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Give and get support around quitting

Sberry25
Member

When does it get easier

I'm wondering when the withdrawals stop or at least decrease in intensity.  I smoked for 30 years and quit 14 days ago. I was able to quit using Chantix. I have so many triggers and I am miserable thinking about smoking constantly.  Just wondering when it gets easier. On the bright side, I do feel physically better. The aches and heaviness in my lower legs has went away.  That's one of the reasons I decided to quit because I think my circulation in my legs was worsening and my lung function was also declining. I'm taking the stairs at work and my breathing has greatly improved in just 2 weeks! I try to remind myself of the benefits of not smoking but it really gets difficult sometimes. 

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14 Replies
YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to our community!

Congratulations on your decision to quit and making it through H#ll and Heck Weeks!  Quitting smoking is a journey - and everyone's is a bit different.  Hard to say when it is going to be over for you, but the worst is usually the first two weeks.  It won't be like a switch turning off, but a gradual decrease in the number, frequency and strength of the craves.

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-instea...
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.

Educating  yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind helps you to understand what they are going through as you quit.   To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read which can be found online or at your local library.


 Reading makes for a great crave buster. 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.
 

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

Barbscloud
Member

Welcome to the Ex and congrats on two weeks smoke free already.  You're off to a great start, so be patient.  You've just eliminated  nicotine and thousands of chemical form your body when you smoke a cigarette.   You're body is healing.  It will take some time, but it will get better.  Remember this a journey an you'll probably experience different things along the way.  In the meantime, read as much as you can on this site.   It will help you to know what to expect along the way.  We're here to support you, so just reach out if you need help.  .  

JACKIE1-25-15
Member

Hi, Sberry Welcome to EX Community. This question comes up very often. To help address your question I have to say that every individual is different. It could be less time for you and more time for others is what I am saying.  If you have smoked for 30 years it will definitely take time to reprogram your thinking but know that it will if you continue on your path of not taking another puff.  Thank God it will not be as long as you smoked.  For me, the cravings/thoughts subsided in about within a 60 day.  timeframe  Mind you I say subsided.  The thoughts will be there but because you have committed not to smoke you will be okay no matter what thoughts you have.  You simply do not have act upon the thought.   Eventually, in time you will swat them like you do a gnat and keep it moving.  In the meantime develop a plan of what you are going to do other than smoke and do it.  /blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoke?sr=search&searchId=4ad0...    

Giulia
Member

Howdy!  So many of us asked that very same question.  Here are a couple of blogs I wrote about it.  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/thread/1798-when-does-it-get-easy    and   /blogs/Giulia-blog/2015/02/23/expectations-timelines-and-the-reality-you-create   

Two weeks is phenomenal.  Stay true to that Best in you!

maryfreecig
Member

     Welcome to Ex. 14 days in is fantastic. Even though you are still thinking about your smoking, it is not at all unusual to do that. Don't be alarmed that you feel this way, just know that you've arrived at the right place where you can get encouragement, suggestions to help you counter balance 30 years of nicotine addiction. Keep up the good work and keep sharing your journey.

Sootie
Member

Hi!

i think your sentence---"I smoked for 30 years and quit 14 days ago"....says it all. We cannot expect to get over 30 years of smoking in 14 days or even in 14 months. BUT---I promise, in 14 months.....things will be so, so , so much better. You will be so happy you kept your quit and not only your circulation but your overall health will be better.

But it does take one thing.....it takes time. Please stay here in our community and give it the time it needs.

AND CONGRATULATIONS on 14 days!!!!

Sberry25
Member

Thank you all for the insight and advice  Much appreciated!

JACKIE1-25-15
Member

You are welcome.  We are here whenever you need us.  Stay close

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Giulia
Member

Perseverance will pay off.  Promise.  The "ah ha" moments are the bright spots.  Trust that they will come.