33 day, and I wish there was a fast forward button
hi there. I'm so glad I found this community. I have been a heavy smoker for the last 35years of my life. With heavy, I mean really really heavy, in the end I smoked 50-60 cigs a day. I'm so greatful to find and get inspiration from experiences by longtime adicts here.
I didn't stop because of money or health. I nevertheless appreciate very much that my health and the one of my bank account improve fast :-)) I stopped because I totally hated the fact that I was a slave to nicotin addiction. I didn't want to go out anymore because this meant that I couldn't smoke. So I quit.
I've managed to stay away from cigs for 33 days now. Two things really helped a lot: 1. keeping busy and 2. getting a loooooot of sleep. This helped with the cravings and improved my mood.
the cravings come and go. It actually feels more like not being able to relax and feeling quite tense and nervous. From what I've read so far, I can expect that the worst will be over in 2 more month. It's a good perspective. I nevertheless wish there was a fast forward button to skip this part ;-)
cheers Klara
Good advise red 67 I’m trying to think like u. Keep it going kiara, yesterday felt easy, today snuck up on me. It’s a horrible addiction. Remember soon it will be a struggle of the past.
Thank you Red. Thank you Lori. Thankfully I have no problem with my mindset. No negotiations going on in my mind, which makes it a lot easier not to smoke. Nevertheless, my body knows I smoked for such a long time. This is why I have my withdrawl symptoms. Can't say I enjoy them :-) I'm happy once they're gone.
Klara good luck in your quest to kick smoking addiction. Cravings will be gone but don't give in to them. Even one puff will derail your progress and you'll be right back to where you started and in addition to that you'll feel guilty for giving in. Happened to me twice before after a two year quit and a one your quit. Now it's "NOPE" concept for me - not one puff ever. All the best.
Hi Klara.
Red is so right on with his comment. You can fast forward as he says and never have cravings again. I am happy to tell you that you are wrong, (and you should be happy too :) ! The nicotine is well out of your system unless using NRT. I smoked for 45 years, about 28/day, but it doesn't matter how much you or i or anyone smokes. We were hooked after the first cigarette all those many years ago. Such is the beast called nicotine. Nicotine altered your dopamine and now it 's long term affect needs removing. You seem to be stronger than a lot of quitters, in your mindset as well as having will-power. You genuinely WANT to quit, your eyes are open to what control it has had over yo u. (slavery) You seem to be Happy enough not smoking. Perhaps it is not the fear of not smoking, nor the fear of actually being a non smoker, (out of familiar territory) but the fear that you may relapse. In that case, you are worried about something that you hope will never happen. You have no closure, there is that niggling doubt. Yet there can be no closure unless it is the worst outcome... you do relapse. Believe you are free and you will be. Next time you get an "urge" say to it N.O.P.E. .... I Am A Happy Non-Smoker!
I am 12 cold turkey Happy Non-Smoker (no more cravings) Why would i crave for something i no longer have a desire for? (one past the nicotine withdrawal)
I am sure Red would agree with me. Lets ask him! Set your fears aside and BE FREE!
Dear Red, Safe2017 and Happiness. Thank you so much for taking your time. Much appreciated. Tell me about derailing. Definitely NOPE for me. Not my first attempt. But my last 🤩
Feels good
Klara
You seems to have a great mind set. As annoying as the urge gets yours don't seem as strong as others experience them. Then again women give birth and men act like they are dying when they have a 24 hr. flue. Different pain tolerance? If you expected to be laid out like the flu, then the cravings you experience would seem minimal. Mine were fleeting impulses. No one is alike. I am sure yours will be gone in record time. Keep denying the urge any satisfaction, don't think of a cigarette at all, just think I am a non-smoker! I did it! Like you said, you will be happier when they are gone. That is when you will know that you are truly a Happy Non-Smoker.
p.s. while reading posts, if anything just resonates with you, and a light bulb like flashes please let me know. Hopefully we can solve what a tiny piece of you is still clinging to. For example i wasn't getting urges until i started reading the book and wondered if it wood work if i didn't have the last cigarette. (you quit smoking at the end of the book) I started getting little fleeting urges again until i actually got a response from the Allan Carrs support team. Just a niggly doubt... so much drama eh?