LeapOfFaith

Right before bed or sometime in the evening?

You are absolutely right that thinking about it makes it harder. I think I need to get into the “try and if I cave, try again”. ALL of you are so supportive and empowering!

Hahahaha! Stinkin thinkin. I love that! What I think I need to do is use a lozenge or piece of gum before I get out of bed and then get on with the shower and morning routine. I guess the thing I need is a solid plan instead of fear and loosey goosey hope! Honestly the more I have contemplated and dreaded this the more I am craving and thinking about cigarettes! I should probably leave you all’s alone until I can get on with this!

Ha!!! You’re probably spot on with that! The craving first thing in the morning is so hard to talk myself out of and once I smoke that one it’s like the rest of the day is a wash…I convince myself “why bother now?” Any tips to overcome that intense “first thing in the morning” beast? Ha!!! You’re probably spot on with that! The craving first thing in the morning is so hard to talk myself out of and once I smoke that one it’s like the rest of the day is a wash…I convince myself “why bother now?” Any tips to overcome that intense “first thing in the morning” beast?

I have read the the info on vaping here and have done some of my own research. I think I’m just grasping at straws trying to take the plunge. I am considering the patch but am nervous about side effects. The gum seems to be only moderately helpful for me but perhaps I haven’t given it a real chance.

Thanks for this. I am having such a hard time taking the first step. I know this is addict thinking but I keep wanting to find the thing that makes this easy!

I really think you have it in you. Half a cigarette is certainly better than several or a pack! Maybe you needed this to confirm/remind you why you want to be free…? I can’t remember if you are using NRT.

That damn guilt!!! How have you been today? I was able to go the 4 hours from waking up before smoking and have had 2 since. I know weaning isn’t promoted as a quit strategy but I am looking at it more as an opportunity to train myself to conquer cravings.

It was just a blip. Did you enjoy it? I’m thinking it probably wasn’t great. Clearly am no expert quitter but I sort think you just accept that you did it and keep moving forward. You know you can go without and that is/can be empowering! Do not beat yourself up! From everything I’ve read in your posts you are clearly stronger than you ever thought you were!

@robin0212how are you doing? Is this your day 4??

Wow I never thought of it like that but you are so right!! I think that’s why I smoke in “spurts”. I sometimes cram 2, 3, 4 into a short period of time but then can go 4 hours ”fairly” easily without one when the situation won’t allow it (of course as soon as I know smoking will be an option soon I start to crave). Anyway, today I’ve so far put it off for a bit over 3 hours. The cravings are kind of one on top of the other.

Thanks for the encouragement! I totally feel the non-judgement from everyone in the amazing group! I am so inspired by all of you. Since yesterday was a wash today I am challenging myself to go as long as I can between waking up and smoking. Did the patch give you side effects? I’m tempted to get some. The lozenges and gum seem to be only moderately effective for me. I wish vaping counted as NRT (I do know why it doesn’t)!!

I’m not sure! My mornings/days are more active. My evenings tend to be really pretty low key now that my kids are older. You would think evenings would be my heaviest smoking times, huh? I’m actually a closet smoker, although I’m not kidding myself that my family is not well aware. I’m seeing my smoking routine is driven a lot by “better have one now because I don’t know when I will be able to have another”. Somehow I don’t get that urgency during the evenings.

Well tomorrow is another day I guess. It didn’t go as planned but I’ve been reading a ton of posts here and Allen Carr again. It’s funny how I feel so I powered in the evenings lol!

Keep pushing! I so admire your power and resilience. This was 45 mins ago…how are you doing??

That’s my plan! We will see how things go tomorrow morning. So far I haven’t had a cigarette for 3ish hours. How are you doing?? Two days is amazing and depending on where you are you are very close to starting day 3!!

That hit me, but in a good way. You’re so right. I need to remember that the best I can do is try and see what happens! Tomorrow my plan is to wake and up and go longer than 4 hours.

Yay!!! What day are you on? So excited for you and a bit jealous too! You’re amazingly strong for taking the plunge!!

I have. Intellectually it makes sense and I think about much of what he says a lot. I go back and read parts I highlighted frequently. I think my smoking voice is louder than Allen is! I think I am going to get the audiobook. I have heard several people say that was what said it for them. If only there was a magic spell for this!

I’m having a bit of a revelation. I have had pretty significant anxiety my entire life. Like most people when my anxiety is high I tend to smoke. I took a shot at seeing how long I could go without smoking today. I was able to hold off for about 4 hours and am going a few hours in between. I am noticing when I do have a cigarette it’s making me feel anxious (or mimicking anxiety symptoms)! The good and bad…good that I’m realizing this but bad because the “anxiety” makes me think I need to smoke! I feel like I’m edging in the right direction. I am SOOO hoping I can do this!!!

Oh my gosh what a wonderful group of people here!! I think I’m going all or nothing with my thinking but like @intoxicated yoda said, they sort of did mini challenges to empower themselves. The strangest thing is I can literally go 2,3, sometimes 5 hours without smoking if I’m occupied but the second I have one I will want another in half to one hour! This is a sneaky, invidious addiction! It truly is like monster trying to keep me trapped!

Oh my gosh what a wonderful group of people here!! I think I’m going all or nothing with my thinking but like @intoxicated yoda said, they sort of did mini challenges to empower themselves. The strangest thing is I can literally go 2,3, sometimes 5 hours without smoking if I’m occupied but the second I have one I will want another in half to one hour! This is a sneaky, invidious addiction! It truly is like monster trying to keep me trapped!

Thanks for the encouragement. I am getting sick of vacillating too. Every night I say “just see how it goes tomorrow” and, well you know how that goes lol! I read someone say that they viewed it as having a cold or virus and letting it run its course. Not a bad strategy! Did you use NRT? Thanks for the encouragement. I am getting sick of vacillating too. Every night I say “just see how it goes tomorrow” and, well you know how that goes lol! I read someone say that they viewed it as having a cold or virus and letting it run its course. Not a bad strategy! Did you use NRT? sorry for the double post…I am still trying to figure this forum out!

Thanks for your quick response!! I have heard of side effects from Chantix. Did you have any? I have the gum but for some stupid reason I don’t even try it! Like I said, I seem to be stuck in some ridiculous cycle.

I just realized that I think I’m overthinking (yes, “thinking” about “overthinking”…clearly I’m an over thinker!!) this whole thing. It’s causing me pretty bad anxiety because I THINK about quitting all day long. I wake up in the morning and my stomach sinks trying to figure out how not so have that first one. I have entered a very vicious cycle here. I read everyone’s posts about withdrawls and it freaks me out!! When you all say they lessen/get better what’s that timeline? If they peak at day three how the heck will I ever get through days 1 and 2? I’m being such a coward!!!