Is this NML

[Nymous]

A few words about my quit history. I quit on January 19 cold turkey and after a 20 days, I slipped, smoked three cigarettes back to back and threw away the packet and immediately picked up. Needless to say, I was ashamed and felt bad for succumbing to temptation. I reset my quit and I am currently on my 21st day.

For last two days, I am having extreme cravings last two days my cravings during the evenings and night been really really bad and honestly not able to sleep. Woke up yesterday and ate a whole pie, ate some cheese, cold water etc etc. 

So my question are these the cravings typically seen during NML period -coz if  I do not count my slip and use the original date of January 19 as my quit date- this would be my day 42 

[MichelleDiane]

I think the Elders will have a more full answer to that, but I don't think you fully in NML as you smoked three cigarettes and that woke the receptors up again.  If I am correct, which I stay teachable if I am not, your quit date after the slip is what you would go by.  Elders...your take on this.

[Nymous]

I did reset my quit date immediately. I did read that the receptors wake up again to the full degree. I am not worried about the dates really. I am just trying to understand these damn cravings and why they have to show up after two weeks. I was not expecting it.

[elvan]

Cravings are sneaky...they will pop up out of nowhere and sometimes feel like they are so strong that they are going to envelope you...remember that no crave ever killed anyone but no one can say that about smoking.  It DOES get easier, one day at a time, one step at a time.  I am so sorry you lost that other quit but so proud of you for recognizing that you don't have to give up...you DON'T, keep going forward, keep identifying what works and what doesn't and it WILL get easier.  We are here for you and every one of us wants you to succeed.

Ellen

[Roller831]

Hi!  NML is from ABOUT Day 30 to Day 130 or Month 2, 3, or 4 of a quit.  You may find our weekly check in helpful.  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/message/116464-nml-in-betweener-weekly-check-in-2262018?sr=search...‌  In that discussion, there are a couple of links to some great blog posts like https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex/blog/2011/05/24/no-mans-land-days-30-to130-appr...‌ or /blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2011/06/26/what-to-expect-in-the-first-four-months?sr=search...‌.  

[Jennifer-Quit]

The timeline for NML is not exact.  The bottom line is that you are having cravings. Does not really matter if it is because you are in NML or not - it just matters that you make it through with out smoking.  Do whatever is necessary to get through.  Take a walk, do a puzzle, take a shower, play a game, read a book, etc.  And that craving will pass - I promise!  

[Nymous]

Yeah, true. I agree what you say. Craving is Craving, whether day 1 or day 50 or day 1000. but I am just trying to understand it better as I was not expecting any craving after the first two weeks.  I was expecting some cravings during the 30 - 130 days . It is frustrating, while I am confident and tell my self to get through, the feeling is irritating particularly as it is intense during the night.

[YoungAtHeart]

I would suggest that you think about how you are handling your quit differently lately - and if, perhaps, you aren't working it as hard?  Remember - you don't want to let that desire to smoke thought rattle around in your head.  Change your mind's direction - immediately.  The better you get at this, the quicker your body will adjust to your new life without the drug.  Slow, deep breaths are ALWAYS available to you.  This is WORK - sorry to say - and the better you work it, the easier it will eventually become.

If you awaken at night and can't get back to sleep - try counting backwards from 1,000 - or name U.S. cities in alphabetical order, or think of girls'/boys' names for each letter of the alphabet.  Get your mind working on something else.

This, too, shall pass, and I promise it will be worth the effort it takes - I PROMISE!

Nancy

[Lisaml]

I'm new to this process (day 53-54ish) but k just wanted to tell you that I think it's normal for these cravings to pop up anytime.... even after our receptors should be back to "normal". 

Hang in, you are doing this!!!!! Please stay with me we all need all the support we can get! Xoxo 

[Tabbiekat]

Hi Nymous,

Congrats on your 21 days quit. I would say you are entering the NML and it is more of a fluid time give or take a few days, I was in a similar situation as you. I quit smoking Oct 17th, slipped and smoked during a 5 hr period on Oct 30th and reset my quit to Oct 31st. The first half of November  I did not go through the hard withdraws I did when I quit Oct 17th, I spent that time kicking myself for smoking and replaying the hours prior to lighting up over and over. I learned my lesson and moved on. As I moved further into my quit though I did notice I was in NML early due to the slip..it's a tricky situation and even now 100+ days in I still have those moments of hard hit periods of going through the motion as if I were going to go smoke. I have breath mints sitting where my pack used to sit so I grab one of those. Posting here and coming to read about what others are going through has been the biggest benefit to keeping my quit.

You got this

Tabbie