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Give and get support around quitting

DavesTime
Member

New and On Day Four

Hi everyone.  I'm new on this board, but not new to trying to quit.  I can't tell you how many times I've tried to quit, but I feel that it's finally time for me to be done with smoking.  I've been a closet smoker (with most people) since the day I first tried a cigarette--over forty years, if you can believe it.  My wife only found out I smoked four years ago. 

I've never been a heavy smoker, but I've been chewing nicotine gum for years fairly heavily to get me through the times when I couldn't have a cigarette, so I'm definitely physically and psychologically addicted.  I was at my doctor for my annual physical last week, and got a prescription for Wellbutrin, which I started last Monday.  Because of a health scare, I quit smoking earlier than I had planned--last Wednesday.  I've done pretty well, except for some insomnia, but this morning I woke up seriously wanting a cigarette.  Oh, for the time being I'm also using a nicotine patch.

I'm glad to be here for this, my final quit journey.

28 Replies
virgomama
Member

Hi and welcome.  I'm relatively new here too.  But I have found this site  chock full of knowledge and helpful information.  Not to mention really supportive.  I don't feel qualified to give you advice as I'm just working on my own quit plan.  But I would encourage you to stay on this site and read, read, read.  Educate yourself.  You'll find what you need here.

DavesTime
Member

Thank you, Virgomama!  Best wishes to you as we begin our journeys.

Barbscloud
Member

Welcome to the Ex and congrats on beginning your journey.  I also used Welbutrin this time, along with nicotrol inhalers, a smoking cessation class and the Ex.  The support on this site has made all the difference, so stay close.

187 DOF

DavesTime
Member

Thank you, Barbscloud!

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elvan
Member

Welcome to EX, read everything you can about nicotine addiction.  I am sure that YoungAtHeart‌ will be here soon to give you the warmest welcome filled with great information, advice, and encouragement.  I, too, quit many times in the past and after 47 years and the health scare of my life, so far, I found EX and have been here for over 4 1/2 years.  Thanks to education, support, and commitment, I am absolutely certain that this is my forever quit.  Smoking did nothing FOR me but it sure did a lot TO me and none of that was good.

Congratulations on your four days...stay close to the site, come here every morning and every evening and read blogs, comment, blog, ask for help and advice if you need it and listen.  We have all been where you are and we all want you to succeed.  No crave ever killed anyone but no one can say that about smoking.  You are on the best journey you can imagine.

Ellen

DavesTime
Member

Thank you.  It all seems a bit daunting right now (navigating this site, as well as quitting smoking).  I did quit in 2011 and lasted a little over two years, but I never quit chewing the Nicorette.  This quit I want to get completely free of nicotine.

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Sandy-9-17-17
Member

I think you have to completely get rid of all the nicotine use in order to be successful at quitting for good!  But you can do it! 

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YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to our community!

Did I hear my name called?  Thanks, elvan!

Congratulations on your decision to quit and your first four days.  This is a decision you will NEVER regret!  Just give it the time it takes.  In the meanwhile, I suggest you get to the reading I will recommend.  It will make a world of difference in how you view this journey.

The most important thing you can do 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. You can search for it  or at your local library. Here's a link to a video here on the site which describes nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.
 
 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, quitsmoking.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.

Regarding NRT's  - they can help with the initial physical withdrawals, but nothing is going to quit FOR you.  The idea is not to addict yourself to them - but to work your way to true freedom.  This isn't easy, but it IS doable.
 
The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit.  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.  Keep a cold bottle of water with you from which to sip. 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:
 https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...

 
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

DavesTime
Member

Thank you, Nancy!  I've got some reading to do!

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