Light Bulb Moment
Reached day 38 watching TV and was thinking about opening a packet of cigarettes and having a smoke. The strange thing was that instead of wanting to smoke a cigarette the picture in my mind was that smoking a cigarette was disgusting and I didn't want to breath in that smoke. I know I am still addicted to nicotine as I am using nicorrete spray, however this is the first time I can remember that the thought of lighting a smoke was not something I wanted to do.
Robn,
Thanks for your support. Your right, why has it taken this long to finally wake up to stopping the stupidity of smoking?
John 100 - great job. When you are able to control your nicotine attacks and not succumb to the addiction then you know that you are on your way to freedom. Last night after a homeowners’ meeting we went outside and one person lit up a cig. The smoke by itself wasn’t too bad but the stench coming out of his lungs was so, so nasty. Smelled like a mix of poop and burned flesh. But I knew that if I had just one puff I’d be addicted again. Been there, done that. Nope - not one puff ever. All the best in your quest.
Community Guru
Hi John. By now you are about $2000 ahead of the addiction and the money available to compete in your sport. That is awesome! I am glad the spray works for you and that you are getting the mindset to maintain a quit this time around.
I am replying to your comment on my page and made further comments on that page entitled "To Bo and Other Newcomers please share your story"
Just because i quit cold turkey does not mean i am against Nrts, but just hate to see people rely on them endlessly only to make their journey more miserable . Life changes are what is necessary break the habit with coffee, after meals, in the car, while drinking etc... quitting the addiction of nicotine is really the easier and quickest part.
You have quit before, so you understand the 4'Ds etc, but some newcomers come thinking it is about will power, and we know that very few can succeed without some basic insights, and tools, and i think the most important is the proper mindset. Congrats to you and all who have succeeded. I just want the first timers to use the tools available. Knowledge is power!
Hi
How have you been going? Are you still smoke free John?
I'm craig 51, retired, play tennis and using A few nicotine inhalers each day . what is your chosen sport and when do you think you will stop your NRT Spray. I'm roughly at similar stage to you on this journey.
Hi PuffNoMore,
I'm going well, day 74 and still haven't had a smoke. Like you I'm retired (62) and my passion is IPSC shooting, this is freestyle practical shooting. Their are videos on youtube if you would like to see what its about.
My plan is to give up NRT in the next 10 days, that makes it 12 weeks. Giving up is the best decision I have made and the money saved is a bonus, my calculator shows I have saved $2072, this is a ridiculous amount to spend in a relatively short time on an addiction.
Best with you quit program and all the best for Xmas.
I might be with you on that in about 10 days.
We will have to be extra ready for temptations. Because we have been on NRT the whole time on our journeys, our brains may have receptors that will scream at us when we finally turn the nicotine Tap OFF!
What do you think?
I think I will be OK, but I do know that I had my last cancer stick almost 7 weeks ago and I will PuffNoMore
PuffNoMore,
I agree with you, however we have made it this far and I don't intend that the last 10 weeks were for nothing. Be confident we can do this.
John 100,
We will be ok! Ok. This is a game changer for me and I dont intend to stuff it up this time. I'm getting used to not having the smoke to break my time up into segments. Learning that i dont need the smoke in times of disappointment nor for celebration. dont associate it with coffee or meals anymore!
I'm ready to quit the trickle of nicotine, well almost:-)
hi john 100.
are you recording the amount of nicotine sprays you are having each day?
I know exactly how many cartridges of nicotine I have? Its not many. I suck on the plastic inhaler alot and carry it around with me, but have managed to limit myself to one cartridge per day lately. So I think I could quit the NRT around the same time as you do in 9 or 10 days.
We will still have to stay on guard and fight the nico-MONSTER until the cravings disappear however long.
We'll be ok
Community Guru
You know my stance on that PuffNoMore and am concerned I have not seen you around. I too would be interested in John's response. I had a friend who quit successfully the second time around on Champix, because he took it longer. I you are unsure of yourself PuffNoMore, I have to agree with John that it would be ashame to have wasted the last 10 weeks of effort (and all the anxiety and cravings gone through). You know I am here to support, you especially PuffNoMore. Please let us know you are still here.
I wish I could advise you, but I no nothing of your quit whereas John is better positioned to help you through this.
Do you think yourself ready to live as a non-smoker?
Do you still have a love/hate affair with the cigarette?
Try my relaxation video/meditation.
How bad do you want off of these, or do you try gum and accept you are a non-smoker but still addicted?
If you try your hardest and fail, you still have the spray, Nothing ventured, nothing gained?
If you are still in withdrawal and having a rough time , please do youself a favour and either read Allan Carr's book or use Nadia Davos CBQ method. Don't be so damned cheap and save yourself the grief.
I hope you find this comment as you follow John , and haven't responded on mine. I hope i didn't discourage you in any way. I still check our meeting place. How to see you there. Take care and Happy New Year