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Latimer-2015 · ‎10-29-2020

I have 2 cigarettes left in my possession... tropical storm zeta is right outside my door... I told myself that I was going to no longer purchase any more cigarettes... I’m currently waiting on my help aides... patches and gum to come In the mail... which will probably be another week from now... as I am writing this... I’m doing deep breathing exercises and I spy games with my kids to take the edge off... please wish me luck!!! I’m beginning to realize smoking is not worth my life... because it’s bad storm wise in my area... wish me luck guys!! Any other suggestions would be appreciated!!

YoungAtHeart · ‎10-29-2020

Smoke those two cigarettes and get it over with! Throw out the package and any butts left in any ashtrays! You will quit using the Smart Turkey method! The nicotine is out of your system in about three days, then it's your body adjusting to life without nicotine for couple of weeks. Then it's learning to deal with the psychological part of the addiction - dealing with your emotions, events/people/places you associate with smoking.

Change up your routines. If you always had a cigarette in between x and y.....do them backwards, or do an activity in between. Rearrange the furniture where you used to smoke. Get the idea?

STAY BUSY! Don't let smoking thoughts rattle around in your head unchallenged. Count the white things in a room. Sip on some cold water. Draw a map of the United States and try to fill in the names of states in their approximate location. Play a game on your phone. Use pots, pans and spoons to play band as you march around the house with your kids. Make Halloween cards with your kids. Make a clothesline of ghost cut outs with your kids. Color in their coloring books. Read to them. March in place. Call a friend. Make a cake; let the kids help decorate it. Have a brainstorming session with the kids for ideas to spend the money you will be saving by not buying cigarettes. Read others' blogs here. Use the magnifying glass (top right) to find things you want to know about smoking/quitting.

You have got to put real effort into a quit in the beginning - but it gets easier and easier to do. Hang in there until it does.

You CAN do this! Happy you are getting started!

Nancy

Latimer-2015 · ‎10-29-2020

Thank you so much for the ideas!! I appreciate your help!!! I CAN DO THIS!!!

AnnetteMM · ‎10-29-2020

In about a week, though, those patches and gum are coming in the mail and the nicotine will go back into the body! This is the problem with NRT, in my opinion. Now what? Keep smoking until the NRT comes, or throw out the stuff when it arrives?

Latimer-2015 · ‎10-29-2020

That’s what I was wondering about ...

YoungAtHeart · ‎10-29-2020

If you decide to go Smart Turkey now, you will need to get through the first three days, and the nicotine will be out of your system. Your body will be a bit out of whack for a couple of weeks while it gets used to functioning without nicotine, but then THAT part, the physical aspect, of your quit is done.

The idea behind NRT aids is that you get a steady dose of nicotine to help your body chemistry while you learn to deal with the psychological aspects of the addiction. You gradually wean down from the drug, so the physical withdrawal should be less drastic.

Only you can decide what you think is best for YOU!

If you have questions to help make that decision, let us know.

Nancy

AnnetteMM · ‎10-30-2020

Either way; it's your decision.

PrimeNumberJD · ‎10-29-2020

Latimer-2015‌, I have to agree with YoungAtHeart‌, get on with it!

I quit almost 16 months ago and I had patches as a backup to my Smart Turkey quit plan; I still have a patch on my office desk to this day (call it a crutch if you will). I never had to use them, I just had to know there were other options.

In other words, you have help coming on the way, it may be a day or a week, but it is coming. Just in knowing that may steel your resolve enough. In fact, they may arrive and you may just say, "who needs these anyways."

Just get on with it! Stay close here for help!