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Just short of 18 days quit. I’m feeling kinda lonely. No one wants to hear about how I feel and I honestly think they all think I should just be over it already. I smoked for 32 years and tried to quit multiple times. This is the longest I’ve ever quit and I did it cold turkey without any NRT. I still have not smoked, not a slip. I do not feel close to anyone right now. I thought it would be different than this.
Welcome and congratulations on 18 days quit. You will find support. We have a NOPE attitude. Not one puff ever will keep you free. If you have any questions or comments feel free to join in. Keep stacking those days.
Your doing super and going through it like many of us did.
You focus on you now and forget the rest.We are here and the others will come around, I promise. Dont worry about them. 18 days is AWEOMSE! YAY YOU!!!
Congrats on your 18 days! I totally understand your feeling of aloneness. Let’s face it... the only people that can possibly understand what we are going thru are us that are going and have been thru it. That is why support groups such as this and all the articles out there are so important. It is okay to feel/be alone. Right now it’s about being a bit selfish and focusing on yourself and meeting your own needs.
I am at 25 days quit, also cold turkey, smoked for 37 years. I am basically alone. But it’s okay. This quit is about me and how amazing and empowered I feel. After all we quit cold turkey after 30+ years of smoking... who does that????
Stay out of your head, pamper yourself and just appreciate your awesomeness and what you have achieved and the fact that you did it all on your own!!!!!
Beck
Congratulations to YOU for a 25 day quit, cold turkey is special, I admire people who do it that way, i especially like your advice to keep out of your head. For me that is where I fell down and had a 4 day quit, a 10 day quit, a 17 day quit lost and it kept getting harder and harder to do that first week, the first hour, the first day, i would have these little conversations with my addict, in my head. and the addict would win, until I learned not to even have these conversations, not to even go there. My addict gets weaker and weaker all the time. Because I am not entertaining my addict with these little conversations. I have shown the addict the door.
Thanks so much for the Congrats. Let’s face it the mental thing is the toughest in this whole quitting thing. It is the reason I put it off for so long. Physically I am not craving a cigarette but mentally I want one BAD.... Forever seems like such a long time. But again I “get out of my head” or another one I like “talk myself off of the ledge” and move on. I just know every day it will be easier but know this is a long, long journey.
Have a great day!
Beck
Sent from my iPad
You deserve a Parade!
Congratulations!
Welcome to the Ex and congrats on your 18 days. You're not alone. We're all here to get the support we need to be successful. Reach out anytime you need to share.
Barb
Welcome to our community!
Congratulations on your quit and 18 days of smobriety! Those who have never smoked think this is just a habit we can stop "if we wanted to." How wrong they are! We who have smoked and are quitting understand just how difficult it is. It's why this community exists. I'm glad you found us....we will be your cheering squad! I will give you lots of reading material to keep your company. I know you will find the information helpful going forward.
The 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. You can search for it online 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.
You didn't mention if you are using a quit aid, but if so, I hope you are using one that doesn'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 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:
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
Welcome to EX and congratulations on your beautiful quit, you have come to the RIGHT place...the place where we all WANT to hear about your quit and we all want to support you and let you know what a GREAT job you are doing. Please pay attention to Youngatheart.7.4.12's welcome to you and please stay close to the site. We can't always expect other people to be excited about our journeys...although I talked about mine with such enthusiasm that I think people felt they had no choice...other than perhaps to shove a sock in my mouth. This is a wonderful journey and you are on it...you have already made it through the first week, which we call "Hell Week" and the second week which we call "Heck Week" and you did that ALL ALONE! Good for you.
Welcome,
Ellen
I can empathize. I kind of expected that "why aren't you over it yet?" attitude from people who never smoked. But I also got it from my former smoking friends and family. Granted, I was the last of them (by many years) to quit. But I was still a little hurt by how soon they forgot, and their lack of empathy. That's why support groups like this are so helpful. Hope you stick around!
You are so tender and precious right now. Your quit is so young and vunerable. Shoot, you are just like a newborn baby. After smoking for 30 years? are you kidding, you are just learning how to be that other person, the person who does not smoke, who is free. Your friends who do not smoke, or who still smoke will never be able to understand the experience of working for and winning our freedom. They have never been in chains or are still in chains. That is why it is a good thing for you to come here. To be around others who have successfully cast those chains off , it is not easy being an addict and being at the bequest of the addict ( Mouseology by Bretislav Pojar - NFB ) here we all can appreciate where you are, cause we have been there too. !* Eighteen days is incredible. have you filled out your stats on your profile page? You might find it helpful. Look at me, before quitting I was smoking up to 200 cigarettes per week. Since I quit till right now, I have avoided nine thousand two hundred and 85 cigarettes. 9,285. Wow, can you imagine the damage that would do to my lungs and heart etc not to mention stinking up my house and acting as a toxic second hand smoke to my pets. Everything you are doing is great because, you are smoke free, which is incredible, pat yourself on the back. You are changing your life for the better. No doubt about it. I am sure someone has already recommended Allan Carr's book to you and I found this helpful. Hypnosis to quit smoking mindfully - YouTube Let me know what you think. Karen
We're all in the same boat, don't sink the boat, don't smoke. Stay afloat.
Welcome and CONGRATS ON NICOTINE FREEDOM! Please just keep blogging and give US time to HELP and please know you are NOT alone. Thank you so much for sharing. It was SUGGESTED to ME to read the EXteam blogs here - Dr Hays blogs here and to educate MYSELF on MY nicotine addiction and NO ONE else's- also to READ the FREE book ay whyquit.com - titled - NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF EVER by Joel and also to watch the videos at whyquit.com - thanks again for sharing.
You've come to the right place because Exers are all about smobriety! Welcome to Ex. Congratulations on your 18 days. Keep em coming--but one day at a time.
We WE are not them! We DO wanna hear how you feel. We KNOW how hard this is. And you are doing MAGNIFICENTLY! Closing in on three weeks. How 'bout THAT! You just keep doing what you're doing, 'cause it's obviously working. We're walking right beside you and cheering you on every step of the way. Welcome to the family.
Wow, I am completely thankful for each comment. What encouragement. I’m so happy I found you all!
Save Youngatheart7.4.12 read over a lot and see the links helpful. I'm 49 DOF quit cold Turkey after several times of quit . Over 40 yrs pack a day. We're here for you. The best to you!
Dan
Hi, it's been awhile, since I've been on, it's been so tough on me since mom passed. Went into a mild depression, got help though.
dljensen I am so sorry for your loss but so proud of you for getting help. Know that you are in my thoughts...I wish there were words to make it easier but if there are, I don't know them.
Ellen
My deepest sympathy on your loss. I know how difficult that is
Barv
It took me a long time to get over my mother's death. The deeper the love the greater the sorrow. I'm glad you've gotten some help for the depression. Time is the only cure. Sending a warm hug.
Thank you.
There is no comparison in life in experience to a mother's love. It is an emotional and spiritual bond, but beyond that it is a cellular bond. I feel like I've still got some of my mother's cells floating around inside me. I am made of her "stuff." And my father's "stuff." That's a once in a lifetime only connection unlike any other. As I am part of her, she is still part of me. And maybe when I die our "stuff" (that energy) will once again co-mingle on another plane. And perhaps we'll recognize each other and vibrate once again in that amazing all encompassing Love.
Congratulations on your Quit...keep it here, you have gotten some great advice above...((((hugs)))) out to you...Colleen aka sweetp
Sounds like my story! Smoke for 40yrs +, tried several times to quit, using patches, lozenges, pills, gum about everything without being able to stop. It's not a easy habit to quit. I quit smoking with prescription pills bupropion, counseling with hard candy, tic tacs, other breathe mints helped me. I'm over 100 DOF . Good luck to you.
Dan
You are not alone, congrats on almost 18 days quit, that is awesome. Others will pop up with other greetings, but I just wanted to say hi and let you know you are in the right place for continued support on your quit journey...
Tabbie