Toddler Stage: 14-21

[JustinHoot99]

Start of day 14.  Around 6pm tonight I will have gotten through 14 days of not smoking.  In a way that feels like such a long time, as it is tiring having to keep reminding myself I am no longer a smoker.  It's also annoying to have to impose restrictions on my driving and losing the freedom to come and go as I please (even though most of my coming and going driving before I quit was because I was a slave to the nicotine).  

On the other hand, 14 days seems like a short time as I look ahead.  I know I still have a LOT of growing and relearning to do.  I think of the next 2 weeks as the toddler stage.  Yes, I'm standing now, but my legs are wobbly and my balance if poor.  I can walk now, but I need to keep leaning hard on the tools I'm using which include my daily check list, lots of exercise, restricting access to my car, and support from the team here at EX.

I'm having my wife continue keeping my keys hidden, but I'm going to add in a couple short drives to the park and probably another movie this week as I relearn how to drive w/o smoking.  I'm not even close to wanting to have full access yet.  

The fun continues.

[Sunnyside]

It will get better eventually. You are doing so well, I think its a good idea to ease slowly back in to the driving. The car was a big trigger for me too.

 

Mind you getting Ash ping back in your eye or try to hunt for a cigarette that has dropped out of your hands and is still lit  when driving was never fun.

 

Keep going @JustinHoot99 you are doing  

[Paul723]

Get your car professionally cleaned to rid it of the cigarette stink.  The fresh clean smell will remind you how good it is to be done with smoking.  I did this and paid for it with the money I saved in just the first two weeks.

[jillar]

You're doing great @JustinHoot99, Congratulations on almost being through heck week. WTF week is next so hold on tight, its a tougher week for some of us thus the name. 

Not trying to scare you, just prepare you 

[JustinHoot99]

34 minutes ago, jillar said:

WTF week is next

lmbo  Hadn't heard that one.

 

 

[jillar]

4 minutes ago, JustinHoot99 said:

lmbo  Hadn't heard that one.

 

 

Yep, we have hell week the first week for obvious reasons, then heck week because it's a little easier than hell week and then comes WTF week. I have a feeling you'll be just fine though  

[Doreensfree]

Funny ...I also thought of my quit as being a toddler ...learning to do everything...without my dummy for comfort ....

Each time you do something without your crutch ,it will get easier ....

The monster is getting weaker ...

Stay alert in WTF week ...be on your guard ..

[DenaliBlues]

Personally, my weeks were:

 

1. Hell Week (White hot raging withdrawal.)

 

2. Wailing Week (Shock wore off. A deep sense of loss and longing set in.)

 

3. WTF Week (Jillar totally nailed that one. What now? Will this ever get easier? What has gone wrong with my brain? Why has my IQ dribbled out the bottom of my shoes? How long have I been staring vacantly into space? Will I ever poop normally again?)

 

4. So-Bored-With-My-Coping-Mechanisms Week (This could also have been named “Terribly Tired of Prunes Week,” but perhaps nuff said on that topic.) 

 

I haven’t finished week 5 yet, so I don’t know what it’s called for me. It is certainly a time when my triggers are being tripped and my quit is really being tested. I’m able to laugh more, though I might be disconsolate the very next minute. I definitely have toddler moments. And sullen teenager moments. And feeling absolutely ancient moments. It’s humbling to feel this unmoored.

 

I must say this forum has been super helpful and grounding throughout the whole adventure. Who knew I had people? But apparently now I have people. Such a nice discovery.

[JustinHoot99]

17 minutes ago, DenaliBlues said:

Personally, my weeks were:

1. Hell Week (White hot raging withdrawal.)

2. Wailing Week (Shock wore off. A deep sense of loss and longing set in.)

3. WTF Week (Jillar totally nailed that one. What now? Will this ever get easier? What has gone wrong with my brain? Why has my IQ dribbled out the bottom of my shoes? How long have I been staring vacantly into space? Will I ever poop normally again?)

4. So-Bored-With-My-Coping-Mechanisms Week (This could also have been named “Terribly Tired of Prunes Week,” but perhaps nuff said on that topic.) 

I haven’t finished week 5 yet, so I don’t know what it’s called for me. It is certainly a time when my triggers are being tripped and my quit is really being tested. I’m able to laugh more, though I might be disconsolate the very next minute. I definitely have toddler moments. And sullen teenager moments. And feeling absolutely ancient moments. It’s humbling to feel this unmoored.

I must say this forum has been super helpful and grounding throughout the whole adventure. Who knew I had people? But apparently now I have people. Such a nice discovery.

LMBO, these are hilarious.
Seriously though, I think the whole "what now" you mentioned is a big reason for so many failed quits the first few months.  
It's like losing wt.  People lose a bunch of wt then often gain it back because they find out losing wt did not change who they were.  It's healthy, good in the long term, etc.  But if they weren't happy when they were overweight, losing wt is not going to change their world.
Same w/ smoking.  OK, now I have more free time and a small amount of additional money.  If I don't find something to do w/ that extra time that makes me happy, then the thrill of quitting smoking will turn into a depressing boredom.
 

[Kris]

You have people.  We have all been there, we have baby proofed our lives.  We have been sullen teenagers that pouted thru being grounded.  We have been angry, depressed and exhausted humans. 

 

In all those hard things, we have to realize we have been given the chance to start over.  Growing up the first time was easy, this time it is hard. At least we are adults and understand the challenge. 

  

 

[jillar]

@DenaliBlues, thanks for the giggle.

Love,

Your people

 

[Gus]

@DenaliBlues You. Are. Hilarious. Thank you!

[Doreensfree]

Quitting doesn't have to be ...All Doom And Gloom .....

We ..The People on the Train ...believe ..It can be fun ....

It makes the job in hand much easier ...plus we are a crazy bunch ..

[JustinHoot99]

Start of day 15 of WTF week. lol  I think there is a lot of emotional shell shock that comes from quitting smoking.  You've separated yourself from smoking which was a huge part of your life.  And this part you removed is something you used to moderate your emotions.  Now that the excitement, struggle, and focus of the 1st 2 weeks is over, you start having to deal w/ your emotions without using the nicotine drug to destress, stimulate, or whatever else you need at the time.  I think that brings about a lot of introspection.  If a person is not happy w/ their life, suddenly being w/o the drug that helped manage their emotions can be very difficult.  Just my theory, but I think this is why a lot of people give up their quits during WTF week and the weeks ahead.

[Kris]

I will agree that after we quit we are forced to deal with a lot of different emotions. Things that we never had to confront are now in the path, they can throw us off course if we let them. So now we have to deal with it.  We have to have good, productive discussions with the people in our lives.  There is no hiding of our feelings.  That means we can't blame our smoking on anyone else. The sooner we do this, accept it is our problem, no one else is responsible. It is very important that we do not let our emotions do not give us leave to hurt others. 

[JustinHoot99]

Start of day 16.  At the start of this quit, 16 days out looked like an eternity.  Now it looks like a drop in the bucket.  I realize this is a day at time battle, but I'm sure a lot of people think "I wish I was at the 3 month mark" or something like that when they are early in their quit.  Of course, then it will change to wanting the 1 yr mark.  Oh well, today I will not smoke.
I don't really have strong cravings.  I do have a lot of "romanticizings".  I try to brush them off quickly and/or go do an exercise snack.

[jillar]

@JustinHoot99, that first year looks so far away when we first quit and then all of a sudden it's here! Keep doing what you're doing because you're doing great!

[Doreensfree]

Yep....Day by Day.....This is how we all did it ..... suddenly those days start to pass much Quicker...

Keep Strong ...and inching forward .

[Boo]

9 hours ago, JustinHoot99 said:

Start of day 16.  At the start of this quit, 16 days out looked like an eternity.  Now it looks like a drop in the bucket.  I realize this is a day at time battle, but I'm sure a lot of people think "I wish I was at the 3 month mark" or something like that when they are early in their quit.  Of course, then it will change to wanting the 1 yr mark.  Oh well, today I will not smoke.

 

Just run the mile your in Justin.

[JustinHoot99]

Start of day 17.  Wow, coming up on 3 wks. Only driven about 4 times this month.  Normally I drive somewhere 6-7 times a day, mostly just to go smoke.  Original plan was to get my keys back after 21 days.  This weekend I will need to drive a couple times.  May go to movie Friday and I need some yard stuff.  Might also go hike at the woods.  But I will have my wife smell check me each time I return.  Enjoy a smoke free day.

[Sunnyside]

That's it keep clocking up those days. That's have we are all doing it. Do all you list on the weekend and keep yourself busy. A movie sounds like a good plan, spend some of the money you have saved!

[JustinHoot99]

10 minutes ago, Sunnyside said:

 spend some of the money you have saved!

Spend my money?

[JustinHoot99]

Start of day 18.  Every morning I feel good writing the day of my quit on my the little calendar I printed off.  Such a nice way to start the day.

[Linda]

@JustinHoot99 Congratulations you are doing great!!! Onward and upwards you go!!

[JustinHoot99]

Start of Day 19. I'm thinking of taking back my keys weekends, like Fri evening to Sun evening.  Then during the week, wife keeps them hidden.  And of course, whenever I am gone on weekends, still have wife smell check me when I get home.  Current plan is to do this for at least 4 more weeks.