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Aww Sweetheart , I’m sorry you having to deal with just at the start of your quit …I get it …of course you feel off course … Your partner should be someone who supports and has your best interest at heart …and makes you feel the best you can .. Your ex sounds none of these things .. You deserve to be happy and respected … There is someone out there who can do all these things for you … concentrate on yourself … your in control …quit for you Dust down …and start again ..

NOPE!!

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

NOPE

Nope.....

NOPE…

NOPE

NOPE!

NOPE!

Understand that you have been repeating the same process day in and day out for years now as a smoker. Whether it be 1 year or 50 years, it's repetitive and your brain not only remembers it but expects it now every day. This is why it takes a long time to become comfortable as a non-smoker. You have to repeat all your daily non-smoking activities over and over until your brain accepts the new routines you've developed as being normal.. That's the long mental game of quitting but the short game, which is the dreadful withdrawals, does not last that long at all really. It starts getting less and less difficult after a week or two but the progression is so dreadfully slow, you won't even realize it's happening ... but it is! You need to have blind faith and just don't smoke! It WILL get easier and easier the longer you don't light up a cigarette. Oh; and the name thing, just think Reci ... that's the short cut

@QuittingGirl When I decided to quit about a month ago I honestly didn't think it would be that hard. I decided to quit and I thought I could just get a few ideas and do it. Last year my friend found out I smoked regularly and told me I should quit. I said I would but didn't even go a day. But I didn't care that much. Now that I do care I know I have to work hard and I have to keep working hard. I know it's worth it though.

NOPE!

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

G’day Wrong end of the day for me….. so how’s breakfast? On the grill

NOPE…

Put lemon under cranky kangaroo THERE

Dork Weirdo

Hi Elena. There’s this old song titled, “I’m gonna wash that man right out of my hair”. You go do that. You go get in the shower and wash him and the stench of those cigarettes right out of your hair. You don’t need either one of them. Smoking kills and your ex is a killjoy. Time to let them both go. I hope that you hang around here and get your quit back on. The sooner you do it the easier it will be. Time to be free.

Big congratulations to you @catlover that is an amazing quit you have going there, well done!

I also realize I don't even remember anything different to that. I haven't been smoking for as long as most people but it's still probably in my mind to do it without thinking.

@Reciprocity Every time I try to say your username in my head it comes out all funny lol Thanks for that post. I always have a cigarette when I finish something. I didn't even realize that until I thought about it. I will read that post again and think more about it.

Yes, like @Reciprocity said there is a void when we quit. I felt like I was giving up my best friend. More like a devil though! I also felt a sense of doom in the beginning. But all those symptoms went away in time. 8 months in and I don’t have any of those symptoms anymore. Except maybe an urge once in a while that lasts for a few seconds and then it’s gone. Time is what helps, they say time heals all wounds, and it will heal all your cravings, symptoms and urges. Just have to give it time and be patient!

Here's a great post from years ago. Give this a read as may help you prepare for making the lifestyle adjustment from smoker to non-smoker. When we quit, there's suddenly a huge void in our daily life. It's no wonder we're left feeling lost & bewildered. Learning to fill that void with positive, useful things day to day is what we all have to do. It takes a while but as you do that, you will have so many more productive things in your life and it will feel completely normal to you after a while.

I found what I read. It was on this website https://www.allencarr.com/easyway-stop-smoking/live-group-seminars/ I think it was his book someone suggested too. I haven't got it yet but I still might. I know I shouldn't wait too long before I try again. And I am putting it off at the moment. I just find it very hard knowing I have to go to school. I think I need more than 2 or 3 days after how I felt last time. And the next long break I get is at the end of March. I did think about pretending I had covid or something so I could stay home but I don't want to lie. But then I also haven't tried NRTs yet so maybe that will make it easier just for the first few days. I've still been thinking a lot about things I can do to keep busy and triggers. The weather is getting better so that should make it easier too. I also had a chat to my best friend. She wants me to quit. I told her what it was like when I tried to quit last time and she suggested I stay at her place for a few days while I quit. That way I can't smoke but also we can do things together all the time so I'm not thinking about smoking so much. I don't know if I can yet. And I know she's gonna hate me after that lol. But I think it is a good idea. I'm going to stay on here for now and keep reading and keep thinking about everything. I am definitely going to get there however long it takes me.

@Elenait's never the right time to quit and it's always the right time to quit. do yourself a favor and don't put this off on your ex boyfriend. he is whatever he is and if he wants out let him go. there will always be tragedies to derail your quit. it's like being a boat on the sea. no matter how rough the sea gets the water in the sea doesn't sink the boat. it's the water you let in the boat that sinks it. own your addiction and make you the priority. you will surprise yourself.

Hi, Elena. I am so very sorry to hear that you are going through a painful separation. Been there. I'm glad you posted here, to let us know what's happening and to share that you smoked. For what it's worth, a few thoughts: - Many years ago I, too, spent a long time agonizing over a partner's hurtful behavior and mean spirit. Until one day a friend looked at me in exasperation and said, "Why on earth would you still want to be with someone who treated you so badly? Good riddance to bad rubbish if you ask me!" At the time I was totally indignant that my friend would say something so insensitive. But then it hit me over the head that I could be free of the agony if I truly detached from the person who was making me suffer. I literally saw stars. And my life started to get better. Immediately. - Smoking never brought back anyone we lost. It never righted a wrong. It never filled a hole that was empty. It never healed a broken heart. All it does is make us feel lousy for smoking on top of whatever other crap we're wrestling with. The addiction knows when we're vulnerable and uses that as a moment to pounce. We have to fight back. I'm not in your shoes and would never presume to speak for your experience. But it is possible that smoking, itself, is driving - or at least intensifying - your feelings of despair. Smoking powerfully undermines a person's sense of self worth. The idea that it will somehow soothe us is a false promise. The feeling never lasts and we just end up feeling lower than before. Addiction also thrives best in isolation. So stay connected to us, and to others. Please don't give in Elena. Find your ferocity and reclaim your quit! And please be kind to yourself along the way. We're here to help.

Very sorry you are going through a breakup, but it sounds like you are much better off without him!! You certainly don't need anyone who is gonna bring you down!! Quitting smoking is difficult enough, and you don't need him in your life, if he isn't going to encourage you! Take a deep breath!! Ok, now just pick yourself up, dust yourself off and start all over again! You can do it!! We are all here for you. The people on here are great, they helped me so much and they will help you but you need to come on here every day and read all the advice and vent or complain to us, that's what we are here for. We all remember what it was like in the beginning of our quit. I am quit only 8 months so hasn't been that long for me and the first couple of months were very difficult, but I got through it and so can you!!

I understand you're upset at the break-up but in days, weeks & months to come you'll likely reflect on this as a good thing. You don't want to be tied to a narcissistic jerk for life; that's for sure - YOU DESERVE BETTER!! Same applies to your future life with regard to smoking. You KNOW smoking is a danger to your health long term not to mention to your finances so why would you choose to continue to be a smoker? Makes as little sense as continuing on with a partner who mistreats you. Again; YOU DESERVE BETTER BECAUSE YOU'RE WORTH IT! You quit smoking for yourself; period, full stop! No one else really benefits from it like you do so please consider getting back on the train with us and continuing with your quit. Why not swallow all the bitter pills at once and start looking forward to a much, much better life in all respects> Please think about this seriously. Your life could depend on it.

Nope...

I figure I would wake this thread up. I normally do the cooking but tonight my son is making dinner. Meatball Parmesan and Capellini Yummy!!! I told him that he can make dinner for us as long as he cleans up to "my" specifications, as I am a strict taskmaster...LOL!!!

Loonie

Lol miss you guys! I would have never stopped smoking without this group

Young ugly clowns kicking Oprah Pluck

You idea of waiting until March break is not a bad one. That would give you at least a week or so to get through the worst of the symptoms like brain fog. Using NRT's is up to you. If you think they may help, no harm in trying them for the first while at least. You can always stop if they're not doing you any good. Just don't expect them to make quitting easy; it won't be no matter what you do. They may in fact take the edge off the withdrawals for you at least initially Yes you'll probably take out your anxiety and frustration on the ones you care most for. Realize that and perhaps give them a heads up or even apologize in advance? Do your venting here on the train. No one here's gonna think any less of you cuz we were all the same at some point - we can take it! Being short tempered and feeling like I wanted to explode at times was the quit symptom that lasted the longest for me. Remember, quitting is a marathon, not a sprint and you want to take it just one day at a time otherwise, it can get overwhelming for you. Wake up each day and commit to not smoking just for today! Then, rinse and repeat tomorrow. Small bites are easier to digest rather than large ones! And don't over complicate things. There's only one rule - don't smoke; not even one puff! We all believe you CAN do it!

Killer mutant gnats

Swarming millipedes invaded lower entrance. (True story, this actually happened to us. A whole bunch of millipedes crawled under our basement door one time. It was unnerving. And a little gross.) YUCKO

if it's real to you, it's real enough. i had physical symptoms for months, others were breezing through it after 6 weeks. you're young so you will probably groove a new habit pretty fast. Realize it will suck for a while. embrace that and do something other than smoke. you can do it.

Hi, Susie. Really glad that you are reflecting on your recent experience and continuing to learn from the board. That's awesome. My own experience is that smoking is an addiction that has physical AND emotional AND ritual/habitual aspects to it. For me, withdrawal was a physical crisis, no question. Headaches, the shakes, disorientation, insomnia, agitation, weird skin stuff, brain fog, the whole gruesome enchilada. It truly sucked, but thank heavens that phase was temporary. Just like detoxing from every other chemical addiction. (Tho nicotine is more potent than many others.) It passes. Then there are the emotional and ritual/habitual aspects to tackle. These take longer to resolve, but they are far less intense than the initial withdrawal. All of which is to say that quitting requires multiple strategies to deal with different facets of the experience. Successful quitters usually need a portfolio of tactics to mix and match and alternate... things to do with our hands, our mouths, our minds, our bodies, our emotions. Staying busy is key, as is the willingness to pivot to the next tactic on your list if the one you're trying isn't currently working. Think of it as a creative challenge! At the end of the day, though, Yoda is right that the only certain way to stop smoking... is to actually stop smoking. Procrastination keeps us addicted. If I had a penny for every time I said "Next week..." or "Next month..." or "After my exams..." or "Once my dad's out of the hospital..." I'd be a very wealthy woman, and have a lot fewer health issues.

Congratulation @catlover! So very happy for you - and thanks for all the support you have given to me and others!

True we all need something to rely on isn't there anyone you can get support from friends or family.? The people here are very supportive but it's harder if you don't know the ins and outs of a person's circumstances. I'm sure others will offer their support here soon. I always think if you are in a bad situation then why compound it by damaging your health and finances by smoking it's like cutting off your nose to spite your face. I hope you get back on then quit train now or in the near future once your situation is steadier.

Thanks. I think I read somewhere that quitting is 1% physical and 99% in your mind. I think that's the main thing I've learnt after reading everyone's comments. I didn't realize that before. Maybe that's after the first few days because it seemed physical for the 2 days I tried to stop.

thank you, i like your advice, and you are probably right. but it's so difficult if you are feeling you don't have firm ground to stand on

NOPE!

NOPE!

NOPE

The truth never changes, nor does it get old. It get’s easier, I promise.

Not a stormy day here but I made soup. My Mother used to make the best potato soup and since she passed we have not been able to find the recipe. This is around my 10th batch trying to recreate it, Mom never put corn in (usually on the side) but I am going to add some next time. It taste better than it looks, as attested by my kids, as soon a I text them I made potato soup they come over to get some, along with dinner rolls. 5lbs potato's 1lb bacon 1/2 onion 1.5 tbsp butter 12oz evaporated milk salt/pepper next corn......