Quit Smoking >:(

[spike]

Help! I have not smoked for 8 days. I was doing pretty good before but now I am very cranky irritable etc. It sems like I should smoke just to get over myself. F*%K it was so much easier in the first few days. I have a headache etc. I am pretty determined to do this.Tino needs to quit he said b/c he is statring T this weekend and I want to support him. I had quit for 2 1/2 years once but I dont remember being so cranky! Tino was very cranky in the first week so it is like we are taking turns, now he is all strong & the voice of reason. I am not sure if I just need to vent or what but any helpful tips suggestions etc are appreciated. 

[Melissa]

How about taking ibuprofin for your headache?  Honestly though, I've never had to quit smoking because I've never even smoked a cigarette in my life, so I don't have any good advice to offer.  When I heard about the effects of smoking with HRT, I was glad I had never started.  I think it takes a stronger person to quit smoking than to never have started in the first place.

I just thought of something.  Make it as hard as possible to start up again by destroying the easy means of getting cigarettes. Dispose of any cigarettes you have, afterall, you're not planning on starting again.  If you need to dispose of them, cut them into little pieces so you can't just dig them out of the trash.  Start another good habit to take it's place, like chewing gum.  That's about all I can think of.

Melissa

[Kimberly]

Best suggestion to break any addiction: Decide if you like, or not what it does to you. If you do not like, then simply remember why/what you do not like whenever the moron addition rears it's ugly head.


Alright, ignoring that:

Give yourself something else to do. Ye olde popular chewing gum perhaps?

Drink lots perhaps?

Get seriously pissed that some external force is playing you for a puppet?

[spike]

Thanks Melissa:
I chewed gum last time it quit like a mad woman! I was also really into anything that smelled good/pretty, oils etc. I feel better right now. I guess your support and the vent helped. Tino found a lighter at home & I secretly put it in my bag (purse) so that is probably why I am such a wreck! I wll go & throw it out in th epublic trash so I would have to dumpster dive to retrieve it. - okay done & done. Good suggestion, I thought I had already done that. As soon as I saw the lighter I premeditated a smoke. We are holding on to one more in the basket by the door. Tino -throw it out in the outside bin PLEASE!!!! Wow. gum would be really good right now. & food I was all in a huff so I didnt eat lunch. ~Amy feeling a little more like myself & glad I am not stuck on smoking again. Made it through yet another craving! Thanks again Melissa

Oh Kimberly Thank you yes I am PISSED that I am played like a puppet! & it will do me well to write out the good ol pros & cons list.
Hmmm Drink lots...Alcohol? lol I wont and I'll bet you meant water. Last time I ate enourmous amounts of cashews & gained a fair bit a weight around the middle. I will avoid nuts this time! Thanks for the tips & encouragement ~Amy

[Kimberly]

Drink to me, in my frame of reference, almost never involves alcohol. Sorry, I forget that   I was thinking water, coffee perhaps, tea, how about cool-aid? One can spend quite a lot of time on drinks alone...

[wolfie]

Damn it Amy! It all makes sense now, lol, j/k. I'm sorry you're having a rough time honey... AND THAT'S WHERE THAT LIGHTER WENT! I was going to throw it in the bushes behind our house but you got to it first. If you want candles lit, forget about it, b/c I'm getting rid of ALL matches, lighters, anything! I'm getting rid of the wrappers left in the truck to.

I'm glad that you put up with what you called my "super cranky disposition" and I think it's kind of cool that we've switched it up so that we haven't completely lost it on eachother. And when I wanted to give up and smoke, you were there to support me and keep me from running out to buy smokes. It's great that we have eachother for this. You've quit before, you can quit again.

Remember, I'd rather have you cranky with me the rest of your life than to die of lung cancer or some other smoking related death.

Leaving to pick you up now,

-tino-

[Mario]

That is what killed my mom. She started smoking at 18, had emphizemia at 50 something, along with high blood preasure,COPD, and I forget what else. She lived the last 14 months of her life here in California with me and my kids. She began to die in the house. Had to fly her body back to Illinois where she had spent her entire life. Of course that is where I grew up. Anyway, I know none of my kids will ever smoke because they saw what it can do to a body. Don't give in Spike. Tino needs you around. And your daughter. My mom was 69 when she died.
                                 Marco

[spike]

Thanks Marco:
I used a lot of graphic photos when I qut last time b/c I wanted to see what I was really getting not the relaxation etc I told myself smoking provided. I had forgotten about that.
I never know what to say when someone loses a loved one. I wish you coomfort in your pain of her absence.
~Amy

[stephanie_craxford]

I quite cold turkey in 1992, on my birthday.  I went through much of what you are experiencing right now.  If I remember rightly I identified those times I craved a smoke, and went for a brisk walk or ate sunflower seeds that were in the shell, until the urge passed.  For me those times First thing in the morning, after I ate, or while watching TV.  I liked the sunflower seeds in the shell as it took some effort to eat them, you simply couldn't just toss them into your mouth and swallow, you had to fiddle with them.

Just remember that you are dealing with an addiction, one that is very, very hard to break.  Even now from time to time, not often, someone will light a cigarette and it still smells good

Good luck Spike, hang tough.

Steph

[Dennis]

Good luck Spike and Tino. I've still got that monkey on my back. Someday...

Stay away from alcohol. That's what always gets me started again. Doesn't matter in how small a quantity, just avoid it completely.

Go for lots of walks, and try and break routines that you link with smoking (ie: change morning coffee to a different place, or to tea, or skip it altogether).

Dennis

[wolfie]

thank you everyone for your support! i'm terrified of loosing her to some smoking related cause. my grandfather died of emphazema at 67 (not far from your mom marco ). it's a really horrible way to go and i really need her to stay off of them for me. it's been almost 9 days... and i think she's out buying them right now. i'm really disappointed.

-tino-

[Elizabeth]

Hey Spike,

I quit in 1992. I was smoking three packs a day after 16 years of smoking. I quit cold turkey.  I chewed two 17 packs of sugarfree gum every day for over a year.  It helps the ritual part of the addiction. It turns out that it takes about as long to unwrap two peices of gum and start chewing them as it does to get out a cigarette and light it.

One more thing that really helped me was finding out that most cravings only last one to one and a half minutes.  If you can make it that long the craving will subside.

I quit 14 years ago now and I still have cravings and I still dream about smoking.  It is a powerful addiction.

Love always,
Elizabeth

[HelenW]

Keep it up, Amy!

I quit in '94.  Cold turkey (which is a really hard way to quit but the remembered suffering has kept me from starting again!)

Coffee (anything with caffeine) and alcohol made me want to smoke.  After meals was the worst.  I ate sugarless mints until I got heartburn.  This is what I did: Take a walk when you're feeling especially uptight.  Tell someone how you're feeling.  I didn't try it then but the calming effects of chamomile tea might help.  At one point I tried (literally) banging my head against the wall - Not Recommended!

But, it's important to know two things - the suffering will pass and having "just one to ease the pain" will suck you right back into the addiction so don't do it!

I'm rootin' for ya!
helen

[spike]

Thanks to every one for the support. I did go off in a huff but I did not buy smokes. I met my daughter & drove a bit. thanks again ~Amy

[Melissa]

I did go off in a huff but I did not buy smokes.

As long as you didn't go off in a puff.

Melissa

[spike]

First off melissa I love your wit!
Everyone has had import insight to share-thank you.
I was full of anger & rage last night it was horrible for Tino & my daughter but they still wont let me smoke!
Actually after work Tino brought me a couple cigars but it wasnt what I really wanted.
I dont remember it being this hard last time. I was a bit grumpy but not like this (that I recall). The first several days were great! what is going on?
I am okay with after most meals b/c we stoped smoking in the house awhile ago, even most (most) times after sex is ok. I never drink booze & coffee is at a min. I really want to smoke at my phone job just to get away form the desk. Sometimes the calls are intenses crissis types so I gues I am 'stuffing' feelings. I also realy really want to smoke when driving just habit I guess. I drive 20 minutes to work & would smoke 3 cigerettes!!!! GROSS huh thanks for 'listening' th eventing helps. I have one more cigerelo & I am done after that I think that adventure lead to my agonizing of smokes & exploding like an ass. (Sorry honey I do love you I am just a jerk).      

[Jessica]

Smoking is one of the few things I enjoy doing.  I know it will kill me, but I'll never give it up. It's my little affirmation of life.

Jessica

[Melissa]

I really want to smoke at my phone job just to get away form the desk.

I just drink lots of water.  It requires frequent refills and bathroom stops and gets me away from my desk.

I drive 20 minutes to work & would smoke 3 cigerettes!!!!

I sing along with music.  It occupies your mouth and mind.

There seems to be lots of healthier alternative activities you can do to replace that feeling of needing to smoke because of where you are.

Melissa

[spike]

It is just such a yo yo. 
Ifeel very grounded & focused on health & great alternatives then my very sensitive feelings get hurt, I feel insecure or whatever & I am off to buy smokes again. Alas Melissa I read your post so I wont go off in a teary huff to buy them now. I love to sing & drive to and yes the water cooler thing is a fantastic focus. THANK YOU ~Amy

[spike]

Well I totally caved. I was such a b%^*& and very hostile towards Tino & my daughter. Completely irrational. I was doing so well for the first 7 days. I was very happy I stopped smoking. I am going to see my doctor and consider nicotine aide. In the meantime I bought a pack of smokes today. (Next time I quit I wont smoke cigars 8 days into not smoke free lifestyle) I am very proud to say Tino has not smoked cigarettes. His strength will be my biggest inspiration. My daughter will be instrumental and all the help from you. I am goin to write out th epros & cons list and a list of healthier alternatives. Our goal is to bike & jog/run together too. ~ Tino is disappointed and my daughter will be. I will quit again I really like being anon-smoker before.
~Amy