upping my nicotine dosage, does anyone have any suggestions? Thinking of going to a higher nicotine content liquid at work and staying with the 24 mg at home. Perhaps it was because I didn't set an actual quit date and prepare myself but instead just jumped in all willy nilly?

Thanks for reading my wall of text and hope to hear from y'all soon

[Pinkiezoom 26 Months Winner]

Hi Gibbers and welcome

I too am on the Ecig, and you have done brilliantly to get yourself smoke free, so look at the positives first.

I too still crave a "real" cigarette, but I just tell myself that my ecig IS giving me the nicotine that I need, and just fight through the cravings, because to be honest, I am not sure I would actually be able to smoke a real one, but it is a struggle sometimes for me, and I am heading for 3 months of quitting shortly, actually the cravings have got worse as time has gone on.

Just give yourself a shake when the desire happens, and think of how proud your son is, and how much more time and energy you are going to have to play with him, and your future grand kids

x

[gibbers 7 MONTH WINNER in reply to Pinkiezoom]

Ya know, I never really thought of how he feels about me quitting. He seems sort of excited but not really. Quite possibly due to the fact that I've stated I was quitting numerous times in the past and disappointed him each time I regressed which I can't really blame him for. He's young and doesn't yet understand the trials and tribulations that us (ex)smokers go through to quit. Thinking about how happy he will be when he understands though made me smile even though I'm a total grump right now (2.5 hours of sleep will do that to you lol). Thanks

[jillygirl Administrator Queen Bee]

Good morning Gibbers , First of all welcome to quit support and well done on quitting, Have you thought about using the lozenges when your at work. I am no expert but Emjay our advisor may have some suggestions, for you. Will give her a nudge and see if she can advise.

[gibbers 7 MONTH WINNER in reply to jillygirl]

I have tried the gum in the past as a passive method to cut down, have not tried lozenges. I did some reading and found out that sugar is found in tobacco. Apparently there is some sort of feel-good response that we get from essentially free-basing it. I have a stash of pink mints (aka canada mints), am going to shove one of those in my mouth when it gets bad again. Also came across Allen Carr's Easyway book thanks to this site, so far I'm impressed. He makes it sound so simple yet I can easily relate to it.

[Pinkiezoom 26 Months Winner in reply to gibbers]

I read that book and it made some sense to me, i took from it how i dont want to be a slave to the whole smoking thing

x

[gibbers 7 MONTH WINNER in reply to Pinkiezoom]

That's certainly a good way to look at it. I've never really thought of why I smoked, just accepted it as a fact of life. I suppose the first step to recovery is accepting that it doesn't really do anything for you, it's all in your mind. However difficult that is to realize and my smoker's brain wants to rationalize my use, it strangely makes sense even though I try to deny it

[Briarwood Administrator Ducky]

Welcome Gibbers, you have definitely come to the right place for help and support. There are a lot of people on here to help you. I'm still in the early days and on ecig and yes it's a bit of a struggle on a daily basis but like you I'm determined not to go back. So ever time I get the urge I talk myself out of it. Good luck with your quit journey

[gibbers 7 MONTH WINNER]

Doing a bit more research to understand what is going on and I didn't realize that it's not only the nicotine that we get hooked to but the plethora of chemicals are also addictive.... Tobacco companies really have done all they could to make this difficult for us! Maybe I should start mentally referring to Dory (from Finding Nemo), just keep swimming, just keep swimming

[Pinkiezoom 26 Months Winner in reply to gibbers]

LOL @Dory. But yeah whatever it takes you do it

There are over 4000 chemicals in cigarettes, so it does go to show the tobacco companies really do have us by the short and curlies huh!!! the very first bit you smoke has a sugar band in it so it releases endorphins, ( like choc does ) to that is why we get that "ahhhhhh" feeling, but its ridiculous that we think we need them when we are stressed, as they are a massive stresser in themselves x

[Pinkiezoom 26 Months Winner in reply to gibbers]

I found once i admitted i was a drug addict........ i made the choice to stop, when actually i was in a situation where i could and can afford to smoke, i dont care about the social stigma, and the health issues were not a huge driving force, but i just didnt want to be a slave ( or addict ) to something. x

[Fresher 8 MONTH WINNER]

Hi Gibbers you sound so sorted already, your head is definitely in the right place to stop right now, love the Dory thing, I'm going to use that lol god all them chemicals I hadn't thought about being addicted to all those to.

[Mindermummy]

Good luck...its scarey to hear of all those chemicals!