Initial Quiting Phase

[baizelovers]

Is it true the first 24 hours is the worst? How do people make it through the initial rough part?

[Samanthadoom]

I think the first couple days so far have been hard. I have moments where I am like, I got this! Then...out of the blue I get a craving so hard that it hits me sideways. It always helps when I post on this site or text the messages on my phone as I get a diversion technique that will get me thought those moments. I know I can do this and I know you can too. Stay close to this site and when you get the urge, make a post, ask for help, share what's going on. Someone will reply with the best advice ever and you will know you are not alone on your quit. We are all here for each other to quit smoking. Let's do this!!!! 

[Tanua]

Well it’s different for all. My first 4 days were really hard. I kept telling myself each day to just get through this day and I did. I tried to focus on the positive. I found new things to do to create a new way of life. Now I do the new things and my old way s are fading away.  Tanuaj 79 DOF

[Giulia]

For me day 4 was the worst.  First three days were a piece of cake 'cause I was all revved up and excited.  And I had read that the majority of the nicotine is out of your body in 3 days.  That was exciting!  So after reaching that milestone I think reality set in!  lol  The nicotine may have been out but the cravings were in.  But this journey really is so influenced by one's attitude.  You have to accept that it's just going to be uncomfortable for a while, that there will be good days and bad days, better days and worse days, days when you feel strong and on top of it and days when you slink back into psychological victim mode.  My head game kind of went like this playlette I wrote:  /blogs/Giulia-blog/2016/09/06/a-quit-dialogue-in-iv-acts?sr=search&searchId=10d9b6cb-891b-4584-8865-...‌  Our emotions aren't the same every day.  Nor are our strengths and weaknesses.  Our days aren't the same and neither are our reactions to them.  But one of the things we learn through this quitting process is how to manage our reactions.  We have a lot of nifty sayings here, like:  "a craving isn't a command."  Cravings just need to be channeled in different directions.  

How to people make it through the initial rough part?  They commit 100%.  They make quitting their Number One priority.  They ACCEPT their choice.  They are WILLING to go through whatever it takes.  They PERSEVERE.  And they read everything they can get their eyeballs on and stay open minded and absorb everything shared by other quitters in all stages.  And some of the most successful long-term quitters keep a keen sense of humor about themselves.  Humor really helps in this quitting business.  It enables one to step back and gain a new perspective.  And being able to have a different perspective is a really important thing when you're myopically caught up in cravings.  That's why we urge getting up, getting out, going for a walk, finding happy distractions.  You have to take your quit into your own hands and work it, like play dough.  And when it becomes silly putty, laugh!

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Just make up your mind that no matter where you are in your quit, no matter what is happening in your life, no matter who does or does not support you, no matter how hard it is you will never have to do day One again.  Make it a day WON.  Stay close.  You can do this.

 

[Barbscloud]

Yes the first few days can be hard, but that doesn't mean you can't do it.  The key is educating yourself about nicotine addiction and being prepared.  There is lots of information on this site to help you with that.  If you need help, reach out.  We're here for you.

Barb   

[dixiequit8-7-13]

For many people, I think it is more about changing their routines and distracting themselves. This isn't just a day of discomfort. I'm sorry to say that for me, the first day wasn't the hardest.  It was more like 3 months, but I smoked for a very long time and started as a child of 11. I did a lot a deep breaths and told myself how lucky I was that I could breathe. To remind myself what not breathing felt like if I got emphysema, I would breathe through a throw pillow. When I could, I simply refused to think about smoking. As in I forced my mind to go blank and tried to not have any thought at all. When that failed, I would get myself riled up at cigarette manufactures for being so greedy that they purposely addicted me and millions of others, knowing that it would kill us. I just kept saying to myself that I wasn't going to pay them another dime to kill me. Good wishes to you. Stay the course. Dixie

[Giulia]

I love that you took the reins of your quit and did it YOUR way.  I'm really curious, though  Dixie, cause you're suddenly back offering wonderful support.  Going back in your history it looks like you became a vaper after you quit cigarettes?  Just am really wondering what drove you back to this site to participate again with your Elder wisdom?  Glad you're back - whatever the reason.

[dixiequit8-7-13]

I quit smoking by vaping. Then I quit vaping. I felt that there was very

strong sentiment against that on the site at that time. The site did not

fit my needs and I got support from other websites.

Recently I got an email notification stating that somebody was following me

at the site. I couldn't imagine what site this was. When I opened up the

site, I saw an entire section about vaping. I responded to a post about

what worked for me as well as a few others that caught my attention. It

wasn't until later that I realized that the site was the one that I had

left.

On Sat, Jul 20, 2019 at 8:14 PM Giulia <communityadmin@becomeanex.org>

[Giulia]

How cool is that!  Yes we were pretty hot under the collar about vapers in the beginning.  But we've learned!  We're a bit more open minded and tempered in our responses now!  lol  Though to go from quitting smoking to quitting vaping seems like a two-step unpleasant process when for some of us it was just quitting that one nicotine hand-to-mouth thing.  (Well, when we finally got there!)  But we each do it our own way.  And happily you're free of BOTH!  So many kudos heading in your direction.  And really glad you've come back to share your wisdom of both experiences.  Because we're getting more and more vapers on here daily.  And we need more wisdom from Elders with vape experience who have been success at quitting that too.  So hope you'll stick around!

[CommunityAdmin]

dixiequit8-7-13 wrote:

I quit smoking by vaping. Then I quit vaping. I felt that there was very

strong sentiment against that on the site at that time. The site did not

fit my needs and I got support from other websites.

Recently I got an email notification stating that somebody was following me

at the site. I couldn't imagine what site this was. When I opened up the

site, I saw an entire section about vaping. I responded to a post about

what worked for me as well as a few others that caught my attention.  It

wasn't until later that I realized that the site was the one that I had

left.

How cool is that.  Yes, opinions can shift over time.  We're constantly looking at how we can provide information to help people with their quit journey no matter the type of nicotine delivery they're trying to separate themselves from.  The members of the community adapt over time too.  I don't know the exact time that E-Cig and Vape Quitters and Users‌ was created but we brought it forward from the old community and have added new content here both on the site and also here on the community to meet the needs of our ever-changing population. Glad to see you back!

Quitting Chewing Tobacco | BecomeAnEX  and Chewing Tobacco‌ also exist for those who dip.

Mark
EX Community Manager