Ways to stay strong
Hi i’m a young bloke who’s been smoking since high school in a rural town where there’s truely nothing better to do then to drink and smoke. I’m two days into my quit journey after having a scary premonition dream where i saw myself dying to cancer. I was hoping if any of you long term quitters had any tips for me to stay strong when everyone around me continues to smoke and i want to just cave in already. I want to stay quitting for my girlfriend and for myself but i’m truely struggling right now!
Hello Kings. I would suggest that you read all the stories that you can here and the comments made with helpful suggestions. Researching all you can about nicotine and understanding how you became addicted and that smoking has nothing to offer is of great help in achieving the MINDSET. Do not fear the journey to freedom, but embrace it . It is truly the best thing that you will ever do for yourself. Click on my name and find my post with Allan Carr's book in a free PDF file . Well worth the read for anyone at any stage of the journey. Believe that you can do this and you will.
Kings, sending strength and courage your way. You are gonna have to find a backbone of strength within yourself to grind your teeth when you want to have a puff but have to say NOPE- not one puff ever. I used homeopathic medicine to reduce cravings, forgot the name of it but you can do a search on internet and find something that will suit you. Some folks on the forum mentioned that ginger and green tea helped. Try doing physical things when craving hits. That’s for the physical part. For hand to mouth motor reflexes I ate lots and lots of sunflower seeds. And sunflower seeds actually dull cravings too. Nowadays I still use my former ashtray for used sunflower shells. Also, I had cut a straw to about the size of the cig and when it got really bad I sucked on it imagining that it was a cig. But after all said and done, the most important thing is your mind set. Cigarettes may seem like the best friend but in reality they are like a cheating girlfriend. Stay strong and all the best.
Good advice and tips Kings, come back here often when you feel the need, my advice is to rest up a bit, but you are young so maybe a more physical approach would be best. Good on you for 2 days lets make it 3.
Its Day 3. After 72 hours the nicotine is pretty much out of your system, but cravings of the psychological kind persists. I embraced the journey whole-heartedly and had no cravings because you will not crave what you do not desire. There was no delusion about smoking left for me once i realized the truths. Let it go and choose the better way of life with less worry about health and more money to build a wonderful future for yourself and loved ones. Devote your time to those who deserve it.
Remember we rarely enjoyed smoking, only the fact that it relieved the craving that it in itself caused. We had many cravings every day with smoking, Once we stop giving in to them and dismiss them as harmless thoughts they will become fewer and milder. Of course you will be reminded with seeing others smoke, or whiffs or other triggers, but that does not constitute a craving. See how they enjoy the first puff but after that not so much. Listen to the envy in their voice when you tell them that you quit smoking. No one chose to become addicted, but we can choose to be free. Think positive and you want it enough to be here, and you most certainly can do it!