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Hey, I'm still learning how all this works, not too tech savvy. I've been extremely busy, funny I work in health care. My body and the world are strongly telling me it's time to quit but my brain is giving me a hard time. I've started chantix, I keep putting off taking next pill and so on but I'm forcing myself to take it, I know it's for the best but gosh why does it have to be so hard, I need to quit. Hope y'all have had good smoke free day. Stay safe.
Thank you for your support and kindness!
Hi and Welcome to Ex’s shannon3colbert
Glad you found our site. I am so happy you want to quit smoking....Continue taking your Chantix as directed...May I suggest, you read at My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX where you will plan your quit date and plan for that day like no other. Also, come here often and get help and/or encourage others. We are all in this journey together. So much of this is mental and telling ourselves we don’t need to smoke...but in the beginning it it keeping the quit and taking things “one moment at a time”...You can do this...it takes work, but is so doable...we are here to help...Colleen 514 DOF
Welcome to the Ex. For the Chantix to help with your quit, follow the directions. During this time, educate yourself about nicotine addiction and work on your quit plan. You can also sign up for daily texts from the Ex leading up to your quit. I found them very helpful receiving each day the week prior to my quit date? Do you have a quit date?
Barb
Yes, I do have quit date, my Dr was bit iffy with me and chantix and I think she was right, I will not be able to take it, I've gotten a spotty week of it in. I'm on my own now with quitting, the thing that worries me the most is depression. Have you been thru that? I've read that smoking after awhile changes brain chem? Idk. I guess just scared. Thank you for your help!
Some people do have problems taking Chantix. There is physical and psychological component to quitting. Are you saying you already are dealing with depression? If so, you might want to consult with your doctor.
Yes smoking does change brain chemistry. That's why we're addicted and go through withdrawal continuously until we get that next cigarette. For many of us quitting is more emotional. I had few physical symptoms, mine was more emotional. There can be sadness, crying, etc. In general, smoking suppresses many of these emotions, so when we quit they come to surface. Part of quitting is learning to deal with life without the nicotine.
Fear of quitting is normal. We've smoked through every activity and emotion, good or bad. What finally helped me overcome the fear this time was the realization that it was a choice. I could smoke again if I choose to. That's why it's so important to approach your quit one day at a time. Tomorrow becomes the next one day and so on.
Read as much as you can on this site. Understanding this addiction and what to expect when you quit gives you the confidence to be successful.
I know having the support of this community helped to make it possible for me for the first time in my life. Like many, I've tried to quit numerous times in my life. After smoking for 50 years, I celebrated two years recently. Remember, we're here for you
Reach out if you need encouragement and to share your journey.
Barb
Congratulations on quitting smoking. I am an LPN and I quit at age 67 with the love and support of this site. I had tried many times over the years. Don't listen to your brain. It is an addicted brain (like all of us smokers) It is difficult for most to quit smoking. It is so worth it. I quit 6 1/2 years ago. I am so over cigarettes. Quitting smoking is a journey to wholeness. It is so much more than just not smoking. I would not trade ageing without them for anything on this earth. You can do this.
This is one time your body may be wiser than your brain. This addiction messes with our heads in so many ways. When I was still smoking I could list all sorts of reasons why I should quit: health, self-respect, honesty, economic, etc. But my (addicted) brain told me that I couldn't/didn't need to/wasn't ready to quit. Then there were the fears of coping with stress and life without a cigarette. Or the fact that I "liked" smoking. All of these overwhelmed the logical part of my brain. But my body was really becoming insistent. Was I "ready" to quit? Did I "want" to quit? My (addicted) brain said No. But I am so glad I committed to do it anyhow. You CAN do it!
Dave
597 DOF
That’s an easy one. Your brain is trying to kill you. Listen to your body.
A repost from my earlier writings:
Relapse always starts the same way.
I was an ER/ICU RN for over 25 years. I have RA, COPD, & degenerative disc disease that has resulted in a scoliosis. I have SEEN people sickened or dying from smoking related illnesses. I quit smoking over 6 years ago thanks to this site. I was here every morning & every evening, l read blogs, l commented, l asked questions, & l LISTENED to the responses. I won’t say it was easy but l will say that if l had listened to my body & not my addiction, l’d be in MUCH better shape today.
Welcome to EX.
Ellen
Welcome to Ex. Lots of helpful responses above--that's the nature of this community and we will be here for you 365.
Quitters get how weird quitting is especially at first. Most of us need support to make a start and then become smober. It is, as Ex says, about relearning life.
You are absolutely addicted to nicotine--to help break the dependency it is strongly recommended that you make a plan (or pact with yourself)--which lists of all the things you are willing to do other than smoke. Better a written list that you can keep near you and refer to. Relearning life kinda means behavior mod at least for the first few days, even two weeks. Being willing to change behavior can be a fail safe way to over ride your addicted brain. You get an urge. You acknowledge it, you remember something on your to-do list--you do it--the urge passes. Repeat. Behavior mod. By doing this that part of your brain that wants to quit will succeed, win, quit, develop skills, recover and get over thinking that smoking is a wondrous fulfillment.
Now if Chantix works well, remember that you still want to develop smobriety. For some Chantix works so well they want to go off it long before recommended. Like two weeks. Relearning life and smobering up has only just begun.
Please take time to get to know your community of quitters--it's a two way street here--how you proceed with your quit will will help others. Your brain wants to quit--it thought about your body--and spoke above your addiction.
Yes you can, one day at a time.
Welcome. We are here to Help.just let us know How. Make a plan and stick to it. Don't listen to Stinking Thinking. Sounds like you know your reasons so write them down and post All over your home, car, job. If you don't have any u can't smoke any. JFT JUST FOR TODAY
I'm new to this also man. Your right it is tough. I go through the same thing. My body says quit but my brain is like a snake with fangs of nicotine. Just sneaks up and lights one. What's funny is I've been wanting a cigarette for about a hour or so but i keep reading about this thing and have filled out the quit date and some trigger stuff. I have not smoked while doing this. That lets me know quitting is possible plus Ex members ensure me it is. Just a matter of time.
I'm not a tech tech either.
The two weeks before I quit i constantly worried about how my life would ever be fully satisfying without smoking. How would I enjoy after meal smokes, watching TV, enjoying nature, having conversations with friends, having a glass of wine, felling stressed angry or content.
It took time, determination and strength but is so worth it. We are no different than you what we had to go through and just as addicted. If we can do it, then you can to. You just have to put all you have into it and you will be successful.