When does the sadness go away ?

[Kristinaluvsray]

I am 11 days into my quit and all I do is cry and eat.  I started smoking to loose weight and boy did it work I met my goal and kept loosing I went from 198 to 117 at the date of quitting smoking. I refuse to get on a scale I’m terrified of what it will say . I’m so sad all the time but I had to quit it was starting to cause health issues with breathing troubles and coughing all the time . I do feel so much better in that area now the cough is pretty much gone but how do I not want them how do I get my joy back and not be sad I got 3 kids who need me and i cannot seem to get out of this funk for anything! If any of y’all are practicing Christian’s please keep me in prayer I truly could use it ! I keep telling myself I can do all things through Christ which  strengthens me Philippians 4:13 Jesus done  delivered my heart from them that’s the ONLY reason I ain’t picked them back up but how can I get my heart and my flesh on the same page ?  

[diamond01]

Hi, hope you are doing better, I cried, and cried probably for a good month, I stayed on this site all the time and this is how I got through you have to keep your quit in your mind always, I still want a cigarette and it does pop in my head a lot but it is getting better, I think you just have urges the rest of your life you got this. Have a good week.

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome!

Congratulations on ELEVEN DAYS!  That is HUGE!

Sadness is a normal withdrawal symptom.    A lot of us self-medicated for depression and anxiety with nicotine.  If you don't start to feel better in a few weeks, a call to your doctor may be in order.

The 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.”    You can purchase a digital version online or borrow it at your local library.  Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: Nicotine and Your Brain

I quit over ten years ago , and I base my overall recommendations on my experience and that of others over the years. if you decide to use a quit aid, I recommend those that don't let the addict control the dose such as Rx drugs and the patch. Each cigarette you smoked contained about 1 mg of nicotine. If you use more than one form of NRT, be sure you aren't getting more than when you smoked.

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit.  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! .  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), do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game.  Keep a cold bottle of water with you. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. You might visit “Games”: The active ones are at the top of the list going down the left side of the page.

Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:

101 Things to Do Instead of Smoke - EX Community

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.

You might want to join other site members by taking the daily pledge when you quit. IT helps to hold yourself accountable and also accountable to others here. Find it at Home (top left), then first blue box.

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

[CommunityAdmin]

@Kristinaluvsray Welcome.  You could check out  Exercise & Fitness - EX Community  and  Faith & Spirituality - EX Community  . Both groups might help you on your journey. 

[maryfreecig]

The more you connect with other quitters--and here at Ex you will get plenty of that--you might find an easing of your blues because you'll discover that what you are going through is common. You're not alone at all!

You might want to tell more of your story--like how you came to your decision to quit. 

One day, one step at a time you can build the quit that you want.

[biscuit9]

Congrats on 11 days of being smokefree, that is huge.  Quit day 171 for me.  For me, it was day 22, before I got through the SADS and the MADS, and turned a corner.  I struggled with NOT BEING HAPPY about my quit for 3 weeks.  It gets better, so please hang in there.  I understand that you feel you should be celebrating and partying about this tremendous feat you have accomplished, but that is not how it worked for me, either.  Nicotine addiction is no joke and you are finding that out like we all did.  Main thing is, do not smoke.  Lastly, include your children as much as you can, through this process.  Your addiction affects them too, and they need to see the reality of this, in hopes they will never smoke!  Impress that upon them, use this as a teachable moment.  I just said a prayer for you,  if not for God, I would never have quit smoking, is a fact.  I leaned on God, I prayed for the peace of God to dwell in you and give you strength.  You CAN do this, you ARE doing this.

[Barbscloud]

@Kristinaluvsray So glad you reached out.  You don't have to go through this alone.  Some quits are more physical than others, while some are more emotional.  Mine was the latter.  We quit smoking and think everything should be wonderful.  It's important to remember how long we smoked, so it's going to take time for our bodies to heal.  

It's ok to cry.  Just let it out.  And don't forget to celebrate your success.   What you've accomplished is amazing.  Are you rewarding yourself for your milestones?   It's a great way to replace that "reward feeling" we get when we smoke.  

Celebrate you.  You earned it and deserve it.

Stay close for now.   We're here for you.

Barb

[Kristinaluvsray]

I am setting outside reading these comments and bawling my eyes out but for once they are happy tears more like tears of relief. I’m really not alone after all ! I’m a stay at home mom with literally no friends so my kids and my husband are my world and all I got . My husband was supposed to be quitting as well but he’s struggling and that makes it all the more hard because I am jealous to a certain extent it’s such a weird feeling and hard to explain . I’m praying for him to be delivered from them daily and trying not to be mean but as loving and supportive as I can be but ugh he makes me so frustrated lol he’s my temptation when he comes in and I smell it on him or he accidentally leaves a pack laying  or the other day he gave me a kiss and I tasted it on his lips ugh I could have strangled him and broke in that moment but Jesus was with me and I didn’t do either of those things lol So praise god for that ! Thanks for talking with me everybody it’s nice to know I’m not alone ! 

[YoungAtHeart]

Be sad, maybe,  for hubby.  Think of it this way:  he HAS to smoke and right now you DON'T.  Cool. huh?

[Krack3rJack]

Yeah.  Won't sugar coat.  It SUCKED....majorly.  I did not feel myself for a long long time.  Your body is settling into its new home.  It is common to mourn leaving your old home while moving into something better.  There is nothing wrong with you, you are not broken.  In fact, there is something very right with you.  Please please please keep going.  If you are scared, do it scared.  If you are sad, do it sad.  It is worth it.  So so so so worth it.  You will feel whole again and when you do, you will begin to really see that the testaments on here are true.  It is freedom.  Break the bonds, keep going. BUT...YES, for now and for awhile, it SUCKS

[Sootie]

All great advice and thoughts above. Not much I can add except to strongly second @Krack3rJack 's comment.......it does SUCK and it's best to face it. Can't go over it, can't go around it....gotta go through it. BUT OH!!!! WOW!!! I can tell you what a great, wonderful, free life you will have on the other side. It is fantastic not to be addicted to nicotine. 

TWELVE DAYS is a great start. But remember...it is just a start. I'll bet you smoked for a lot more than 12 days. So, it stands to reason, it's going to take longer to find your new normal. But.....every day you succeed, you get closer to that day (I think it was around 3 months for me) when you realize........I haven't thought of a cigarette ALL DAY LONG!!!

Stay strong and stay connected to the site. We are all here for each other.

[maryfreecig]

Good to hear from you @Kristinaluvsray  It takes time, for some of us quitting "sucks" more than for others, but in time it all evens out. I've never heard a quitter who has gotten past the sucky part say, 'Boy I wish I hadn't quit afterall.' Everyone who sticks out the hard part is glad for it. It's really good that you don't feel alone in your quit --this community is here for you, feel free to blog or comment whenever you feel like it.

Yes you can one day at a time.

[biscuit9]

You stay strong, cos at the end of the day, the main thing is do no smoke.  You can get through all of this.  Do no smoke.  You will not regret this.