AN EASY ONE FROM A NEW QUITTER

[mdmd4448]

This just occurred to me as I woke up this morning with pretty fierce craves: I have made it through this first week without using NRT and presume myself to be done with metabolizing and excreting all the nicotine leftovers. Is there any point or any benefit in using NRT's at this stage to ease craving or is this all now a psychological battle over the habit itself? Am I needlessly adding another element to this by trying NRT's even though I've gotten through the physical withdrawal part?

Thanks for your thoughts!

mdmd

[YoungAtHeart]

The nicotine is out of your body, but you still have awhile for your body to adjust to life without it, and the rest IS the psychological battle.  I think the second is more difficult than the first. 

No to the NRT's.  You simply have to be patient and get through it the best you can now.  Be sure to change up your routines and stay BUSY to keep your mind and hands occupied.  Try slow, deep breathing for the craves - or take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all!), or snap a rubber band around your wrist, or yell "NO" out loud when you start to think about a cigarette.  This does take some effort in the early days, but it does get easier as time passes.

You need to be patient - this is a journey, not an event. I know you want it to just be over, but I'm afraid it doesn't work that way.  You CAN do it, though - I and others like me have all made it!  I will give you the challenge my GP gave me:  "there are more people in the US who have quit smoking than are still smoking.  Do you think they are ALL better than you?"

Hang in there.  It will be worth it!!!!

Nancy

[SimplySheri]

I wouldn't personally start NRTs after a week of going without.  No sense in moving backwards at this point.  But this is your quit and you need to do things your way, not mine. 

However, craves only mean that you are winning....no matter how uncomfortable it is right now.  Your body is attempting to heal itself while your brain is saying "where is my comfort drug????"

Do you have a list of things to distract you?  Things you can do rather than smoke? 

You don't ever want to go back to day 1 so hang tough and know this is temporary!!

[Barbara145]

Funny you should ask.  I read your  post  yesterday and thought that is what you might need.  Don't lose your quit by avoiding them.  I had the same symptoms as you.  So flat emotionally.  The nicotine is out of your body, yes but it was there ffor a long, long time.  This is your quit.  You will figure it out.  It is so worth whatever it takes to never put a cigarette to your lips again.  The free-basing nicotine is the problem, not NRT's.

[crazymama_Lori]

since you have made it a week, I would say no to the NRT.  if the mornings are the worst, then go for a walk either in the neighborhood or your local store.  same goes for the evenings.  You will start to notice that the cravings aren't lasting as long.  The first 30 days are the toughest.  I did most of my screaming around that time.  But once you break through that 30-day gate, you'll notice it's a lot easier

[JACKIE1-25-15]

I think if you can go a week without NRT's you can go another week without it. Then another and another.  Then another  it will get easier. and no question.  One day at a time.  No need using something you haven't needed.  As always it is your choice. You can do this stay close,  Hang tough, don't give in no matter what NOPE will set you free.  One breath at a time. Move forward. 

[Daniela2016]

In the space of 2 months I had respiratory infections twice.  The second was a serious bronchitis with the inability of breathing in any kind of smoke.  I thought it was my sign to quit.  For a day or two I attempted to smoke without inhaling, just so I get some nicotine in my body. The next step was buying patches, but the 7 mg, not higher (2 weeks).  I did smoke for almost 40 years, but just lately more than 1 pack a day, so I figured I just need a little bit of help.  But in the same time I went and purchased an e-cig, with the plan of decreasing the nicotine level gradually until I get to zero. 

My emotions were incredibly strong, I was irritable, and while proud I had quit, I was crying constantly.  You see even though I was practicing deep breathing, the straws did not help me, I was holding on that e-cigarette for dear life. Thinking I was smart, I purchased fruity flavors, to help my brain unlearn the smoke of cigarette. 

And I called my medical insurance company, the smoking cessation program.  Unfortunately I dealt with young people, lacking any experience, being trained probably in a couple of days to offer NRT and ask me some rehearsed questions.  I spoke with them as they suggested, 3 times, at 2 weeks interval (what good did that do???), but the one good thing I received from them was this site.  Since my work is on a computer, and I work long hours, this was the last thing I wanted to do, get an online support group. 

But this is where I came, and Dale’s : “e-cigarette is smoking with a battery” sealed the deal.  It took me several days to finish Allen’s book, and I was going to buy zero nicotine juice to see how much hold nicotine still had on me, but I decided instead to just quit, even before my scheduled date. 

So for 51 days after smoking the last cigarette I used some type of NRT.

And as you see I am at 155 DOF.

Do whatever you think will provide you with some relief, using NRTs does not mean you are week, we are all different, use whatever it takes to help you meet your objective.

The readings helped me, NRT helped me, long walks helped me, this site helped me!!!

Please do not get discouraged, quitting is possible, even after 40 years.  But nothing comes easy in life, does it?  It did not for me though… I had to work hard, and quitting was no different.

Good luck, please let us know what you decide to do, and chose what is right for you!

[mdmd4448]

Okay so I guess it wasn't such an "easy one". I'm actually doing better surfing the craves and all; its the flat feeling of no emotion that is disturbing and surprising and that's what made me wonder about relief by using NRT. Thats what I get for trying to blog at 2-3 in the morning. 

I know the importance of staying busy and doing stuff. The struggle is getting myself to "care enough" to do it. This is as much physiologic as it is psychological, of this I'm sure. I can't honestly say I feel "blue", I just feel nothing. Definitely not myself these days...ha ha!

mdmd

[plug66]

i went through a long spell of just no caring about a damn thing...horrible feeling hell, i can't even get active outside, i'm diabetic and the heat just kicks my ass.....but it is slowly going away found an indoor fitness center with an inside pool..............sorta excited for that

[Giulia]

The pro:  If it keeps you from relapsing then it's a good idea.

The con:  You're reintroducing the very drug you've already eliminated from your body.  The nicotine receptors, which are just beginning to die down will be re-activated.  And at some point in the future you will have to wean yourself off the nicotine - again.

Another thought  do you need an NRT now?  Or is that just a kind of excuse?  Are you hooked on the idea that you need something other than yourself and what's between your ears to get you through?  Do you think the NRT is going to relieve ALL cravings?  It won't.  It will help to ease them, but there is no pill nor potion that will deaden the desire.  The crave-eliminating elixer that you seek is TIME.  And TIME takes time.

What is the law?  Not One Puff Ever.  Are we not men?  (a bastardization from The Island of Lost Souls)

You do what is best for you.  You know yourself better than any of us.  And if you don't know, you'll discover through this journey.  Trust your instincts.  They are rarely wrong.

[KMC56]

Numb is a good definition., then some called it a feeling of mourning.  Whatever IT is, I certainly didn't like it.  I don't have  many domestic tasks....so I look for different recipes for dinner....l think if I would have quit 30 years ago when I was working, endless volunteer activities,  and the kids sports... this MAY have been easier.  So I'm just taking it one day at a time, completing different life hurdles smoke free.

[crazymama_Lori]

This was my journey or my treck to the summit:  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/crazymama_Lori-blog/2016/05/10/just-for-you-newbies-and-tho...

[maryfreecig]

When I quit, I missed my smoker self. Knowing that it was a delusion helped me fight a little longer, but it did not ease the distress--mental distress. I'd smoked more or less for 35 years from the age of 17. I didn't really have a smokeless adulthood-- until now.

During the early part of quitting, I did plan that if I could not hack it, I would puff on a no nicotene e-cigarette. I was not keen on the idea, but wanted to know that I would take action other than buying cigarettes. I never used the ecig I had on hand, never wanted to, but I did suck on a straw and fake smoke, even coughed, and acted as though I'd lit the butt wrong and got smoke in my eyes. I'd go through the whole process of fake smoking, then stub the smoke out.

 I struggled to live with my nonsmoking self (it seemed too alien and I feared I'd never really adapt to the change-- that it was too late for me to change--that I was too much of a doubter all in all)

 I can tell you now, no matter how hard it was to leave my smoking persona behind, I am so glad today for every ounce of will and struggle I put forth to get past feeling empty without my smokes. My temperament of doubt has eased tremendously, so that now, I can say my doubts do not own me. 

Nicotene patch or no, go for the gold.

[Nix]

Please be very careful about usinf nrts if you have been nicotine free for a week already. I ooisoned myself by using avaper after a week free of nicotine and made things much much worse.

The emotions are a bit of a rollercoaster when you stop smoking and i think younprobably just need to go through it, i dont think the nrts will help you.

Please be careful with these things

[NewMe]

I tend to agree with those who say no to the NRT at this point. I did use the patch, because I tried to go cold turkey and didn't make it. If you have been 5 days, the nicotine is out of your system, and if you start NRT then you are moving backwards. They say that the addiction is 10% physical and 90% mental. So, there is a whole lot of readjusting yet to come. And at some point, you will probably experience a bit of an emotional roller-coaster. Elated that you have quit, angry because you have lost your crutch in hard times, irritable because you can no longer hide your emotional reactions to life in a cloud of smoke, etc. And yes, in a way NRT took the edge off. But I also think it dragged the whole process out a bit longer than the cold turkey method. So if you can find other coping methods that do not involve reintroducing nicotine to your system, I would try as many alternatives as it takes. Deep breathing, exercise, drinking lots of water, reading here, and distractions. Oh, and have lots of patience and believe that things will get better. Things will get better, but as Dale would say- the only way out is to get through it. You can do it!

[JonesCarpeDiem]

I you didn't use it, I wouldn't start.

I used 10 patches.

You get to a point where, if you ;isten to your body,

(Like forgetting to put a patch on TWO DAYS IN A ROW)

You go WTH? I can do this without it.

[Strudel]

I think you will do what is best for you in terms of the NRT - lots of good advice above. I will add that, although I didn't have depression, I did have a very low energy level. That was very frustrating because I am normally a go, go, go person! I finally gave myself permission to be as laid back and lazy as I wanted to be.....for as long as needed. Allowing myself to perform at a different energy level for a while  worked for me...... 

In the meantime - congrats on one week! 

[mdmd4448]

Thank you Exers. maryfreecig's characterization of non smoking self as "alien" summed up these last few days pretty well but I am now hopeful it's not going to be this way indefinitely. I've learned so much from all of you about being busy, learning distractions and all but it's been tough when my attitude has been crappy and amounts to apathy coupled with the decision to not smoke. Pretty weird all in all.

Looking forward to a better day right now!

mdmd