Never Stop Trying
Hello to all the brave people fighting this terrible battle of smoking addiction.I started my battle 32 days ago.I am 56 and been smoking since I was 13,the past 12 years chain smoking a lot of the time.There wasn’t much I couldn’t do without a cigarette.I don’t know how many times I have tried to quit over the years but it would be hundreds.Sometimes I would last a few days sometimes weeks,months,and even a year.How STUPID am I ? This quit wasn’t really planed as we’re most of my others.39 days ago I bought a packet of tobacco and told the people I was with that it would be the last packet I would ever buy.There reaction surprised me,there really wasn’t one just a laugh and a yer right.Well I couldn’t blame them after all my previous attempts and how many times had I said those wrords before.This time was different though I didn’t respond to them,I just thought to myself I will show them and all my other critics that I can do this without their support.That last packet lasted me 7 days normally it would of lasted 2 days.I was smoking butts made out of butts in the end and still wanting more,no matter how revolting they where.I went to bed and woke up a reformed smoker.These past 32 days have been terrible.I am cheating a bit by using patches but if that’s what it takes then so be it.I am confident for the first time that I will never have another smoke.If you guys can help me achieve this it would be amazing.I have read some of your stories and they have already helped me.There is some very inspirational people here thank you for sharing your stories and listening to mine .
32 days! You are doing great. I am only 24 hours in (this time around) I am not using Nicotine replacement, but I think it really serves a purpose to help you control the amount of nicotine intake and work on the habitual/ routine pattern. Sending strength.
Thank you Lbeth for the support.I wish you all the best on your journey,The first 24 hours are hard just keep plodding along one day at a time if I can do it anybody can.Yesterday I was doing it hour by hour just to make it through the day.Today is better.Hope you have a good day too
Hi Brenda
Congratulations on 32 days, you have come to the right place for support no one here judges, you are able to express how your feel or share what is going on with your journey.
Today I am 784 days smoke free and without this community I don't think I would have made it, like you I started smoking at about 13 then stopped one month before my 60th.
Using NRT does not mean you are cheating, we all need to use whatever makes are journey bearable, for me I used a combination of things NRT's, Champix and I still struggled. The journey is different for everyone, my first 100 days I constantly thought about having a cigarette and it was a battle, but I had read a post from someone else in the first few months that said something like ( it doesn't matter what is going on in your life having a cigarette will not change it, all having a cigarette does is undo all your hard work.
They say that the nicotine is out of your system in the first month or so, so now you are manly fighting the habit, so hang in there, take a day at a time if you need.
It is your journey there is no right or wrong way, do whatever you need and keep coming here it can help a lot
Good Luck
Hi Brenda
Congratulations on 32 days of freedom from cigarettes. I too started smoking in my early teens and have just made the 22 day mark and registered for the first time on this site today.
I cannot believe I have made it to 22 days as I had Never made it past 1 day before. I honestly thought I couldn’t do it but here I am. Struggling but determined.
I have moments of pure frustration and have had more than one or two teary days. Anxiety is still raw for me so I have been reading other people’s stories on this forum to keep me going.
I broke out in mouth ulcers and coldsores, had terrible digestion issues (so gross) and hazy/dizzy feelings where I was too scared to drive, but I just keep telling myself that there are 1000 reasons to stop choking myself to dealth and not 1 good reason to keep smoking.
I have found that getting angry with a craving when it hits helps me. I yell at a craving (silently) and tell it to give it its best shot and tell it it won’t win.
I am never going back.
I also don’t look at it as giving up. It makes it sound like it was a wonderful thing that will be missed when really it was disgusting and I hate that I ever did it. So I call it stopping and getting rid of the biggest regret of my life.
One day at a time for us all. It took years to get to this point so I think we have to be a little patient with ourselves.
Best of luck on your journey.
You are not alone
Hi Brenda
Congratulations on 32 days of freedom from cigarettes. I too started smoking in my early teens and have just made the 22 day mark and registered for the first time on this site today.
I cannot believe I have made it to 22 days as I had Never made it past 1 day before. I honestly thought I couldn’t do it but here I am. Struggling but determined.
I have moments of pure frustration and have had more than one or two teary days. Anxiety is still raw for me so I have been reading other people’s stories on this forum to keep me going.
I broke out in mouth ulcers and coldsores, had terrible digestion issues (so gross) and hazy/dizzy feelings where I was too scared to drive, but I just keep telling myself that there are 1000 reasons to stop choking myself to dealth and not 1 good reason to keep smoking.
I have found that getting angry with a craving when it hits helps me. I yell at a craving (silently) and tell it to give it its best shot and tell it it won’t win.
I am never going back.
I also don’t look at it as giving up. It makes it sound like it was a wonderful thing that will be missed when really it was disgusting and I hate that I ever did it. So I call it stopping and getting rid of the biggest regret of my life.
One day at a time for us all. It took years to get to this point so I think we have to be a little patient with ourselves.
Best of luck on your journey.
You are not alone