Jerthie,

I have some things I can do when the pain gets bad, so that helps sometimes. I think a positive attitude and humor helps whenever possible. It’s just not always easy and sometimes doesn’t feel possible. I’ve had to apologize so many times to my family for getting snappy when pain levels are high. That’s not fun for anyone.

I’m thankful I don’t have wanting a cigarette every hour to add to my anxiety and irritability anymore. 

Jenny

Jenny, yes... Carry that not needing a cigarette every hour ad a serious saving grace. That is so huge! Love that you are so positive. Night

I got some upsetting news tonight and I thought about smoking .  One of those tsunami craves hit.   I didn't smoke and I don't want to be a smoker. Trying to get my anxiety down tonight.   Smoking won't change the situation.  

                                              Lisa 

Lisa... Good for you. And you are absolutely right. Smoking will NOT change your circumstances... It only exasperates your mood and your feelings towards yourself, as soon as you butt out. Smoking makes you more anxious and brings about feelings of despondence! I hope your situation resolves itself in good time.... And KUDOS to you for surpassing the tsunami!

Hello everyone, I have to say that I am not doing well with the lozenges. No, I have not smoked, but I am up from 5 a day to 10 a day. I am not sure what has triggered the increase, but I am more anxious because of it. I feel hopeless at times. I have almost zero stress in my life. Outside of my full time job, my boyfriend and my parents, who are in their 70s but still mobile and strong! I think it has to do with that image again... The image of the perfect woman who has it all... A great job, a great body, who can sail through the days with a strong and disciplined work ethic. A woman who is sweet and hard working, and all of that. I know that staying close to the forum and checking in everyday has helped me a lot in the past to stick to a personal commitment of 4-6 a day. I work with smokers. They all smoke on their lunches and breaks, and at times I have thought of bumming a smoke to get me through my shift. I had that feeling hit yesterday when one of them left the store to smoke. When she came back inside I almost asked her if I could bum a smoke. Good news is I didn't but I wanted to. I know that my pharmacist and my doctor told me not to worry about it, so for a while I didn't. But now that awful feeling of being hopelessly hooked and dépendent on an outside substance has returned! It is 1:30pm in Toronto. I have already had 4 lozenges. I told myself just 2 minutes ago that it was okay to keep going and that it is not a cigarette and just an innocent vice, but I can't stand the feeling of enslavement. I hopped on to the forum, and after reading Lisa's most recent post, hope leaped into my spirit! I don't want to keep disappointing everyone with my failed attempts, if I can just manage to go back to 6 today, which means only 2 more, I will feel successful. It is going to take effort, and I often wonder, will I ever be truly over the use of nicotine. Good day all.

My smoking dreams were so real that I had to question myself when I woke up to confirm that it was just a dream.  I didn't smoke.  Bummer is that in my dream, I really enjoyed the smoke.  Yuk, euw, plah.  

What a joke that is.  Smoking is not enjoyable at all. 

I must have been watching to many old movies.  Yuk, euw, plah. 

Jerthie,

I haven’t been here much and just saw your message. You actually wrote on my birthday, lol. 
I hope you’re doing better than you were when you wrote. I can’t imagine working with people who smoke regularly. I think I’m fortunate to be in California where there’s so many restrictions on where people can smoke. I used to be annoyed by that!

It sounds like the temptation of smoking has really crept up on you. It might be best to not worry as much about 10 lozenges if that is what helps you to not smoke. Get to a place where you can drop those another time. You just have to be ready to. For now, focus on not smoking!

Jenny

Lisa,

I’m not doing very good with private messages since I don’t get a notification about them. I wonder if there’s a setting to change that.

I’m leaving for Europe on the 5th and so looking forward to it! I think I’m going to do really well with everything I’ve been doing to be in good shape for it, so I’m pretty excited. 
I hope you find a balance (pun slightly intended) with your PT between the vestibular and the exercises. I know some of the stuff for my hip really set off stuff for my sciatica and back. It’s like some kind of sick game of Jenga. Move the wrong thing and it all falls down.

I hope things are well with you. I’m so happy to be in the summer!

Jenny

Thanks Jenny! I agree with everything you said. The priority for me is to not smoke. Last weekend I smoked one on Saturday and one on Sunday. This week I have not smoked. My lozenge intake has went from 12 a day to 6 day back to 12 a day back to once again, 6 a day. Anne gave me some great words and thoughts for me to carry around as I decide what I want to do about this addiction. She said I get to define... Me. I can choose what I want instead of thinking about what I need. Made me realize that I do have to want it and that I can define it. I have power. I have control. I can regain my courage and my spirit! What great words. Now I will carry on while meditating on those thoughts. It is not just prayer that will help out, but my own will to be déterminéd and have courage. Will keep you all posted. No solid promises yet, but doing better than last week, oh and HAPPY belated BIRTHDAY Jenny!!! Hope you had a wonderful day doll face.

Really struggling the last few days. Had some rough stuff come up at home and I’m waking up crying, going to bed crying and hiding in my room crying throughout the day. It’s left me with some thoughts of hiding in cigarettes. Would it let me drown some pain? Give me something to do other than cry? Each day that’s going by I feel the pull more, so figured I’d just come here and put it out there.
I know the answer is that the sadness will pass without smoking and I won’t be left with the horror of being addicted all over again. There really isn’t anything smoking would do for me that I couldn’t do some other way. 

Jenny