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This is defiantly worth reading again, could not agree more, well said.

I will say by the end of the month hopefully you will be at least 25% better, probably closer to 50%. I'm an impatient person and I wanted the urges to be gone on day one, which unfortunately didn't happen, but the best thing to get rid of the urges is Time!! You know the old saying, "Time heals all wounds"....and it's so true. The more time passes the easier it will get. Get yourself one of those tickers like we all have and it will show you your progress, how much time has passed since you last smoked, how much money you saved and how many cigarettes you haven't smoked! I come on here every day just to look at the ticker...LOL!!! Also, stick around this forum because the people on here are so great! They all know exactly what you are going through because everyone that has quit smoking had a "first day, "first month", etc. We all had "firsts". Everyone helped me a ton the first month and have been helping me all along. I don't think I could have done it without these wonderful people!!! Just keep coming back on here every day.

Glad you are feeling better. Attaway to ride out the wave! R/E feeling embarrassed, I would offer a counterpoint: Expressing our struggles is a strong act of showing up for ourselves. Addiction thrives in darkness and isolation, so speaking up lets some air and sunshine in, and strengthens our quits. It also helps others. Anything you say offhand today might really help someone else who is struggling tomorrow. Personally, I benefit hugely from exchanges like this and reading everyone’s comments… they give me insight and bolster my quit. So please keep sharing!

Yay @MLMR, I'm so glad you got past this! Everyone gave you such good advice and as you can see we all know how much times like that sucked.... They'll soon start getting fewer and farther in between so hang in there

Thanks all for replying. Im almost embarrased now. I went to the beach, took a very long walk. It helped. I would love to answer in my own language now, cant find the words. It was tough. Made it though. Thanks again, so much.

As you know and others have also said, there's just some awful days we all go through during our early quits, whether that be first week or a little latter on. I recall a few of those days still myself. I was really unsure if I could drag myself through those days or not. I must say, I think being on a quit smoking forum helped me a lot. Just knowing others had experienced the same thing and had made it through gave me that little bit of extra encouragement I needed to make my own way through those horrid days so hang in there @MLMR. You will be made whole again soon!

I know exactly what you are going through! That first month is horrible, tons of terrible urges, emotions that are going crazy. My family hated me that first month because I was so nasty! I would suck on cinnamon sticks or plastic straws as they helped me, or you can also chew gum. Go for a walk and try to do things that will make you forget about the urges. I know it's not easy, but it really does get better. I'm at 3 1/2 months now and I barely get any urges and when I do they are very short (maybe they last a minute, if that long). So I promise you it does get better!! Hang in there!!!

Oh M, I’ve been there. Bigtime. There were phases of the quitting process where I felt massive waves of cravings… restlessness, grief, feelings of falling, feeling desperately incomplete. I promise that it gets better. Every craving conquered builds your quit muscles. This is the “tantrum” stage where the addiction wants its control back. But you will NOT die without smoking. And you will NOT feel this way forever. The cravings are commercials, not commands. They are just noisy blah blah trying to sell you s—t you don’t wanna buy. Change the channel. Again and again. Because your quit is precious and worth protecting with all your might. You are doing the right thing by writing here and acknowledging the experience. Re-read everything you can about addiction, and double down on staying busy. You can do this.

I’m so sorry mlmr, that totally sucks, I can almost feel it for you. I would do both, yell and cry….and curse and punch the air and water, etc. bring everything out the whole wheelhouse….the craves are the worst they’re ever gonna be….they sucked big time well around 28 days and then totallyyyyy got better. Keep pushing bc u got this gf…..do u have TikTok? That was a great distraction for me when I didn’t want to walk and nothing else worked at the moment. How are u feeling now? Sorry u posted 2 hrs ago

You have been given great advice. Early quits are tough.. Watch our funny animal threads. When you need to take your mind of things ..

thanks everybody for the support. everybody here was a big part in me getting this far in my quit. been offline for a while due to some technical difficulties. hope everyone is well and smoke free. i am still sans cigs

^^THIS!!^^

NOPE!

NOPE!

NOPE!

Nope...

NOPE

Nope!

G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min,Hour, Day as required).

@Stewbum-Howdy! I think I remember you from years ago at QSMB. I quit in 2016. Glad you found your way back to a forum. You know the drill! I’m really happy for you and your quit. Yep to NOPE! Lust4Life

I know it’s tough, but the only way to break free is to take smoking off the table, @Kdad. No negotiation, no bargaining, no increments. There are a million things you can do to manage your restlessness and cravings - keep distracting yourself. You know that quitting gets easier with time, you just need to stand tough to make it through those first few days. Give yourself that gift!

Nope!

NOPE!

G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min,Hour, Day as required).

Think I am going to have to agree with @QuittingGirl we want to see your ticker.

Chick sleeping on the job again! 12

NOPE

Whoa.. Whats going on ere !! Legs 11

Nope!! No Way. Not Today.

Yes I do remember you also. Extremely happy to be back .

Sounds like great news for you then @Glenninindy! Everything you said above makes sense in terms of what your medical team and insurers are doing. Now you can feel better knowing where things stand - good news!!

Glad that everything is looking good on your tests. You are very fortunate.

Glad all the tests are going good for you.. I smoked for over 52 years ,and thankful lhave been lucky not to have COPD . But there are nillions out there who have been effected .. Just want to add.. Smoking effects every part of your body ,not just the lungs .. Nearly parting with my two feet is testimony to that .

You have been given great advice kdad. I watched you struggle with the Nicotine monster Lets make this the final battle,and you come out a winner ..this is the one best thing you can do for yourself . Positive action !!

My pulmonologist's office is located right in a hospital so we went right to business, He said that I could not have a lung scan yet, until he see's what the chest xray results were, due to insurance restrictions. The provider will only pay for a $400.00-$800.00 CT lung scan if the chest xray showed something where I needed a scan. He also ordered a heart EKG test, and CT scan of my neck and a CT scan of my sinuses. Yes, my insurance paid for the CT scans of my sinuses and neck,today because they know that I have passed all the recent chest xrays with flying colors, but I never had those before. I also passed every single test I had today so, he gave me medicine to reduce phlegm in my sinuses and neck that blocked my breathing. That is that.

I know the struggle is harsh, but none of that bargaining needs to be going on. You get that first day done, reward yourself HANDSOMELY because you’ve earned it and then you move on to day two. You’ve got this.

Stand strong against starting up again. It may seem like the least desirable decision but in the end, it's the best decision you can make. You're rebuilding your life so do it as a non-smoker. You'll be glad you did in the end.

Hi. I hope it will helpt to write this off my chest. Im having such a bad day, same as yesterday. The cravings keep on coming, its way worse than the first week. Nothing seems to help for long -> cold water, distraction, breathing. Not sure If I want to yell or cry. I keep telling myself theres no danger, as long as I dont actually light up. What a nasty addiction, bahhh.

NOPE!

Beacon and Melanie might stop by tomorrow.

NOPE! Gone forever. Not 1 puff ever again. I am free! Thank God Almighty. Free at last!

NOPE

RIP Jimmy Buffett. You are in the background of so many memories.

Rest in peace, Jimmy Buffett.

Congratulations Yoda on the two year quit!

Attaway to keep Darth Nicotine at bay! Congrats on two years of freedom and thanks for all the support.

Congratulations Yoda, you are really just crushing this quit. Don't forget to reward yourself today.

Congratulations Yoda!!

Congratulations Yoda!!! 2 years is amazing!!

It just doesn't seem real that I am coming up on 10 years quit! To all who are considering quitting...you CAN do it...and it is so worth the discomfort (and yes, some times misery) you have to go through. I smoked for 40 years, and I know if I can quit, anyone can!! Happy 10th to us!!