Still going strong...
Hi there, Quitfam!
I'm a few days off the 'One Month' milestone.
It's rarely on my mind now. I can enjoy a morning coffee and don't miss the cigarette. Meals are a pleasure and I'm still relaxed and chatting at the table afterwards, without the accompanying smoke. That horrible feeling of 'something missing' has gone.
All that said - I had a terrible 'craving day' the day before yesterday. Possibly, the trigger was stress - it was pretty awful.
You know how your nervous system feels if somebody is tickling you against your will? It was like that...all day.
I got through it by giving my body the instant reward it was seeking in the form of food - sandwiches...squares of chocolate...anything but cigarettes! It was worse by evening so I ended up in a McDonalds Drive Thru consoling my nervous system with golden fries!
I thought I'd share because I don't want anybody out there reading all the positive stuff and imagining they are the only person on the planet who is struggling at times.
It's also quite a shock when you have a day like that and everything has been going so easily - it catches you off-guard.
It didn't occur to me to go and buy cigarettes but I wonder what would have happened if someone had walked past me with a lit smoke in their mouth...I think I MIGHT have rugby-tackled them to the ground for it! It was intense for a while.
So I remain smoke-free - not one puff ever. Feeling noticeably more relaxed in myself and very positive about the future - it's wonderful to plan ahead without the black cloud of smoking and all its associated diseases. I feel stronger for white-knuckle riding out my worst day yet - I would most certainly have caved before - that's how all my quit attempts have usually ended.
Love and luck to all. Keep going...we're DOING this! x
You are doing great Percy, you are very funny in your tales, you made me laugh with your MIGHT rugby tackle to the ground scenario.
Focus on how the days are becoming so much easier now, fantastic news you held strong through your annoying day and luckily there was no innocent victim crash tackled to the ground to report🤣
One month is awesome Percy, before you know it, it will be 2 months🙌
Thanks for this post Percy, those intense feelings are their, for a reason, maybe try to write out the stress part of what was really bothering you. You will get these on and off but honestly they are just thoughts, so let them come and let them go when you want to...I imagined mine in a colourful balloon floating up into the sky. I also did my relaxation and deep breathing for a few days too. Come back soon.
Percy, Percy, Percy... what can I say? You are RUNNING with your quit. You got this! You have mentioned many moments which could cause a "struggle" but you held your head high and proven you are stronger. You are stronger than the nicotine. The bad moments do pass and you survived and was strong. YEAH!
For me, yes, there are up and down days, I can pull myself together and let it pass. What I learned from this site, they are merely thoughts. That's all! So I put another (pleasant) thought in my head instead. Good, bad or indifferent, I will work through whatever is thrown my way.
Us kinder kids are really kicking it!! Stay as strong as you are,... you are a STRONG WINNER!!! AND an inspiration to me!!!
i see that we have been living up to 'the winners club' all wecome to join us keep up the chatter TEAM!
Hey you!!! Just checking in. I can only guess the worse (but I hope not). In the case you started smoking again, I just want to say that it is ok because you will stop smoking for good when you are ready. Each stop/start is a practice run they say and I am the queen of stop/starting!!! You have had some very powerful posts so I know you can get there. Just missed hearing from you and wanted you to know I wish you the best my kindergarten teammate from the WINNERS TEAM :-)