I was asked what I've done to help me stay smoke free this time around as opposed to before. I originally wrote this as a message for just one new friend on here but I'd like to share it in case there's anyone else that might benefit. I've only just re-started my journey but if anyone can take something from this and it helps them, it's so worth it. May you all have a healthy and smoke-free 2014. 🙂
"Hey there! So this has to be my 10th attempt at quitting smoking in the last 15 years. My first attempt was when I was in my early 20s (I'm 32 now) and I tried with the patch. It lasted about a day or two. Every single subsequent attempt from there got a little longer until I made it a whopping THREE whole months back in 2009. My biggest trigger? Stress. Especially if I've fought with someone or if life gets to be too crazy financially or if I feel like things are next to impossible.
This last year felt different. I'm sure you've probably gone through something similar to make you feel like you want to quit. Cigarettes didn't taste the same. Going outside to smoke at work felt like a chore. Being at a non-smoking friend's house and having to go outside in the cold felt alienating. People who didn't smoke would comment on the smell of the cigarette smoke on me and I would feel ashamed. I started to feel like smoking was a burden more than the friend that it once was. I went through a period of questioning why I was doing this. The reality of this entire thing was that I was setting my money on fire literally and inhaling it into my lungs and this was harming me in more ways than I could count. Because I work in the health field I've seen so many people diagnosed with cancer, COPD, emphysema, asthma complications, heart attacks, and strokes (some or all related to smoking). Knowing this could be me someday, I questioned why I was doing this to myself. But I wasn't quite there yet...
My "there" came two weeks ago when I got sick with the standard cold that left me coughing but I still wanted my cigarette at break time. I went outside and stood in the freezing cold, snow coming down and each drag I took was like fire going into my chest. I choked and gagged and after about three puffs I asked myself what in the hell I was doing. I threw the cigarette on the ground and that was the last cigarette I ever had.
Leading up to that day, I researched the cold turkey method and what I would expect. I read about it, watched YouTube videos and prepared myself for what my body would go through. I think being sick spared me from the worst of it. People say that nicotine is only in your body for 72 hours but this is untrue. It takes weeks for it to leave your system which is why many forego the patch and just tough it out because using the patch draws out the weening process for 8 weeks and then one has to ween off that nicotine still in their system for another 8 weeks. Cold turkey allows a person to get it all done in about 4 to 6 weeks.
For the first 72 hours I had a headache. I was short tempered and tired. I felt dizzy and nauseated. I hated life. This could've been because of the nasty cold I had. It could've also been on account of the withdrawals. But when the cold was over I was still left with a nasty smoker's cough that I will avoid sharing the detail's about. My cravings were still intense but I combatted these by redirecting my focus whenever they would come. I'd get up and do something else (example: If I was watching TV I'd get up and go in the other room. If I was in the car I'd fiddle with the radio dial.) Having things to keep your hands busy like coloring books, crayons, knitting, things to doodle with, etc are all really great and fun ways to help you redirect your tactile function. I also got REALLY addicted to candy crush 😉
Water is your best friend in this situation. It not only keeps you feeling full so you're not eating everything in sight but it also flushes out your system. Your kidneys are your main way station for getting rid of the nicotine stored in your body so they're going to need all the help they can get. I got myself a big bottle and I keep filling it.
Having a supportive partner, friend, and coworkers has been worth its weight in gold. They listen to me whine when I get overwhelmed by the demon that screams for its fix. Like I explained to my husband the other day: When I first quit it was like it was screaming really loud at first but now it seems to have lowered its volume to the point where it's politely asking if it could please have a cigarette. I'm now able to say, "No, you can't." I'm in control of the car here.
It seems cliche but you really have to want it more than anything. I'm not sure what was different for me this time as opposed to all the others. Maybe I was sick of killing myself. Maybe I was sick of going broke. Maybe I was sick of being a hypocrite to my patients or tired of people telling me I smell bad all the time. Maybe I was just sick of not being able to breathe. Whatever it is... it worked and I feel like this is the one. The big Quit.
I hope this helps you in your journey and best of luck!"
