Starting out, first serious attempt.
27 years old, smoking for 13 years. I have never seriously attempted quitting before now.
I woke up yesterday morning and said to my boyfriend (a non-smoker), "While I'm in the shower, can you please take my packet of cigarettes and get rid of them? Break them in half, throw them over the fence, whatever you have to do."
My first symptom has been feeling overly emotional. Yesterday, every little thing would set me off and I couldn't stop crying. Today, I am very angry. I already work in a stressful job, and today I cannot handle the stress!
Looking at the clock, knowing there is an hour and 15 minutes of the day to go... and trying to work out how to keep myself busy tonight so that I don't feel tempted to go & buy a packet!!
Thanks Red! I'm using Nicotine Replacement to start out, I don't have any other choice because I'm in a management position, I seriously couldn't keep things running if I went cold turkey :)
I like what you said about mindset being most important. I think you're right, once the physical cravings pass, and you still feel like a cigarette, it's all mental... I think it's about telling yourself that you don't need it. That cigarettes do not control you. That's what I've been telling myself anyway :)
Currently at 40 hours smoke free. Still a looooong way to go!!!
Hi Twentysix,
Honestly for someone as early in as you are, what you're feeling is completely normal. I used a patch also and found they do help but it's really you that is doing the hard work so take credit in that.
At first for so many quitting it's like losing a friend but, that so called friend is killing us. Each day that you make it through another day you will become stronger. It's a journey that most go through but the ride is so worth it. It's not easy but it most definitely can be done. Be kind to yourself because your body and mind would be draining you right now. At first you may feel a whole range of emotions and it can tire you out. Try to eat well and get decent sleep.
I wish you every success!
Thank you Kim26!
I'm currently on day 3 now... wow, this is NOT fun! Cravings come way more often than they did in the beginning and I've been coughing up all kinds of interesting things! Haha. Also got a lot of anxiety today and having trouble concentrating/remembering things. At work, I'll be in the middle of something and then suddenly zone out.
I've actually been sleeping like a baby which is surprising, I thought I'd be up all night tossing & turning. I think I'm sleeping so easily because my brain is tick tick tick all day long!
Can't wait for this to be over.......
You are doing a fantastic job twenty six!!! Gosh you are in the truly hardest zone right now, when cravings are strong and loud. One minute at a time, my quitting friend. Then one hour. Then one more day. It WILL get easier.
So hi everyone I'm new here . 40 years young and probably been smoking for 25 years . I'm determined to quit and keep reminding myself of the positives that will Aline with quitting ... any support would be great .. keep going strong girl you got this x
GoBlue - thank you for the support! It's hard to believe it will get easier when at the moment, every day it gets harder!
Manz123 - congrats on deciding to quit after smoking for 25 years! Go us, we can do this x
Hi Twentysix,
Glad to hear you're still going strong. I do agree with GoBlue, try not to contemplate what tomorrow will bring, focus on the here and now. I was a very heavy smoker and also very stressed when I quit. I phoned the Quitline and they recommended combination therapy for me. I chose the patch and 2mg lozenge for the extra strong cravings in the beginning. I don't know if you were a very heavy smoker but perhaps calling Quitline may help for some tips? They are so supportive which is what's needed right now. I found them so non judgmental and they never trivialised how I was feeling. This is a great site also. Some opinions will differ of course but stick with what works for you or makes sense to you.
We are all in this together x
Thanks everyone! On Day 4 now! Stomach cramps, headaches, the whole 9 yards this morning.
I did call the Quitline yesterday and spoke to a very lovely man there who was a huge help. I told him I'm using the QuickMist as my main source of nicotine and he gave me some advice on how best to use it based on his own experience using the product. I've signed up to the program to receive a weekly call - I want to get as much support as I can...
I asked him WHY I still get all the symptoms despite still feeding my body nicotine? He told me something interesting which I never realised: apparently the receptors in your brain have been trained to receive nicotine via a certain method; i.e smoking. So now, you're still giving your body the nicotine it needs but your brain doesn't want to accept it because it's not in the right "form". I found that very interesting. So during these early days of using Nicorette, you're training your brain to receive nicotine differently until you can wean off it all together. Hurry up, brain, you're driving me crazy :P
Hi Twentysix,
I'm totally stoked you called Quitline!! Yes what the counsellor has advised is all true. They are an amazing source of support with years and years of research behind their belts. I was told the exact same thing. I signed up to weekly phone calls and they try very hard for the same person to call you back. Of course by now you would already know you can call them anytime also. They are trained volunteers who work alongside the cancer council research section so they really do know what they are talking about.