90 days

[mediteranian1]

I quit smoking 90 days ago. They say it gets easier but honestly this last month was super hard for me. I keep wanting a smoke. I'm smart enough not to give in at this point, but i can't lite The cravings are just as bad as they were in the beginning. I thought about Going back, but how do i justify poisoning my self again, spending that money again, Smelling bad again? I won't go back but i sure do wish i didn't want them so bad. Anyone else going through this 3 month's later? ?

[JonesCarpeDiem]

Obviously You've never heard of No Mans Land.

That's there you're at.

Please allow yourself another 40 days or so

[JonesCarpeDiem]

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2011/05/24/no-mans-land-da...

[JonesCarpeDiem]

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Thomas3.20.2010-blog/2012/08/27/knowledge-is-power-know-you...

[mediteranian1]

Thank you so much Dale!!!! This is exactly what i needed to read. I told a few people how i feel and they couldn't believe it...not 3 months in, some even told me i was making stuff up So i could go back to smoking. I'm not, i don't want to but the cravings are very real. Thank you again.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

Congratulations on making it to 90 days without knowing what was going on.

Most peole get cocky after a month and when the unexpected cravings come, they lose it in the following three months or so.

what do you do when you get a crave to help it pass?

[JonesCarpeDiem]

nicotine causes a dopamine release. Thats why we keep wanting it.

Exercise causes a dopamine release

Music causes a dopamine release

Choccolate causes a dopamine release

thinking of food causes a dopamine release

sex causes a dopamine releease

To beat the cravings

let an ice cube melt in your mouth

bite into a lemon skin and all

stick your head inside the freezer door for a minute and breathe in that cold air

All these things divert your attention from the crave

[mediteranian1]

Honestly i don't have a set thing that i do. Every crave is different. Mostly i reach for gum or water. Sometimes it's enough to just tell myself no. My brother and i quit together so i often text him and he'll make a joke like " none smokers don't smoke". Lol. Thank you so much for your links, he was going through the same so i sentto him also. 🙂

[JonesCarpeDiem]

good deal.

Positive Self Talk is the strongest tool of all. (as in your brother's reply)

[wishingstar]

3 Months is awesome. Don't let NML get you.  You doing trigger busters and thats great. I got to coky on 41 day quit.  restarting Julu 1st. Dale gave you some good stuff. This will help me when Im NML, once more. Just keep doing my trigger bussters.

Renee

[Michwoman]

My Al has 90 days in as well and he has been going through a bout of depression. I explained what was going on with him in NML and he said "but it's been since April 1 - shouldn't this be gone by now?" Now I've told him about NML before but he forgot I guess. I think he calmed down a bit after that. I've seen him smile a bit today 🙂

[Nyima_1.6.13]

I am so glad you came here instead of lighting up! Good for you! There are probably lots of people that miss those NML blogs! Glad you got the info from the 'NML guru". Dale is the best!

[jensteff]

You are rocking this quit! Yay! I'd love to be where you are, an ex smoker! Keep going!

[Yaya2.6.10]

The same thing happened to me and it was scary.  I had a rough time the first coupla weeks and then it got better.  You can get thru this.  I'm glad you came here and the EXpert Dale was on the scene.  I didn't know about NML either and was frightened and very upset that I didn't have the Quit thing knocked.  You will come out the other side.  

[mediteranian1]

Thanks everyone, so much!!!! Means the world to me!

[mediteranian1]

Thanks everyone, so much!!!! Means the world to me! I truly can't see myself smoking again. I will keep fighting the urge and hopefully it will get easier once again. 🙂

[Chris265]

I am glad you posted – as the same thing is happening to me.  I am on Day 89, know all about NML and thought maybe I was spending too much time on the site.  (This may still be the case)  But I think about smoking constantly, and like you it’s only the time already spent quit that keeps me moving forward.

If we need to go 130 days – we are more than two thirds of the way there!