Cravings getting stronger?
I am on day 68 of going cold turkey. I was handling it really well until last weekend. I had a friend over for a couple of days who smokes. Just seeing the act of enjoying puts it in my subconscious. After 2 days of seeing her smoke my father came to visit. He is also a smoker. I think it is harder to see a parent (who we see as a role model) smoke than a friend or stranger.
I was out of my normal routine as I had company. I have been doing several things to help detox, destress and relax since quitting that involved having a regular routine. I think this was a huge beneficial factor for helping me quit for this long.
I am moving in 5 weeks which is adding stress to my life. I keep telling myself that just as long as I can get through another day smoke free that is an accomplishment and I shouldn't worry about not getting things done to facilitate moving.
I have found that this past week has been full of strong cravings, stronger than I have experienced so far! It is discouraging to say the least.
From what I have learned so far, the 3's are milestones (3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months). I fear that 3 months will be at the height of my stress level for moving. I don't want to give in but at this point it is getting more and more difficult! I need some inspirational stories from quitters that have experienced difficult times at the 2 months mark to share their tips to staying smoke free.
My tip- get mad at it and laugh at it. It helped me through some hard times. I got so damn angry at the 'craving' thinking 'how dare you? After all this time you have another crack?'
At the moment you are feeling at its mercy and your basically begging it to go away. Change it around, quitting smoking is a mind game. BE IN CHARGE. I used laugh at it ( a bit hysterically) and say 'That's all you got?' Hmmm, that it?' ( insert some swear words into that sentence).
YOU are in charge, it's just trying to trip you up - it's a sneaky bast@rd.. You have got this far because you have all the power. Remember that..
Hello "not this time" Completing 68days cold turkey is a great achievement. I smoked for 53yrs and been 7mths quit with help of nrt in small dosages. From my experience i found first 90 days very difficult but then from then on you are not bothered by people smoking around you. There are not many urges and if so they quickly pass. Habit wise is what i mostly find difficult to overturn but in time this too improves. So, hang in there and rest assured if you are determined then things will get better Cheers.
Hi. Get mad at anyone or anything trying to sabotage your quest to quit. Expletives, pleas or whatever it takes to make others understand. If it is expletives, better now than when you are no longer here...
Here's what I have learned (124 days: smoke-free and alcohol-free), if you keep doing what your doing you'll get the same results and you will eventually die a very unpleasant death! I was forced to quit both because I added pills to the party and almodt killed myself. I was diagnosed with severe depression and now take several antidepressant meds. My body is showing me how much damage that the smoking has don after 26 yrs. I am in the process of recovery now and feel better each day. When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself that you will not put any nicotine into your body that day. (Unless you are using the patch like I did). May God Bless everyone on this site!