I think they were wrong!!

[sassy4]

So I once heard that it only takes 21 days to break a habit.  Well I now dissagree with that statement.  I am on 23 days and 14 hours and every now and then it will just pop in my head that I should smoke.  Nothing really triggers it, it just hits me.  I had my morning coffee without a single thought or crave to smoke, but sitting here listening to my music and just relaxing it popped in my head...SMOKE...Like why?  Where does it come from?  I think it's just because it was once a habit to smoke while relaxing.  I don't crave them anymore and I don't want one at all, so why does it just drop in like that?  It's almost irritating.  When will these thoughts stop showing up randomly throughout the day?  I am done, and will always be done smoking, I just want to be free from it now.

[patrick-marsh]

YA THAT NICOTINE JUNKIE TAKES A LONG TIME TO GO A WAY !BUT YOU SOUND LIKE YOUR DEADY FOR HIM WIYH YOUR MIND MADE UP TO QUIT ! CONGRATS ON 23DAYS YOU CAN DO IT! BE PROUD OF YOURSELF ONLY YOU CAN DO IT STAY STRONG

[molzep]

I've heard it's 1 week for every year. That means I have 19 more weeks.

I've had worse thoughts pop into my head - these smoking thoughts are pretty easy compared to flashbacks of horrible scenes (car accident....)

Sounds like you're doing great! Enjoy!

[cathi4]

One of the things that irritated me the most was that after I went through all that I did with the quit that I still had to come to terms with myself as a life long nicotine addict. It took a while. I now understand the wisdom of it. It took those random smoking thoughts that zinged in when I least prepared for it to help me see myself as needing to be on guard for a long time. You will notice I still resist saying forever!  I have almost 2 months cold turkey and I must admit that the addictive urges are not anything like they were at all! Like I have blogged before. Once you have the urge in a situation it rarely comes up in that specific situation again. I believe we steel ourselves to that opening and it must seek the surprise element some where else. As an addict and an older woman(50)  it is eventual that I will lose someone and must be on guard for the nicotine demon to come for me in my grief! That seems so sad to me that I have to defend myself for the forseeable future! But I am not smoking! This is still less conjoling and plotting than was required when I smoked needing to plan my next fix!

Change is hard even when something is as good as my quit! We will adapt and prosper in new ways that do not include smoking ever again. In so many ways I have a new lease on life and I am just learning to channel the flow! Please remember we are the LUCKY Ones that have quit and stayed quit. So many folks are still struggling in the first days. That is sooo monumental that it is hard to define in words. Congrats on 23 days and it does just get better and less defined by cigs as you go along!!

I am so proud of you. You deserve this and so much more. Looking forward to your blogs!

[cathi4]

OMG 1 week for every year? For real? I thought I had heard all those estimates and never heard that one. That would give me another 3 months? Guess thats doable. It is something to shoot for. Hope the newbies are not listening today. Somewhere some one on their first day is crying!

[michael105]

I think all these set and true schematic estimates for quitting were made up by people who never smoked, and are looking at it analytically. It's emotional, too, and each person is different. We all understand, but it's going to be just a little different for each of us.

It does, "drop in" when we're least expecting it, like an unwanted guest. At those times, we have to guard against it, and move our butts. Get up and do the dishes! Or take a drive. Do something different. It will pass.

Keep the Quit!

~Michael

[anacondahead]

One week for every year? I never heard of it. I disagree. It is my belief that there is no 'one size fits all" in the non-smoking journey.  Best wishes to all. Keep the plan - whatever it is you choose to do!

[six-months]

I have friends who have quit for years and still sometimes want to smoke, they just don't and accept that is a part of their lives, instead of expecting to never have a craving I am going to try to just accept it and move on.. I have friends who choose who are addicted to alcohol and have not drank for long time and also still have cravings.. I am learning from them that same lesson I am very focused on my quit now and know I will really need to be on the look-out down the road once I "think" I am over it that those old cravings can always come back...

Good luck and good job!!

[va72lady]

Omg I hope he is wrong about the week for every year smoked....I know that "no reason what so every it just hits you...feeling"  thats the hardest to resist because it make you feel so hopeless and helpless...but we have to fight it..good luck and be encouraged...

[molzep]

I'm sorry to all of those I scared - I absolutely didn't mean it.

There is no real formula. I'm sure it depends on your attitude, commitment, short term memory, long term memory, personality, the weather, how tall you are, how much you weigh, your gender, number of children, where you live, where you were born, how many ladders you have walked under, how many you smoked a day, what your favorite TV show is, how many sisters you have, number of brothers.....

[butt-kicker]

Hey Sassy! Congrats on your 23 Days!

I am farther down the road in my quit and I hate to say that I still have my moments. But,,I will say this, I am aware of each time, what I did when it hit or how I felt, mood,,etc....This is what it's all about. Once I have worked through these moments, I believe I won't have to get sidelined again. Also, like Cathi said, the future times of grief may be when it sneaks up again, but hopefully we all will be able to dig down deep enough for the strength we need to get through it all.

You did realize that your crave came when you were relaxing- perhaps you used to smoke when you relaxed, like you said? That is exactly what I am saying. When they hit, think just like that, you will have it mastered in no time.

Keep Kicking them Butts! It does get better!

Diane

[Bonnie11.3.2009]

Supposedly it takes 21 days to MAKE a habit, like making your bed every day!  After 21 days it becomes a habit and you do it without thinking.  I guess we should be looking at our replacement/habits we are making, like the warm bath, the hot tea, the walk, the exercise, etc. etc.    Breaking the bad habit??  I've heard that 4 months you will go an entire day without thinking about smoking!  I am 13 weeks quit and the thoughts of smoking are much less, carry no intensity and no desire. They are just thoughts-gee, I would smoke a cigarette now if I smoked  and then I don't and then the thought is gone.

23 days is terrific and you are in the thick of the psychological triggers!  But, there is a light at the end of the tunnel.  Trust us, it does get 100% better and you will be so glad you persevered.

Best Wishes!

[keekee]

HI SASSY AND CONGRATS ON 24 DAYS SMOKE FREE. I READ SOMEWHERE IT COULD TAKE YEARS BUT THAT'S THE PRICE WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THE MANY YEARS OF TRAINNING OURSELVES TO SMOKE WHERE AND WHEN CERTAIN THINGS ARE GOING ON IN OUR LIFES.

[star4]

Hi Sassy, I don't think you are struggling with the habit, but the addiction. Every once in awhile, for a split second I seem to "forget" I don't smoke.  But I remember quickly, thank my lucky stars I'm finally smoke free and get on with it. 

The good news, we are free, the only way we loose our freedom is to take a puff.  Which we won't do today - right?  Addiction is an ugly little B, but fortunately we are now in control.   

Keep it up!

I have been quit for 1 Month, 4 Days, 16 hours, 56 minutes and 18 seconds (35 days). I have saved $133.89 by not smoking 535 cigarettes. I have saved 1 Day, 20 hours and 35 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 12/31/2009 11:55 PM