Terrifed but Hopeful
I have set my quit date for tomorrow 17 May 2021. I am feeling anxious and terrified.
I'm 57 and have smoked for many years. Last August I quit for 4 months cold turkey. Withdrawals for the first week then I was fine. Crap happened and I started smoking again.
I don't smoke during the day. I exercise regularly, eat good food, no junk food, ok maybe the odd packet of chips here and there, have a lovely partner who quit 20 years ago bit has never pressured me to quit. I have a great life for which I am truly grateful for.
Every night around 4.30/5pm I pour myself a glass of wine and start smoking. This continues till we have dinner so 10 to 15 cigs.
I wake up each morning hating myself for smoking. Each morning I tell myself that I won't smoke again. 5pm rolls around and all my resolve disappears and I'm on that smoking rollercoaster again.
I'm ashamed to pay $42 for a pack of cigarettes. But I still do it.
I desperately want to be a non smoker for my own health. I am anxious for 5pm tomorrow.
Red-67 I follow you. Please give me your best advice and tips.
Anyone else, appreciate any words of advice.
Thank you.
Terrified.
Hi if the cravings come at a specific time like 5 PM maybe u can do something to distract yourself at this time to avoid smoking like go for a walk ....change routines....5 PM routines substitute it with something else....breathing from a straw or sucking a straw helps during intense cravings....you could also try progressive muscle relaxation techniques or box breathing to stave off anxiety and/or meditation at 5 PM.....did u try NRT instead of going cold Turkey try NRT ....gums or patches help sometime though I would recommend starting under a physician s supervision....all the best....and please dont get terrified....over last 20 years this is my first serious quit attempt....I know it's hard....but anxiety about relapse just propagates the behaviour of smoking....and take baby steps one day at a time....hope this helps
Hello indigo888. You are already half way there . You have had the satisfaction of beating nicotine addiction before. Unfortunately, you did not feel great about that...why?
Had you learned to love your new status and appreciated the changes you would not have simply bowed to a bit of stress. People who don't smoke have stress buy no need to pick up a cigarette.
You missed the cigarette, a comforting friend a timely routine.
You will not enjoy the process of quitting smoking if you feel that you are giving up your wine and leisure. You will resent the quit unless you truly want it more. Some avoid their friends. I went out to socialize with them on their smoke breaks. I gave up smoking, not my friends.
I kept cigarettes , cartons i had just bought actually, so I did not feel deprived. I was making a choice. I was CHOOSING to no longer smoke. I was making my stand. ENOUGH. Period.
If you are serious about quitting, you will read our stories, our advice and look up videos on line and read the free e-book that I give links too. If you want to quit you will take the time to find it and read it.....or find an excuse.
Stop fearing the quit and simply make up your mind that you want better.
Devise a plan. Do something. We quit, you can too. BELIEVE it.
Welcome Indigo, Good advice has been given to you, I just need to add since I have tried to give up smoking a few times, the NOPE (not one puff ever) has and is still working for me. We all have different reasons to want to give up this dreadful drug, which keeps us hooked make sure you have these reasons intact follow and post on this forum and you will be successful no doubt in my mind about that.
Hi everyone, I am truly humbled by your responses and advice and especially your support. I read each of your responses at least 5 times throughout today. Thank you.
I held off posting here till I got to 7.30pm. At 5pm, I watched the news on tv with a lovely glass of water and a little bowl of nuts. I ate and drank slowly and I had 10 minutes of heart pounding cravings. I was able to breathe through it and then the craving was over.
I will re-read your responses every morning because your words were so powerful and repetition works for me.
Thank you again, I am so grateful.
Hi Indigo and welcome back to our past!
Remember when we had played with gaye abandon, with no such addiction to anything carcinogenic, damaging & costly like smoking.
Take it on one day at a time, with baby steps and grow back into a newly born person that we were designed for being!
I may not have the right writers explaination of expression as others above, but I also want you to realise, its common knowledge, that the longer one goes with out the puff, the quicker the addictive drug leaves your body.
It's important to be clear in your own mind that you have smoked your last puff.
my mantra was, and still is: I Dont Smoke, NO MATTER WHAT.
Hi PuffNoMore, I am going through that crappy uncomfortable feeling right now but I know it will pass in about 10 minutes or so. It's my witching hour 5pm 😝.
Thank you so much for your words of wisdom. It really helps me to hear these often.
I will post my progress as I go on this Quit journey.
Hi Indigo, just a reminder of most of us advice.
One Day at a Time!
It'll pass in 10 minutes.
It really does get easier by the hour!
You'll also be surprised when you tick off the DAYS $
Hey Indigo. I know i am not a great motivator. But i certainly belief there is no trick to it. The very reason that makes you sorry for smoking the previous day is enough of an inspiration to let it go. When i tried quitting i only focused on why i started in the first place and all the remorse i had for every cig. i smoked. if you did it once for 4 months, You can do it again and this time for good.