After taking many routes including cold turkey, vaping etc. I finally decided to talk to my doctor and get some serious help. My doctor prescribed Zyban and I started taking it today, my quit date is March 25th.
I have made a plan to control craving and not do the same things I would do everyday that would want me to smoke. The EX site has been a great resource for me to get going.
I hope to quit and continue not smoking after my quit date. I will post my ongoing experiences!
Thanks.
Please keep us posted! Quitting is the most important step you can take for a wonderful future of freedom! Keep studying right up to the quit date. It keeps you focused on what you're about to do and helps with the actual battle once it starts.
ONWARD TO FREEDOM!!!
Chuck
Welcome to our community!
The most important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I also highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:
http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf
You should also read the posts here and perhaps go the the pages of folks who you think might be helpful. You should also do the tracking and separation exercises suggested on this site
The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced. Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand. 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.
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. 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:
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
Looking forward to hearing your progress!
Hi All,
Thanks for the encouragement. I am on day 2 (technically - after starting to take Wellbutrin aka Zyban).
Compared to all the feedback about the pills (Zyban) and their adverse side effects, I have not faced any of them in the first 24 hours (knock on wood!). The most I have had was a solid headache for the first hour and that was it. No nausea, weird dreams, etc. etc.
One immediate thing I have noticed since 6PM last night when I started taking the medication, is that usually I have a cigarette as soon as I wake up (literally out of bed and outside to have a smoke - I don't smoke in the house), but today, I didn't feel like having a cigarette until almost noon! Could be placebo effect or the pill is doing its thing. I have had a couple of intense cravings in between but I substituted with drinking water and helping out a friend online with their computer issue. I had another at 3PM and 5PM. So that makes it 3 total, instead of the usual 10 a day! Maybe its just in my head or the excitement that I am on my way to getting better.
13 days before my quit date! I'm looking forward to it.
Thanks and I'll check back in tomorrow same time (7PM ish)
-Neil
Congratulations! I look forward to hearing about your progress.
Hi Guys,
Day 2 has come and gone, one more day of a single dosage and then to 2 pills a day, starting Wednesday. So far Wellbutrin seems to be working OK, although it made me dizzy a couple of times last night and earlier today. The Zyban usage plan comes with a single set of instructions which basically says continue smoking until your quit date but reduce quantity slowly. Today, except for my 3 biggest triggers, I have been able to avoid smoking in the last 24 hours. I have had a total of 3 cigarettes again in the last 24.
Too early to say anything about Wellbutrin, but reminding yourself that you need to cut down on smoking in the next two weeks was important for me to not go for that smoke all 7-8 other times in the day. That has translated to less smoking within the first 2 days without any major effort. I want to try really hard to keep it that way till my quit date comes around (hopefully I'll be able to really get a handle on my 3 triggers - morning coffee, lunch and dinner).
I will post again tomorrow on how my day 3 went!
Thanks!
-N
Good to hear from you!
Glad you're cutting down. Now, those triggers need to be dealt with. How about no cigarette with your coffee tomorrow? Just a thought but it's important to deal with triggers early, I think. And perhaps delaying the after lunch and dinner cigarette for at least ten minutes? No matter what, keep working on your quit. There's so much beauty and freedom ahead for you if you can make it!!
Thanks for the update! Please keep posting and you'll get more support if you create a new blog for each day. I'll be thinking of you!
ONWARD TO FREEDOM!!!
Chuck
Thanks for the hints, will try. I resisted my first smoke until 12PM today instead of first thing in the morning but then I had to have one. I increase my Wellbutrin dose to 2 pills a day starting today. It takes about a week to get the meds fully in the system it seems.
You say create a new blog? Any tips of where to start?
Thanks.
Glad your still on the path to freedom!!
When I write a blog, I first his the link at the top of the page for conversations. That seems to be the most popular location. I then click on the pencil at the top of the page. This gives you many options. From there you can choose to ask the community a question, start a discussion or write a blog among other things. Click on the blog one and the blog entry page comes up. Title your blog and then write your message in the box underneath. You'll have an option to post to your blog or another location. Pick another location and it will place your blog in conversations, where many will see it and respond.
As always, looking forward to your continued success!
ONWARD TO FREEDOM!!!
Chuck
how are you doing????? Just checking in
Welcoime to EX.
You have come to the right place for a new day and a rebirth. This is all about you and what you are willing to do to be smokefree.
Start First, by educating yourself about nicotine addiction.
Education is the key to a successful quit.
Read: Freedom from Nicotine My Journey Home and Nicotine Addiction 101
Here are the links http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksAAddiction.html and http://whyquit.com/ffn/
Also Read Allen Carr’s book, “Easy Easier Way to Quit Smoking”.
The link is here: http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf
Go to http://www.becomeanex.org/how-to-quit-smoking.php#thl and get started. We will support you. You are in your journey for freedom.