In need of help...
Ok so I've been attempting to quit since Christmas... Started all happy an excited and everyday I'd be like "yay another day I can't believe I've been this long without even wanting one" then I'd "reward" myself with a cigarette without even realizing that I'm putting myself back at square one! So now FINALLY I'm scrapping the whole 'cut down' method and just fighting it! I decided to start fresh on Monday so I've had 2 days of no cigarettes and now attempting day 3... I need suggestions on how to distract myself???!!!! I used to wake up happy and have a coffee and my cigarettes and just relax for a bit.... Now I wake up, lay in bed for a bit depressed because I know I can't have my coffee and cigarettes... I hav set a routine that I hav a shower straight away so that I can put a patch on straight after but I want to look forward to getting out of bed! Any suggestions as to what I can do when I wake up??? I'm thinking maybe breakfast...but I'm not usually hungry in the mornings. The last two mornings I've had an iced coffee in the fridge waiting but I can only drink a little bit before I start getting the crazy cravings and force myself into the shower! PS I hate patches! They don't stick properly, usually make meItchy and after about 30 mins my arm aches for about an hour (the aching part helps me a little because I tell myself this is what nicotine does to me... Hurts!)
willpower u need plenty of it and yes u have to change your usual routine.I used to be the same i would wake up make a coffee then have a smoke,sometimes i even had a smoke first while the kettle was boiling and even have another smoke with the coffee i just made. so yeh 2 smokes then get ready for work i would skip breakfast also never had time for breakfast but always found time to smoke.Now i come hme from work have a shower put a patch on 1/2 hr after my shower,that way in the morning there is no cravings for a smoke some weird dreams but hey better than nicotine filling your lungs.Do you rotate the patches one day on left arm next day on right arm ?? I used to find they fell off heres a secret shhhh dont tell anybody ..i used to stick them on my bum cheeks !!! lol they never fell off there.The good thing is u r not giving up on yourself you will get there yes it is hard.Maybe even call the quit line they will give u some good advice,also the people on here are very nice im sure you will get plenty of helpfull advice.Good luck
I found the patches hopeless for staying on, especially as I am a swim teacher and that is when i needed them the most!! My mum is a nurse (and a typical pack-a-day nurse!) she got me on to op-site, you can purchase it at the chemist for about $8 a metre and just cut enough to cover the patch each day. Mine stay on for the shower, during three hour shifts in the pool and on really hot sweaty days etc... A friend of mine used to strap his down with electrical tape lol...... failing that there is always 'Freedom's' 'cheeky' suggestion :-)
Yes just elastoplast, the heavy duty one....that'll work....stick to it kid!!!...the mornings cant be crappy for ever...lol
Hey Hayden.. I have been smoke free for 18 days and boy does that coffee situation sound familiar! Lol.. To be completely honest, i couldn't really drink coffee for the first 2 weeks. Coffee and a Ciggie was my usual breakfast (one which i actually used to refer to as "breakfast of champions" - ridiculous i know) It just felt like something was missing and set me into craving overload, so i was having tea instead as there was no reminder of smokes. Now that i am getting on i have introduced coffee back into my life and am not craving a ciggie every time i drink one anymore which i fabulous!!
With regards to the patches i only use the 16 hour ones. So i wake up in the morning, have a shower then put my patch on for the day. In the night i take it off and have a shower. I dont sleep with a patch on as i find that they keep me awake all night! Lol
I also find 'Up and Go' a great thing as i am also not a big breakfast eater :-)
Goodluck!!