KEL

I would just trust your body. It will right itself eventually but in the early quit, it does all sorts of odd things. I take Valerian for sleep which helps a great deal. Kava kava is another natural calmative. And, of course, copious amounts of chamomile tea.

@JudiMDI am so glad the surgery went well and so happy you are here with us. @SunshineNicely done! By my count, you have five days in. Just keep doing it; it gets easier...

@GusI did! Hope you are doing well honey. Eleven months is stupendous!

NOPE

@SunshineYou might want to do a ticker? Its pretty fun watching the days go by. Any time I feel the least bit wobbly, I pop on and check the reality of the gift I am giving to me by not smoking. It helps galvanize my determination....

Yes-there are better days ahead. And it gets way easier. So stay the course and keep reminding yourself that this is a gift you are giving to you.

Digging out this old thread because the thought that kept running through my mind today was "Quit Wins." With all of the newcomers to the site, I wanted to share one of (my) gifts of recovery from nicotine addiction. The early days are super tough and its easy to focus on what we are missing versus what we will gain by staying the course. I hadn't skied since last April when I caught an edge (on the flats) and broke my ribs. I was down to about 4-5 cigarettes per day and was feeling positive about another quit. Well, the injury was bad and it served as an excuse to keep smoking which, in my mind, distracted me from the pain. I didn't realize it but have had a deep fear of skiing again so even though I bought a pass months ago, today was the first day I went. It took quite a bit of self-talk to get me dressed and on the road. I had thoughts of smoking because that is how I used to cope with fear. I had one of the most extraordinary days ever. Fresh powder and sunny skies. The tiredness, the out-of-breath feeling I had last year at the end of a run was simply gone. I told myself it was aging but the truth was smoking was affecting me negatively. It made me want to give up something that has consistently brought me joy over almost five decades. We "give up" nothing by quitting. Rather we "give up" not being able to breathe, not being able to participate fully in life's activities whatever they may be.

NOPE!!

Congrats Gus! Sending love and blessings your way today...

@OsloAnd that is just it: FREEDOM. As much as we struggle with cessation, we have to acknowledge that not smoking is much easier than smoking. I am finding that my mind has been freed up for other things and my body certainly feels better. You have this to look forward to and very quickly. Know that there will be rough days but life isn't easy for anyone. Smoking doesn't make the rough days any easier and, in fact, creates more difficulty. Welcome aboard-stay close and reach out if you need help or (my favorite) want to share some success!

NOPE

Yeah it is like being possessed sometimes. But it passes whether you smoke or not. And by smoking you just ensure that "demon" will continue to rear its ugly head. For me, I had to learn to ride the waves of craving and to prepare a toolbox of responses when I fell into those blank spaces. I hit a really bad one about 18 days in this time and got up to go to the store. But something stopped me and I was able to give myself just a bit of time to breathe. The craving passed and I haven't yet been seriously tempted to pick up again. Not saying there haven't been cravings, more emotional than anything else. But it does get easier. Hang in-we are pulling for you.

It does get easier. You are in the beastly thick of it. Bu you are doing it and its not supposed to look pretty. You did not smoke today. And you have not smoked for THREE DAYS! That is truly amazing and worth celebrating. Now you will not be able to see it just yet but give yourself some time and the gratitude will set in. Pretty soon here you won't even think about smoking or at least not as much. Stay close. We are all with you.

I think we just have to expect the first couple of months are going to be rough. But the more we practice patience for ourselves, do the next right thing in terms of self care, we will find that it gets easier and easier. Hang in!

The thing I know from recovery is that the more we share our experience, the more we help others. So @Sunshine, you being here and getting real with the journey helps me and everyone else on the QT. It also helps those who haven't joined but are reading. When it gets tough, just post. Everyone is cheering for you!

@KdadIn my experience, the more times I "tried" to quit, the harder it was. Just hang in there because its never going to get any easier to quit. But it will get easier...

Really appreciate you both sharing your experience!

So great to see the new quitters here, @Sunshineand @Sunnyside. Great names BTW. Bodes well methinks! Hope everyone has a day of peace and ease on the QT. No panic stops or starts; no treacherous curves! K

NOPE

Hi and thanks for reaching out. Very common. Instead of fighting the feelings, thinking you should be somewhere else other than where you are, why not accept this is just part of the gig? Allen Carr reminds us that withdrawal (and all of the emptiness that comes up after release of our "best friend") is a sign of the disease leaving us. It is cause for celebration. Go easy on yourself; know that feelings are not facts. Know that you will feel very out of it for perhaps a long time. And this is a good thins since (our) normal was using a deadly substance every day all day to exist.

@KdadHey there. I hear the desperation after having read everything on the QT. I don't believe there is only one way to quit. I believe that we try everything and anything until something sticks. I am sober 21 years from alcohol. I quit smoking, joined the QT, and then about 35 days in started to go to online Nicotine Anonymous meetings. I am linking the site below. I am in a meeting 1-2X per day. I can listen, share, and still do other things. It helps me keep focused on the number one priority in my life which is not smoking. I am still here posting and reading. I am still refreshing my Allan Carr learnings with daily book readings and flash cards. In other words, I am using all tools at my disposal to stay quit and, more importantly, be peaceful. It does get easier: we just have to get past that initial loop of denial and relapse. Perhaps this will help you: you would be welcomed with open arms. http://www.voicesofnicotinerecovery.com

Congratulations! Inspiring for me.

Happy Valentines Day everyone on the QT!

NOPE

NOPE