Smoking

[esnow]

Hi. New to this whole forum thing...I have just quit smoking after being a 25=year smoker...I've made through 8 dddays and am really having some hard timesw staying focused. When will the desire for another cig really kick in?...Any thoughts or suggesstions?...thanks

[dblue]

You're doing great, esnow. It can take a few days to a month for the withdrawal symptoms to go away. If you feel the urge for a cig, try to breathe through it. Are you using any nicotine replacement therapies?

[KyLady40]

I started smoking at aIge 13 and quit at 21,I'm now 40 and aint smoked since I quit. Everyones different I guess but what worked with me was this>>> clean all ashtrays and pray before you light up one,and bear and breath through the craving ,it will pass,they seem to come every few mins,so take em as they come one step or craving at a time,each will pass.
Took me about 4 months to be totally over it completely,but it gets easier,I promise ya that. Enjoy breathing fresh air too and maybe chew gum. Don't look too far ahead,look at how far you have come and all the hard work ya put into it amd don't give up! If ya do start back,try try try again,sometimes takes a few attempts to break the addiction. Know yer not alone also. You can do it!
Keep telling others that you have quit,don't say I'm trying to quit,say positively, I have quit! MY prayers are with you,I believe in you,if you really WANT to quit,you will!!!!!

[esnow]

Thanks for the encouragement. No I am not using any nicotine replacement Just trying to go cold turkey. However I have been chewing gum like a trooper> It seems strange...the last few days have been much harder than the first two! Am hanging in there.. Thanks again.

[esnow]

thank you so much for your response. I have been chewing gum...also trying to just take a walk when the urge is strong. This is the third time in the last two years I have tried to quit...and this is the longest I have gone without a cig to date..just waiting for that day when I actually feel better instead of thinking about having a light. thanks again...es

[KyLady40]

Walking can be a wonderful thing to help. Breath deeply and enjoy the feeling of fresh air going into your lungs and breath out and think about all the gunk leaving out of your lungs. Enjoy also the added benefits of getting healthier and stronger. Just wondering,do you have children? I have one and she was another motivating factor in my quiting. You're doing your health a favor and also your neighbors,friends and family a healthy favor since second hand smoke does harm non-smokers. I use to smoke and no I don't and others smoke makes me hack and choke..lol
Hang in there and become a proud and happy non-smoker :) You will make it!! My best to you,it's no easy thing but good things are worth the effort and you'll be that much stronger in your resolve later on in life cause it was so hard to quit and you will never want to take it back up cause you KNOW how hard it is to stop. Keep up the good work,it will get easier. Having friends and family to encourage you can help also. Something else I remember that helped me too,my husband at the time said I'd never quit,I told him I would,later we got into a disagreement and I got frustrated and asked for a cig from him,he laughed at me and said : I told you you couldn't quit. I threw the pack of cigs at him and told him to get em outta my face! That helped me, I can be a very determined person..lol Hold onto your will power!

[ranga0944]

Hello.
Glad to know you have quit smoking.
I was smoking about 15 cigarettes day for 48 years. I quit after my third admission to hospital with lung problems. I am smoke free for 50 days now. The first week was terrible. I hung on somehow with lot of support from quitnet.org members.
You will make it. Have faith in yourself and resist the nicotine demon. If you are determined the demon can't overpower you.
I am confident you will quit for good.
Ranga

[lizzyb]

Hi and congrats on your decision to quit...

The nicotine patches work pretty well, however, the urge will still be there to 'do' something with your hands. I am also a 'quitter' and am about to die from all the mucus and different things that are going on with my body. One thing that keeps me going is something I read in another post. This guy said that what got him through was thinking about all the money the rich guys at Phillip Morris were making off him! That does sort of make me angry enough to forge ahead. I also looked up pictures of normal and cancer filled lungs. GROSS!!! I even thought about putting them up on the fridge so I would have to see them but I don't think the rest of the family would enjoy that. I have quit before for a few months but I don't remember the sheer exhaustion that I have now. I literally can just lie down and not move, fall asleep and have the weirdest dreams. I wonder if anyone else has these symptoms. Oh yeah, oranges and tangerines are also getting me through. They are full of vitamen C and are a good source of water too.

[Davy9]

Izzy, be angry with the tobacco companies that lured you to this addictive, harmful and disgusting habit. They enticed you with pictures of pretty people doing healthy things while enjoying their smokes. They did not show you the ugly parts. They engineered their products to make certain that you become an addict. They have stolen part of your life and a lot of your money. Tell them to go stuff it. Quit, they are not stronger than you are.