Yesterday I stopped smoking. Day 1. It is tough. But I am glad to be free. I truly hope it will carry on!
Yesterday I stopped smoking. Day 1. It is tough. But I am glad to be free. I truly hope it will carry on!
So glad you're still fighting!!
Learn all you can! Read all you can about addiction. It really helps to understand what's happening to you as you progress. Read other's blogs on this site so that you can understand that you're not alone in your feelings and physical cravings. We're all here if you need us!! Hang in there and soon it'll be another day. And another. And another!
ONWARD TO FREEDOM!!!
Chuck
Welcome to the community, you've made the best decision that you'll ever make in your lifetime so please read everything you can about quitting smoking and remaining quit because there's a wealth of information here to strengthen your resolve to kick the nicotine poison to the curb and start living a life of Freedom, each and every day you get through is another Day WON....
no biting the dust!
Congrats on day one! On to day two!
YAY - keep us posted
did you read the allen carr booklet
it's a free pdf - called the easy way to quit
I found it very helpful
Tammy 96 DOF
Hello, and welcome!
What has made this quit manageable thus far, as the others have said, is reading and educating yourself. Immerse yourself in the links they've provided.
Understanding our addiction will allow you to conquer it. And conquer you shall!!!
welcome!
Welcome to our community!
Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking and your first TWO DAYS! A successful quit involves education, hard work and commitment......notice I didn't say luck. Luck is chance - and you control your own destiny with this!
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 also highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. You can search for it online or at your local library.
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.
Are you using a quit aid? Would love to hear what you have decided. 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. We call cold turkey "Smart Turkey."
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
Congratulations on your day WON.
Congratulations on your decision and your first 2 days WON, it's not easy but every day WON is so worth it, still a newbie but the EXes do know what they are talking about, try to read a lot and stay close to this site, welcome,
Aderb, 24 DOF
Congrats Ivan!! You just made the best decision of your life!!
Just look at all that great advice and encouragement up there! I will only add this:
Hope has nothing to do with it. Don't give smoking a voice in your life. Own your quit, and choose to keep it every day. And do what we all do...keep reading on here and post whenever you need to!
Congratulations on 2 days now? It is tough but it is doable! Look around - lots of success stories here at EX. Stay close and participate here. Don't be afraid to ask for advise - and don't be afraid to accept the advise offered. Best wishes!
Congratulations Ivan !.
It may appear very difficult , feel difficult but it is definitely doable. You have to be resolute about not taking one more puff no matter what and not be afraid to ask for help.
Acceptance is the key. Accept that it is going to be difficult and know that it feels GREAT to be free from the clutches of nicotine. You can do it. I am only on day 40 but I already feel proud and my cravings are getting weaker.
Such a great positive vibe. Tremendous energy is here. Very nice. Thank you everyone for support! I had some symptoms yesterday, like feeling a bit dizzy. Anyone had this one?
You can do this! If I can I know you can. 62 days and many times even now I have bad days. But I take all the advice here and I get through it. No one ever died from quitting only from not quitting. Tell us what ever u are feeling and u won’t be alone. We have or will feel it all. Stay with us and u got this
Barb
Many have had dizzy symptoms after quitting. I think part of it is probably due to getting more oxygen than we're used to, especially if you're using deep breathing techniques. OR if you're hyperventilating because of stress. It shouldn't last long. If if does, have it checked out. Hang in.
Thank you. So far I feel much more energetic
Still have big cravings though.
Hey Congratulations!
Are they thoughts of smoking or are you craving nicotine?
Congratulations, Ivan.
Things may be tough early on but try to focus on the positives of quitting. There is nothing positive about smoking - only negative. The longer you go without a cigarette, the better you will feel physically and mentally. Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can possibly do.
Keep up the great work.
Congratulations.
Keep on fighting. You can do it. Quitting smoking gets easier after the first few days. The first few days might seem terrible, insurmountable but it definitely can be overcome. During the first few days the feelings of "wanting" a cigarette and "craving" a cigarette might be confusing. Whatever it is do not take a puff. Every time you feel like you want a cigarette resist it for a few minutes. I downloaded a game called Lumosity , there are some interesting brain games in it, one of my friend told me that those games activate your brain and also have a side effect of releasing dopamine. Dont know how true it is but it keeps me occupied whenever i have a craving. I try to beat my best scores.
Try different things and see what clicks for you.
And ..drink lots of wate and fresh raw veggies during the first few days
Give yourself a huge pat on the back. you have done a really good thing for your life and living. I am on my 7th day non-smoking and each day is precious. it is called your 'quit' and it belongs to you. Protect it with your life, because it is giving you your life. you are working towards your freedom, liberation.!!! Wow, it is great feeling. The Who ( Roger Daltrey) "I'm Free" (Tommy 1975) - YouTube
Hi, Ivan_EU. Today is day 25 of my quit, so I'm pretty new at it. There are all kinds of opinions and ways to do this, but I'll toss my hat in the lozenge-or-gum ring. In my first few days, the lozenges were super helpful, along with hard candy, gum, and so much ice water I thought I'd float away. I didn't use lozenges as directed on the box--about 9 a day--but maybe used 3 or 4 those first few days instead. It still helped with the cravings. Do what you need to do to get through those first few days. They're tough, but so worth it. I'm less than a month in, and the improvement in how I feel is far better than I could ever have hoped or imagined. I haven't coughed once since day 2. Pretty amazing.
Congratulations on your decision. You can do this. And the pride you'll feel when conquering it will keep you going.
-Dawn
Welcome! Keep this in the back pocket of your mind when you feel any temptation....
WE ARE ALL HERE FOR YOU.......!!!
Miles of Smiles..........................
Congratulations on one day of quitting smoking. You are making one of the best decisions of your life. Along with quitting you should have a plan. Hope is okay but determination and hard work would be better. Here is a brief summary of some information that will help you along your way. You have come to the right place for a new day and a new beginning..
Go to http://www.becomeanex.org/how-to-quit-smoking.php#thl and if there are any areas you need to address get started. You can do this. This is all about you and what you are willing to do and not hoping to do to be smoke free. Quitting smoking requires hard work. 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