Help needed

[caninecrazy48]

I am struggling with champion, it seems to be helping me smoke much less. But as I am approaching the quit day, I am getting cold feet and worrying about failing. I am so angry with myself can anyone help

[beardy_chris]

Are you really worrying about failing? Or are you worrying about what life will be like without any ciggies? Failure is okay. Most of us have failed many times. All you need to do is pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again (to quote the song). You've tried before: failure didn't hurt that much, did it? It didn't make things worse, it just left you where you were before. Don't worry about failure. If you want something to worry about... - nah let's not go there. Concentrate on success, not failure. What would be better about your life if you succeed in quitting?

However, I assume by "champion" you mean "Champix" (damn predictive text!) and that may not be available to you multiple times, I guess. What quit support do you have? Medics? Family? etc. What are your reasons for quitting? Some of the best advice on this board is to write all your reasons down and keep them to help with your motivation when things get tough - and, I'm afraid they will get tough - but nothing you can't handle. Good Luck!

[caninecrazy48 in reply to beardy_chris]

Thank you for your support, perhaps some of it is wondering what it will be like. However I did quit for eight years before and know what it's like without cigs. That's the problem, life is great without the damn things but it's the getting there. And food tastes like heaven when you give up. I have support from my partner who is also trying with champix and new leaf. Some of what you say about failure makes sense, thank you

[EmJay Partner]

Hey caninecrazy48, lovely to hear from you again

I am assuming that you mean Champix and that your spellcheck has tried to right your spelling for you

How you are feeling at the moment is pretty normal, so just try to accept that You've been smoking a fair few cigarettes for a fair few years now and so it's not any wonder that you are getting cold feet as you near your quit date. As I said, this is pretty normal

The fear of failing is one of the most common factors that stop people from cracking on with their quit attempt - at the end of the day it is better to try and not quite get there until the next time rather than to never try and never get there... I hope that makes sense

The best thing to do is to think back to how you were feeling about stopping smoking before you had set your quit date. You might have had at least a little bit of "I want to do this" kind of feeling? A certain level of motivation? Think about how confident you were then.

Here's a few hints and tips that I hope will help you;

1. Try and find a positive about why you want to stop smoking and use that as your focus

2. Don't give yourself too much grief over how you are feeling, most folks who are giving up go through this thought and feeling process.

3. Have faith and confidence in that the Champix is already starting to work for you.

4. Have faith and confidence in yourself in that you are helping to Champix to work for you too!

5. Get excited about your quit date and look forward to taking the next step of your stopping smoking journey

On a scale of 1-10 (10 being pretty confident), how confident are you that you will stick to your set quit date?

You really can do this, the magic really starts when you begin to believe in yourself and take just that very next step. Go with the flow and don't be afraid to let us know how it is going for you - we can all help keep you going in the right direction then

Beardy_Chris has given you some fab advice there, so as you can see already - support is already fast heading your way... See, this is meant to be

[caninecrazy48 in reply to EmJay]

Thank you so much for your support, yes it is my. Spell check. I feel quite confident that I can do it but on a scale of 1-10 probably about 5. I have been going to the gym and swimming the past month and suffering as there is a huge difference when smoking. I also feel a fraud goings out for a fag but since the champix I manage four hours not too. It's not the failing to get through the morning, it's taking each craving as it comes and rising above it that scares me. When I stopped smoking before, I used nicotine gum and I had the shakes and got addicted to the gum and seemed to be in a permanent state of craving and it's scaring me that I may have to go back there. I am also angry as I managed to stay quit for eight years last time and now I have it again. But the champix is better than gum

[Briarwood Administrator LONG TERM WINNER in reply to caninecrazy48]

Hi canine crazy, you say you are scared and angry because of what happened in the past

I think you have to put the past behind you otherwise it will take over and just do one day at a time

You are also thinking of the future and what MIGHT happen, so there's an awful lot of worry

Please focus on each day and think of the positives

I'm on the ecig and this site has kept me going and I know you can do it as well

We're all scared when we start this journey as we don't know what's ahead but one day at a time really does work

Believe in yourself, keep saying you CAN do it

Sometimes we have to take a leap of faith and go for it

It will be sooooooooo worth it x

[caninecrazy48 in reply to Briarwood]

Thanks so much, I have just given in to a craving and had half of it I made myself stand outside in the rain to have it and threw had away. Yes I do remember the freedom before and also noticing the disgusting smell. I tried an Ecig once and it seemed too string, kinda like chain smoking.

[EmJay Partner]

This whole stopping smoking malarky brings many thoughts and feelings with it - It's quite a roller coaster of a ride too. Try not to think of how scary rising above a craving might be - deal with it as it happens. Also, remember that cravings are a great sign that your body is recovering and healing - and heading towards getting used to living a smokefree lifestyle

Putting yourself at number 5 is a great position, lets see how you can get yourself moved on to a 6 - Think back to how well you felt last time you quit and learn from all that you experienced that time.

You've already started making some fantastic progress towards your quit date and started making other changes in your life (going to the gym and swimming) and Champix is a really good therapy to use - especially when used properly

Keep on keeping on, you are heading in the right direction - just take each moment as you need to and if looking at your whole jorney is a bit too scary, then don't - just take each day, half day, hour or minute as it happens and you'll get there when it suits you

You can do this and have started your journey already

[caninecrazy48]

Thanks, I guess it's kind of similar to what alcoholics go through one day at a time etc, I never thought of it like that before. The strangest thing is with this champix is that it's taken away most of the physical craving and left me with the habit, and it feels strange as it's allowing me to ride out the cravings sometimes but I still feel the need to do it but it's not physical if that makes sense? I am on day 6 and the woman from new leaf is ringing me next Wednesday, my quit date is Monday.

[caninecrazy48]

Thanks, I guess it's kind of similar to what alcoholics go through one day at a time etc, I never thought of it like that before. The strangest thing is with this champix is that it's taken away most of the physical craving and left me with the habit, and it feels strange as it's allowing me to ride out the cravings sometimes but I still feel the need to do it but it's not physical if that makes sense? I am on day 6 and the woman from new leaf is ringing me next Wednesday, my quit date is Monday.

[jillygirl Administrator LONG TERM WINNER]

Caninecrazy, you can do it. Like being a toddler and learning to walk, once the first step has been taken there is no stopping. Ok you did it before and managed 8 years , so you can regard that as a practice run. Look forward to Monday the start of a new smokefree you. : )

[caninecrazy48 in reply to jillygirl]

Thank you,I am so glad I came here all of you have made me feel that I am not alone xx

[yellowsnowdrop]

I honestly never thought I would EVER manage to quit & 11 months on can still remember getting up that first morning & reaching for a cig before remembering that I had none & I was giving up.It's terrifying, but if you stick around here and shout if you Need help you'll be O.K. Use the time between now & your quit date to make a list of why you want to quit and how you'll cope if those cravings pop up.I PROMISE that if I can do it then there's NO earthly reason why you can't. GOOD LUCK.

[droopyJ in reply to yellowsnowdrop]

Hi caninecrazy, most of us on here have struggled at one time or another but there are worst things in life that could happen to us..!

Giving up isn't easy but there are people on here who are realising and living with the damage that putting that white stick in your mouth and lighting it up can cause you

You need to be positive & set your goals, we are all here to give you as much support as we possibly can..... as Briar says, take it one day at a time....

If you need other NRT products to support you in your quit then don't be afraid to use them, it's better than putting over 4000 toxins in your body every time you smoke

For me, coming on here was my life saver.... people are soooo encouraging and non judgemental and although we have had some very silly non smoking conversations.... it has helped me get thru my cravings

Give it a go and good luck for Monday we are ALL behind you hun -x-

[caninecrazy48 in reply to droopyJ]

Thanks so much droopy, I can't thank you enough your message has made a huge impact on me xx

[droopyJ in reply to caninecrazy48]

I hope in a good way

[caninecrazy48 in reply to yellowsnowdrop]

Thank you, I am feeling much more positive now

[monky Administrator 35 Months Winner]

Aup Caninecrazy, its lovely to see you again

I see you have had loads of support and great advice from some of our lovely members and not forgetting our lovely quit support adviser Emjay toooo

All I can say to you Crazy is, just let the champix work for you you will know when it starts to work, cos I have used it to help me quit before and it is very good, it cut me down from 30 - 35 cigs, to 9 a day, soooo, the next day I quit

Just let it happen for you and dont worry about failing and dont get angry with yourself, cos this could alter the way your feeling about quitting. Just try to calm down a bit eh and let champix do its job Try to be happy and proud for yourself for quitting and keep saying to yourself, yeah, am going to do this, I WILL and CAN do this, stay positive and focused, have no doubts in your mind that you cant do it

Maybe write a list out of the WHY'S you want to quit and keep reading it to yourself keep a copy with you, so if you get the urge for a ciggie, then read it out aloud to yourself to remind you WHY you want to do this

Have no doubt in your mind Crazy and you will quit with the help of champix, I tell ya gal Please stay with us Pete

[Lynne1966 21 Months Winner]

That was just how I felt. I really never, ever thought I would do it. I am now around six weeks in. I had set my date at the very latest possible date - secure in the knowledge it wouldn't work..... but it did! I admit to simply drifting into stopping - by around day 9 or 10 I simply didn't enjoy them. I also probably didn't do it at a good time with a holiday coming up but I did do it. I had kept a couple of cigarettes and admit at around week 3, I hid in the garden and lit one up. It was horrible.....

But I'm loving it! I love being a non smoker....I just dread giving up the Champix now! Hey, one day at a time.....

[monky Administrator 35 Months Winner in reply to Lynne1966]

Thank you soooo much Lynne for sharing your experience with Caninecrazy 48, thats just lovely of you

Thank you again

[glolin LONG TERM WINNER]

Hi caninecrazy, You have been given some excellent advice, All I can say is WELCOME!!!...and we are all here to help as on your journey

[Lynne1966 21 Months Winner]

Hi Caninecrazy, just wondered how you were doing....do let us know....

[caninecrazy48]

I have failed miserably and I am angry with myself and could not face coming back

[monky Administrator 35 Months Winner in reply to caninecrazy48]

Hi Caninecrazy.

For one don't beet yourself up about it, just think of it as a practice run. Champix isn't for everyone!!

Rite gal, when you're ready to have another go at quitting, let us know and we can put our heads together and draw up a quit plan for you.

Please come and get to know us and have a chat with us.

Hope to speak soon, Pete.

[droopyJ in reply to monky]

Hey canine, I'm sorry to hear that your last quit didn't work for you but as monky so wisely says, treat it as a practice run

I'm sorry that you felt you couldn't come on here, we are all here for you and we won't judge. I think most of us have been where you are now hun ....

Sit yourself down and think about why your practice run didn't work for you.... hopefully you can learn from this for your next quit

You can come on here anytime, just holler and one of us should be about to listen

[Briarwood Administrator LONG TERM WINNER in reply to caninecrazy48]

Canine crazy, you have NOT failed so don't be so hard on yourself

Don't be afraid, we do not judge

We are here to help, so when you're ready just give it another go

Looking forward to you trying again and use this experience to help, that's how we learn from our mistakes

Don't worry, when the time is right you can try again x

[Lynne1966 21 Months Winner in reply to caninecrazy48]

I was sorry to read this - PLEASE don't feel like this - this Champix stuff appears to work differently for different people. Are you still taking it? I have read that some people have taken it for WEEKS before feeling they can stop. The longer you take it, the nastier the cigarettes taste and then you may just stop. Worth a try! Perhaps (going against everything you are told to do) a combination of Champix and an e-cig? Worth thinking about perhaps! And keep smiling!