[indigoChild337]

Hey Everyone,
It is my assumption, given the topic of mental health, that the numbers of us who rely on cigarettes to cope are quite prevalent in this community. Well, I quit recently due to a moment of brief clarity and inspiration. I have quit once before, so I know I can. Right now it is just a matter of getting through the withdrawal and a successful detox. I have altered my diet and cut out alcohol as well. Currently I am experiencing migraines, nausea, and a lack of concentration. Last night I even woke up seating (but I am sleeping better!).

Have any of you quit smoking recently? What was your experience like?

*Also interesting, here is a link that explains what happens to your body once it stops receiving nicotine and other substances as a result of cigarette use: What Happens When You Quit Smoking Timeline: 14 Surprising Facts

Thank you.

[healingme4me]

Thanks for sharing the info. Hope your withdrawal symptoms go away soon. Congratulations on your decision!

[indigoChild337]

Originally Posted by healingme4me

Thanks for sharing the info. Hope your withdrawal symptoms go away soon. Congratulations on your decision!

@Healing,
Thank you for your support. I am on day 5 and am beginning to feel additional symptoms such as an increase in circulation which has left me feeling HOT and...itchy. Apparently this is fairly common. Still woozy and the migraines comes and go.

[kiwi33]

I quit a few years ago and feel much better for it. Two things helped:

(1) I used nicotine patches for the first couple of months, initially a fairly high dose, with a slow taper.

(2) I kept a record of the money that I saved by not smoking. Every so often I would reward myself with a treat from some of that money (a nice restaurant meal, etc). That helped me to stay motivated and still does.

[slummerville]

I quit smoking not too long ago, maybe the end of February. I had also quit once before.. They say in general smokers quit 2 or 3 times before they are successful.

The first time I quit I was a much heavier smoker.. I quit cold turkey. I drank a bunch the night before and smoked an entire pack in just the night so I would wake up with the feeling that occasionally follows those nights.. Dry throat, sick stomach.. So the last thing I would want was a cigarette. I remember feeling like time stopped when the withdrawals kicked in.. I sweated a whole lot and I think I could smell tobacco coming out of my pores for the next few days.

That quit lasted about 2 years.. Then I smoked again for 2 years, but less than 10 cigarettes a day. I wanted to quit again for awhile and I slowly tapered it down to 5 a day. It was really the habit that I needed to quit, I wasn't worried about the withdrawals.

I didn't really "feel" it this time, other than missing the habit of going out for a ciggie with my coffee or on my break at work. But I still have nicotine mints with me for when I have uncontrollable stress. I don't find those addictive, I think they are nice to have around.

Good job.. It does feel good to quit and your body rewards you.. Especially with those nice phlegmy nasty coughs of your lungs cleaning themselves out and the cilia growing back along your respiratory passages.

[Bean428]

I quit smoking cigarettes about a year ago, except i started vaping. At first it was just to get me to stop but then i got really interested in it and now for me its a pretty big hobby. Me and my SO even make ejuice and stuff. I know its still not healthy, but its a lot healthier than the cigarettes i was smoking. Its been the only thing thats ever really gotten me to quit.

[thinkandoer]

I tried quiting few times. It should be a strong principal to never have even one sigaret or it will start again for sure. I haven't smoked for four years. The biggest reward is the feeling of being proud of yourself. I used to smoke half pack a day. But I didn't have any phisical withdrowal problems. But it was and is emotional nightmare. Sigarett break was the support that no friend or therapist could give me. I still cannot find a good substitute for a sigarett. Have to work on myself... The only thing stops from starting smoking again is that I don't want to japordise my health. I know how hard it is to quit. So tap into your sosial support system. ... and it's worth it in the end.