Day 4

[ldny]

My quit date was 5/1/15.  I tried to quit once before, and made it only to 6 weeks. I know days 3-4 are supposed to be the hardest.  My craving level is very high.  I signed up for EX because I'm hoping connecting to others who are going through this, or have gone through this, will help...

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Hi Indy,  Welcome

This site has helped me a lot.  When first quit I would long in and read the blogs early in the morning.  It takes baby steps to start a quit.  It has to be a day by day attitude.  There is so much information available.  If you have already started reading Allen Carr;s Book  the Easyway to Stop Smoking I suggest that I have it as a link on my page.  Also go to www.whyquit.com there is a lot of infomation there also.  Nicotine 101, Freedom From Nicotine-the Journey Home.  This literature is life saving. Stay close to the site. READ, EDUCATE is the KEY.  If you have a problem just blog it.  Give it a few minutes someone will help you.  Follow the guidelines on this site also, there is a step by step process if you haven't already started.

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Drink lots of water, Do breathing execises.  Walk, Talk,
Sing Dance Do what ever it takes for those three minute cravings to go away.

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Also you can use the community  search engine on the site for 101 things to do other than smoke.

[Terri103]

Hi IDNY!!  You def. came to the right place.  I'm on day 17, and this place is key to getting thru the cravings, the bad days, to share the great days, to learn from others.  

I am using the patch initiallly, to fight off the physical while I un-learn the habit, work thru the cravings.  You'd think it would be easier with the patch, but the habit and the triggers are the same.  

Quitting is NOT easy.  But actually, I'm glad, because for me it continues to strengthen my determination.  I don't want to go thru this ever again.  

You are on day 4:  woo hoo!!  YAY!!!  you know you can do it!  (even when you think you just can't do it.....you CAN!)  

[LouiseR]

Welcome.  Do all the suggested reading and come here daily and read and blog.  We are all here to help!

[ldny]

Thank you for the responses and reading recommendations. 

I am using a nicotine lozenge.  It helps a little with the physical cravings.  There is no way to avoid my triggers.  One of my major triggers is walking-- I live in a city where I have to walk a lot, from point A to point B.
 

I know that my underlying emotional triggers are boredom, sadness, and/or stress.  And smoking was an escape.  I do not want to be a slave to this addiction anymore.  Part of me is so mad at myself for ever having gotten addicted. But I know I need to look forward, not backwards, and try to understand WHY I got myself into this situation, and push forward through it.

I want to quit because I do not want to get sick.  And because it makes me angry that I am addicted. And because I am in a relationship where (thankfully) smoking is not acceptable. I am tired of sneaking around and then covering it up.

By the way, my cravings don't seem to be only 3 minutes-- they are much longer.  Really hoping that gets better.

[Storm.3.1.14]

Hey, Welcome to EX! I have 2 things to share with you, quickly...

1. I know that your walks allowed you to smoke outside and away from your relationship, but I want you to open yourself up to the fact that walking WITHOUT smoking STILL gives you a really nice dopamine boost. That dopamine boost smoothes out the mood, and gives a little "pep" to the body and brain. Cigarettes did this artificially; the walking does this NATURALLY. Embrace it!

2. I was a "secret smoker". I know the stupidity and stress and agitation that comes from masking your smoking. IT IS EXHAUSTING! And it's not an honorable way to live. I know it and you know it. So, be rid of this shameful secret, okay? Let it go and put that burden down. Put it down!

[selmccal]

Hi there! I'm on Day four as well AND have previously tried quitting. I've gotten to 6 weeks, cold turkey and still gone back. I can already tell that this quit is different for me with this site. I am constantly on it and reading. Most of the time, the stories on here are from people who have smoked longer than I and more than I but were able to quit. 

They are absolutely right that you can use this site to read EVERY TIME you have a craving. My cravings seem to last a long time as well but it's manageable. I jump on this site and puruse through everyone's story while I fight it off. I.... may be wasting some time at work but it totally helps because before I know it I'm enthralled in a story rather than thinking about the craving or trigger. 

I would have been a week past already however, I chose to smoke last week with a friend. What's different is that I actually came on this site and told everyone I did that. I also told my support system. You see, before, the shame of having to admit that I slipped up so early in the quit would have sent me to just start back up again in secret. Then before I know it, I'm smoking again and everyone knows. Most of the time, they know anyone so you may think it's in secret but they are probably just choosing not to mention it. My boyfriend is not a smoker and has been trying to help me quit for 2 years. I have hidden it from him before as well and trust me, they always know. 

After I held myself accountable for smoking last week, I immediately reset and tried again. I took responsibility for making the choice and everyone on this site will be hard on you but supportive and that's what you need. Trust everyone here, they have all been through it and understand 100% what you are dealing with. Take all the advice and absorb it. If you do slip up, please come here and admit it. We can help. 

You and I are on the same day so I'll totally follow your story! I'm the same, I live in LA and walk everywhere. I also take the bus so standing at the bus stop or metro not smoking is ridiculously hard but I'm getting through it. I drove this weekend and turns out, I killed a trigger but not driving for a year until I quit. You don't realize it but you have already killed a few triggers. Take pride in the small victories, they will add up and be your motivation! And we will help as well! 🙂 

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

Congratulations on beginning the journey to quit smoking!

The most important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

As well, read the sections on this site, and read the blogs, responses and pages of folks you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com and quitsmokingonline.com for the good information contained there.

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.

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.  Don't let that smoking thought rattle around your head alone.  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.

Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!

Nancy

[Strudel]

Congrats on your quit and welcome to the site! You can do this! Be sure to do the reading Nancy gave you (and I like the free course at http://quitsmokingonline.com/) 

Read and get the support here. I did and after smoking for 40 years, I quit! So - stick around!