Hi everyone!
Hope you all are doing well.
Just wanted to write this to check in on my fellow newbie quitters (or newbie-ish quitters).
How is it going Angie_machado Showiestodin Diannnnn maxine55 tlajbenn coreinstincts_101 ?
Sorry if I forgot to tag anyone!
I'm pluggin' along. Stepped down the patch from 21mg to 14mg. Feeling the depression and anxiety a bit this week. Have thought a lot about smoking, but play the distraction game/snack way to much until it passes.
How are you doing? I'm on day 22 and down to the 7mg patch. Still tired but energy levels are starting to come back. Walking really helps. Started out really slow but starting to increase my time and distance.
coreinstincts_101 Diannnnn tlajbenn good to hear from you all! Sorry for the slow response.
Today is day 15 for me. I've noticed two things recently. The first is that I am needing more sleep than usual. The second is that I'm having smoking dreams almost every night. They make me nervous! Anyone else experienced this?
Hi Dani, we all had and still have smoking dreams sometimes; don't get nervous, your subconscious "knows" you used to be a smoker; instead, just enjoy the feeling of freedom when you wake up, and laugh out loud at your dream. You don't do that anymore, congratulations!!!
Thanks Dani,
Today, I was at the smoke cessation clinic and I was going on and on how I believe this site and Alan Carr is helping me more than the Chantix (which I slowly detoxed from) and Wellbutrin.
3 weeks and I am breathing, sleeping and counting much better.
I am so grateful for this site and everyone's blog.
I'm glad that you had a good day!
I haven't read Alan Carr yet, how is it?
Or Alan Carr's works I should say.
Hi Dani,
I really don't know how to explain Carr's work.
I know it took me a few days to comprehend his message.
When that big moment came, I really swear by his words.
In my 45 years of smoking, I could not connect nicotine with addiction and the fact that I had to change my thoughts about cigarettes.
I have not completed the book because I keep going back over the first 75 pages for reinforcement or if I misread his directions (more I clear up - the more teachable I become).
I had to come to believe in something these past 3 weeks. Carr's book is what helped me to use the web site for support, attend nicotine meetings, detox from Chantix, and be honest about my depression.
Today, I found myself in a situation where I was with a smoker. I remembered Carr's suggestion to replace envy with pity/empathy. So instead of being a reformed smoker - I am an Ex smoker and my conversation with the smoker was not condemning and pompous. I passed the Become An Ex card and my number without a sermon.
Carolyn
Congratulations on your progress and experiencing the joy of quitting! Staying positive about it will make it so much easier to "ride" the craves, and accumulate days of freedom!
I don't ever remember my dreams but I do remember having one smoking dream; I woke up in cold sweats. I have conditioned myself with a quit around other smokers so I don't have that problem. I have allowed them to smoke around me so that it doesn't bother me later; the one thing I will not allow is the smoking in small enclosed spaces like a car. I think my dream was about my quit being threatened and that day I had a rough time of it and had to actually leave my house to save my quit.
Take a walk and o to the park look at things that have beauty in them, hun. Remember we did not put ourselves here overnight and it is going to take the time to get out of here. So be patient with yourself and with others that don't know or understand what you are going through getting plenty of rest, read and post often, staying close to this site and to the elders, remember to pledge every day, ride the freedom train daily, and most of all blog, post how you feel daily and what is going on. That is how your quit is going to work for you!
Park walks are my favorite! I'm lucky to live close to a park here.
How are you doing today?
Welcome. You can do this. coreinstincts_101 have excellent advice. There is a lot of information here. Take the time to read.
Cranky is better than not breathing. Cranky will pass, death tends to be permanent.
I'm a newbie at 32 DOF.. I've had a couple of smoking drinking. I'm smoking in the dreams and then I feel the shame. When I wake up, I choose not to dwell on them but they are kind of nerve wracking. Keep it up, as I will for another day won!
Connie
You all are doing great Connie and another Day WON is awesome each and every day, congratulations on your 32 precious DOF and counting....
Hi, Connie!
Welcome to this post, I'm glad you found it!
How are you doing today?
Today is day 16 for me. I can't wait to get to a full 20.
A few things for you Newbies !!!
I Love this one ........
Keep it simple laugh a lot and I bet you can laugh more freely now ! My smoking cough went away quicker then I thought it would ! I used to old back laughing because I would have a coughing fit..... that is the way most smokers sound when they have a good laugh it ends in a lot of choking !
You all are doing a great job ! Isn't it great to have Buddies ? 
My favorite is the second to last image!!
Thanks for taking the time to share.
Hi Dani
Hope all is well with everyone!
I am going on 41 days.
Having a cough and need to drink more water.
Last night I was having mix feeling for not calling my nicotine sponsor. As I was surfing the tv, guess who I surfed up - my sponsor!. I watched him on public access tv for an hour. Today, I saw him at a meeting. He asked me to critique his presentation and my opinion about the interview.
For dinner, I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. The craving tried to slip in. Instead of reacting and getting confused, I just stopped - took a deep breath and drank a cold glass of water. The craving left as quickly as it came.
Rereading Carr always give me new information that I missed. I repeat the mantra "Do Not Take the First Puff.
I am doing just great I made it to week 3 and day one without the vap going on day 2so things are getting better all the time