I will be going to bed, but before I do, I just wanted you to know that you are not alone. You are stronger than you think and smarter than you know, and are loved and cared for. It may be really tough to feel what you are going through, I know what a nicotine craving feels like. What I suggest you do, is take that angst and put that energy into being still, sitting still and then just letting that feeling wash over you and pass. Easier said than done, but you will see that you really are stronger than you think. One thing I do that helps me a lot is to write out all of the emotions I am feeling. I hope that this helps you in some small way. I also pray and let that give me the feeling that I am not alone and that it is all being looked after by God. Will check in on you tomorrow.

Good work,  you are making solid progress and you should be proud of yourself as all of us here are proud of you. 

It takes time to adjust yourself to you new lifestyle so don't rush yourself and expect to much from yourself all at once.  Get to know and accept the new you in your own time.   Bit by bit, your new lifestyle takes shape and colour.

We are here with you all the way.  Cheers!      

Hello all. I just wanted to post tonight. I am feeling really good and steady about using 6 lozenges a day, again, down from 12 a day. I do not really suck on them either. It is a mental battle for me. I have certain times of the day where I feel I need them. I wanted to once again tell you all how grateful I am to everyone for their support and encouragement! I still have anxiety now and then, but it is nothing compared to what I dealt with over the summer!

Christmas is around the corner. I work in retail. I thought the busyness would drive me to want the lozenges and go back up to 12, but I am staying steady and actually taking all the bustle in stride. I don't know if I will ever be off of the lozenges, but to use 6 a day and only suck on each one for a minute, I now tell myself is what I can do, and I am no longer going to beat myself up for it! I feel really good about myself and about the way I am going about my life! Thank you all!!

Today is a new day, and I am going back down to 4-6 lozenges a day. I let my guard down yesterday and had 7. But at least I didn't beat myself up over it.

Jenny.... Are you back home from Toronto? Did you enjoy your stay? How are you doing?

Hello Mailbugirl69. How are you doing?

Like I said, it is a new day and as much as we would all like to be quit, if you slip up, we must not completely give up, but instead pick ourselves up and tell ourselves.... It is not too late... You can begin again!!

Hello all. I realized that what makes me want to overdo my lozenge intake, is when I am paying too much attention to my appearance and how neat and tidy I can manage to keep my home. Yesterday I checked my profile in the mirror 7 or 8 times, feeling distraught about now having a double chin lol. It was horrible. I couldn't stop. Then I became overly conscious of my eating, and I found myself saying, I would rather take more lozenges to control my weight and get rid of this awful double chin lol. At least I can be honest in admitting that I am that vain.

My room was all a mess, so to tidy it before work, I had a lozenge earlier than I had planned to. The end result of my day was 7 lozenges instead of 6- so not too too bad. But still. I need to once again focus not so much on my outward appearance, but more on connecting with others and helping others. I find that when I relax about my outward appearance, I am not as prone to even craving the lozenges.

I want to get ahead at work as well. I was pressuring myself to do more, sell more, succeed more... And in the process, my stress levels increased and again, I felt that I needed those darn lozenges. Can anyone relate? Does this mean that if I am ever lozenge free, my appearance will dwindle and my house be upside down? Did any of you lose a sense of semblance in life going through your quits?

This morning I feel a lot more in control of my lozenge intake. Hopping on the forum definitely helped me! This is it for now. I need to prepare for work. One lozenge taken at 9:30 am. Not until 12 or 1pm will I allow myself another one! Feeling good nonetheless, due to this realization and how to avoid future slips. Have a good day all!!

Lore,

Thank you for your message! I read it the day of, but with vacation being so busy, I never got back to reply. I made it through vacation, then flew home Friday night. I ended up catching some exotic Canadian illness (joking) and have felt pretty horrible since my first night home. That certainly helps with not smoking, lol. I can’t imagine what I’d feel like if I were smoking right now. My lungs are already wheezy and my chest hurts. Ugh. Negative for covid, so most likely some flu. I hate being sick. ??

Anyway, I just wanted to pop on and let you guys know I’m still hanging in here. I hope all of you are doing well.

Jenny

Jerthie,

We had the most beautiful day at Niagara Falls! The rainbow was there, begging to have it’s picture taken 50 times. It was amazing. 
I’m still hanging in there. Came home sick, so smoking doesn’t sound at all fun right now. Today was better than yesterday, so hopefully tomorrow will be even more better.

Jenny

Hello. I quit smoking 4 years ago with the help of this forum, however, I am addicted to nicotine lozenges and am wanting to stop using them. Hope it's okay I come here for support in stopping the lozenges. Only been an hour without so far, not looking forward to the withdrawal at all, been through it with stopping cigarettes as well as stopping alcohol and it's not fun.

Hey... I know what you are going through, as I too, quit smoking 9 years ago with the help of the lozenges, needless to say, I am addicted to the lozenges now too. It's horrible, but at least we are not smoking. How many do or did you use a day? I was using up to 12-13 a day, and have cut it down now to 5-6. It is not a clean quit, but I feel tonnes better, having cut back quite a bit. What helps me stay on a lower dosage is water and gum and hopping on this forum to vent. I only suck on them for a minute or two now as well, so that is way better than leaving them in your mouth for half an hour. Keep the faith. Stay committed, whether you are doing a full on quit, or plan to just cut back the way I have. I would like to be quit, I think, I admit I just enjoy having one after a meal and several more in between just to break up my day. Anyways, hope my message is able to help you out in some small way. Good luck to you!

Jenny... That sounds amazing! I'm glad you were able to take it all in. Yes, the rainbow is a beautiful thing to look at! It sucks that you got sick though, but if that prevented you from smoking, then that is actually a blessing in disguise. Hang in there champ. You know deep down inside that you've got this. You've done it before. You have succeeded in the past, and I have every confidence in you that you will succeed again! God bless you!