21 days - but feel like I'm doing something wrong...

[rwb]

It's been 21 days.  I read Allen Carr's book (3 times prior), visit this site multiple times daily, currently on Wellbutrin, and most importantly feel like I went into quit this with a really positive mindset.  I am constantly reminding myself that I'm free and that this quit is a wonderful thing - as opposed to "moping in my quit." 

That said, the psychological urges haven't lessened at all.  They haven't necessarily increased, but today feels no easier than 2 weeks ago.  At this point, the constant verbal reminders, walks around the neighborhood, deep breathing are starting to become exhausting.  While I continue to repeat NOPE in my head as I type this, today is the first time in the past 3 weeks that I'm beginning to question whether I will truly make it to the other side.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

rwb

[TW517]

Gotta run back to work, but my quick reply is: you will make it to the other side.  What you are experiencing is quite normal.  It stinks, but it is normal.  Please hang in there.  It really does get better.

[Thomas3.20.2010]

@rwb You are doing everything right! There isn't a single one of us that didn't go through what you're doing! I don't care what Allen Carr says, Quitting Smoking is not easy!

But IT IS DOABLE! And you are doing it! Just look at you! You're already on Day 21! Now, how many years did you smoke? Did you really think that you would feel terrific already? Better, yes! Terrific - not so much! But you will! Stick with it! You sure don't want to start over! The better and better is right in front of you!

[tjanddj]

Congratulations on your 21 days! Well done! Those urges are so annoying aren't they!? I used to say out loud you are "annoying me! Go away and leave me alone!" Then I would stop what I was doing and go do something else. If I was out walking I would walk faster or start jogging as long as it was different from what I was doing. Got all my cupboards and drawers cleaned out early in my quit. That was pretty awesome. You are doing well 21 days is awesome!

[elvan]

rwb  Congratulations on your three weeks quit, and please know that you are not alone.  We all had to go through that up and down and sure and unsure...the best thing you can do is to distract yourself when you feel a crave.  They will eventually get weaker and weaker as you get stronger and stronger.  Quitting is not an event, it is a journey.  It is NOT easy, it is one day at a time and sometimes has to be one minute at a time.  NOPE was my mantra but I remembered some of the other sayings I had read here and I remembered how people told me that they had helped them.  "Keep them away from your face." "I don't do that any more." "One step and then another will get you to where you want to be."  Remember that there are no shortcuts, you cannot make things move any faster, 
"The only way out is through".  If you haven't done it already, please go to JonesCarpeDiem's page and read "What to Expect the first 140 days."  I really wish that one of us could tell you exactly when you are going to feel that it is easier...it may not happen all at once, you might notice that one day you didn't think about smoking for several hours or during a particularly tense time and that will be a sign of things to come.  You will know that you CAN do it.

If you feel overwhelmed, do what you just did, come here and blog, put the word HELP in the subject line and we will all try to help you get through the short time that a crave lasts.  No crave ever killed anyone but no one can say that about smoking.

Ellen

[YoungAtHeart]

The others have pretty much said what I would have said, except this IS a normal part of a quit.  It isn't easy - but we all got through it and lived to tell about it - AND rejoice in our freedom.

My doctor gave me kind of a challenge when I first quit. He said, "there are more people in the US who have quit smoking than are still smoking. .  Do you think they are ALL better than you?"  Of course I said, "NO way!"

You are still early in your journey - it will get easier as the days pass - but not right away.  Give it the time it takes.  This all requires some effort in the early days, but I promise you it will be worth it.

Hang in there!

Nancy

[elvan]

"21 days - but I feel like I am doing something wrong."  The ONLY thing you could possibly do wrong is to SMOKE and you are not doing that so you are not doing anything wrong!

[stAn3]

Something I've noticed about myself is if I focus on the craves they get bigger. If I accept the crazes, reaffirm my commitment not to smoke today, then go about my business, the crazes pass. Anxiety about relapsing makes me want to smoke more. If it gets really bad, I post here or find something to keep my mind busy for a few minutes.

My opinion is if you haven't smoked you are doing it right.

You never have to smoke as long as you keep working on your quit!

[elvan]

You are SO RIGHT, if you focus on the craves...they FEED on it, your addiction FEEDS on it.  If you acknowledge the craves and understand that they will not last forever...you can ride the wave until they pass.  

[JACKIE1-25-15]

So much good advice.  21 days is great but it is only the beginning of a forever journey.  Things come and go and we have to learn to adapt, adjust and if one thing does not work and you get tired of doing one thing not to smoke use something else. 

http://www.cancer.org/healthy/stayawayfromtobacco/quitting-smoking-help-for-cravings-and-tough-situa...

http://community.becomeanex.org/pg/blog/read/8313043/activities-you-can-do-to-keep-yourself-busy-ins...   

You can do this.  Just because you think of something does not mean you have to do it.  The journey continues. 

[maryfreecig]

I hear you about thinking that something is wrong. Seems so crazy to crave the smokes once quit (really the crave is for nicotine). It is an addiction, or so I came to understand better as I stayed quit and learned more.

I could not believe that the spell of addiction would not break. I chalked it up to being older, not as easily won over to change...etc., etc. But I wondered what in hell was wrong with me and I feared I would stay stuck in such strange thoughts, stuck in a curious glorification of the way things used to be when I smoked. I ate, I walked, I watched comedy and other tv, I worked, took care of my responsibilities, but always with a sense that I'd never love doing them as much as I did when I smoked. I wondered how could smoking make life better for crying out loud!!!!

But I didn't smoke, and my crossing has been a curious journey of hope and despair and hope again! I've just got to laugh about it. There are so many good medicines (tips and tricks I mean) and laughter has been one of them. Try some new tricks, talk here more (get the stress off your chest)...share your burden. Comedy is good too...laughter is very good medicine. I used to do a fake smile because of a news report that said your brain can't tell the difference and smiling is good for you(which I doubted). It at least made me cackle to do so.

Big high five for coming here and talking about your trudging journey. Trudging is normal. Recovery is normal too, so long as you do  not smoke.

Hope you are feeling better by the time you read this.

[rwb]

I just can't thank each and every one of you guys enough for your comments.  It makes me feel much better to know that what I'm feeling today is a normal part of this process.  I also appreciate all the wise & generous suggestions!

[MarilynH]

You are doing great and you're doing it one precious smoke free day at a time or one hr, minute or even one second at a time but you are moving forward and stacking up your awesome DOF and tonight is another day WON!

[KMC56]

Yep..the crapyramid price of normal....and worth every bit of time you take a deep breath, say N.O.P.E., run around the block...the ONLY thing that you could do wrong, is give in to your addiction.  Hang in there,  you have a LOT of support and cheer leaders here!!   

I have just over a year quit...and I have SOME moments, some crazy strong crave out of no where, but it'seems gone as quick as it came.  I just have to realize and understand, that's the way it will be.

[NewMe]

Yup, in the beginning, I felt like the Lone Ranger, and felt like I must be the only one with serious doubts about making it through the early days without caving in. I also highly recommend reading @JonesCarpeDiem about what to expect in the first 140 days. Also, something that helped me a lot would be anything  Thomas3.20.2010 wrote about "quititude". The attitude you take with you as you think about quitting (is it a pity party or a Hallelujah?) can make a world of difference. I personally held a very long pity party, when I possibly could have made things much easier on myself by developing a more positive attitude toward quitting. Hang in there. Heed the advice given above. It does get easier, but it might still be awhile before it does. Keep coming here as frequently as you need until you make it at least past No Man's Land. The only way out is through it. You are doing just fine.

[Mandolinrain]

I can just add DITTO to all the above comments. Your doing great 21 days!!!!!!!!!!

Have you tried vicks vapor rub, just a little under your nose? Made my craves die instantly, just saying....Just a lil tip:)

And try to concentrate on anything BUT the crave. Prayers your way

[freeneasy]

You're doing a great job.    21 days  and counting is fantastic. It takes a little longer for the nicotine receptors in the brain to go dormant give it some more time. Learn How to Quit Smoking (and Make it Stick) 

[shashort]

Look at you 21 days = 3 weeks pat yourself on the back. You are doing this!! So you are making the right choices.  So stay strong and take it one day at a time and NOPE and you don't do that anymore. It will get easier and better with time.

[RoseH]

I think you are being too hard on yourself.  First of all, I smoked for 50 years.  I would not expect to feel totally comfortable at 21 days.  I actually had my own way of quitting and it worked well for me.  I could not imagine after smoking 10 cigarettes a day to be able to stop altogether.  To make a long story short I am now smoke-free, except when my husband has his "happy hour" and he is still smoking a few a day...

Cravings are a part of quitting.  If you just accept that and do not pick up a cigarette it will get better...  I am not doing the right thing by having 3 puffs in weakness and so I am here for support.

I will have to stop having my glass of wine with him.  Wine weakens my resolve...  it's a trigger...

You have to learn your triggers and just don't smoke...

[elvan]

Welcome to EX, alcohol is a trigger for most of us.  I didn't have anything to drink for six months after I quit and, even then, it was a close call.  "If you quit and you are still smoking, you are doing it wrong."  My mantra was NOPE "Not One Puff Ever."  This is a journey and not an event and every day poses its own challenges...that's why it is one day at a time.

Welcome,

Ellen

[Ready2021]

You are fine keep telling your self believe in you I'm 36 days in m on 150 mg of wellbutrin Im still reading Allen Carr I keep coming here because I get 75% of my support from here you can do this and I can too. Hugs Big Hugs