Quit day was yesterday. Today I really don't have a ton of physical withdrawal symptoms but emotionally I just feel lost. I find myself wondering around the house...I guess out of habit heading to my smoking place but then realizing I don't go there any more. I assume this will get better but so far...this sucks.
What you are feeling is rather normal. Preparing and planning for times like these is very important. Let's get started.
Welcome to EX. You have come to the right place for a new day and a rebirth.The idea is to start at the beginning by making a commitment that no matter what happens or goes on in your life that you will not use it as an EXcuse to smoke. With that philosophy you will have success on this journey. No it is not easy but it is doable by using that principle and educating yourself about nicotine addiction. If you hang around you will see that quitting is doable, because many of us have. Look forward to a new day and a new way of life. It is all up to you. This is all about you and what you are willing to do to be smoke free. Quitting smoking requires hard work and determination not to give up. It can be challenging at times but you will learn that it is doable if you adhere to NOPE not one puff ever no matter what. Start first, by educating yourself about nicotine addiction. Education is the key to a successful quit. Read: Freedom from Nicotine My Journey Home and Nicotine Addiction 101
Here are the links: http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksAAddiction.html and http://whyquit.com/ffn/
I also encourage you to read. Allen Carr’s book, “Easy Easier Way to Quit Smoking”.
The link is here: http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf
Go to http://www.becomeanex.org/how-to-quit-smoking.php#thl and get started.
The first thing I thought when I read your post was that you were grieving. It is okay and it is very normal. Like Jackie mentioned above if you haven't already, read about the addiction to help you understand the process. Hold strong as you can do this. I haven't quit yet, but my quit day is coming up and from prior attempts at quitting I know this "loss" will be a lot easier for me since I have been reading and realize that it is an addiction that I am losing, but one that will benefit me many times over in my future.
I get the blues really bad when I quit. Thankfully I won’t go through them again like you do in the first month ! I think it has to do with your brain “resetting” your dopamine triggers (read up on the law of addiction from the whyquit link JACKIE1-25-15 sent you! ) hang in there it will get better! You are on the road to life again. Yay for you!
there's a letdown because you aren't getting the dopamine and you're missing your smoking routine.
Keep coming back to Ex, here you'll find plenty of healthy distraction from the blues. Yes you will find normal again.
Welcome So Glad You Are Here !!!!
The first few days do really suck ! Find things to do rather then wander and when you do wander and find yourself looking for or reaching for that sickerette, give your head a shake and say to yourself "I don't do that anymore " and know that these days will pass you will be okay. It is okay to feel lost ,it is withdrawal from something physically addicting and the habit of smoking is so ingrained in the brain that it takes awhile for you to learn new behaviors and as long as you say N.O.P.E (Not one puff ever ) and SINAO ( smoking is not an option ) you will make it through just as we have ! thinking positive will help you immensely do not allow the negative thoughts to take over !
You have the power within you to accomplish your goal !
The Grief Cycle (You're not going crazy!) You're breaking up with your best friend. He's a blog written by a member here. it addresses exactly what you're going through
Yes, it really sucks! Keep these Days fresh in your mind! We have a saying here - Never Ever Forget! Never forget how much those first days supersuck so you will never have to go through them again! It does get better! There's only one direction - forward toward FREEDOM!
I thought I'd see how you are doing this morning Leana0120 we are all here for you to try and help you through the rough patches just let us know how you're doing and if there's anything we can do, be sure to read everything you can about quitting smoking and Remaining Quit because there's a wealth of information to strengthen your resolve to kick the nicotine poison to the curb and start living a life of Freedom.
'Things' will get better...and your battle with this horrible, time waster, money grabbing, health zapper, life stealing addiction will be worth it!
I made a check list of a to do list, that I had procrastinated on..put the timer on...and plowed through with my music blaring, until the timer went off. I then would just take a break...then repeated the process.
It was freeing to accomplish the chore I completed, and counted the day WON!
Stay close, we're all here for you!
~Kathy
Hey Leana, Welcome, Welcome, Welcome to EX, where you can come and just express yourself!
What a great choice you have made for yourself!
You already did the correct thing by posting how you're feeling, and I see so many great responses,
but I will confirm that you are now having to change the way your brain thinks. It is a normal feeling
to feel lost in the beginning, but you've already made the great choice to quit, so now it's on to making
great different choices in your daily living.
This is a great place for quitters, there is so much support here, and everyone will listen and advise
you of things to do that will help!
Congrats on becoming a quitter! I look forward to seeing all your posts and updates.
Sandy 30 DOF
Welcome to EX, I am not sure what kind of preparation you put into your quit but there is no reason you cannot do the reading and figure things out NOW. There is a grieving period when we quit, the more you know, the easier the journey to recovery is. This is an addiction and the journey is one day at a time. YES, it DOES get easier, there comes a point when you realize you didn't think of a cigarette for an extended period of time. You need to keep busy at the beginning, go to places where you CAN'T smoke, do things with your hands, go for walks, I am going to link you to some blogs that I think you should read.
These first two are by jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007 My Welcome To New Members (12+ Years Of Watching) and What To Expect In The First Four Months Youngatheart.7.4.12 offers THIS one: 101 Things to Do Instead of Smoke
You can do this...the beginning is hard but it is DOABLE. I suggest staying close to the site and reading blogs, commenting, writing blogs, asking for help if you need it, we all want you to succeed.
Ellen
We haven't heard from you since that original post, I hope it's because you are reading.
Nancy, Youngatheart.7.4.12 normally posts a very heartfelt welcome to newbies...I am going to paste it here. Please let us know how you are doing,
From Youngatheart.7.4.12
Welcome to our community!
Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking and your Day Won. To answer your question, the first couple of weeks are difficult - but doable. You will have good and bad days (mornings, afternoons, evenings, moments!). Just get through them however you can. Following is some advice on how to do that!
The most 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.” This is an easy and entertaining read. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:
http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf
You should also read the posts here and perhaps go to the pages of folks who you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com, quitsmokingonline.com and livewell.com for the good information contained there. @https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex has lots of blogs written by members of this site with their experiences and guidance. You should also do the tracking and separation exercises suggested in My Quit Plan http://www.becomeanex.org/my-quit-plan.php
After you have completed the recommended reading, it will be time to make an informed choice of the quit aid, if any, you will use. If you go that route, I personally recommend the aids that don't let the addict control the dose such as the available prescription drugs or the patch. If used properly, gum, lozenges and inhalers are fine, but they need to be used only as a last resort. I have seen folks become addicted to them if they substitute them for every cigarette they used to smoke - just trading one addiction for another. I do not recommend the e-cigarette for three reasons: 1) the vapor has been compared to the polluted air in Bejing on a bad day, 2) they just provide another nicotine delivery system while continuing the hand to mouth smoking motion, and 3) the batteries can spontaneously catch on fire. . But – any method that you think will work well for you will be best for you.
The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced. Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand. 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! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different. Buy your gas at a different station. 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), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time. You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits. Get busy! Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:
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.
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
We want you to succeed.
Ellen
Hi. Congrats on quitting smoking. Must of us experience that lost feeling. Expect anything in the beginning of a quit. Hang in there though. The final product is too good for words. You can do this.