Is No Man's Land cigarette free or nicotine free? I’m almost 3 months off smokes and my brain is lost in la la Land. I am using NRT's.
Is No Man's Land cigarette free or nicotine free? I’m almost 3 months off smokes and my brain is lost in la la Land. I am using NRT's.
Nicotine FREE- which I believe YOU Gwenivere know in YOUR HEART- there is no easy softer way- it is SUGGESTED to educate YOURSELF about YOUR OWN NICOTINE ADDICTION- Dr Hays and the EX team wrote blogs on addiction-also at whyquit.com has videos with Joel who has been HELPING NICOTINE ADDICTS FOR OVER 40 YEARS- Please check them out for YOURSELF- don't take MY word on their blogs- please read them for YOURSELF- thank you Gwenivere and CONGRATS AND GOOD JOB- TODAY with YOUR NRT PLAN WHAT WORKS FOR YOU! Yahooooooo and WAY TO GO!
Cigarette free. Nicotine is not the culprit, tobacco is. Read the research. Mayo Clinic. I personally believe part of your problem is your anti-anxiety meds. I think you are addicted. Take care of yourself. Have a blessed Sunday.
Thanks Barbara145. I’ve done a lot of reading about research regarding nicotine. It’s been Used as an effective pain killer in some cultures. Not in the form of cigarettes, of course.
Yes, I am on anxiety meds. Panic disorder is not a choice, it’s a medical condition that requires intervention like diabetes, asthma, thyroid conditions, etc, unlike choosing to smoke. The word is dependent, not addiction, when you require medication to live a functioning life.
I was on NRT also. and really NML is the space where you have people telling you you should be over it and you feel you just can't shake the thought of smoking. This is the point where I've seen people slip because they think, hmmm, it's been 130 days I should be over this already. Think outside of the box with me for a moment. For years we used smoking as our friend, our confidant, our comforter. It's the first thing we reached for when an emotion popped up and we didn't know how to handle it. Years back when we first started, we started because of peer pressure or a boost to our confidence. Slowly we began developing emotional ties to smoking. It helps us relax, it made us feel better, it made us concentrate, the list goes on. Be built years and years of memories and kept pumping more and more nicotine into our bloodstreams. We have the habit of hand to mouth with the motions of smoking and we have the physical and later emotional dependence on smoking. I know when I had an overwhelming urge to smoke, I always stopped myself and said, what would a nonsmoker do in this situation, someone who has never smoked in their life? We each individually deal with life stressors differently because we are all unique from one another. That's what makes quitting difficult, we all have our own plan tailored to each of our lives. No one quits the same or has an exact timeline. Thoughts of smoking will always pop up from time to time. But with time the urges become less, the thoughts drift away because you're moving through life replacing those memories. The brain is readjusting itself from being fed dopamine and there's a chemical process going on. give it the time it needs. In my case it took around 190 or so days to finally level off and a year to really get back into the swing of thing. but remember during that year, I was replacing memories of certain annual events going on, cookouts, anniversaries, birthdays, holidays. Don't sweat the labels and the acronyms. Just allow yourself the time to heal......
I think I will drop the acronyms. They muddy the water for me. My brain is addled enough by the quit. thanks for that suggestion. crazymama_Lori
Not one PUFF. It is what's between the ears. If you think you can't then you can't. If you think you can then you can. It is not about NML... It is about you. What you are willing to do not to ever take another puff no matter where you are in your quit. If you are using the NRT's correctly there is a point where you will be weaning from them also. Follow your plan. Just be aware that you are on the brink of true freedom. Never give up,m never give in. So let it all go.
Has to be that not everyone goes through no man's land. Some see the light, some feel the heat. I suspect (oops you asked for Yes of No!!!) that those who feel the heat (like myself) go through NML, whereas those who see the light do not because they have closure to begin with. And so I think (more opinions!!!) that NML happens whether one quits cold turkey or NRT. You've achieved a lot of milestones, keep em coming!!! Happy almost 3 months!
CONGRATS GWENIVERE YOUR DOING GOOD!!!!!!! I am very proud of YOU loving and taking good care of YOU!!! Gentle hug!!!
I thought it was days 31-120 of not smoking. I made it through this time with no problems but have relapsed in the past. These relapsed happened almost immediately after giving up NRT or when I was in a stressful situation and not doing anything to protect my recovery. One thing I learned is that patches are the best NRT for me. I would use the other ones the same way I used cigarettes (to increase my nicotine levels, get the oral fixation, and ease stress). I did much better once I got on the patches because I’d change the patch everyday, not go through withdrawal, and not thing about it the rest of the day. My advice for anyone going through no mans land is to stay vigilant. That transition period of days 1-30 are only a beginning. We have this addiction until the day we die. Don’t focus on stopping smoking. Focus on NOPE, never going back to smoking no matter what.
I know the patches help. I did much better at 14 than 7 which I’m on now. This really feels like withdrawl. The former was about what I smoked. I only have 2 options, go back to a higher patch or see this thru because I, oddly, do not want a cigarette. Sometimes I think I do but I know so much more about it, would have to deal with failure and have a lung condition that I don’t want to rush it’s progression. I had a TIA a couple years ago and now the@ thought of that again or worse scares the bejeezus out of me. I guess I’ll have to go thru another withdrawl when I feel I am up to dropping the patch but I am holding onto the lozenges and that may be for a very long time. My goal was not to be nicotine free, but smoke free. My docs are OK with that all around. It’s going to be finding what works to get back to a functioning level sans smokes. Maybe someday I will be nic free. Just gotta do this day by day. Thanks for your input.stAn3
Sweet Gwen. I wish you could be nicotine free but I understand and I think we all do the best we can. You are doing an amazing job! Yes you will have to go through withdrawal many more times with NRT as you drop down in nicotine levels but if that gets you to where you need to be, so be it. To be successful, we often take different paths. Yes, day by day. We are all here to support each other. Hugs to you!!
Thank you Lauralives. You are right, I am finding. I’ll have another quit after these lowest patches. When I started it equaled my smoking so it wasn’t too bad. Now I really get it. From my research, this wouldn’t be as bad if I didn’t have the panic disorder. I like being unique, but in this situation it’s a very frustrating challenge with the meds. Hugs to you too.
Gwen, I was curious to hear the opinions to this question myself. Didn't see that anyone ever asked this before--shows how much thought you put into this. Which, I for one admire. To me NML is about a period of time when it can be especially difficult for new quitters. I don't think NRT has anything to do with it. Do what you need to do to continue your SUCCESS on this journey. I've said this before to you--I know this has been a real struggle for you, but you're so strong and you're doing it. You go girl!!!!!
Barb
I have to say nicotine free. That’s only my opinion though. Nicotine is still a noose around your neck (and your life) feeding your addiction. That said, it is still an accomplishment and SO good for you to be tobacco free. So I guess I really didn’t answer your question LOL.