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Give and get support around quitting

bvaux34
Member

Really bad day

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July. I am on week 4 of stopping cold turkey. It has been a breeze, until now. I am not sure what is going on today but I am not feeling well, I am cranky, I want to cry constantly, and all I keep thinking about is smoking. Is this normal? I figured after 4 weeks I would be on the brighter side of this. Anyone have any ideas on what I can do to try and make the day easier, better, more tolerable, without caving??

26 Replies
Roller831
Member

First, you did the right thing by reaching out.  Second....read read read....

/blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2011/06/26/what-to-expect-in-the-first-four-months 

There are two more links contained in the above blog post.  Take things each second at a time if you have to and don't smoke!  NOPE!  Not One Puff Ever!  You have 30 days of freedom behind you!  Don't give that up and start over!  You can do this!

Rollercoaster

Daniela2016
Member

Please read about what to expect, we all had these bad days.  But know they will become increasingly rare, as you are accumulating your days of freedom.  Practice deep breathing, if you are at work, get out when you can and take a walk around the building.  Until then step up and go speak with a co-worker, step away from the spot where the craving started.  If you can meditate, it will really help take your thinking from smoking to your own clean, deep breath.

Here is a link: https://youtu.be/5Za1RZWmnYA?t=1

Stay true to your decision, and know you can do it!

I hope these help,

Giulia
Member

I wrote a little play a while back that exemplifies the our progress along the journey and the back & forth mind game that goes on in our heads.  Certainly went on in mine anyway.  Perhaps it will help.  /blogs/Giulia-blog/2016/09/06/a-quit-dialogue-in-iv-acts 

The reason we call quitting a 'journey' rather than an 'event' is because of exactly what you're experiencing right now.  We're purring along just fine and then suddenly we're thrown flat on our backs in the ring by CRAVO the craving monster.  And it's a shock.  And you know what you do?  You go and pull out the tools you used on day one and during your first week.  You re-read your lessons.  And you do exactly what you did by coming here and shouting it out.  Do a search for Relapse Traps in the community search box and read some of the material in there.  Especially the responses.  Read the material in Best of EX 

Get up and get out.  Don't sit there dwelling in the well of smoking thoughts.  Because they'll drown you.  This is time when you've gotta really man the rudder of your quit.  Stay the course.  You do NOT want another Day One.

YoungAtHeart
Member

You are actually doing GREAT and are right on schedule in the journey.  Your mood swings are to be expected.  Your mind and body are adjusting to life without a powerful drug.

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand. 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.  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.

Hang in there.  At the end of the journey is FREEDOM - and it is worth all the effort you put into it.

Nancy

TW517
Member

"Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time."  That's some of the best advice I used to get me through those intense early cravings.

maryfreecig
Member

It always matters to work through the rough patches, I've found. Gives me a chance to face feeling broken and make the effort to turn it around. Addiction takes time to shed. High five for coming here and saying you are having a hard time. I can relate to the four week recuperation expectation. I felt like I'd failed because I wasn't happy...!!!! Keep trudging, you're spirits will revive again. 

gregp136
Member

Welcome to No Man's land.  There will be good days and bad days.  But that is the way life is right?  It will not last forever, and you are smoke free!  Keep up the great work!

MarilynH
Member

You really are doing great, you've got excellent advice and links above me so I'll just say chin up and grab onto the best gift that any of us will ever give ourselves which is the gift of LIFE and you will get through the rough patches one precious smoke free day at a time or one hr, one minute or even one second but as long as you keep moving forward and stacking up your awesome DOF then each evening you can say YAY for another DAY WON! 

bvaux34
Member

Thank you all for the encouraging words today. First time since quitting that I really needed them. I think I got past the hard parts today. Got the kids some pizza and made my husband take me out to dinner. Feeling much better now! Was a heck of a day though.