Five Days to Go

[karenstrength]

I am starting a new job next week.  Smoking is a real problem for me at work, because I work in the healthcare field and it's VERY frowned upon.  No one smokes anymore.  So, everyone can smell it no matter how hard you try to hide it, gum, lotion, sprays, etc.  Plus, I have to get in my car and drive off campus to smoke.  So, I end up having nicotine withdrawals at work and get all crazy and wide eyed and freaking nuts right at the place I need most to be cool and professional.  I absolutely HATE smoking.  But, I crave it so much when I don't have it.  I bought some nicotine gum and I'm going to take veggie sticks and regular gum and hard candy with me.  I'm reading here a lot and getting prepared.  I have tried before and didn't make it, so I'm scared that will happen again. 

I also think that cigarrettes make me forgetful.  I can't think or concentrate when I'm wanting a cigarette, so nothing sticks in my mind.  If someone tells me something when I'm wanting a cigarette, they may as well have not said it, because I will not recall it at all.  

I'm looking forward to smelling good, feeling calm, remembering things, having the extra money and having a clean car.  Among other things!  I just need to go the distance.  I wish there were nicotine anonymous meetings near me, because I have no real support, no one I can talk to about this.  I'm glad this site is here, too bad though that there isn't a chat room or something similar.  

Thanks!

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome back  to our community!

You have come to the right place.  You will be amazed at the knowledge and support you will gain here.  Stay close and blog as often as you need. This CAN be your forever 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. You should also do the tracking and separation exercises suggested on this site

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

[CatsRsmart]

Good Morning. This site was down for a while....uggg.. I found some of the EXers on Facebook. I think we may have the same name, Karen?

I can only share my experience. I will be 53 on Friday. I have smoked since I was a teen with many attempts to stop completely. The prior longest periods, 4 1/2 mths, I was using patches and gum. When I heard cold-turkey, I thought that's was insane. I have to have nicotine. Well when I considered the relaspes and why it was so easy to start again. For me, it was partly because I was still getting a fix. So I researched and researched this "cold-turkey" idea. I am not in the medical field, but it is my understanding, nicotine stays in your system only 3 days. Feeding the addiction just makes it harder. I have had no nicotine of any kind starting this year (10days now). Honestly, this is the easiest and most solid quit. Largely in part to waiting out the physical addiction, education and support that the rest is in our habits and heads.

This site and everyone here makes all the difference is the world. Read, Read and share. However you find works for you, it is so worth getting free. I also went round and round with my self talk and how I felt about my smoking. I found some videos on googleplay from Allen Carr (I did have to pay 4.99) I am a visual learner and these really help me. you can do this. Tell yourself, you can do this. I have been telling myself, when a crave hits, and they do get less and less...."I do not & I will not ever crave a cigarette. I don't do that anymore" You will find what works for you.

[Kimshine]

Welcome, I am also in healthcare and I can so relate you your dilemma.

I recommed the Allen Carr book also. It's an easy read but focus on what he's saying. Make sure you understand each sentence.

I personally do not believe in nicotine gum or patches. It only takes 3 days for the nicotine to leave you and why prolong the goal of freeing yourself. Seems torturous to me but like Nancy above said, whatever method you think will work for you.

This is day 5 for me and I'm not having the the intense cravings as I did the first 3 days. It does get easier. Welcome to your journey to freedom!

Kim

[TerrieQuit]

Hello and welcome! to add to your list fresh breath, no more burn holes in your clothes, and there are plenty more reasons to quit! Drink lots of water, stay close to this site. Willingness, commitment and education are key! You can doe this!

I am glad you are here!

Terrie  189  DOF

[karenstrength]

Thanks so much everyone for your comments and support.  I am using the nicotine gum and it's helping me so much.  I understand what you're saying, though.  When I quit the gum I'll still have to do nicotine withdrawal!  But for now I'm going to use it.  Here's to breathing clean air!  My dog and I are going to the park, getting out of this smoke smelling house!