72 days smoke free, no cigarettes, e-cigarettes or nicorettes
Today I am 72 days without a cigarette. I am 72 days without e- cigarettes, nicorettes or any form of nicotine. This is the first time in my life that I have consciously thought about giving up nicotine. It is the first time that I have been very aware that I am addicted to nicotine and not cigarettes on their own. I don't think there is such a thing as tobacco that contains no nicotine. I know my e-cigarette buddies told me many times that nicotine is not harmful to us but I totally disagree this time round. I've switched to e-cigarettes for 7 months in the past but it did not work for me. I still felt tired and irritable from nicotine in the e-cigarettes. I still got breathless from e-cigarettes and its not true that there are no side effects - at least for me, anyway.
I know that nicotine causes my organs to work harder trying to expel nicotine from my system. This includes my digestive system too. I know that nicotine makes it harder for my blood system to flow (palpitations) and the cause of panic attacks.
The single worst thing I've experienced from nicotine is panic attacks. I never want to forget the day I quit smoking 72 days ago and the days that followed that because even when I quit smoking, I still had panic attacks for a while. I'm sure its the nicotine because I'm not experiencing any panic attacks now and have not had them for a long while. I am not craving nicotine today but suffering from the normal problems in life. I'm not enjoying today so much but I am certainly working/functioning on a much higher plane because I'm not taking my drug - NICOTINE
Its a good thing to give up nicotine. There is nothing at all good about continuing with it!
It always fascinates me that we put so much poison and toxins in just for that hit. I have gotten off strong pain medication, reduced my alcohol in take and yet I persisted with my daily hit of nicotine knowing that I am broke, unhealthy and not setting the example that I must as a father. I have suffered from depression, anxiety and panic attacks throughout my life from these experiences and knowing that I do have strategies and strength when it matters this time I will prevail to go smoke and nicotine free there is no turning back to the dark side of the smoke. Keep it up and thanks you for your words and experience it helps Padwans like me greatly.
remembering what it was like (the truth about the addiction) = recovered.
soon as I forget what it was like I am in big trouble.
IC
Congratulations to you! Wise words. Funny enough, I tried to quit ages ago using NRT and it did nothing for me. I think I was just brainwashed by the lighting up, the inhaling poisonous stuff, the "break" from life. How stupid.
Yep the normal problems of life continue and are not solved from picking up that stick.
Hated the smell etc but still kept doing it.
Had to realise it really was addiction to nicotine. In the form of the stinky stick. No other form did it for me.
Took a long while, sadly. Onwards and upwards. One day at a time.
Nicotine is a stimulant - that's why it increases anxiety. The receptors in our brain (created when we first started smoking) also made us anxious as they sent signals to smoke so they could get more nicotine.
After we quit all forms of nicotine, those receptors settle down and stop signaling us. But, if we ever take another puff, they will wake up and the vicious cycle will start again. I don't want to ever go back to that. Today is day 72 for me and I feel better each week.
Congratulations to all who have broken the nicotine bonds and are free!!!