Give and get support around quitting
#The longest I had stopped before was three months and during that time the cravings were constant and severe. Is this normal and what can I do?
Thank you Minihorses...
In my opinion daily cravings that are horrible is not acceptable. Quitting should not be torture. There is treatment for quitting including support, nicotine replacement therapy, medication, local meetings. NO one should suffer severe mental distress from quitting for a sustained period of times. Urges and cravings now and then is not the same as daily high level cravings.
This is an addiction that requires, from most quitters, a pile of tools and support to quit reasonsonably comfortably. De-tox is an early part of the quit, remembering smoking and feeling urges can be for a while after quitting (but should not be severe). Making behavioral changes regarding your daily routine and getting strong quit support can be big tools in your quit, if you are willing to learn and practice them. As for nicotine replacement therapy and meds, educate yourself and ask your doc.
I've chimed in because you asked, but as always at Ex, take what you need, leave the rest.
Thank you maryfreecig.
Welcome to the big family of EX! You've already received a lot of sound advice, do a lot of reading and evaluating of the tools suggested to you, and select what seems appropriate and useful to you. We are all different, we all quit our own way, but as maryfreecig mentioned, the quit should not be as hard as you described you had it during your prior attempt. The more informed you are, the more prepared, the happier you are about the wonderful decision you made, the easier it is going to be for you. Here is what another of our elders (Dale) put together to help someone who starts on this journey. Nobody says it is really easy, but it is not as hard as one would expect it to be, not if you know what to expect: https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/thread/6040-my-welcome-to-new-members-10-years-of-wisdom-
Click on the link. This is what the expert advice offers.https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/community/expert-advice/blog/2017/07/19/i-m-terrified-the-craving...
Welcome! Education about this addiction and a strong preparation will help you. There are lots of tools and wisdom to be had among the pages here. I highly recommend you read the material (and comments, because you can often learn as much if not MORE from comments than actual blogs) in Best of EX Here's one blog: https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/message/30772-smart-turkey
We created the behaviors associated with our smoking, the when and where. The addiction is responsible for the why. Once we understand the nature of the correlation, we can change those behaviors. It takes work. But you don't have to spend a lifetime going through constant and severe cravings. I can assure you those of us with long-term quits are not suffering. None of us would have made it if we had constant and severe cravings 24/7.
I lost two or three quits at the 3-month mark. It takes longer than that to get over the hump. Read the links provided above by the others. Seek and ye shall find. Glad you've joined us. Chin up.
I tried to comment twice lost both sonewhere in blog land ANY WAY hope your doing better and less cravings today rbrown53 keep on keeping on and TOGETHER WE WILL STAY QUIT yahooooo for you rbrown53 CONGRATS to you ONE day at a time!