help

[barb12]

okay so ive tried chantix twice. its been sinci april 19th and just recently ive bought three packs of cigs. smoke a few and throw them out and repeat the process. im constantly trying to make excuses for myself to make smoking okay. im so frustrated. its like i cant do anything anymore because i cant smoke. i dont like it even though i have the power to change. ive gained weight since april and i am feeling really down about myself. i dont like it at all but alls i want is junk food. im looking for support and dont know where to turn. at least my addiction to smoking is cigs and not an addiction to something worse. i dunno what to do i dont know what to say i dont know what im doing here. help!

[Giulia]

Hey Barb, SLOWWWW down. Take a breath. Or two or three.

What you're doing here is reaching out, and there are many strong hands to hold onto. Read as much as you can. The more educated you are about your addiction, the better your success rate at quitting. There are lots of people on here who are going through exactly what you are. Read what they have to say. See how they're making it. Find out what works for you. Experiment. There is no right or wrong way to do this. But there are techniques that seem to work for the majority. (Deep breathing, sucking on straws, cinnamon sticks, etc.) The Ex Plan works for some, not for others. You have to adapt and alter the plan to suit your particular needs. Create your own Plan.

If you haven't read Allen Carr's book "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking," go get it. It really helps with the psychology of quitting.

You probably want junk food because you think you're giving up something by quitting smoking, and you want constant rewards to compensate. Normal behavior. But just as unhealthy and self-destructive, eh?

Something has set you off after a three month quit. But try not to get loopy about it. Stay calm, accept what's going on and continue to work on getting back in the groove. I didn't take Chantix, so I can't speak about it, but is it possible that it dulled the cravings for you and now it's lost some of that ability? If so, then you need to use some of the techniques I mentioned above to help get you through.

The bottom line is - don't give up. And don't buy three packs at a time! Geez. Just opening the door to a full relapse. One craving at a time you have to get through. Keep saying no to the baby within. You have three months behind you. That's real good and something to be proud of. No need to fall totally apart because you've slipped. Get back to it. You can do this.

Giulia (2 years 4 mos +)

[soccer-momx1]

barb
i have found joining this online and the get quick from chantix online has helped.
i'm on day 25 now. and not had any smokes.
i carry with me cimmamon sticks, sucker sticks/ and straws cut in half with cotton stuck inside.
i also talk to a lot of people about not smoking.

[hothula]

aloha barb, for some reason 3 is hard for a lot of people, 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months. do not buy anymore cigs or have any puffs. your junkie thinking is starting to over ride your rational thought. you have come so far. value your quit. it is hard won. you do not want to do this again. it may be time for you to do the things that will help you in your new non smoking life. find something to do that makes you happy, paint, a stained glass class, yoga, hikes in the woods. stay buy and positive. give yourself permission to have a candy bar just not 10 candy bars. I think reward is very important I bought things I could wear that when I looked reminded me not only how much money I had saved but also a symbol of my hard work. I bought a pinkie ring. I bought outfits and pretty things for my hair. its hard gettting used to a new way of doing things but it is so possible. hang tight most of the hard work is behind you. congrats your quit is awesome, enjoy it

[barb12]

thankyou for your support. its nice to come on here and find that people are actually responding to what you write. today i did not smoke at all. i faught the craving especially during work when i was mad, after work when i was relaxing, and after dinner when i was full. i actually cooked my own dinner tonight and it felt good. sometimes i feel like i CANT do anything because i cant smoke. its like that commercial where the man is showing picutres stating "thats me having fun with a cigarette" "thats me angry with a ciggarete" etc. for example on the 4th of july i didnt want to go see fireworks because i couldnt smoke. occasionally i like to go play slot machienes and i find myself not wanting to because i cant smoke. one thing about chantix though is that for some reason im still able to drink my coffee and be okay. when i used the patch last year i couldnt drink my coffee at all. but anywyas i just dont know what to do. its like i feel like im not myself of at least i never knew who i was. im very frustrated about it. i guess thats my depression kickiing in. yes im seeing someone for that. what do ya know another pill. yay for me.... no not so much. soo now what?