First time to quit smoking

[dawn119]

Hello everyone, My name is Dawn, I've been a smoker for over 20 years, in my early 40's, so it's never too late to quit. This is my first time trying to quit smoking, and this is my first day without a cigarette . I have really been in an ill mood all day, I have been craving a cigarette all day, it is driving me crazy. Will the second day be any easier? I work tomorrow, I have a very stressful job, it's going to be really hard tomorrow, but I know that I can do it, because I've went from smoking 10 cigarettes at work to just smoking one. Being at home is the hardest place to be, not being able to smoke because working the third shift, you sleep in the day and you're up at night, you can't do a lot of cleaning at night and wake people up.. My husband quit cold turkey, January 2015 will be 6 years for him. I don't have his will power. I'm trying, but it sure is hard. This is the hardest thing that I've done all my life. I first tried smoking at 14 years old, but I really didn't start smoking until I was 17. Smoking has dictated every thing I do. After I wake up in the morning I smoke, after I eat each meal, when I drive to work, when I read, watch tv, talk on the phone, etc. Smoking has controlled my whole life, for an example, a friend invited me to a church event that was about an hour and half away, I turned her down because she didn't smoke and I knew that I couldn't go that long without smoking a cigarette. As I sit here now writing this blog, I'm craving a cigarette so bad, that I could scream.. I hope tomorrow is better, I honestly didn't think I would make it through the day with out smoking, this has been one of the hardest days of my life. I would appreciate any advise.. I hope that everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday..

[JonesCarpeDiem]

Its not about willpower. Willlingness and acceptance are what works. Willpower is resistance. You will get tired of fighting using willpower and give up.

[Jaxson1-16-14]

Just get through a minute, then an hour, then a day and before you know it you've made it through the first week, which we refer to as HELL week around here. Just take it one step at a time and keep them away from your face! You can do this and we are here for you! 

[tjones09]

i would say look at it this way because i too am a new quitter, 20 days going in and im not going to lie it wasnt easy, but its not hard either. but the hardest was making it through your first day, at least it was for me. but guess what? YOU MADE IT! ive read around alot that the first 2-3 days is the hardest but after that it becomes a little bit more tolerable ill say that. all together the first 4 months is trying but YOU CAN DO IT! one thing that helped me, especially to make it through my second day was i kept myself insanely busy. when i would get urges, i would chant positive things inside my head like "that's not me anymore" or " im better off without you". " im stronger than this addiction" and because you are! you said your husband is going on 6 years quitting cold turkey right? well you may not have his will power, but im pretty sure when those times come around he would be a good support system because he knows EXACTLY what youre going through. talk to him, ask for ideas or do an activity together so it can distract you from those urges. after awhile, you wont even realize you had an urge because itll be long gone. but dont fall for that, because they do come back. each time an urge comes, try to do something youve always wanted to do but couldnt do when you was smoking. it would be really fulfilling to know the benefits you reap from it. if anything always tell yoursel "i dont do that anymore" if need be, bring something like candies, or celery stick to work if you can in replacement. so everytime you think about smoking you have something else on your mind (or in your hand) i found it very affective to be holding a celery stick in my hand rather than a ciggarette.  this is just a few of advice that worked for me and i hope it can work for you too. also, heres a link to other things you can do other than smoke. somebody posted this to me when i first started so i will do the same for you! 🙂 happy holidays and merry christmas! you can do this! 

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...

[Giulia]

Howdy.  Have you done your homework?  Have you made a plan?  Have you studied the addiction and the methods to beat cravngs?   Quittiing isn't something you just jump into without thought.  It takes some strong preparation and ongoing upkeep and maintenance to become successful at this.  The quit plan here (blue tabs above) "How to Quit Smoking" "Quit Smoking" "Staying Quit"  is a good one.  Take what works for you and let go of what doesn't.  Read the blogs daily (also the responses on them) and learn from them.  They are valuable tools. 

The first three days are the worst.  Try to get your mind off your cravings and onto something (anything) else.  The discomfort won't last forever.  Where you place your mind is how your journey will go.  So think POSITIVE - I CAN DO THIS!" thoughts.  And pull up your sense of humor pants and put on your funny hat.  It will help enormously.  Welcome 'aboad!

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

By going down to only one cigarette a day you are making this more difficult than it needs to be.  Smoking that one keeps you in constant withdrawal.  You need to just quit!

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. It might help you to start over and do the tracking and separation exercises suggested on this site.  Knowledge IS power, and understanding when and why you smoke and putting each one off a bit (you will gain a degree of confidence that you don't have to smoke every time you think you do!).

After you have completed the recommended reading, it will be time to make an informed choice of the quit aid, if any, you will use. If you go that route, I personally recommend the aids that don't let the addict control the dose such as the available prescription drugs or the patch. But – any method that you think will work well for you will be best for you.

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

[joanne47]

WElcome! I am on day 10 and I can tell you that it's not EASY...but neother was it the monstrosity that I made it out to be. I did this! AND YOU CAN. TOO.  I 100% say to read Alan Carr's book and listen to these wise people around here. They are amazing. Follow this site and do your homework. Hang tough. It gets easier...it gets better and you will get healthier.