[OutlawedSpirit]

It is now 11:04, and I had my last cigarette at 6:45 this morning. Things haven't been too bad so far, been trying to keep myself busy so I don't want to smoke out of boredom (it's a bad habit of my habit). I am trying with lozenges since my psychiatrist told me not to try to quit cold turkey after the last time I tried threw me into a tailspin. I have a container with cigarettes in it still, going to give them to my mom but I haven't seen her yet, so I wrote, "your brain is a liar" on the lid. Hopefully that will bring my back to my good senses if I go to grab one without thinking.

I'm trying to look at all the positives of quitting but I know, soon, the sorrow is going to hit. It's like losing a best friend. Cigarettes are there for you when you're sad, they're there when you're happy. They're a drinking buddy. Grr, I need to get out of this mindset. This is going to be a rough week if I don't stay positive. Anyone have any ideas?

[Perna]

I like the new ads that show how cigarettes are bullies, liars and manipulators.

[waiting4]

I have a couple ideas, that worked for me when I quit...and I had to do it cold turkey as weaning myself off them didn't work, and patches just got me addicted to the patch.

Basically, what I did was arrange it so I was home for about a week (took a vacation because I didn't want to be around people when the b**chiness and the weepiness started)...I stayed in my room and pretty much stayed online the whole time. If I got tired, I went to sleep, (sleep as much as you can the first couple of days...helps with the withdrawl) and when I woke up I got back online. I had loads of people to talk to, as my online friends span the globe -- there was never a timezone issue.

I did consume enough wine to keep myself mildly inebriated (don't recommend this for everyone, but it was useful to me) and ate when I felt like it. I also drank ice water between sips of wine, and this is the surprising thing (because of how well it worked) I used a straw. I didn't realize it but since I wasn't feeding my hand-to-mouth habit, I could still recreate the 'drag' of smoking but using a straw. I know...sounds weird but it worked. Whenever I wanted to reach for the cigarette which was previously, always on the desk ashtray, I sucked on the straw in the icewater. (I think it also helped that I smoked menthol cigs before so the cool of the water was kinda expected outcome of using the straw)

Just keep in mind...and this is VERY important....if you can get through the first 3 days, the rest is a piece of cake. The first 3 days are when you get emotional X a million, but after that, it's just reminding yourself when you think about having a cig "oh wait, I don't do that anymore". Just remember to keep drinking with a straw.

This method worked for me, and I was a pack and a half smoker with 25 years under my belt! Good luck

[OutlawedSpirit]

So far, this isn't turning out to be like other times I've tried to quit. I'm getting manic, which I expected, but the cravings haven't been too bad, and I really haven't been all that hungry. I ate a little earlier, and that seems to have been sufficient. I never thought about using a straw, but it makes sense as to why it would work. I'm sure we have some around here somewhere...

[OutlawedSpirit]

So starting on day 2. I managed to resist the cigarette when I got into the car this morning to take my daughter to school. I'm really bad about smoking in the car, so I was pretty proud of myself. I'm growing restless. Can't even go out and walk because it's been raining for the past two days, so instead I'm working on wearing out my keyboard. Maybe later I'll pace some holes in my floor.

[gayleggg]

Keeping your hands and mind busy really help. When I quit I used my GameBoy to keep me occupied. Couldn't smoke in the middle of Mario.

[OutlawedSpirit]

I've really been using the forums the past couple days. It keeps me busy and they're constantly changing so it helps keep me distracted if nothing else. I just wished they moved a little faster sometimes.