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Give and get support around quitting

zaxa11
Member

Is being scared normal?

I woke up in a panic that I could not find my cigarettes.  I feel kind of scared.  They were my constant companion.  Always there.  I feel scared that I might not succeed, I feel scared not having that companion, I feel scared I might take up the vape again.  I just feel...not only scared but kind of lost.  What is my life going to be like?  I can't be carrying pretzels around with me.  

On the other hand, it is day two and I'm doing it!!!  I want one, I NEED one, but I am NOT going to have one.  I"m a cigarette addict...there will never be just one!

Thanks for listening.

Zaxa

14 Replies
YoungAtHeart
Member

Of COURSE you are anxious.  You are taking away a constant companion that you used as your best friend, your ally when life was challenging, always there to give you a hit of dopamine when you were sad or lonely or bored.

Your job now is to find NEW ways to deal with all these things.  Having a PLAN of what you can do instead of smoking is key here.  Maybe get up, put on your walking shoes and go around the block before your coffee.  Drink your coffee in a place different from where you smoked and use your other hand to hold the mug.  Maybe have juice instead?  Or jump right in the shower out of bed, then go for a quick walk, or march in place or do a quick YouTube exercise to get your blood flowing.

The better you get at changing things up, the easier this is going to be.

Get busy and stay busy!  Have a cold bottle of water from which to sip with you all the time.  Even slow/deep breaths, going slower and deeper with each, work. 

This takes EFFORT and planning in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.  AND - it will get better, but you have to hang in there until it does!

Glad you blogged!  Good idea to write it out!

Nancy

zaxa11
Member

Thank you so much Nancy.  My computer settings won't let me go to people's 'pages' yet.  I have a friend coming over to take a look.

I will switch to water instead of Diet Coke.  And I have switched to pretzels instead of cheetos!  lol   Walks are not good for me.  Right now, that would really add to my anxiety.  But when my health-coach gets back from her vacation, that will be at the top of my list!  The idea of utube exercises if very good though.  thank you.  

Hope to get to know you better.  Have a great day!

Zaxa

0 Kudos
YoungAtHeart
Member

  zaxa11    Even marching in place, or doing jumping jack motions (you don't have to actually jump to get benefit - I think you will be surprised if you try it), or sit/stands, or even a set or two of up/down stairs is beneficial.  There are also yoga routines or chair yoga routines on YouTube (I like one with Adrienne).  Getting outside is good for mental AND physical health  - hope you can work your way up to that.

Thanks for the compliment.  Sometimes I feel as though I know folks here better than those in my real life.  Something about being anonymous has us let our guards down, maybe?

Have a GREAT smoke free day!

AnnetteMM
Member

Nancy is a very smart elder! And may I just add that switching from Diet Coke is a great idea. Bubbly drinks can mess up your stomach when you quit. A lot of us suffered with increased bloating. Fake sugars also affects the stomach.  Keeping your hands busy is really important. Do you knit or crochet?

Barbscloud
Member

Being "scared" is normal.   We used nicotine along with  every activity and emotion.   It's so easy to think about facing situations in the future without our normal dose of nicotine.  I've done it.  That's why it's some important to think of quitting as one day at a time.  Each day that you experience old behaviors without it, you grow and your confidence grows.

I overcame the fear for the first time when I realized it was a choice. I could smoke tomorrow if I chose to.  No one was going to stop me. But, I only had to do it for one day.  And then tomorrow now becomes that one day and so on.

Focus your thoughts on what you're gaining, not what you're losing.  Maybe make a list.  

Why can't you carry pretzels around with you?  You carried cigarettes around with you.   

Be patient with yourself.  It takes time to undo all the smoking we've done.   Your body is missing the nicotine and wants to get some.   Work through this part of your quit--you can do it.

Continue to reach out!

Big congrats on day 2.

Barb

sweetplt
Member

zaxa11 It is normal to be scared.  When we first quit, life seems unnatural because we always used nicotine and now we aren’t using.  You are right, you are on to Day 2.  Whoo hoo...May be time to write a goodbye letter to your so called friend...

Write your Goodbye Letter to _________.  Hang in there and keep close...~ Colleen 655 DOF 

Christine13
Member

Good work on day 2!!

0 Kudos

Oh goodness, yes! I have sat and cried over quitting, being scared, being lost, etc. You captured the feeling very well. But don't worry, those feelings will go away, and lessen each time you conquer something without a cigarette. Congrats on day 2 and keep coming here! I'm so proud of you for keeping on despite those feelings. 

WhispersQSMB
Member

Yes, the cigg was our best friend. A toxic friend but one we always reached for in many situations