Community
Someone please tell me why after 106 days of not smoking the past 2 days the cravings have come back with a vengeance. I am having physical issues and have had to get 2 injections in my hip the past few weeks but that is the only difference. Was camping the past weekend and the craving almost sent me to the store but I fought it. I feel like I am going 2 steps forward and 3 steps back
I'm sorry to hear you're still having such a hard time. It does seem that some folks have a harder time physically/emotionally. Stay strong-you've come to far to go back now. Can't give you an exact amount of time, but it will get better. Continue to stay close.
Barb
CONGRATS 106 NON SMOKER DAYS
WAY TO GO
Don't you just hate that! Yuck about cravings. Any ideas what triggered them? This is a process. It will get better. The only way out is through.
You did good to post.
I do appreciate this site and the caring people on it. I can’t figure out what is triggering it the past few days. Don’t get me wrong I have had some relief but the past few days WOW. Will this really stop after no mans land and how much longer is that?
Sorry - but there is no hard and fast rule about the end of No Mans Land. A rule of thumb is that it MIGHT get better after 120 days - but just as everybody is different, so is every timetable. You don't have to worry about finding the trigger - unless it's obvious - because oftentimes there isn't one. My WORST day was around 108 and it seemed like the crave was never ending.
Take heart, though - use the tools you found useful earlier in your quit, and be conscientious about using them again, and you will get through this will flying colors.
Hang tough!!! I did - and I am 7+ years free!!!!!!
Hi Pookweenecess.
I found taking breaks help. Have you tried Allen Carr's book, The Easy Way to Stop Smoking. It greatly calmed me down.
I used to carry a water bottle with me everywhere. It will get better. You did great to post.
I am from a site which is closing called Quitnet. This is from there and may help you.:
When Does it Get Easier? REPOST
From: Lady__Belle650 on
I keep seeing folks asking WHEN will thus and such symptom of quitting be over. WHEN will I feel better? WHEN will I stop craving a smoke? WHEN will I stop relapsing and get quit for good? When, when, when.....
OK, OK.... I'll let you in on the big secret.... (Gawd! I hope I don't get drummed out of the Lodge for telling!) Get over here! You don't expect me to say this out LOUD do you? Gimme your ear.... this has to be whispered... and don't you DARE tell another soul!!
Tuesday!!!!!!!!! It will ALL happen on Tuesday!
There!
Feel better?
What? You wanna know WHICH Tuesday? (Sheesh do I have to tell you EVERYTHING???)
It will happen the Tuesday AFTER you stop feeling sorry for yourself about stopping smoking!
The minute that you really and truly believe that you have given yourself a GIFT by stopping smoking, AND that you deserve that gift, your quitlife gets better.
NO, the cravings don't go away, but you suddenly can see them as a temporary thing, kind of like gas, that will pass... sometimes with a bit of a stink just to remind you that it really is a process of elimination of the toxic thoughts of an addict. You may experience a twinge of a craving for decades.. so what? It is a FEELING... you don't have to ACT on it! (You don't act on every feeling that you'd like to strangle that so-and-so who cut you off in traffic do you?)
MUCH of how we experience our individual quit is a matter of our ATTITUDE!
How are you approaching your new day? Yes, it is YOUR day! Are you looking at it in a hopeful, positive light? Or are you grumbling and bemoaning the fact that it is another day of fighting the punishment of quitting? If your day is one of a negative attitude, a day of grumbling and grousing about what is happening as if you are a victim of your life, you can stop the negativity and begin your day over.. go ahead... do it. You can as easily choose to see the light as the dark. You can choose to see the small discomforts as growing pains or death throes. You can whine and moan about your martyrdom, or celebrate your freedom.
~~~~
It will get better Pookweecness, Time passes pass it being quit.
Nancy
All I wanted was information- I am not whining or feeling sorry for myself - I am just trying to understand. Your words feel negative to me. All I am trying to do is learn why something is happening, address it and move on to the next thing. If I really missed smoking and wanted to be smoking I would!! These cravings are wearing me out and I am tired of it, your post is condescending
The post was truly not meant to be condescending. You stated that your cravings came back with a vengeance. My intent was not to make you feel worse, but to lessen your pain with a little humor. My mistake. I have seen that post help many, for many years. What works for some does not work for all. Not my intent at all to be condescending. You are in the trenches and this is a process. I hope you feel better.
Thank you I appreciate you reaching out- maybe I am just a little over tired from fighting this demon and got a little over sensitive
Pookweencess Thank you for writing back. I'll tell you something funny. I first saw that post about 15 years ago and I did NOT like it the first time I saw it too! SShhh, don't laugh it's true! I saw it reposted a few times and it actually grew on me, and helped me, to change my attitude. (I can use all the help I can get.)
I hope you are feeling better.
Nancy
OK I know I'm a little twisted but I find that to be too funny. I also find it very truthful. Thanks for posting that ClearColors
Would knowing what triggered it end the trigger?
Sometimes the best thing you can do is to take the simple road: do something that worked that you haven't done in a while, do something you haven't tried.
Keep blogging, keep working through it.
Pookweencess I am so sorry hon that you are having craves...but I think until we experience almost every event for 365 days quit, we still have many memories of smoking. I find we just have to keep vigilant forever, but I feel as you get closer to the 300 mark it will get better...just always hold this close, “and this Too shall Pass...” Hoping today is a better one...~ Colleen 338 DOF
Thank you Collen you have been so supportive throughout my journey and I truly appreciate it
I cannot speak for you but I can tell you that I suffer from chronic pain and I think my smoking was like my pacifier when I was in pain. It never really helped, it just distracted me. I have no idea when NML will end for you but I can promise you that if you don't smoke, you will never have to go through it again. I am sorry about the pain, hope you are able to get it under control. I used to tell people that if I could get my pain under control that I was sure I could quit...the sad thing is that I actually believed that lie. Smoking never really helped with anything.
Hang in there, stay close and know that we are here.
Ellen
All these words are so helpful and encouraging! The waiting out the no-mans-land, the urges reeling their ugly head and how to ride that out. The not feeling sorry for yourself for being deprived of cigarettes, that cigs are a DISTRACTION from the pain and do nothing to solve the pain. 'This too shall pass'. To have feelings, strong intense irrational feelings manifest as cravings, but to NOT ACT on it. To trust the quest to be smoke-free. That it will all be worth it. That the ATTITUDE of being a victim of not smoking, woe is me for missing my habit - needs constantly to be worked on.
THANK YOU ALL FOR :YOUR STRENGTH AND COMMUNITY AND YOUR KINDNESS!!
Have wonderful days.
I know how you feel I’ve been quit free for 11 months now and it seems as though with the day’s passing I’m getting the edge for a cigarette. But I know it’s not good for me so I fight it and ask God for help. I’m trying to get a lung transplant and I can’t be around smoke. I think about how it made me feel so calm and soothing but that wasn’t good for my body I have to put the feeling to the side and think about my health. Those things will be the death of anyone who assumes them they have no color or gender they prefer anyone and everyone. So do yourself a favor and put all feelings aside and think about your health and how better you’ll breath and smell goodnluck I hope this is helpful
Cameree That feeling you are describing of being calm and soothed was a terrible lie, it was just the addiction being fed and stopping the constant demand...only for a short time. Smoking is a killer and you have come SO FAR!
Ellen
Big congrats on 11 months. These memories of smoking will always be there, that's why we must always have to remain vigilant. You'll be celebrating one year soon--it's quite an achievement.
Barb
Easy answer. You were an addict to a drug. You'll get pop-up craves for it the rest of your life. Do what you know how to do and that is anything BUT smoke/vape. You know how as you've been quit 106 days so put the tools you've used so far into action like you did and move on in victory. Great job!!
I have nearly 10 years quit so I would like to point out that milestones and anniversaries themselves can be triggers. What I kept in mind was the differences between withdrawal cravings, NML cravings @What is NML and why I care... , and long term "itches." As we put distance between our quit date and the present those cravings look very different. Our relationships between nicotine and our inner addict change over the years The Seven Year Itch. Take heart! You have the most dangerous time of relapse virtually around the corner! The distance between 4 Months and one Year seem somehow of equal length in time. You are so close to a different stage of addiction Freedom!
Im just coming to two weeks. I know im an infant in quitter terms. But I've passed some humps. Todays been the easiest in a few days of missing smokes.
So glad to have this site to come to and am going to definitely read the nml and other blog posts.
Glad for the easy days, for having some of these fluctuations under my belt. By easy i mean im suffering tension, anger, self-bullying but not really thinking about dealing with the moods by smoking. Thats a great thing, today.
Blessings to all.
You are EXACTLY where you need to be on this journey. Don't despair - what you are experiencing is perfectly normal and it WILL end - I promise! Here's more about what's going on: : No Mans Land Days 30 to 130 (approximate).
Just hang in a bit longer - you are almost THERE!