Good morning July 2019 Winners!

Quitting smoking is not easy. Keep up the good fight against this addiction of ours.  If you have slipped or relapsed take the time to determine what you learned from it to avoid making the same mistake over and over again.  Make a sincere effort to figure out what you will do differently this time around.  Each time you plan, control and manage your way through situations smoke free where you would have smoked in the past, and choose not to smoke you are reprogramming old habits and responses.  Be kind and patient with yourself. Give yourself time and smoking will lose its power to attract, even in the most difficult and stressful circumstances.  Remember, cravings to smoke are not commands. They’re only thoughts. You don’t have to act on them.  Guard against romanticizing the past "Good" times smoking thereby reawakening  your inner addict. Honor the precious gift that life is by doing all you can to nurture your own.

Wishing you much success as you continue your journey to permanent freedom.

(((Hugs)))

Good for you!  I found ice chip cold flavored water to be my best friend, also diced apples, celery, raisin salad w a little lemon juice on it, cravings were abated by popping an icebreaker wintergreen mint. You’re doing the right thing. My cravings have abated and I’m only on day 101.

Verywell Mind

Why Smokers Can Feel Flu-Like Symptoms When They Stop Smoking

Learn about the symptoms and side effects of nicotine withdrawal, often called quitter's flu or smoker's flu.

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Have a great smoke-free day!

(((Hugs)))

I feel you! This is day 1 for me, and I am absolutely going crazy. I have been smoking for 46 yrs. I read Allen Carrs' book on quitting smoking. A lot of it made sense, but for him to say that you will only suffer mild pangs is ridiculous! I admit to hitting on a lose dose e-cig a few times this morning, because I was shaking uncontrollably. I'm not really afraid of using vaping as a substitute, because it gives me bad headaches and doesn't even taste good. I just needed a small amount of nicotine to stop the panic and shaking. I'm wondering if I should go and get the patch. Going cold turkey after 46 non stop years of smoking is super hard. Having generalized anxiety disorder makes it even harder to quit. Anyone having suggestions please post!

Hi Alreadysick… Day 1 - 7 were torture, I am not going to lie. It was probably the hardest thing I had to fight through.  I was shaking, dizzy, crying, irritable, full of panic... I felt everything.  Unfortunately, you will need to get through the withdrawal at some point. I thought it best to just grin and bear it. When you come out at the other side you are strong non smoker!   It sounds funny but the only true thing to stop the panic and shaking is NOT TO SMOKE or feed the nicotine monster in any way.... your body will eventually give up and realize that you are no longer a slave to the addiction.  

You can do this. If I can do it, anyone can.  Trust me, after a few months you will feel amazing. Sure, I still have thoughts of smoking but they are not craves. Just thoughts of "old me would have smoked a cigarette now" etc...  it so easy to just redirect my mind and move on from the thoughts.   Hang on and push through. You got this.   

I quit cold turkey April 1. I went through pangs of anger, craving, crying jags, looking for mints, ice chip flavored water etc.  I’ve just hit 101 days and it has all abated..feel normal and so happy I am where I am.  This is not to say cigarette doesn’t pop into my head but an icebreaker wintergreen mint later and I’m on my way.  It feels wonderful.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel 

Welcome to the forum, Alreadysick! Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking.  You've come to the right place. I smoked for 40 years and tried quitting many times. Then I found this forum and will be celebrating six years next month. 

If using a vape gives you a severe headache, it would probably be best not to use it at all.  While it would be ideal for you to continue your quit cold turkey, here are some options you may want to consider.

Verywell Mind

Quit Aids Can Help You Stop Smoking More Comfortably

A variety of quit smoking aids are available that help smokers quit in a gradual way. The most commonly used are reviewed along with some others.

Read more from Verywell Mind

You may also want to check with your doctor if you're on any medications. Smoking cessation may have an effect on them.

Verywell Mind

Quitting Smoking Can Seriously Affect the Medicines You Take

Smoking interacts with prescription medications. Those medications can be greatly affected when smoking stops abruptly.

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You can do this, Alreadyscik! I'm glad you're here. 

Hugs,

Andrea

I used the patches and extended the step down after talking to my doctor. If you need NRT, then use it. There is no shame in needing a gradual step down and I had really no symptoms of nicotine withdrawal using it correctly. You will still have the mental battle but for me it was easier without having the physical aspect. I have a high stress job in the medical field so it was a necessity for me to use NRT or I wouldn't have been able to succeed. 

Hi alreadysick! Today is day 3 for me and I'm quitting cold turkey, so I cannot tell u anything about the patch, I've never tried it. I've tried to quit and failed many many times, so it´s not an easy process for me either, but there's no way out without going through it I guess. I've read Allen Carr´s book as well, and as u say a lot of it makes sense. It helped me understand a few things better, but for me quitting is still far from easy. Even with the appropriate knowledge about the addiction, is not as easy as the books says, because it is not a logical process. The physical withdrawal is not a big deal, it only lasts a few days, but the difficult part is rewiring our brain, reprogramming it. The process itself causes anxiety, so if u suffer from generalised anxiety disorder, maybe it would be a good idea to talk to ur doctor. As I said, I m no expert, but from what I understand, we have to hang on (yeah, easier said than done); time is our best ally in this process. 

Hi July group! How many are we? How´re u all hanging on? 

Day 4 for me