621 days
Hi everybody
I wanted to share my story, maybe it will be helpful for somebody out there. I haven't been on the platform for more than 1.5 years. It has been quite a ride. I was the worst nicotine addict possible, 35 years, chain smoking the past 15 years.
The first 6 months were so hard for me and yet very easy, because it never ever crossed my mind to start smoking again. My mindset really helped, because I just knew I was done.
My withdrawal symptoms were awful: After 40 days I developed a really bad depression, the first 3 months just about every situation reminded me about smoking (chains smoker!). My brain didn't work properly, I couldn't concentrate, I couldn't think, and I was nervous all the time. Thankfully I was also very tired all the time, so a basically slept through evening withdrawal symptoms :-)
After 3 months I noticed first improvements. Still fidgety, but I wasn't checking into my quit smoking apps anymore on a daily base. Smoking nevertheless still was very much on my mind, there was not one day when I thought of "oh, in this situation I would have smoked" didn't come up.
Once I got past the 6-7 months nonsmoking became my new default.
It's been 20 months now. Sometimes the thought still crosses my mind that a cig would be rather nice. It's just a random thought and it passes fast. I still really like the smell of tobacco, but I'm not tempted anymore.
If you experience hard times: hang in there! Yes it is tough in the beginning. But you can do it!
All the best to you fellow quitters. Just says NOPE.
Klara
thanks Klara. I remember you.
We were the worst addicts to the smoke and we have both Quit the S#it!
There's always hope, even someone like me ( 35 cancer stick every day) OUCH $$$
And a little bit of depression sometimes might be a good thing to keep us safe from over indulging in a over excited situation to light-up, one more time.
Good on us for not falling for that 'old trick' ever again.
We dont smoke
Thanks for posting Klara, this will help others who want to reach your status, which I am sure you cannot believe even now. The main key to staying smoke free is our own mindset plus staying close to others who are on the same journey. NOPE (not one puff ever)
Thank you for your kind comments. I still can't believe that I just hung in there and made it. I hope sharing my personal worst effects will show that no matter what, after three to six months the terrible struggle that mind and body give you is over. But there are also instant gratifications associated with quitting. My number one is freedom! It feels so good to be free of the urge to smoke. No more running outside for a cig, ha!
Thanks again Klara. One of my motto's I like to use here and in my "self talk" is
NO MATTER WHAT : I DONT SMOKE.
It takes the debate of, will I or wont I have a Puff.
Its like you said. I also knew I was done with smoking, I never said it made it easy to Quit, but atleast it made it final.
Hello Klara, I am 653 days quit today. I too still miss the feeling of having a cigg sometimes but I know that I have chosen to stay quit for a reason which is my New normal. Still when I am too sad or depressed( yes there are ups and down with me since last few months) I really want to smoke not because I like to have it but those are some random moments when all the logical reasoning seems illogical and irrelevant.
But I am happy that I keep quit even those moments. This is my extended family out here and to be very frank, I See this because I can share my thoughts here without being judged . It also helped me at times when I had no one to share with what I was going through.
I think it was gods wish to be here on this forum which gave a new life to me and so many good frnds to share what I could not share with anyone in my real life
Community Guru
Friends and family. Like birds of a feather, we stick together. We know that anyone can quit smoking. No one needs to feel lost and alone.