quitting today

[tkon]

Hello, guys and girls!

It seems that today is the day! I have had several failures before, therefore am quite nevrous about success. However, what needs to be done, needs to be done. Maybe you have some tips for first few days - i know these are the toughest (at least have been for me so far)?

 

Toms

[Paul723]

Here's a good thread to start with:

Your First Days, nicotine Free - Quit Smoking Discussions - Quit Train®, A Quit Smoking Support Group

 

There are loads of information on this site to read about every aspect of quitting and a lot of experienced people to help you along.

[Penguin]

I was in the hospital for my first four days, which made my quit a lot less stressful, apart from the whole "collapsed lung" bit. That said, I slept a lot, and I watched TV a lot. I tried my best to keep my mind busy. When I got home, I threw out every little scrap of smoking paraphernalia I could find. After that, I ordered a big bag of candy--Skittles, if I recall correctly--and used those for my oral fix. I let them melt in my mouth, rather than chewing them, for the most part.

 

Anticipate that you will not feel great, but if you can think of it as the sort of discomfort that heals you, I think that helps. Just like your muscles ache during a workout and that doesn't feel fantastic, but you know you'll be stronger in the long run, you can think of the headaches, insomnia, stomach upset, and anxiety as something to endure--or alleviate, if possible. If you are successful in passing through that gauntlet, the good news is that you'll never have to go through it again, so long as you stay quit.

 

Every little discomfort you face on your quit will get less and less intense as time goes on. You may have minutes that feel like hours and days that feel like years. Those are the days where it's helpful to stay busy, to avoid stress as much as possible, and be on your guard against the temptation to smoke. Eventually, the days will feel more like days again, and the minutes will pass, and you will feel less and less inclined to smoke. Then, you'll come up on a "first," and you'll feel like smoking again, seemingly out of the blue.

 

Here's an example for you: I recently had to go to the DMV to renew my driver's license. The last time I'd done that, I was a smoker, and I sat outside the DMV puffing away, waiting for my number to be called. This most recent trip, I had been quit for 16 months, but all of a sudden I felt like smoking again. Why? Because it was my first time in 17 years that I'd gone to the DMV as a non-smoker. You will experience a lot of those. First holidays. First family emergencies. First heartaches. It can be frustrating, but with each victory, it will be easier and easier to say "no" to those cancer sticks.

 

"If you're going through Hell, keep going." The way out is through. Put in the time, endure the pressure, and claim your victory. If you smoke, you won't have to face the discomfort of quitting, but you'll still stink, you'll feel the physical effects of smoking, and you'll have that worry in the back of your mind about every little ache and pain and bump and blemish that crops up, wondering if your habit has finally done you in. If you endure the discomfort of quitting for a little while, you won't stink, your body will start to repair itself (however slowly), and over time, you'll worry less and less about those aches and pains, for the most part.

 

Today's the day to make your choice, for today. Tomorrow, rinse and repeat. One step at a time, one hour at a time, one minute at a time, one second at a time.

[QuittingGirl]

Hi @tkon Welcome to the Train!  You have come to the right place for support, as we are a really great group! Quitting is definitely hard, as you know, but it's totally doable.  If I can quit, anyone can, as I was so addicted to cigarettes. What I used in the beginning to help me with the cravings, was pretending that cinnamon sticks were cigarettes.  I would suck in air from the hole, and pretend that I was blowing smoke out, plus it tasted really good.  If you don't like cinnamon, you can use cut up straws.  The thing with withdrawal is that it doesn't last forever, thankfully, and the longer you stay quit, the less it becomes.  I am quit almost 2 years and I rarely get an urge anymore, and if I do, it's just a fleeting moment and not a physical urge.  So my advice to you is come on this site everyday, at least for the first 3-6 months! Vent to us when you need/want to, as we have all been through the same thing, some had it easier, and some had it more difficult, but we all had some sort of symptoms of withdrawal. Do the daily NOPE pledge every single day.  Of course you can do it everyday even after 3-6 months.  Even after almost 2 years, I find it helps me and keeps me focused. There are a lot of reading material and videos, so take a look at those too.  Oh, and if you want something to do with your time when you aren't smoking, there is a really fun game section on here.  So, good luck to you and I hope to see you on here again soon! 

[Christian99]

Hi Tkon--

 

You've just made the most important decision of your life, and I applaud you for it:  becoming smoke-free will absolutely change your life.  Even now, many years after I quit, I benefit from lessons I learned and strategies I practiced during the most difficult periods of quitting.  There are so many ways to quit--and I'd encourage you to read as widely as possible on the different approaches--but I really benefited from lots of exercise.  If that's a reasonable option for you, I'd encourage you to give it a try.  But that's just one way--do whatever it takes (and whatever aligns most closely with your personality) to remain smoke-free.  We all know you can do it, friend!!

 

Christian99

23+ Years Quit    

[Doreensfree]

Hello and welcome aboard 

Congratulations for deciding to take your life back .

You have already been given great advice . 
Mine is … Take your seat and don’t move from it till you have traced you Freedom , 

Check out the Main Smoking Discussion  Board , read all the topics pinned with green 

There is so much great information there to get you started , 

Take Smoking Off The Table no matter what 

Looking forward to getting to know you better

 

[garry mhudson]

Welcome aboard! Stay close and reach out if needed. We`ve all been there before so ask for help. That`s what we are here for. Best wishes. Stay strong and beat this addiction.

[despair not]

Welcome

Congratulations on quitting

Loads of good advice above

Good luck stick at it

Look up the benefits to quitting timelines loads on the internet and they helpef me with motivation early in my quit especially as you hit the benefit timelines.

[DenaliBlues]

Hi, Toms, and welcome to the Quit Train! Glad to have you with us. The first few days of withdrawal can be rugged, but it gets better. Stay strong, stay busy and you’ll make it through. Remember that cravings are not commands. They are just noisy commercials for junk you don’t wanna buy. Change the channel! We’re here to help, so let us know how it’s going.