14-08-2015 05:06 PM - edited 14-08-2015 05:07 PM
Have been a 20 pack a day smoker
For nearly 40 years and stopped cold turkey
On Monday
So have made it 4 days without a smoke
Feel like I am going crazy
And don't want to go near a shop for a while
Until I feel safe to avoid the impulse to buy
A packet
Not easy that's for sure
Solved! Go to Solution.
on 14-08-2015 05:41 PM
I'm never going back. (Have been diagnosed with emphysema.)
I smoked 25 or so a day for 40 years
I hope you have cleared out all the ashtrays and any reminders.
Also throw out the other smokers! No smoking in the house!
Don't care if it's raining or cold. And try not to over-eat. It's easy to
just shove something in your mouth, but don't - have water.
Deep breathing also reminds you how good it will finally be, to be smoke-free.
Soon food will start to taste better. Really.
Good luck
on 14-08-2015 11:09 PM
I still smoke in my dreams sometimes, then I wake up feeling really guilty 😄 It's part of it. As for the depression it is also temporary but beware, it could go on for some months. Not every day but some are bad. You are giving up part of your old life but you get over that too. Seven months and you are out of the woods. I know 7 months sounds awful but smoking is a serious addiction.
I would urge you to not stick a nicotine patch on. Nicotine is what you are trying to give up so why absorb it through your skin. My brother used Champix and smoked again within two months so basically you have to rely on your own will power and through encouragement from other ex smokers. Champix causes health problem for some people too so you have to be a bit careful with that.
14-08-2015 05:23 PM - edited 14-08-2015 05:24 PM
You're doing really well.
I gave up cold turket 8 1/2 years ago
Drink lots of water, distract yourself with things that are non-smoking related.
That is, things that are hard to do while smoking.
If you distract yourself for long enough, the craving will go away.
About 3 minutes is all it takes for distraction.
Try really hard not to dwell on it and pretty soon you'll find yourself
not thinking so much about it
Congratulations on being smoke free
on 14-08-2015 05:31 PM
Thanks 8 1/2 years you wouldn't want to go back
After all that time
I am determined not to smoke
Again
I am doing it for my 5 year old Grand
Daughter
And that's why I have come
Back on the boards to take
My mind off smoking
It is working to a degree
Unless I get too wound up
By the goings on here
And will probably make me
Want to smoke more than ever
Lol
on 14-08-2015 05:41 PM
I'm never going back. (Have been diagnosed with emphysema.)
I smoked 25 or so a day for 40 years
I hope you have cleared out all the ashtrays and any reminders.
Also throw out the other smokers! No smoking in the house!
Don't care if it's raining or cold. And try not to over-eat. It's easy to
just shove something in your mouth, but don't - have water.
Deep breathing also reminds you how good it will finally be, to be smoke-free.
Soon food will start to taste better. Really.
Good luck
on 14-08-2015 05:52 PM
on 14-08-2015 05:53 PM
Hi, opmania. It's been 17 years since I gave up.
You will have to change your routine. If you had a ciggie with a cup of coffee, change it to maybe a herbal tea and have it in a different location.. Have an emery board with you to keep your hands busy. Replace the ash tray with a vase of fresh flowers.
It's not going to be easy. Stay away from other people that smoke. Good luck. I felt light headed in the first few days.
Have you tried giving up previously, if so how long did you last?
on 14-08-2015 05:53 PM
Has stopping smoking improved
The emphysema
Have got rid of ash trays
And tipped butts out in green
Bin right on top of a pile of
Dog poop.
I thought however desperate
I get I won't be smoking butts
In doggy do
Thanks for the tips
on 14-08-2015 05:55 PM
Get yourself a nice big glass jar and every time you successfully resist the urge to light up put $1 (approx. cost of each cigarette) in it. Enjoy watching it fill up and use the money to do something special with your grand daughter.
on 14-08-2015 05:55 PM
Keep going Opmania. You can do it.
According to my MLC app it is 3 years, 140 days, 5 hours and 46 minutes since I last had a cigarette. I used to smoke quite a lot more than 20 a day, like at least double that.
If you have a smart phone this app is very encouraging. It's called MLC which stands for my last cigarette.
My advice is opposite to what some other people found helpful. For me it was to not try to change anything. Don't avoid coffee because you will then want a ciggie. Of course you will either way. Don't ban other smokers from smoking near you. Get used to it. Don't panic when the kilos pile on, and they will. Breathe deeply, it helps and get some exercise.
on 14-08-2015 06:01 PM
Wow 17 years do you still feel like a smoke
Sometimes
I gave up when I was pregnant both times
And started again as soon as I stopped feeding
Babies
And stopped for 4 months about 20 years ago
Started eating too much
Had to toss up if I wanted to die of lung cancer
Or obesity
So started again and never even tried to stop
Until now