Hi my name is Julie and I’m a smoker. As soon as I roll out of bed in the morning I am thinking about cigarettes. I usually have coffee then smoke one. I’m wearing a patch so I went from a pack a day to 3-4 cigarettes a day but I am having the hardest time completely quitting. It’s almost as if I’m a professional quitter where I buy patches, swear to stop smoking, stop for a few days (sometimes) but I always go back. I always need a few drags and go back to being a full time smoker in no time. I’m come to the conclusion that I can never touch another cigarette again but I think that I would go crazy from the cravings. I’m supposed to start working soon and I know that smoking is no longer socially acceptable. I’m really mad and it’s so hard to have these strong cravings and not reach for a cigarette. I’m also feeling really mad that I’m not beating this addiction after trying countless times. I want to scream and vent. I don’t know why my body wants these cigarettes so bad that I feel that I can’t do this. I’ve read Allen Carr’s book twice and I keep forgetting everything in it. I’ve written down reasons to quit just to walk right by them on my way to smoke. I don’t even know if never having a cigarette is even going to work for me, I see myself going crazy with cravings and running to the gas station at 3am. Thanks for reading my blog.
Community
Welcome to the community!
The reason this quit thing is so difficult is that it is a two part ADDICTION - physical and psychological. The only way to beat it is to make up your mind that you are not going to smoke another cigarette no matter what. When the cravings hit, and they will , have a list handy with things you can do to get your mind on something else. They WILL end. You should not be smoking while wearing the patch. You are getting more nicotine than just smoking, probably, and your brain sensors are increasing and demanding even more when you quit. Just STOP it! Don't smoke with the patch. Just quit. Make up your mind that you will do something/anything but smoke when the urge hits. There is a list of things from which to choose a bit further on. This is tough in the first couple of weeks, but it gets easier and easier to do as you get some time under your belt - but you MUST get through the more difficult times to get there.
I am happy to know you have read Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” I credit it in large part with my success at quitting. You know now that the crave you are feeling is coming from the last cigarette you smoked, and those brain sensors will start demanding their next hit almost as soon as you finish a cigarette. Expect it, plan for it, and get past it. This isn't easy, but it IS doable. We all who have been successful did it - you can, too. Just make up your mind.
You should also read the posts here and perhaps go to the pages of folks who you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com, quitsmoking.com and livewell.com for the good information contained there. @https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex has lots of blogs written by members of this site with their experiences and guidance. Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.
It will be informative if you do the tracking and separation exercises recommended here on the site. As you track each cigarette smoked, note its importance, and what you might do instead. Put each one off just a little to prove that you don't NEED a cigarette just because you think you do.
The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced. Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit. If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different. Buy your gas at a different station. Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.
You need to distract yourself through any craves. You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game. Keep a cold bottle of water with you from which to sip. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time. You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits. Get busy! Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:
https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoke
The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?" Then DO it. You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.
Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!
Nancy