I don't want to give up

[Brokerprincess]

I am not a quitter with anything else in my life, but this is the most difficult thing I've ever done. I did quit for 10 years (about 10 years ago), but went through an ugly and painful divorce and, unfortunately,  started right back up again to a pack a day. I quit alcohol about 6 years ago which I thought would be impossible ,but cigarettes are the biggest monkey on my back. I really want to quit for health reasons, and I've tried to set my mind and body up to quit but I keep reaching for one more and one more. I am using the 21 MG patches, but they don't block every urge. I am able to pass on about half the urges. It's going on day 3. Has anyone used more than one patch, or used nicotine gum or lozenges to supplement the patch? Thanks all!  

[JonesCarpeDiem]

That urge is really you talking to yourself, arguing whether to smoke or not.

People talk themselves into smoking.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

whenever you get that urge, use the right talk, say, "I don't do that anymore."

It will retrain your thinking quickly.

[Thomas3.20.2010]

More NRTs are not going to help you gain freedom. Right thinking is the key to success. That's why it's important to learn about Nicotine Addiction and Recovery and to read, read, read...you will find your vocabulary changing as Dale Jonescarp points out. I truly understand how difficult Life can be but I also know that Nicotine never really made any of it better. Quitting does - even the "reasons" you smoke such as stress. 

Yes. it is stressful to quit smoking but a few short weeks into the process and you feel less stress than you have since you started smoking. Can you remember those days? I can't! But I know that folks who quit smoking are happier, more relaxed, have more self esteem, better relationships, and as you mention better health than smokers.

A few short weeks to launch your quit journey. That's all that stands in the way to much better times!

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Congratulations on 3 days. The patches are designed to take the edge off.  You have to develop other skills and tactics to help when you are having an urge to smoke.  Deep breathing is one.  You also have to entertain yourself with other things so to lessen the impact.  You have to go through a  little discomfort.  If I am correct did give you some information to read.  along with that here is somethings you can do to distract the urge. /blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoke?sr=search&searchId=b7e0... 

[anaussiemom]

Mayo Clinic Q and A: Nicotine can help you kick tobacco – Mayo Clinic News Network 

[MichelleDiane]

Hi Brokerprincess.  I too am using the patch.  Just my two cents worth...no it does not do all of the work, but that is okay because one day I will not have the patch on and will be relying on what I have learned.  Hang in there.  You know you have done it before, so think about how you did it for 10 years and repeat some of those methods.  Hope to see you here often.

-Michelle

[johio]

Putting an additional patch on is not a good idea....it's like smoking while you have the patch on....there is a danger of nicotine poisoning...which can be very serious.

Everybody's quit is different, but we have all been through similar feelings..It gets better...Stay close .. Stay focused...Stay involved...... I can't promise many things but I promise if you reach out for help...someone (probably many) will reach back to help...you are not alone....

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

Congratulations on your decision to quit and your first three days!  I think your struggles are being caused by a lack of understanding.  Do NOT increase the amount of nicotine you are getting.  One cigarette provides about 1 mg. of nicotine - so look at how many cigarettes you smoked to determine the correct dosage of the patch.  No NRT is going to quit FOR you.

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.  You will learn there are two parts to this addiction,  The patch addresses one, but in a way different than smoking.  You aren't getting that "hit" of nicotine, but rather a slow, steady dose.  And - it does not address the psychological addiction - all the associations with and triggers in your life involving smoking

 You should also read the posts here and perhaps go to the pages of folks who you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com, quitsmokingonline.com and livewell.com for the good information contained there. @https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex has lots of blogs written by members of this site with their experiences and guidance.

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. If used properly, gum, lozenges and inhalers are fine, but they need to be used only as a last resort.  I have seen folks become addicted to them if they substitute them for every cigarette they used to smoke - just trading one addiction for another.  I do not recommend the e-cigarette for three reasons: 1) the vapor has been compared to the polluted air in Bejing on a bad day, 2) they just provide another nicotine delivery system while continuing the hand to mouth smoking motion, and 3) the batteries can spontaneously catch on fire. . 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. Buy your gas at a different station. Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.

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.    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

[Daniela2016]

Please, please don't use more than 21mg/day.  It will make your heart go nuts, and you can really hurt yourself.

You've got some stuff to read about the addiction, please learn about it as much as you can, and work on yourself and the way you think about smoking.  Be happy you make the decision to quit, things will be much easier if your outlook is positive.

Welcome, and please let us help you on your journey to freedom!

[elvan]

This is a one step at a time journey and NOTHING is going to take away all of the craves.  You don't have to fight them, recognize them and ask yourself just what exactly you expect a cigarette to do for you...THEN be honest.  Once I was completely honest about what cigarettes did for me...the answer was a resounding nothing unless I considered the wheezing, the shortness of breath, the breakage of my teeth, or the wrinkles around my mouth to be DESIRABLE.  Smoking does nothing FOR you but it does a lot TO you if you allow it to.  This is a journey, you quit before but I don't know if you ever employed strategies to strengthen your quit every day, you have that opportunity now.  Keep going, one day at a time and when a day is too long, make it an hour or a minute.  There is no magic wand that will remove all of your craves...stay close to this site, do the recommended reading and believe in yourself and the fact that you can do this...you CAN.

Welcome to EX.

Ellen

[Giulia]

OK, so it's hard.  That will make the triumph over it that much more delicious!  No, NRT's don't block every urge.  There is, unfortunately, no magic elixir that will take away all craves.  But there are many psychological tools that can help.  As Thomas said above me, it's about "right thinking."  Getting rid of the old brain washing.  Delve into the Best of EX  if you haven't.  The "cure" for this addiction is education, support and time.  You have to spend enough time away from your old smoking self to get over that self.  

As far as combining NRT's:  Here's one article by one Mayo Clinic Doctor ("Expert Advice") who posted here prior to retiring.  Note:  it's six years old, so I don't know if the protocols have changed or not.  Tips for Using Nicotine Replacement Therapy   And another bit of information from the Mayo Clinic (scroll down until you get to "Combination Therapy.")  http://www.mayo.edu/research/documents/medication-handout-2015-02-pdf/doc-20140182   Personally I would ask my doc before combining treatments.

[maryfreecig]

    What will it take to get yourself on board for quitting? You might be closer to that understanding than you think.

    Reality check suggestion: video yourself explaining why you keep smoking and why you are not on board just yet. Wait 24 hours, then watch.