Random Thoughts

[tocevoD]

I'm now 5months and 11hrs in on my tracker. Still getting random thoughts. Wouldn't say it was every day. I can't even remember the timescale between them.

 

I'm around smokers in work. They don't bother me now, I pity them after observing their habits and how much they need the nicotine without even knowing it. I am using them without them even knowing it for my own fight. I was one of them so the thought of having to feed the habit again is my fuel.

 

The thing is I can feel my stress levels rising at times. I think we all get it. We have stress levels and the adrenaline rises. I actually think my rising streets levels and adrenaline rising is prompting me towards the ciggies. Maybe the brain is sending the signal as I would have had a ciggie in the past in the same situaition. Maybe its one of my final hurdles. Not to feed it in this type of situation.

 

Looks like it's going to be a battle for life. Will the thoughts ever go? To anyone who is a few years into their quit, do they ever completely go?

[Reciprocity]

Congrats on your 5 months of freedom! Keep in mind, even though 5 months is a long time from when you first quit; it's still early days when compared to the rest of your smoke-free life. The links in your brain between what's always triggered you to smoke are still there and still pretty strong, even though you don't sense them daily. When certain situations occur they will surface almost immediately which is why you'll often hear people say: "We must always stay on guard for those sudden triggers - never get complacent!"

 

It will be a very slow process. As it is for us all but, gradually that link in our brains between grabbing a smoke to ease  sudden stressful situations will fade away. It's merely a matter of rinse & repeat! Stay with the program and you'll get there too; I promise you that.

[jillar]

2 hours ago, tocevoD said:

Looks like it's going to be a battle for life. Will the thoughts ever go? To anyone who is a few years into their quit, do they ever completely go?

 

I would say that if you got through every single trigger from all the years you smoked then they MAY go away but I can tell you that when I get thoughts of smoking now its not a battle, not even a fist fight. Its just a thought that disappears as quickly as it appeared.

You can and should expect to have cravings for the whole first year as well as any time an unexpected life event happens. It will prepare you for when it does. Depending on where you are with your quit it may be easily swatted away.

You're doing great so keep it up!

[Brioski]

It definitely gets less intense toc…at 5 months I was still craving and some times got frustrating…and although yea I think it’ll always be there/a part of our psyche but it def gets less and less….even from 5 to 9 months there’s a big difference.  You’re doing really really good….when you get that feeling see what else u could do to gain comfort….a coffee, video, deep breath, distraction, piece of candy, etc.  keep up the great work toc and reward yourself!!

[Gus]

Congratulations on your 5th month of being quit. It never goes away but will grow further and further apart and will definitely be a mere thought, not a craving. If I remember correctly it was around my 9th month that the craving that always came with the thoughts of smoking switched to just being a thought that never became more than that. It’s like that last barrier to feeling like I had truly quit smoking just crumbled and fell away. So very liberating. The chains were gone! You are doing great! 

[Doreensfree]

5 months is a Quit to be very proud of ..

Dont let stinking thinking creep in …nothing comes good fro smoking ..

use your tool box to stay on track …

Does it get better you asked …

definitely…

I come here and talk smoking ,nearly all day of every day …of course I think of smoking ..like I think of …what’s for dinner .

Keep going …The magic will happen x

[Sirius]

It's been a while since I last had a smoke.  I can go weeks without thinking about cigarettes and smoking.  

Even the dreams of smoking have become quite rare.

 

The secret is, don't ever smoke.

 

I could probably have a smoke at this point and get away with it but why would I?  

 

I mean, I could gargle powdered glass too but I'm not going to.  Smoking sucks.

 

When you realize you could, but you just don't want to, is the point where you are thinking and acting like a non-smoker.

 

Never completely a non-smoker but close enough to feel pretty relaxed about the whole thing.

[Angeleek]

Hi tocevoD,

 

oh yes, the thoughts.....they do go!!! I am almost 4 years, and hardly ever think about it now. Been this way for a while now.....congratulations, keep up the great work, stay on your guard.... you got this!!!!

I will add that 9 months was a turning point, depression started lifting....i stopped obsessing....yeah....9 months for me...