Scared

[Sippslorie]

Hey everyone, this will be my first blog. I quit smoking almost 4 days ago and I'm using Chantix. Anyone else have experience with Chantix? Anyway, I smoked for 18 years, give or take, and I smoked approximately 30 per day. I was diagnosed with clinical depression when I was a teenager. I am very close with my mom and sister, both heavy smokers, and I usually visit them 3 days per week. Needless to say, I haven't gone over in the past few days. When might it get easier to be around other smokers? That is the hardest part for me as well as being depressed over losing something I honestly enjoyed very much. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

[Dotgirl_1-28-16]

When I changed my thinking I changed my world...there is NOTHING about smoking that was good for me or that I liked...that was my addiction speaking. Congratulations on your quit! Keep strong and keep fighting for your freedom...you're worth it. As for when it will be safe for you to be around smokers..only you can answer that question...I suggest you do whatever you need to do to protect your quit. Maybe talk on the phone with smoking family and friends or meet at a nonsmoking venue??? For me, for today, I need to stay away from any and all triggers...I won't quit on my quit! Again congratulations on your quit and your freedom!!! Keep making the best decisions for you..you're worth it!!!

[Barbara145]

Great job on quitting smoking.  You are not going to be comfortable around smokers for a while.  I went to a get together about a week or two after I quit.  I was in pain when everyone went out on the porch to smoke.  I left early.  I did not smoke because I promised myself no matter what I was feeling, no matter what I wanted or needed, smoking would not be the answer.  You can do it too.  Congratulations on 4 days!  Most people find their depression is much improved once they have quit smoking for a while.  It was true of me.

[froguelady]

Welcome to EX site and on your decision to quit smoking. I did not take Chantix but did take Wellbutrin XL and it does help decrease the urge to smoke. Please remember these are aids to help you quit but you have to make a commitment to not smoke, you control your quit.

If you have not done any reading that is very important to help you understand how addiction works. There are links on my page for some reading Carrs boo, The Easy Way and Dales what to expect in the first 4 months of a quit.

It is different for different people on how being aaround smokers, it bothered me for a few weeks, but I know people that quit while living in the house with smokers. The decision to smoke is your choice but if you think it will make you smoke don't go until you are ready to be around smokers.

My name is Betty and I have been at EX site almost 5 years and like to share what I learned here.

[Sippslorie]

Wow, thanks everyone for all the responses! Your comments are helping a lot! I actually feel great today. The past few days were hell and I know there will be more bad days ahead. It's just that today is one of the days that I would be at my moms, having coffee, smoking, talking, ect. My sister is there now and I'm at home feeling like an outsider. I hope I can be around it soon because this is terrible! Anyway, thanks again... You guys are awesome!

[Giulia]

Howdy!  Staying away from people who smoke is a good idea during the initial stage of your quit.  It's not gonna be forever.  I think Dotgirls's suggests are good ones - phone them or meet at a non-smoking place.

Many of us felt as you did, like we were losing something we enjoyed.  But in reality that's just the addiction talking.  We "enjoyed" it because we needed it.  Ask yourself this:  did you enjoy the first cigarette you ever put in your mouth?  Chances are you didn't.  It probably made you a little dizzy and nauseous.  We forget that, though, don't we.  Remind yourself of it.  Because that's the truth.  If you've ever stopped for a couple of days and then smoke one you'll have a similar reaction.  Because it's simply a bunch of poisons we're inhaling.

At this point, 4 days, the nicotine is out of your body.  Now you just have to. work on the behavioral aspect.  Read the blogs.  They'll help to reinforce a positive attitude.  The more times you hear "It's SO GREAT TO BE FREE!" the more willing you will be to get there yourself.

Believe us when we tell you it WILL GET BETTER!  None of us could have survived if it didn't.  Hang in.  And find some funny things to tickle your giggly brain receptors.  Funny vidoes or check out this group:  HHHumerous Corruptus

Changing the way we look at things takes work. Don't be afraid of it!  And have some fun.  Quitting isn't the end of the world, it's the beginning of one.

[bonnie-12-28-14]

I used Chantix and had to cut it in half.  My husband still smoked the first few months so I couldn't stay away from it.  Do it for you and only you since that is the one person you can't hide from.  Stay strong and educate yourself here.  

NOPE and NEF

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

I successfully quit with Chantix, although I only took it for about 3 weeks - but that included the first two weeks of my quit.  I was hospitalized for a bit and then in a rehab place, and when I got out, I didn't know what dosage to go on - so I simply stopped taking it.  I had no side effects from it.

I second the recommendations to either visit with smokers by phone or maybe at a restaurant or mall where no smoking is allowed.  You could ask them to come to YOUR house and ask them to refrain from smoking in front of you, too.  If the smell is enticing to you, put a little Vicks under your nose.  The burn will remind you that you have quit, and the smell tends to mask the smoke smell.

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

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Welcome to Ex

 If you take the time to do the work you will have success.

Read Study Blog Research Comment, Hang Tough Stay Close

You have come to the right place if you are making the decision to commit to quit smoking.  At EX our resolve is to never smoke again.  NOPE “Not one puff ever.”  I suggest that you follow the steps on the web site pages along with reading, writing, studying, researching and blogging if you like.

This is all about you and what you are willing to do to be a nonsmoker.  If you haven’t read it or have not been informed here is a link to Allen Carr’s book, “Easy Way to Quit Smoking”.  It is an easy read suggested by the “elders” (those with 1+ yrs. quit).

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

Also check out www.whyquit.com.  There is a lot of additional beneficial information to read and study.  Look for Freedom From Nicotine My Journey Home and Nicotine Addiction 101.  

http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksAAddiction.html

http://whyquit.com/ffn/

Both were extremely helpful for me.  Stay close to the site and learn, ask questions. Read the blogs and most of all enjoy your commitment to quit smoking.

If you should need something to do here is a link that will help

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

Once you relearn your thinking you will realize that you have not lost anything when you quit smoking. 

[Kimshine]

Welcome to Ex! This is a great community and there is lots of help here. I suggest doing the suggested reading and come here to blog and comment on other's blogs. Helping others always helps us too!

Congratulations on your wonderful 4 day quit! I stayed away from smokers for 3 weeks. Last Saturday night was my first night around them. I didn't stay late beause I wanted to have a glass of wine or 2 and I didn't want to lower my inhibitions with alcohol and friends with cigarettes.

You can do it!

[Sippslorie]

Thanks Kim!

[tjanddj]

Welcome! Congratulations on your 4 days! Great advice above. Alan Carr's book helped me out a lot, it helped me understand the addiction of smoking. My husband smokes but I have no great advice on to help you with that because it never bothered me. I had a made a commitment to keep my quit and this was no one elses problem but mine and I wasn't going to try to change anybody else but me and so I did, I changed myself and I pray and set good examples for others andgive encouraging word here and there.

You are doing good and you can do this!

[dpop]

I am on chantix...doing great. ..I am still quite new though. ..cannot be around the smokers yet and if I do very brief

[Thomas3.20.2010]

WELCOME!

Please do the reading!

You just may find yourself rethinking Sickerettes!

[lois2]

my name is Lois i quit on Chantix.  i could not be around smoker. at first about 2or3 weeks.  welcome

[Strudel]

Welcome! Congrats on your quit! You are in the right place - for sure! I agree with Nancy (Youngatheart) - please read Carr's book. One thing he says in that book - which stuck with me because at the time, I lived with 2 smokers - we should feel sorry for smokers! Never forget - they don't "get to" smoke.....they "have to" smoke! 

Congrats again - stay close!