I have just reached a major milestone, my 1st year without smoking.
Giving up smoking was one hell of a ride.
It took a lot of will power, NRT (Patches), AE Staff (chest x-rays), my GP,My family's/friends support, support groups (Quit Support) and in the end I needed counselling (Severe Anxiety) to get to this year smoke free.
During my quit I experienced lots of withdraws effects, and I found the first 3-6 months both physically and mentally challenging.
Physical effects:
1, Bleeding Gums
2, Lots of coughing
3, Increase phlegm
4, Coughing blood
5, Coughing up tar (lots off!)
6, Shortness of Breath
7, Tidiness
Mental effects
1, Anxiety, including health anxiety
2, Panic Attacks
3, restfulness
4, lack of concretion
5, Depression.
6, Vivid dreams
The bleeding gums took around 3-5 weeks to heal, however to heal my lungs has taken nearly a year! - Even now I will still occasionally cough up small bits of tar.
Mentally, I needed professional help to overcome my anxiety, and I am still working on this, but I'm defiantly on the road to recovery.
Anybody thinking of quitting smoking and reads this post, please don't be put off by my experience. Everybody's quit is different and to be honest, knowing what I do now, I would still go though what I did in order to be where I am today - Smoke Free.
For anybody now giving up I would recommend you do the following;
1, Speak to your doctor and tell them your planning on giving up and ask what support is available
2, Join a support group - Quit Support is fantastic, and I really do mean this.
3, Stay positive - No matter how down you feel, keep in mind that you will be free of that nasty habit which is killing you from the inside out.
I'm sure most of you have seen this image I'm posting before, but it's a good reminder for me where all that all that tar I have coughed up came from - YUK!!!!
To a smoke free future
Love ya all
Ian.
xxxxx
BTW -
My Quit story I wrote at the back end of last year -
Well done, Ian. 1year is fantastic. Thank you for sharing your post about what you felt and the support you got. Lots of encouragementfor other members.
Well done hun, a full year, that is massive ESPECIALLY as you found it so tough. Big respect you are an inspiration to us little guys still plugging away one day at a time x
Your a superstar....love how you persevered with all the symptoms! that's great and very positive to hear...I am 3 weeks and soo excited and cant wait for 1 month. I am still coughing up tar and feel bloated and overweight but that's not going to stop me from .....Well done!
Now that is an inspirational story. 99.9% of people would cave in at the 1st hurdle but your perseverance is to be applauded. Congratulations on reaching a year.You certainly deserve the Gold Medal !!!!
WELL DONE on your first anniversary,what a star you are.I know it hasn't been easy for you but you stuck at it and look at you now.AMAZING effort.Huge hugs heading your way,I'm really happy for you.H x
Just reading your thread and it’s good to hear of someone coming out the other side. I’m 3 months in and feeling some of the symptoms you have outlined. coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing and anxiety. I’ve had chest X-rays and they are all clear. I’m hoping things will improve soon.
Wow, the real deal of how bad this drug is for the human race. I absolutely applaud your tenacity, perseverance and sheer bloody mindedness in beating this addiction - it sounds like youve been through Dantes Inferno and back. Awesome post and one that I’ll remember for a very long time. Thank you for posting the warts an all! You are amazing.
Sorry for reviving an old thread but I just wanted to say an enormous thank you for your posts and a massive well done 5 years i believe. I'm a day off five week quit cold turkey and am having an horrendous Time physically and emotionally. My doctor has referred me to the mental health people for extreme anxiety and possibly depression not something I've ever had issues with and I'm having terrible health anxiety its horrible I can't switch my mind off or sleep. I'm so reassured that I'm not the only person to have felt this way and there is light at the end of the tunnel. Thank you again all the very best Charlotte xxx
Hi Charlotte,please don't doubt yourself. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. You did well to ask your doctor for help. Well done on the four week, smokeless weeks!💪👍👏XXX
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