I Quit Smoking on Friday

[Symarip]

And I'm going out of my fucking mind. I bought some gum, which seems to help. Some friendly advice from others who have suffered would probably ease my mind a little bit.

Any takers?

[redqueen]

1. Congrats!

I'm not an addictive type, but it was hard for me to quit the second time. The thing that worked best for me was remembering that it was harder to quit this time (so I figured it'd be even harder if I started up again), as well as remembering how much I was paying per month to smoke and be stinky.

Good luck! :hi:

[Symarip]

2. Red

I guess I've been in denial about how bad it would be. I thought it'd be like cutting back on booze. But fuck, I'm going out of my mind. I worked out for two hours yesterday just because I can't sleep.

Life sucks.

I miss you, Joe Camel!!!!

ARRRGGGGHH!!

[Tikki]

3. As much as you can....

change your routine....

rearrange the furniture...
wash all your clothing...
wash walls and open windows...
get up at a different time or at least a different
side of the bed.....
take your break with the nonsmokers...remember you are a nonsmoker now.
keep a money jar where you can see it...put the equivalent of each day's
smoking cost in that jar....
chew gum, toothpicks, lollipops whatever; make that your new habit..
It's one day at a time...keep busy..you'll see that time goes by
just as fast or slow without a crippling habit.

Go somewhere, soon, where you can spend a long part of the day doing
something you enjoy.
ex: Zoo, hiking, stroll through the park, swimming, movie marathon...
take care of yourself...that is what this is all about.

You can keep keeping on....

Tikki and son
4 years..nonsmokers
(I quit cold turkey ...the son used the patch with step downs)

[Symarip]

5. What's been kind of easing the pain is not thinking about future activities

Like going to the bar, or an upcoming concert.

Quitting is kind of personal to me. My uncle has cancer that has eaten his nose completely off. He refuses treatment so it's a slow suicide. I saw him for the first time in some years in the last few months and I made a decision that now is seeing fruition.

Keeping that in mind seems, along with not worrying about what I'm going to do this weekend, seems to help. Talking about it helps too. So I appreciate your input.

[PassingFair]

4. I used nicotine gum....

it worked for me.

My husband did better on the "patch".

We have both been smoke free
for 5 years, this July 4!

[Symarip]

6. I'm on the gum, but I'm only turning to it when I freak

So far, I've only chomped on 4 pieces in two days. I'm such an addict, I don't think cold turkey is an option.

Thanks for the hope. :)

[Shine]

7. No advice, since I've never been there. But I do have this:

:applause: :yourock: :toast:


I commend your commitment to Health and Well Being! :thumbsup:

Hang in there. The first few days are probably the hardest. Remember: this, too, shall pass.....

You can do it! :woohoo:

[Symarip]

8. It's times like this that I realize why parents don't what their kids smoking

It's insanely bad for you, and insanely hard to quit.

Anyhow, I'm keeping cool and I've instructed the office we are listening to Reggae and ONLY REGGAE today.
:)

[Shine]

9. LOL!

Funny you should mention that. I was listening to the radio today and they played that reggae song that has the line...."two tokes and the joint turned black"

:rofl: Do you know that one? Classic.

Hang in there, bud. Keep on keepin' on. :thumbsup:

PS. My mentally ill BIL smokes at least 2+ packs a day and has been for the past 20+ yrs. Sadly, smoking is big in the mentally ill community. The nicotine helps them unwind from all the other meds they take. He's probably gonna have to get dentures before he turns 50 b/c he's lost so many teeth. :( Smoking is hell on the gums and teeth. My kids have been influenced by seeing their uncle smoke and I'm confident they'll never take up the habit from having seen his experience. I guess that's a nice side benefit, despite it all.

[plcdude]

10. way to go!

I just stopped one day and never took it up again. I was lucky. The longer you are away from it the less hold it has on you. Wake up each day promising and keeping that promise that today you will not smoke. You don't know about tomorrow but today you will not do it. Changing the operant conditioning activities is really important. When and where do you feel the urge to smoke? Also check out this site. http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/07/13/the_six_most_feared_but_least_likely_causes_of_death.htm
especially on the real causes of death!

[One_Life_To_Give]

11. Chew on something

First things conrats on be Clean and Smober.
Second having something to chew on can be a big help. Staws, swizzle sticks, etc.
third look up the internet newsgroup alt.support.stop-smoking
fourth get yourself a nifty meter like this one (Silkquite by Dave Probert)
Eight years, six months, three weeks, four days, 5 hours, 25 minutes and 34 seconds. 93876 cigarettes not smoked, saving $20,370.99. Life saved: 46 weeks, 3 days, 23 hours, 0 minutes.

[MissMillie]

12. Quitnet.com

and as far as what you can do, the answer is anything. You can do anything. But if you want to stay smoke-free, you can't smoke.