24 days and the struggle is real.

[Georsm66]

I am not going to smoke however each step/milestone I take is a whole new level.

First week was physical , Week 2 mental, week 3 less intense but all of the above. Week 4 I find myself saying do I really want to be a non smokeR? Just have 1!? It will make you feel better? It's comforting, familiar and weirdly my friend.

I know it's the addiction talking but it feels so real. How do I get passed this...is it time? Is it something I need to mentally overcome?

I am going to beat this...evern though this battle is exhausting and difficult I feel better than I have in years! I am proud of myself and even when things are going wrong in my life I think back and say today I didn't smoke and that's my greatest acheivement.

Any advise would be great. How are my fellow survivors?

[mj51 9 MONTH WINNER]

I gave up smoking on 10 july - 11 weeks ago now. I had not intended to give up that weekend but left my cigarettes behind by accident in the kitchen drawer when going off for my daughters hen weekend. The motivation ( after 45 years of smoking and always giving up tomorrow) was to not smoke at my daughters wedding on 6 September. I initially took champix but gradually ( mainly because I forgot) stopped and still kept not smoking.

A lot of the time it has been much easier than i imagined- though stress is the one that does it for me. And I get a lot of stress. Oddly it has helped to have the cigarettes still in the drawer - i think i might panic if they weren't there, go and buy some and then, having made the effort to go get them , smoke one.

After the wedding ( my mission accomplished) what kept me from havng 'just the one' was going to the Quit clinic- the lovely Quit Supervisor has been a real inspiration and you feel she actually cares so dont want to disappoint her ! That( the Quit program) comes to an end next week. And now I am feeling just like you - do I really want to be a non smoker for the rest of my life? Surely I can just have the one occassionally?

So far I have resisted and , like you. wake each morning thinking - I did it! - and feeling physically better for it .

But I would welcome suggestions about how to get from 3 months to 6 months and keep going even when no one is watching any more and your friends and family are so used to you not smoking they take it for granted and dont realise the daily struggle that lies behind it is still there.

I live on my own so no one to see.

[Angeline12345 in reply to mj51]

Bless you you have done really well , I know how you feel and sadly you can't just have one now and again it never works like that. I know if I have one I would be back to it all the time. As that has happened in the past. You will get there just take one day at a time and before you know it it will be 6 months. Think of the money you've saved I couldn't afford the habit!!!

I do still get the urge to have one specially after a nice meal etc but I think I will always have that but it's not as strong an urge as it was months ago. Then when I think of wanting one if I'm out I can smell someone's fag and the smell is awfull, makes me feel sick.

You have and are doing really well I'm so proud 😀 Xx

[monky Administrator Cake eater in reply to mj51]

Hi Mj its lovely to see you and still smokefree tooooo and I'm sooo proud of you you are one hell of an ACE Lady

No 1 mission accomplished soooo, now its time for No 2 mission think of something you really want, for yourself, for the house, a holiday perhaps so you have to save the would be fag money up to do it plus you will have something to look forwards to eh

I can think of a long term mission for you now your daughter has got married, you may hear the pitter patter of tiny feet in the future Well, which Grandma do you think they would like better the stinky smoky one or the lovely smelling one Just a thought Mj

Ok, you live alone, that dosnt stop you from coming on here and having a chat with us and maybe a laugh or two eh There are loads and loads of lovely members on here, just try it eh

Take care now and see ya soon hopefully

[Oolou 10 MONTH WINNER]

I think knowing that others are feeling the same way too helps - because you know you aren't alone in this battle. I'm a month now into my quit but yes, I know it would be soooooo easy to have a cig. There are still times of the day, or particular moments when I think 'oh, just pop outside for a fag' and then remember 'uh no, that's not an option anymore'. And yeah I do ask myself every now and then, do I really want to be a non-smoker? Sure, the answer is yes, but the question is still asked in my head!

It's a mental thing. It's a grit your teeth and say 'nope' thing. It's annoying and might make you grumpy for five minutes. It might make you go searching for a snack. It might make you go for a walk, or jump up and down on the spot or whatever you choose to do when you need to do something physical other than reach for a cig. I'm actually saying under my breath, 'Nope, not one puff ever' when I get that feeling. It works for me. Sometimes I do a little mental dance too or an actual little dance of celebration on the spot, even if I don't particularly feel happy - but the action of doing it somehow helps me feel better.

We're all there with you. We know what you're going through. Find your way of saying NOPE!

[Briarwood Administrator LONG TERM WINNER]

Hiya Geo, you're doing really well and just take one day at a time and you will get there. It's not easy but it's worth it. YES you do want to be a non smoker and YES it's worth it. One will NOT make you feel any better and it's gotta be NOPE all the way. NOPE NOPE NOPE🚭 please don't fall into the trap of just one coz then you'll have to start all over again. You can do it, stay strong and stay close to this site👍🏼😊x

[jaglan 22 Months Winner]

keep going!!!! Believe me I know the struggle!!! Oulou is right Geors, its a mental thing. After 3 months (bloody remarkable I can tell you!!!!!!) I still get that knot in my stomach when I think about it. I know its the addiction and find myself cursing it in rather unsavoury terms (not publishable, don't want to be banned!!!) I also know it kicks in when I need to take a break or fill an empty time space or just sit and do nothing. Boredom. I think I used to find ways to do nothing. Then fill that nothing with a fag, thinking about all the things I would do in the 40 mins after Id put it out. The things that actually never got done, but I DID THINK about doing them!!!!! Now I DO them. I bike ride, I walk. I interact with people god forbid!! It is mental and it is addiction. We will always be addicted but we will always have the choice to be or not to be!!!! That is the question!!! mmmmm reckon I might write a play with that line!! Keep going Geors.... we all are xxxx

[Hidden]

A lot of good replies to your post, Georsm -- -- good questions -- and it's evident that we all share similar experiences and feelings.

And yes, I sometime think I too "miss" having a smoke -- but I KNOW that indulging even once (since I am a nicotine addict) will get me right back into that nasty, expensive, controlling, and unhealthy habit. (that's happened in the past)

When all else fails -- I just have tom postpone that smoke. Not right now; not today.

I learned about taking "One day at a time" many years ago when I had to give up another addiction. I had liver disease and it wasn't from eating too much ice cream. Taking one day at a time works for a whole lot of folks -- hang in there -- just don't smoke today.

[monky Administrator Cake eater]

Hi Georsm66, I see you've had lots of replies from some of our lovely members and I am just loooooving it how we all try to help eachother

I have just put a post up which may interest you - Friend or Foe ??

Georsm, your doing ever so ever so well please do not fall into his trap !!

[Georsm66 31 Months Winner]

Thank you thank you thank you! Your posts are helpful and supportive. I appreciate you taking time to write back. Tomorrow will be the longest I have gone without smoking! I am very happy I found this site. Thank you.