Stories & experiences

Athena
Hunter New England
4
Stories
15/02/2021
Joined

Willpower and the want to give up

Posted in Quit experiences 15 Feb 2021
3 Favourites
5 Comments

I have been a smoker for about 32 years. I have given up several times over the years. I started when I was about 13 or 14yo. I started smoking heavier when I finished year 12,.especially when out drinking and partying with friends.

My first serious attempt at stopping was when I was 24yo. I was determined. I went cold turkey. It felt so weird. I didn't know what to do with myself. I was so vague and had difficulty concentrating and trying to remember things one minute to the next was a task. Insomnia for a good 4 days until I finally crashed out. Will power and determination is the key. I also used to think of my non smoking friends. They didn't smoke. They carried on and lived their lives without smokes. I reckon I can too. But 9 months later. A smoking friend came over with an issue and started again.

So over the years many failed cold turkey attempts. However once for 4 years no smokes yay. Then went through a divorce. Anyway kept trying. Then the patches... successful for a few months each time.

But wow Champix. It is amazing and doesn't contain nicotine. I wish I had tried it earlier. I commenced on the Monday 8/2/21. On Tuesday evening 9/2/21 I ran out of cigarettes at 1930hrs. I said to myself no I am not driving to the shop to buy more. The champix for me almost worked immediately. The urge, desire or craving just wasn't there. I was smoking out of psychological habit. It was even starting to taste different. And was even starting to feel like a silly thing to do. Holding this smoking stick between your fingers and breathing the stinking smoke into your lungs. Just silly and detrimental to health. But it is the addiction to nicotine that keeps us going back. But champix blocks those nicotine craving desires. Yes I had mild nausea and some difficulty getting to sleep in the first few days. Ensure you have eaten before taking the tablet. I started taking magnesium tablets and chamomile tea to aide sleep. Drink plenty of fluids and fresh fruit too. Constipation can be an issue. The key is you have to want to stop. Learn to live your life without smoking. Do other things to occupy your time. Crosswords gardening walking yoga go to the library and find a good book. And don't think I'll just have one. That has been my downfall every time. Thinking I'll just have one smoke. Don't do it. You don't need it. They have no benefits at all..Wishing everyone the best of luck through their quitting journey 💃🌈

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5 Comments

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  • Athena, Hunter New England February 22, 2021 | 19:43
    Wow good on you Esson. Congratulations. That is a huge achievement. Today is 13 days for me without smoking . I'm on week 3 of champix.
    Hang in there. I've had the thoughts to smoke. But they are not intense. And becoming infrequent. And if I distract myself aswell as having the knowledge these thoughts will pass in 5 minutes or so I continue to be a non smoker.
    Stay strong. And remember there is absolutely no benefits from smoking.
  • ESSEN February 22, 2021 | 17:26
    DAY 27 WITHOUT... thanks for helping folks--for 35 years, I have chainsmoked 3-4 cigs over 1-1.5 hours of reading just before going to bed. Every evening is a struggle since both bedtime routines are tied and now I can't seem to read either. Almost give up every evening but hanging in there by the skin of my teeth, and with the help of this forum. Not sure if patches will work since it seems purely psychological especially becoz I smoked for the joy of it.

    Just taking it one evening at a time ... hoping this terrible craving will go and that I dont succumb several months later as I have done several times in the past.

  • Athena, Hunter New England February 17, 2021 | 9:40
    Thank you for your support. Day 8 today without cigarettes. Coping quite well. A liitle thought of smoking pops in your head every so often however is only fleeting. I am determined I do not want go smoke anymore.
    Yes that's right. Don't fool yourself you can have just one. I have this clear in my mind this time.
    Stay strong everyone. We can do it.
  • Happiness February 16, 2021 | 9:32
    When I first started reading I was concerned that you were relying on the Champix to do the job for you. You did go on to explain how you changed your way of looking at smoking and how you WANTED to be free of it. It is learning the mindset that will keep you from falling back into the habit/ addiction . Once you know why you smoked, how it never did anything for you and how you were brainwashed. You enjoyed 4 years smoke free but did not embrace the quit and the mindset or foolishly thought that one puff would not hurt. Not One Puff Ever is stressed for a good reason. Like Lays Potato chips, the slogan goes ....You can't have just one.

    Congratulations on quitting smoking and especially on looking at smoking in a different light this time. Champix does inhibit the sensors, but it is YOU who has to embrace the quit and be grateful that you CAN.
  • softly40, Mid North Coast February 16, 2021 | 8:03
    Great post Athena, I too had smoke for over 30 years, and this was one of my excuses for not suceeding forever. I eventually found out much more about the physcological aspect, and in past days we did not have forums to come to when we needed support.

    Now we have so many aids, but the biggest aide for me was to practice every day (NOPE) non one puff ever.

    Nicotine is the most hateful drug which keeps you hooked, time and time again. Champix worked for me too, but this only worked with my practice of deep breathing, learning, reading until my mind accepted the joy I could experience, without any Nicotine in my body.

    Thanks for your inspiring post, come back again anytime.

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