Nicotine Withdrawal

I just wanted to say "GOOD FOR YOU" I am a smoker and I need to be doing exactly what you're doing right now. But I don't think I am quite to that point yet. I guess no matter how bad this sounds....I am still comfy smoking. UGH! It's a terrible habit and I wish I never picked it up. And the sad thing is i started smoking when I was 21. Totally ridiculous.

Anyhow, good luck to you and I truly hope you can fight this battle. Update us please.

"The Easy Way to Stop Smoking: Join the Millions Who Have Become Non-Smokers Using Allen Carr's Easyway Method "(Hardcover) This is the book my husband read to stop! It gives you a completely different mind set to smoking. (I read it too to see what it said to try and understand what my husband was going through). He has been smoke free for almost 5 years! Good luck!
L.

Ohhhhhh CONGRATULATIONS - but yes - it is VERY hard. Here's what you need to focus on....The nicotine will stay in your system for about 21 days. So you're 6 days in - that's brilliant - 1/3 of the way there. This is the physical addiction part, when it will be hardest, so I'd suggest going to your doctor to discuss options to help you stay on course (and maybe a patch will help ease the withdrawal if it's really bad). But AFTER the 21 days - if you're going cold turkey - any "addiction" you feel is mental - totally in your head. And that's a hard one as well, because it comes down to habits and being able to break your association with ciggies.

I guess the point I'm trying to make is that YES it's hard, but it is totally worth it - you just need to make sure you're aware of the different stages/steps and that you have some support to help you get through it all. Your doctor (like I said) or a book (supposedly Alan Carr's is quite good?) will help. Don't make it worse by trying to do it all on your own! (And feel free to substitute something for your ciggies if needs be - gum, lollipops, etc). GOOD LUCK - we're all rooting for you!!!

I smoked for 12 years and quit 7 years ago. It is VERY hard and it does take time. Just keep it up! What helped me...as odd as this sounds was a little reverse psychology on myself. Whenever I would see someone smoking...instead of thinking "ooooh I want one too" I would think "eww, they smell bad, they probably have yellow teeth, they're going to be sick all the time," and so on. I'd try and attach whatever negative connotation I could to it.
After meals when I would want a cigarette...instead of thinking..."how good would a cig be right now" I would think "I'll go for a nice walk." I started walking more or replacing the cigarette time with something healthier or better. On lunch breaks I would eat and then read or take a walk. Something to distract from wanting a cigarette.
The biggest thing I did was avoid friends/family who smoked for a few weeks. It sucked but they all understood I needed to stay away until I felt I was strong enough to resist asking for a cigarette.
Trust me in about a month or so...you'll notice a HUGE difference. You won't be winded walking up a flight of stairs. You will be a whole lot less irritable. You will feel better. And seriously your skin will even look better. Just focus on the positive and if worse comes to worse you can try and use nicotine gum or patches or medication or something. But I tried all that and found that cold turkey worked the best. Good luck!!!!

Nicotine is a terrible drug. You are correct, it should be illegal because it is one of the worst things to withdraw from, just like drug addicts. The best thing to remember is that your lungs start healing within HOURS of quitting smoking, and the nicotine withdrawal is just a feeling. If you are 6 days into this, then you have already added years onto your life and are one step closer to protecting yourself from Lung Cancer. If you need added encouragement, go to a doctor and have them take a chest x-ray to show you how much more clear your lungs have become! Addiction is addiction, so try to find a support group to help you cope with the "personal" feelings. You are strong and can do this. Good luck and God Bless.

I quit before I was pregnant using the electronic cigarette with non nicotine cartriges andi also chose to use the nicotine patch. You didn't say if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. I recommend going to electroniccigarette.com and or smokingeverywhere.com and looking into ordering the product. You may have a vendor booth at the Mall near your house too.
You are able to really inhale vapors ie steam and do the motion of smoking without putting toxins into the air or lungs. You can use no nicotine or low nicotine.it is expensive but saved my life.
J.

OMG! I feel your pain! I quit on Sept 9, 2008. I just past my 1 and a half year mark as smoke free! I have issues walking by a smoker (not because I want one, but because is smells so gross to me now!). Don't worry, a few more days and then your cravings will no longer be physical. You just need to remind yourself why you quit and that it is better for you and your family. I smoked for almost 17 years, and tried numerous times - only to fail, but this time....no gum, patches, pills, I just did it! I was sick of having colds often, how I smelled, and living in Mass - giving a TON of money to someone else! At that time packs were about 5 dollars, now they are over 8! I am so glad I am saving that money and can spend it on better things! GOOD LUCK and be strong!

Day 6!!!! You can do it you are almost over the hump! I have not smoked in over 13 years. Quitting was the hardest thing that I ever did. I had to change all my habits, I had to stop drinking coffee, I drink tea now, I had to change my morning routine etc...it is a whole lifestyle change, I was no longer part of the gossip group at work, you know the group that stood outside in freezing weather smoking and gossiping. I remember feeling dizzy and in a brain fog for about a week after quitting, I put the amt. of money would spend each day on cig's in a jar and at the end of the year I saved enough to take my husband (fiance at the time) on a trip to Puerto Rico. The overwhelming craving will go away soon, but you will have occasional craving for a very long time, especially if you are doing something that you associate with smoking. Now I can't stand cigarrettes. When people who smoke are near me, I think that they stink and smell dirty, their breath is bad, yellow teeth, yellow stain on their fingers, It's gross. Go on websites and look at smokers lung if you start to feel like you need a smoke, chew gum, suck on hard candy, eat carrots, read about lung cancer and oral cancer, keep busy. It will get better and you will start to feel better soon, it is worth it. Hang in there, You have already done the hard part the first week! Keep it up. You should feel proud of your progress and keep posting if you need support!

I quit cold turkey one year ago on March 1st. I tried tons of times to quit with no such luck. I smoked for about 13 years. It was very difficult at first, but got much easier. You're doing awesome. Day 7 was the hardest. Drink a big glass of ice water when you have a craving and chew a lot of gum.

Please check out this site www.whyquit.com, it saved my quitting life. I spent 2 days literally reading this site so that I wouldn't smoke. YOU CAN DO THIS. If I can do it anyone can do it. Please email me if you need extra help. I have coached my very good friend through quitting and she's been quit for 6 months. Also, my husband has now been quit 6 weeks.

Things that helped me:

Gum
Water
I had a large calendar hanging on the wall and I put a sticker at the end of the day. It sounds silly but when you get a few stickers on there and see your accomplishment, it's very motivating.
reading the whyquit.com site
cleaning something inside when I had a craving.
Walking outside and back in again
talking to another person who also quit for moral support and encouragement

You WILL FORGET ABOUT THEM. TRUST ME! I felt the same way you do. Just focus on the day you're on, don't think about tomorrow or a week or month from now. Just think about TODAY!

And again, please email if you need moral support. I would love to help.

ADDED: Get a quit keeper too. It keeps track of your progress, I love mine. http://www.dedicateddesigns.com/qk/

I am on day 16 and there are good days and bad. From what I hear from ex-smoker friends, you'll always want a cigerette but it gets easier to say no. Stay strong. I am so happy I have taken the first step and quit after 20+ years. I don't feel all that great right now, but I know I will and that keeps me going. It is the hardest thing I've ever done too.

Yo will NEVER forget about them. I quit in Nov. of 08 and they are still on my mind. However, after 2 weeks the cravings and urges went away some...not all...but they were much more bareable. Have you changed some of your "routines." I've heard from other people that when they did that, it was a bit easier. Keep up the great work, it's an uphill battle that hopefully you will win... but I want to be honest with you and tell you that likely you'll think about them forever, they will not however consume your life like now and you are taking back control of you life and getting rid of the ciggs as they've had so much control over you for however many years you've smoked. Best of luck!!!

I was a two pack a dayer! I quit in 2000. It was very hard & yes, you will forget them someday. what helped me when i would really be tempted was this.....take some old cig butts & put in a zip bag. Keep in your car so you always have it & when you get in your car to go buy some cigs, cuz you can't take anymore, open that bag & take a big ol whiff. It will get you over the hump!!! Also get you a buddy that you can call when you are in the middle of a spell where it is all you can think of & just talk to them about anything. that helps too.best of luck....it is great whjat you are doing!

Congratulations! It is a huge struggle and you are almost through the hardest part. Keep up the great work. Now might be a good time to give yourself a reward that you wouldn't ordinarily indulge in.
Best,
J.

It is tough but you are over the hump. Even next week will be really hard but not as bad as this week. I think I thought about them daily for at least a month..maybe more...its been a several years for me so I don't remember exactly. Once you think you have it beat, an urge will surprise you here and there....I am talking like 6 months from now. But by then, it iwill be a brief, passing urge that is not that strong and easy to blow off. When you think of them, don't think of that relaxing feeling you will get, just immediately think of the negative..like how they make you smell badly to everyone that is a non-smoker, that they are horrible for your health, how you would never want your children to know you did something so dumb as to set a drug on fire and inhale it while knowing the health consequences not to mention how expensive they are now....I can't believe it. It may help you to get you over the urge. Good luck to you. It is tough but so worth it.

I am not a smoker but just wanted to say way-to -go!! Keep up the hard work.

Good Luck

Congrats on giving up the cigs!! I'm not a smoker but my husband was and gave it up; my understanding is that it's very difficult so cut yourself some slack. I think it's going to be a long time before you are over the cravings. Maybe try to accept that you want them but just can't have them because you're done with that. Take the good advice that others have given you about how to beat the cravings themselves (gum, water, etc.).

Your body, your family, and your bank account will thank you for giving them up! Keep up the good work.

i have tried 6 times with no luck they say when you want one brush your teeth eat a sucker or chew gum if you are on the patch which i was I would want a cig smoke 4 puffs and i woulld be good just use as a pacifier but dont smoke a whole pack on the patch it will make you sick. also see about the electronic cigarrettes they have nicotine in them but minimal it takes away the need to do something with your hands. its more of a phyciallagical sp thing. im not addicted to the cigarette as much as keeping my hands occupied.