Advice needed
So i had my last smoke tonight, i threw the empty packet and all lighters away. But i can feel the panic set in that tomorrow when i wake up i will want a smoke. Is it routine thats causing this panic? Will it go away? I have smoked for the past 13 years after a stupid decision to light up at 18yrs old.
How can i stop the need to have a pack there as a security blanket?
Hi PeteF and Welcome to a great site. I see that you just joined and quitting in the morning. You have made a wise decision in opting for a better and healthier lifestyle, and you can achieve it here.
Have you read the posts available prior to joining. Have you quit before. Do you understand the 4 D"s .Do you have a Nrt to use? If not don't panic. Set your quit date for a week to 10 days. Smoke while making it uncomfortable during this time. Do not have it when you usually have in in the morning. Do not have coffee or alcohol with it. You do not make it enjoyable in any way. You will learn why it is the enemy and how you came to depend on it. We are going to help you reverse. Please read all my posting and other success stories.
By learning how to become a non-smoker,(while smoking) you will have an advantage later on. That is the longest and hardest part to overcome which is psychological. Learn the mindset that i speak of in my posts. Cravings are generally not physical, but mere fleeting thoughts.
Quitting smoking is as easy or hard as you make it. Happy reading and we are here if you need help.
Hi Pete, I'm not going to sugar coat this- you definitely will want a cig when you wake up tomorrow, because that's the nature of this horrible addiction- but as Happiness says, there are ways to make it more bearable, and it's worth remembering that the intense physical cravings will be over and done with in a relatively short space of time.
Just make sure you totally shake up your morning routine, do everything out of order- listen to music, have a cup of tea instead of coffee, allow yourself 10 minutes to meditate, check instagram on the loo, whatever you want- just not anything you would normally associate with having that first smoke of the morning. I always thought that would be the hardest one to give up, and for the first month or so I did wake up with the morning cigarette at the front of my mind, but you just get used to your new routine and will wake up one morning not even considering it!
Good luck to you, hope 2019 can be your year of going smoke free!
Pete,
You want to quit or you wouldn't be on this site. Please read and learn as much as you can from others on this site. Mindset is critical, you have to want to be a non smoker, Cold Turkey, Smart Turkey, NRT, Hypnosis, Zyban and many other methods and aids out their to help but it's you who has to want to be a non-smoker and its not always easy.
You can win the battle against this addiction, and that's what smoking is, an addiction. Many on this site have beaten the addiction and many like myself were smoking before you were born and have finally made the decision to quit. I envy you, if I had quit a your age I would have been a non-smoker for over 30 years.
You are definitely one of the youngest here is my guess. How did you become so wise at such as early age? Most of us have been trapped by the nicotine monster for decades. Of course, the computer age (something i never thought i would use, is my new addiction) makes the help to quit so much easier. Especial great forums like iCanQuit. Yes I said addiction. As you will learn, and please remember that it is an addiction in every sense. First step is to admit that you are one. Second step is to WANT to quit. Not would like to, not wish i could, not need to but WANT. By reading, we hope we can make you actually WANT to quit. We want you to see the truth about nicotine. By understanding the trap of the nicotine, you begin to understand you.
For you and others I have tried to post relevant ideas. My Jouney was easy and my husbands was also. I am not a fluke. I am proof it can be done. Others have found the mindset of positive thinking and acceptance of becoming a non-smoker very instrumental in ridding themselves of the cravings . Cravings , although just fleeting urges are cause by the desire for something. Our way of thinking is that if you do not Desire something , you will not want it. Why would you think about something that you no longer want? Missing it is normal, but needs to be overcome. New good habits, like playing an instrument, knitting, reading, crossword puzzles, researching on line or just reading these posts and being supportive can not only help you but others as well.
Please tell us when you choose your method of freeing yourself of nicotine. You must have been relieved when i advised you to keep smoking while doing simple changes . Setting a date is important however, so please do so. Not many survive a cold turkey jump with no parachute. Smart Turkey is my preference of course. Your job is to research by reading here and everywhere you can in the next few days to learn.
Soon your parachute will be operational and be of great assistance in achieving the target.
I just had a very funny thought . Do you all remember the WKRP Cincinnati when they wanted to give turkeys away by throwing them out of a plane? As it turned out to be a good intention, turkeys don't fly , so it was really a disaster.
Don't worry Pete, you will learn how to fly....lol
Thank you for the advice happiness. However i am worried that if i continue to smoke through this transition period, i will just instantly fall back into the routine.
Im starting to think that i have more of a routine than an addiction. If they are there i smoke then, i have certain times where smokes fit into my daily routine. Its like p
Allocating timw forna smoke before getting ready for work gets me out the door at the right time.
I think breaking the routine will help. But how to do that is the question.
Thank you for the advice happiness. However i am worried that if i continue to smoke through this transition period, i will just instantly fall back into the routine.
Im starting to think that i have more of a routine than an addiction. If they are there i smoke then, i have certain times where smokes fit into my daily routine. Its like p
Allocating timw forna smoke before getting ready for work gets me out the door at the right time.
I think breaking the routine will help. But how to do that is the question.
Hi Peter. I worry that if you have no plan you will find it too hard and deem it hopeless where it is not. If you BELIEVE you can then you can! If you can't follow through with this plan (what method are you using?) then you take what you have learned about yourself , read , learn , utilize and start again. Never quit trying to quit. Find the stories that pertain to your quit, I admire your determination and hope you have enough natural instinct to see you through.
Perhaps spend the time you would normally have a cigarette exercising, calling someone, doing a puzzle or game on your phone , checking in with us here and posting a comment or two.
You can do this!
Download MARIO Run on the iPhone. It’s gotten me through most cravings since I quit on NYE. Fingers crossed that it keeps working.