5 days in and getting harder and harder not to smoke, or punch someone in the face because I cant have a smoke ..had bad is this gonna get before it starts to get a little easier? almost lost my job and crashed my car today.
I understand that it's challenging to focus but you can do your best and know that it will get better very, very soon! If you have to call in sick for me it's worth it! But then I have COPD Would you rather call in sick because you want to prevent COPD, heart disease, stroke,etc, etc, etc OR do you want to call in sick years from now because you have one or more of the above and can't work??? You get to/have to decide!
Whoa! To begin, the first two- three weeks are the most difficult.
Are you using any quit aid? I am sorry you didn't do the preparation work here before you quit - but it's not too late. Hang around here, read the blogs and responses. Read Allen Carr's "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" to understand what nicotine does to your body and mind. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:
The idea is to change things up - drink your coffee in a different room in the morning with your OTHER hand, drive a different route to work, take a cold bottle of water in the car with you to sip on. When a crave hits you, distract yourself.....take a slow, deep breath, take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), go for a brisk walk, play a computer game.....got the idea??
Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be beside you every step of the way.
think about having to go through what you already went threw again. try to suck it up and find something to do to take your mind off smoking, most is a big mind game, it real,ly does get better. think the years you smoked to only 5 days,, you are doing good, play a game, build something, put a elastic on your wrist and snap it when urges come, just get your mind on something else and try not dwelling on how long urges will last,
Some of us refer to the first two weeks as "Hell Weeks" Usually things get a bit better after 14 days, then even better after 21 and so forth. But that's only if we're doing the work.
DISTRACTION is the key. As soon as the thought of lighting up comes into your mind, you have to get rid of it and distract your brain. It can be done, and becomes easier with practice. Tell yourself (out loud gives the words more power) that smoking is not an option any more. Don't argue with yourself, that never works in the long run. It can't be, "I want one..... well, can't have one..... oh but i need one...... no, come on you can't" It has to be, "I want one... but I don't do that anymore so I'll do _____ instead."
Be prepared; make a list of things that you can do to distract yourself from a craving, It should be something that requires your thoughts, but jumping jacks or dancing like a nut or running will all release dopamine that your brain is missing from smoking. Laughing out loud is a great crave buster so funny youtube vidoes or jokes, watching a movie or reading (while lying down is best) showering, brushing teeth, biting into a lemon, sticking your head in the fridge, calling a friend, coming on here to blog....... the choices are many and the more you practice DISTRACTION the easier it will become. Cravings only last 3-5 minutes unless we allow ourselves to think about them.
Please check out the link that Nancy gave you.... the more you know, the easier it will be. Your quit is so new, please make sure to drink lots of water and sleep or rest as much as you can. Long stretchs and calming breaths help sometimes, other times moving is the best thing to do. Lots of people say the flavor of cinimin helps so they chew cin. sticks or flavored toothpicks. Bananas help ease craves, and bring moods up... grapes are great for hand to mouth activity.
Stick close, we're all here to support you. I hope that something I've written is helpful, I remember how hard it can be to calm thoughts the first couple of weeks. One day, one hour or minute at a time, it will get better. READ, READ, READ everything and anything that people on here suggest because it really makes a difference!!!
Almost is the key word about your job, and the car, well it can be replaced or fixed and you are not injured, thats the best thing. But your life is at hand here when it comes to smoking. Cigarettes don't care about one thing that is going on in my life, cigarettes just pretend to be my friend, while the bad gases and nicotine invaded my body.
Hang in there and read all of the information that everyone sends to you. I did and it changed how I look at my success. My life depends on it. I am not an expert at quitting,I have challenges everyday, but when I turn those lights out at night, I say this is one more day that I extended my life. How good is that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are over the worst I think. Here on out should get easier although some days will be easier than others...and while it may not FEEL easier, when you look back to Day 1 or 2 or 3 for example - you will see that it is easier.
Although my last name actually is Moody, I'm less moody now than I was at two weeks into my quit.
Let me tell you how I started my mornings the first two weeks. I got out of bed wanting a cigarette, but reached for a wintogreen life saver instead. Changed up my routine to not having coffee until I was in the car on the drive to work. I let all the windows down, that's right, the wind was in my face, blowing my hair all over the place and jeez it felt good to start the day breathing FRESH AIR! 🙂
I always kept a water bottle with me, drink big sips everytime you have one of those "crave" thingys. If I was alone and able to close my eyes, I closed my eyes, breathed in deeply, pursed lips breathed out sloooowly and did it again, until I felt totally relaxed. I visualized myself as a non-smoker and you cannot imagine the smile that brought to my face. STILL DOES!! I think I was so ready to stop the insanity that smoking just was no longer an option for me. We all want to be rid of this addiction, some just get so tired of it that Freedom from addiction becomes the sweetest desire in life. Once I felt the FREEDOM I knew that this was forever.
I fell in love with Freedom and for the first time in my life I realize how much I love myself. It's about time I took care of self first, as there's no way I can help others if I don't care for myself first. Something good is happening here!
You need some help friend…If you do the following things you will get some relief…
The MOST important thing you can do is educate yourself about the nicotine addiction by reading, reading and more reading… Congratulations on the best decision you could possibly make for yourself and your loved ones…
We suggest a 'quit kit' composed of a list of distraction techniques and things to help you through like cinnamon sticks, crunchy things (carrots, celery, chips some hard candy, lots of water), lemons…biting into a lemon or sticking your head in the freezer and taking a deep breath gets you through.
It takes the mindset that we aren't giving up anything...we are doing it because we want to and not signing up for a lifetime of deprivation but a lifetime of freedom...that is the personal journey no one can take for us...We will be here for you every step of the way! xo
