The continuing battle
It’s day 21. I’d imagined that the first 2 to 3 weeks would be the worst and although they weren’t easy, they were manageable; when what felt like a nicotine craving came along, I curbed it with 4mgm nicotine lozenges. Then, a few days back, the nicotine demon changed tact and started playing with my mind. After finishing the evening meal, for example, a pleasant feeling occurred as a vision came into my head of going outside and lighting up, as I would have done when I smoked. Sometimes there didn’t seem to be any particular trigger; visions like that just happened. I am struggling now, and wondering just how long it is going to take before the urge to smoke starts to subside.
Cant give you a time as we are all different, It could be a week or a few weeks before you notice an improvement. Take it a day at a time and one day you will look back and realise you haven't had a serious craving for days or weeks. After 21 days you should have beaten the worst part of the physical addiction and what is left is the psychological part or just the plain habit of lighting up. Keep going and best of luck, sounds like you have got this under control.
Hi Grimbling. As long as you take nicotine in any form you are still addicted. You will eventually have to get off of it. I don't know what strength your lozenge is at 4mgm nor how often. Just as long as you do understand how the nicomonster lives.
Have you made the behavioural changes of doing something to replace those cigarettes with coffee, after meals etc. Until you do something to fill this void the habit will haunt you. Change your negative thoughts to positive ones. Most of all stop missing the cigarette. Remember how you were its slave, and will be until you make the decision that you are not.
Hi Grimbling, I am only on day 13 so no expert but i did read an interesting story on the internet last night.The story was about trading bad habits for good one. the example that was given was take up qigong and stop smoking. I did some research on and found it rather enjoyable. gives you something to do with your hands, helps with breathing and can do anytime for say 2 mins. or hour if you want a work out. The whole concept is that you fill that time like after diner with a new good habit to help you not think about smoking. I have craving probably more then you still and always trying to make it easy as possible on myself. wish you all the best
Many thanks for the feedback and advice everyone; it’s heartening, and deserving of praise, to see how positive and determined you all are in your quest because it certainly helps to keep me going. It’s now day 22. We cannot predict when nicotine will begin to lose its hold on us, but I’m one day closer to that time than I was yesterday. By taking heed of the advice I’ve been given so far, I am going to break this addiction.
Hi Grumbling, stick with your NRT for the first 3 months to aid you in breaking the habit of smoking, that's the biggest part of the addiction in my opinion. After 3 months flick the NRT and after a week or so that is when the cravings will go. Th say a what happened for me, But i understand we are all different. Day 22, wow starting your 4th week, awesome job buddy, stay strong and vigilant and keep that guard up. You've got this 😊
I acknowledge different things work for different people, however my experience is similar to Leeann's. 84 days on NRT then after that very few cravings and they were not very strong.
Mate I've been off the smokes for 3 months now and i can tell you that the withdrawals do subside. I got to 6 weeks and wondered if they would ever end but they are much fewer and farther between for me. Just don't waste the time you have gone without a smoke. You will kick yourself for it. I even had cold sweats and the most vivid dreams. I didn't know if i was asleep or awake!lol but now here i am. Smoke free and feeling much better. Use patches and weam yourself of them like the packet indicates. You will get sudden urges but they only go for short periods. It is torturous i know but it will get better. Stay strong my friend!!
As long as you take the time to instill good habits, and positive thoughts daily you will get there. The Nrt's cannot do it for you. It is a process. Nrt's just assist.
It is your goal, your glory and your future!
I think it's common for all addicts to enhance or romanticize pleasant memories of their addictions and forget the misery. Rather than focus on how nice it would be to have a cigarette after dinner and watch the sunset, focus on all the reasons you decided to quit. I'm so new I'm still trying to replace triggers with alternative behaviors. For years my daily routine started with brewing a pot of coffee and having a cigarette. Since I still brew the coffee, I'm trying to find other things to do while I wait.