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Give and get support around quitting

BarbieGene
Member
‎07-23-2019 02:41 PM

Will ever feel normal again - Whatever that was.

Been a week since I stopped smoking.  I smoked for 40 years.

I have not had any coffee or drinks.   I am trying not to do things that will make me smoke. 

But I feel depressed and tired.  I am taking chanix so that might make me tired. 

I am going to go visit family this weekend and they smoke.   So I am a little worried about that. 

Just looking for advice and someone to tell me I will be back to my old self soon.    thanks in advance!

13 Replies
avian3
Member
‎07-23-2019 03:14 PM

If you mean "old self" as to how you felt when you smoked, no. You will feel even better as a non smoker. Just remember that and hang on and don't let there be ANY excuse for starting again. Tell all those smokers that you quit and they should understand if you need to excuse yourself from certain situations where it makes it harder to stay quit.

YoungAtHeart
Member
‎07-23-2019 04:37 PM

Welcome to our community!

Congratulations on your decision to quit and your first week.  This is a decision you will NEVER regret!

avian3 hit the nail right on the head!  You will not feel like your smoking "normal self" - because that was never normal!  It was either getting a hit of dopamine, or craving one.  Since I quit I am more patient, less anxious, and definitely more calm.

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. If you do nothing else to get ready for your quit, please do give this a read.


 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. Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.

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

sweetplt
Member
‎07-23-2019 04:58 PM

Hi and Welcome to Ex’s

You have smoked for 40 years, it takes more than one week to feel normal...and even normal as a quitter will be different....at 232 days quit...I feel so much better as a quitter and I like my new normal...this is a step by step process and a lot is dealing with those feelings we stuffed into smoking instead of dealing with them...right now your quit and staying quit is your priority...Get busy, walking, cleaning things, if tired then rest, etc., your body is healing from all those chemicals you had put in you for 40 years...it is important that you read at My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX .. also, read the blogs here at the support site and keep close to here for help...You will eventually feel better, but it takes time...we are here for you ~ Colleen 232 DOF 

/blogs/Maggie_quit_8-1-2010-blog/2012/03/19/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoking?sr=search&searchId=f... 

maryfreecig
Member
‎07-23-2019 05:17 PM

Yes you will get better. One day at a time. Ex is here for you 365--support helps many cope with the weirdness of getting over the dependency so please stick around. Yes you can keep going.

marciem
Member
‎07-24-2019 11:50 AM

Hey there BarbieGene‌... WELCOME!

As said above, "normal" will be a new and better normal than how you used to feel, it will be more comfortable and relaxed than you imagined.  But to get there, you have to "go through" this process, there is no way around it or under it or over it.  One step at a time.

I am trying not to do things that will make me smoke. 

I'm a big proponent of self-talk and that the way we say things affects our mindset ... so keep that in mind.  The only thing that will make you smoke is YOU.  YOU are in control.  You might not  always feel like it, you might feel like you HAVE to smoke at times, but you don't.  A feeling or crave is NOT a command.  You can control how you act on that.  

You can slowly but surely work your way into doing the things you enjoy like your coffee (I'd hold off on alcohol for a bit longer), as long as you plan it, know it might trigger you, and have an escape plan if it feels overwhelming.  Small steps, but your normalcy will return.  Just know it will NOT make you smoke.  You don't do that anymore!!

You have made it through "Hell Week", and now into "Heck Week" (a somewhat milder version).  You should be VERY proud!!!   It is way too much time and energy invested to toss away so keep stepping ...one step, small as need be, at a time.

Thomas3.20.2010
Member
‎07-25-2019 09:12 AM

You have all of the answers to your question above me but I do want you to know that you are not alone! Congratulations on making the Very Best Decision of your Life! Keep stacking those Days and it will get better quite soon!

Image result for Barbie in a crowd

elvan
Member
‎07-25-2019 04:18 PM

You really have gotten stellar advice from others.  Normal will be NEW, you will smell better, you will FEEL better both physically and emotionally.  This is a one day at a time journey and you are in very good company.  Stay close to the site, read, comment, blog, know that we ALL want you to succeed at this.

Ellen

Mike.n.Atlanta
Member
‎07-26-2019 07:26 AM

We're all behind you on this BarbieGene‌. Just stay the course & stick with us. We're all uncertain in the beginning, not knowing what to expect. You'd think that quitting is just a short phase of your life & then you carry on with who you were. This is learning & growing process that will amaze you if you embrace it. Learn & grow.

Become the person you didn't know you wanted to be.

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