4 days of no smoking/stress levels high

Discussion created by Hayven on Mar 31, 2020
Latest reply on Mar 31, 2020 by Hayven

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I am 28 and a mom of a 3 year old. I quit smoking 4 days ago because I wanted to become as healthy as possible for myself and for my son. After the third day, my stress levels are at a all time high. My chest has felt tight and with all the virus concerns going on, my stress and anxiety have gone through the roof. Yes, I know I am young and at a lower risk, but it honestly still worries me. All of this makes it harder for me to stay quit because I've always turned to smoking to help keep those levels low. So I am posting this for encouragement and hopefully some will share how they are coping right now.

Hayven

4DOF

Outcomes

11 Replies

maryfreecig Mar 31, 2020 5:04 PM
Congratulations on quitting and achieving 4 days smobriety during this high stress time no less! Stick with your quit, stick with Ex. The community will be here for you 365.

I quit 6.5 years ago, but I went through stressed out moments, too. I walked, read, hiked, cleaned, worked, drew sketches, photographed, belly ached, complained, ate pastries and candy bars...and carried on. Quitting is the best thing I ever did for my self. And time healed me.

Take it one step at a time or one day at a time...try not to worry about yesterday or tomorrow...but keep it just for today.

A few links for you to check out when you get ansy

Helpful Blogs, Discussions, Comments, Videos, Links, Info Re Quitting
Dopamine - the Double Edged Blade
Give This The Time It Takes
One of the greatest tools you can use
What is the Single Best Thing You Can Do to Quit Smoking? - YouTube
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Youngatheart.7.4.12 Mar 31, 2020 5:24 PM
Welcome to the community!

This is indeed a tough time to quit smoking, but any time really is a GOOD time! Smoking a cigarette actually INCREASES your stress almost as soon as you finish it. Read on to understand why! I will also offer some ideas to help you get past the craves.

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 easy and entertaining read provided a world of good information about nicotine addiction, most of which I was not aware. I credit it in large part with my success at quitting. You can search for it online or at your local library.

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.

After you have completed the recommended reading, it will be time to make an informed choice of the quit aid, if any, you will use. If you go that route, I personally recommend the aids that don'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 after you have tried to delay and distract. 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. You need to start out with a plan to reduce use of them over time - which the patch does by decreasing the dose contained in them.. For the gum, you can start by cutting each piece in half, then in quarters, then sub regular gum of the same flavor in between, adding more and more regular gum. For the lozenge, you need to start subbing a mint in between to begin, increasing the number of them over time. I do not recommend the e-cigarette for obvious reasons.

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-instead-of-smoke

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
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- Hayven @ Youngatheart.7.4.12 on Mar 31, 2020 5:45 PM
  I will go through all of the information you have given me. Thank you.
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Karen333 Mar 31, 2020 5:34 PM
Hi Hayven, I too am fairly new to this - this is my 28th day of freedom from smoking. I remember that Airplane movie from the seventies and Lloyd Bridges is all nervous and stressed and states " I guess I picked the wrong week to quit smoking". It is funny in the movie, but as we all know this a real life with real crappy stuff out there now. I read, read, read blogs on site when I feel weak. It really does help. Take slow deep breaths, in through the nose. Slowly blow out though the mouth. I am using a patch which helps, but in a real bad moment I also have a nicoderm mini mint that I can pop in my mouth. It really helps- I just don't want to rely on them constantly. We can get thru this! This is like the test of all tests to prove to ourselves how strong we are, and not depending on some dead leaves rolled in paper to suck on. Say to yourself I don't do that anymore! In fact I have yelled it a couple times at myself- feels good. Also, in this unpredictable time now, think how you are helping your lungs. You want your lungs as strong as possible because this is a respiratory virus. I think about that also to keep going. You will feel stronger each night when you tuck your little one in bed, knowing you are doing your part to keep your child's lungs and yours healthy. Sugar free candy, coffee stirrers, licorice sticks, dancing, singing loud, laughing at a funny movie and reading blogs here are my helpers. You can do this! One day at a time! Keep coming back for support
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- Hayven @ Karen333 on Mar 31, 2020 5:50 PM
  Thank you so much for your kind words. I remember when I first started smoking 11 years ago that I told myself it would just be for a little while to help me get through stress. Little did I know how addicting they would be. I woke up 4 days ago determined to leave this habit behind. I just want to know that I am trying to be the healthiest for my child. I found this group by accident and decided I needed to have a platform to talk to those who are going through it. Seeing that you have made it 28 days is very encouraging. So again, thank you.
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  - Karen333 @ Hayven on Mar 31, 2020 9:09 PM
    Your'e welcome sweetie I know what you mean about not ever imagining that smoking would turn into a career( except we pay for IT - more than one way) LikecI said , day by day. Actually, second by second by minute by minute....you get it!!
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indingrl.01.06.2011 Mar 31, 2020 6:50 PM
4 DAYS OF FREEDOM - WAY TO GO
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sweetplt Mar 31, 2020 8:17 PM
Hi and Welcome to Ex’s...Hayven
Congratulations on 4 days of Freedom...You have received some great advice above me....Keep close to the support site, it will really help you. Also, look up breathing exercises / meditation to help you from feeling stressed. You are in the days when Nicodemon wants you back and he is using the virus to try and get you back, tell him NO...You will get stronger and he will get weaker. Honestly, it takes time to feel good in your new quit skin...you are early and sometimes it is a “minute to minute” process...~ Colleen 484 DOF
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Hayven Mar 31, 2020 8:35 PM
Thank you, everyone, for the wonderful words of encouragement!
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- Karen333 @ Hayven on Mar 31, 2020 9:47 PM
  I forgot , I wanted to tell you about a book I ordered last night off Amazon. It is called. The Smoking Cure: How to Quit Smoking Without Feeling Like Sh*t. By Caroline Cranshaw. It was recommended by a member here and I read free excerpt online. Google it and see what you think. It was less than 4 bucks and no delivery fee- I do not have prime either! Let us know what you think
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  - Hayven @ Karen333 on Mar 31, 2020 9:56 PM
    I just looked it up on amazon kindle. I have kindle unlimited which means certain books are free to read. This book is included. I read the description and downloaded the book. Thank you!
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4 days of no smoking/stress levels high

Outcomes

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