[beauflow]

It has been 5 days, 20 hours, 51 minutes and 50 seconds and counting since my last cigarette or even vapor puff for that matter. (I have an app that helps me count).
I would had smoked at least 105 cigarettes by this time if I was still smoking.

I am wearing a patch so I am still getting nicotine (my body has not ridden of the addiction to the drug); however I am wearing step 2 instead of step 1 as directed (This due to issues in the past with step 1 and me, but step 2 is working ok). Also two weeks prior to the patch, I had cut down from my normal pack a day to about 4-7 a day.

I have attempted to quit several times in the past.... the longest I have went is a week.. I am not at a week yet but close.

My goal: is that I want to be free from smoking anything in the end. I want to be free from being a prisoner to the addiction, as I have broken from with harder drugs.
I hope I can do this, if I can-- I think with in a year, I will take the cruise I want. Actually the price of the packs I was getting, and a year- I would be able to take that cruise!

By far, cigarettes do seem to be the hardest for me to quit OR maybe I am just thinking that right now, since I am going through it. I know with a lot of other drugs I had many attempts before I finally quit-- and just like with those, and cigs now, it was something that sparked with- I really should quit for myself.

Little grouchy, but hey I got to say this:

1. I have not smoked a cig since last Friday, July 18. I have held two lit cigs, but not smoked them.
2. I went to a social gathering, which I have not done in over 7 years and I did not smoke.
3. I have had a unpleasant interactions with a few co-workers that get upset and almost want to start a fight, but I do calm down and have no cig after leaving their butts. (sorry but these two guys do antagonize, mostly everyone else I don't have this problem with)
4. I went to an interview, which was stressful- nerve racking- and I think I bombed it (did horrible) but did not smoke. I was emotional after the interview but did not smoke
5. **while in connection with 4 this is a big one for me** I have had an emotional episode with crying and thinking I am worthless-- but still Did not smoke a cigarette.
6. Others have smoked around me, and I have not smoked- some times did not want to smoke.

I read an article, and while it said, later in the stages from breaking from the addiction, to do stressful things that would make you smoke or you usually would had smoked, but not to smoke; could help with re-wiring the brain to tell it- "you don't need to smoke".

I am all about re-wiring my brain from negative things, to better things... this is just another thing to take-- One moment at a time.

After eating, I think, has actually been my biggest trigger with wanting to smoke. I know I read that a craving lasts 3 minutes,-- I am not sure if that is for all or an average.. The ones I had after eating have lasted a while, and it was not time distortion either. But that is getting better~


Anyone else want to write down stuff- feel free to.

Anyone else going through this, I wish you all the best!

[Harika]

You are fabulous! Well done keep it up!!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Turtleboy]

congrats that's fantastic!!

It is great that you are making a good effort to quit this habit of smoking. Good luck with your rehabilitation and I hope you will overcome this indulgence.

[emgreen]

My last cigarette was July 13, 2014...so I'm a bit short of two weeks. In that time, however, I bought a new (cheap) car that will exhaust the $150-200 per month that I spent on cigs before. If I start smoking again, I'll not be able to keep up with the bank notes. I guess I jumped all in...& am doing it cold turkey. As is the case with my alcoholism, however, I have to take things one day at a time (& sometimes one minute at a time with the cigs).

I wish you luck staying stopped, too, beauflow. I think we both have healthier futures ahead.

[notz]

It's been 16 1/2 years since my last cigarette. I've been told that nicotine affects the pleasure center in the brain alongside the heroin and cocaine locations. I don't doubt that at all, tough addictions!

I used the patch and while my body wasn't going through physical withdrawals I had the opportunity to deal with the psychological components of my addiction. I didn't realize until much later how important that time period was. Acknowledging and accepting my addiction was very important for my battle plan of success. Yes, it's like war!

I identified as many of those triggers as I could and that proved to be very helpful. Make a list! Once I started to taper down ever so slowly on the patches One of my methods was to do something I didn't do smoking to help me through the cravings. Like you, I liked my after dinner cigarette - I brushed my teeth instead. I brushed my teeth a lot! I also took a lot of showers. Deep breaths were magical, going places where smoking wasn't allowed , especially movies. There are other ideas that you can come up with.

I hope you succeed. You can do it!

[beauflow]

Emgreen I hope you the best too. I had someone tell me how they quit was they wrote themselves a check of how much their cigs cost. Similar with what you're doing

Notz thank you! And I really wondered with the patches on why so long with each step and thought it was probably due to the psychological addiction. Making a list sounds like a good idea.

Yesterday I passed something that in the past I lit up... Seeing My in laws, they are Ok people I just have anxiety. They also had guests )extended family) and kiddos were there. I did go outside but didn't lite up. I wanted to at some point but I told myself the same thing at the interview - it'll mean so much to not smoke.
I talked more with people because I didn't smoke too.

I also think some apps have helped me this last week. I downloaded cessation apps and redownloaded anxiety and stress apps that use CBT aspects.

Day 9 and I think I can do this

[notz]

One day (or 15 min) at a time. Rooting for you!

[kiwi33]

Beauflow, I think that you are going really well .

I quit a couple of years ago - nicotine patches helped me too.

Another thing (which you touched on) which helped me was to keep count of the money that I saved by not smoking.

Every so often I would (and still do) reward myself with a treat by spending some of that money; a book that I wanted, a nice restaurant meal, etc - that helps me to stay motivated.

You can do it .

[beauflow]

thanks all for the support. This last weekend though I relapsed.. Had to restart the clock.

I went against the well advice of sticking with the patch and took it off. I did Ok for a few days but slumped.

Try and try again.
Longest ever almost 3 weeks with out smoking.
I put a patch back on and will try best to stick with this.

I did not however that with the cig withdraws I wanted to smoke coke! One of the things I haven't done for years.... It's like it triggered my addicted spot for craving that again.

Odd.

No worries with going back on coke though! Just the cigs are the issue with relapsing.

[beauflow]

I still need to reset the clock! I've gone back to smoking .... that one cig slip and I've continued.
I bought some licorice root sticks yesterday which I've read may help to stop , substituting for the hand to mouth fixations but they taste funny I've also downloaded another app that's self hypnosis about stop smoking.... I actually like the app and it's message but I keep smoking.
I've told my s/o I'm going to set another quit date and try again. He doesn't want to try to quit with me but I need to do this for myself.
This will be difficult but if I keep at it I can hopefully do it.

[Rose76]

Sometimes it takes a number of false (or partially successful) starts before we get the traction to make a change last. Believe me - I know, not on the smoking issue, but on other things. Look at what you accomplised as a partial victory. You can build on it.

[happiedasiy]

Originally Posted by beauflow

I still need to reset the clock! I've gone back to smoking .... that one cig slip and I've continued.
I bought some licorice root sticks yesterday which I've read may help to stop , substituting for the hand to mouth fixations but they taste funny I've also downloaded another app that's self hypnosis about stop smoking.... I actually like the app and it's message but I keep smoking.
I've told my s/o I'm going to set another quit date and try again. He doesn't want to try to quit with me but I need to do this for myself.
This will be difficult but if I keep at it I can hopefully do it.

Beauflow,

Same boat here.
It is a good idea to make another quit date and try to not be anxious about it.
When you are ready, it will happen. I think the more we fight against it, the harder it is.
I also think when we make it to 4-7 cigarettes a day/thats good but to make it to zero this is the hardest part. You can do it.
Be well,
Happiedasiy