I think I need help!
Ok - hi all. I'm brand new. I'm brand new on here and today is my first day of deciding that I don't want to be a smoker anymore.
Actually - that's not true - I've decided this hundreds of times - I've just never followed through before. I've tried patches, I've tried gum, I've tried going to the doctors, I've tried willpower etc etc but I always find a way to talk myself out of quitting.
I've been telling myself in a more and more serious tone (for a few weeks now) that the time has come.
So last night I finished my packet, went to bed early and decided THAT WAS IT.
I had the worst night sleep - I kept waking and thinking about it. Then this morning I bickered with my teenage daughter (neither of us are morning people - and in hindsight I probably picked the argument as an excuse to vent or smoke - somewhere in my brain I know that the type of socks she wears to school are not going to make or break the universe - but I still did it). Then I was stressed and tired and fighting with a stubborn teenager so off I went to the servo and bought a packet of smokes. I lit up (telling myself that I was justified to do so - I mean, of course I needed a smoke under those circumstances!!) smoked half of it, realised what I was doing and put it out.
I've just come back from my lunch break (where I DID NOT join a homeless looking guy who was smoking! Yay me, and I DID NOT punch the person who took my car park! again, yay me! and most importantly where I DID NOT smoke!!!!).
You are doing it, I've read some of your stories, I'm in awe of the strength you must have. Please help me. Tell me it can be done. Tell me that I wont always feel this desire to find excuses to smoke. Tell me I'm not a horrible person for feeling this way and picking a fight just so I could feel justified. Tell me that the urge to make friends with strangers sitting in gutters (just because they have cigarettes) will pass. Please tell me it gets easier!!!!
Hi Sassygirl, I am only new here myself but I did stalk this forum for a few weeks before my quit date and have been smokefree for 10 days now. I can't tell you it gets easier because that would be lying to you. You're not a horrible person for feeling this way at all and you have to keep telling yourself that you want to quit. It can be done though, stay strong :)
Good on you Sassygirl. It is pretty hard to quit with one day's notice even if you have thought about it a hundred times. What is amazing is that you resisted the urge to smoke at lunch and on your way home. Resistance is really your most powerful tool but equally the hardest one to conjure up on a bad day. I think visiting the doctor to discuss quitting is a good idea - I know that Zyban has helped me but it is also not for everyone.
I am on Day 46 and all I can say is that there are good days and there are hard days. Like everyone else says, we just have to get through the hard days hour by hour with sheer determination. Visit this site every day - it will inspire you and help you. Walk like crazy when you want a cigarette or do some exercise that requires lots of deep breaths. What I gather from all that I have read is that it DEFINITELY gets easier and the hard days become shorter and not as frequent. And hey - six weeks has gone in a second and I now have $1100 up my sleeve.
Good luck - everyone is here for you on this site - they know exactly what you are going through.
Hi Sassygirl....well, I am on day 78. It does get easier, but, that said, I almost lit up yesterday, I had such an urge. A friend basically took the cigarette out of my hand and crushed it before I could light it. On the other hand, I do go through long periods of time now when I do not think of smoking, but we have to keep vigilant at all times. I found this site helped me a lot in the beginning, I went to it a few times a day. It helps to read about times when we are all trying to do the same thing and sometimes are successful and sometimes fail. Keep strong and don't hit yourself over the head when things do not go as planned.
Hi Sassygirl. You are definitely not a horrible person. Read about some of our massive hissy fits and tantrums. I'm on day 107 and I still have times where I would kill for a smoke, but I don't think I am as crabby as I was. I have found the nicotine lozenges work when I'm really tichy and knitting and running on the spot do too. Every day you resist is one day closer. Good luck.
you will win im sure but atm its hour by hour day by day....17 days for me so all good...just gotta be stronger than that voice in the back of your head and keep telling it to rack off and it always does( not for long but it does) im pretty sure the secret is to be stronger than that voice cause the moment that voice get some momentum the party is OVA....Anyhow good luck and keep coming back cause this site is awesome and definitely helps heaps...p.s watch the alcohol if you like a drink cause I have found that's the time I most want one of those stinkn demon sticks
Hi Sassy girl! It took me a whole month of planning before I quit which gave me ample time to track what I was smoking and track when and what was triggering my light ups. Some light ups were pure and simple habit , some were stress and some boredom. Heaps of apps to help you track your habit before you give up . I used patches for 12 weeks and they were a lifesaver for me. I also rang the quit line for advice on planning the quit and general advice on a successful quit .
Hi Sassygirl, I can completely relate to your story!! I think I have picked arguments with my teenage children and my husband - in fact even the occasional road rage and then thinking damn I want a cigarette but have stuck strong. I also asked my husband to hang up my boxing bag and so when the family was frustrating me or just the plain lack of nicotine in my system, I can punch it out. I have only been off them for 33 days but have found that the cravings do get less, however the intensity can be just as strong but doesn't seem to last as long, sorry that I haven't really tried to drink alcohol yet as I did love how a cigarette went with a good drink.. Good luck, you can do it - believe in yourself
Just start somewhere and commit to kill the habit - I feel for you sassy, and we all had to be strong and persevere through it - keep track of your victories over the smoking and forget about the mistakes, be aware and just stop as soon as you fail, and start over again.. crawl, stumble walk, fall get up walk and soon you will be running with the 100 dayer on here..
I am only just starting to be able to walk after 28 days, had a tumble, dusted off and tried again.. just keep trying..
Be strong and go for it..
Hi Sassygirl, I'm here to tell you that YOU CAN DO IT! All those feelings and fears your experiencing are so normal. I haven't been on here for a little while, life seems to have gotten in the way again but I used to comment every single day religiously in the beginning & feel like I've been a part of this wonderful community for ages but its actually been 175 days since I began my journey to freedom. I can simply advise you just stick with the site every day if you can, constant reading, this site has true power alongside all the other advice. Just from my experience I feel it's been absolutely essential for the best success. Good luck.
Hello Sassygirl, I am 160 days a non smoker and no it hasn't been easy, have I slipped up? NO I haven't, what about being cranky and a bit*h in the early days, you betcha, I even cried,and felt very sorry for myself. But I did it !!!! and I am very proud of myself. It helped me to identify "when and why" I had a smoke, you know what? most of the time I would use it as a "reward" you know,,,when you finish the ironing you can have a smoke type of thing. I must have been good because I had a lot of rewards, GOOD GIRL. It's not easy,it really isn't but remember the reason you decided to quit. Whether it be health,financial,or being socially unacceptable (like where can you smoke? yep outside,alone ,in all weathers even down alley ways as there are no places to smoke. Give it your best shot Sassygirl,you slip up get straight back on track and learn by it, want to argue with your daughter,go ahead just don't make excuses ,she probably deserves it (not smoking doesn't turn them into monsters) and enjoy your new freedom cause that is what it is freedom to run.excersise,and play ball(with my grandson's) a finaniacal freedom (I have saved $2150.00) as BOB the Builder says " Can we fix it, yes we can"