Stories & experiences

Welcome Carolanne. You are on a great site with wonderful people going through the same experience. Read the stories and learn about nicotine and your addiction to it. Find the truths and think for yourself. When you find the desire to be free more than the desire to smoke , you will quit.

I can't think of any reason to continue to smoke. If you think there are any, we can disspell that notion. Find the belief in yourself that you can quit. We did!

HI Carolanne, it is very early days yet, you might like to do some research about the addictive susbstance called Nicotine, it loves to play around with your mind and body, just to draw you back in.

You need a strong approach with some gentle tatics. Like Meditation, which you will find plenty online - choose one thats right for you, and practice daily.

A definite must is saying or writing a Mantra I chose NOPE (not one puff ever) this overrides any influence that Nicotine has over you. A deeper analysis which could serve you well is to have a look at "How to grow to be a happy non smoker, by NASIA DAVOS at TEDxUniversityofPiraeus.

Your body is throwing out all the poisons you have, and we are all different in the changes that are taking place. Keep on reading and posting and let us know how you are doing. Congratulations on being smoke free for 11 days, it will soon be 12 days.

Hi Caroline from from the south western parts of sydney. Its your responsibility to end your addiction or habits of smoking when you think you want one.

Get yourself out of the pit of misery.

Finding money to buy the drug could be KILLING you bit by bit?

Say Goodbye to it!

You can save heap's of dollar's

We have jumped free of it, why not you??

Hi Carolann - everybody's journey is different, and people choose different methods to help get through the first , super difficult part. I am using NRT (patches and spray), as I know cold turkey (using nothing) is too hard for me. Even so, I am much more irritable and emotional, and certainly feel restless. I
took two weeks annual leave when I quit, as I knew dealing with work frustrations would be hard in the first couple of weeks. I think that helped a lot. However I am now back at work (20 days later) and everything certainly seems more stressful. I remind myself to take some deep breaths . I go for walks around the block. I drink a glass of water slowly. I tell myself that having a cigarette won't help me not want to have a cigarette, it will only reinforce the cravings. Instead the longer I go without smoking, the less intense the cravings will become. All these strategies help. The rest is just getting through, in the belief that one day it won't be so bad.

I certainly had the headaches - pretty standard withdrawal symptom. Didn't have the ear thing, that sounds rough. If you are finding it really unmanageable, maybe consider NRT? Or perhaps see your GP? Making a list of some strategies that work for you could also help.

Also keep in mind that the first 3 weeks are known for being tough, but you are already over halfway through the hardest bit, so well done! It can only get easier from here (or so I tell myself). I bet you've surprised yourself already - you gave up smoking! Who would have thought it? You're a champ :)