I've just gotten on the train

Beata · March 21, 2017

This will be fascinating!

I believe I have smoked for approximately 20 years. I was able to stop for a good bit of time using Chantix about three years ago but my boyfriend continued to smoke and I really had no idea how weak I was around other smokers. I picked up the comfort of habit once again. I tried cold turkey about a week ago...I was unprepared for the emotional backlash within myself. Today I am using nicotine patches for cessation purposes even though I really just want the nicotine out of my system for good. I also realize it is such an ingrained habit that the absence of nicotine may not be as magical as I perceive it may be. I suspect it will not be some glorious "I'm cured and will never want to smoke again!". This is my first time using any type of support group.

Thank you for all the future help I will need.

Cheers!

Nancy · March 21, 2017

Welcome to the board, Beata, and congratulations on your decision to quit! I recommend doing lots of reading, here. Great information to help you with your quit. If you have not read Alllen Carr's EasyWay to Stop Smoking, it is a book that helped many of us quit for good.

Doreensfree · March 21, 2017

Hi Beata..welcome aboard..we are a small family to some forums..this gives us more time to get to know each other properly.. And support you 100/per cent to freedom...my advice...

Have a really good look around here..there is plenty to read ,and videos to watch...knowledge ..that the key to quitting..get to know your enemy..and you can fight him..

Stay close to the board..those that post daily..usually succeed..we do have a daily pledge..

You can do this...

Boo · March 21, 2017

Welcome aboard Beata. Like the ladies above me said: knowledge is vital in defeating this addiction. Allen Carr's book and the Joel Spitzer videos, most of which you can find right here at Quit Train, are great resources for dispelling the myths and lies of cigarettes and nicotine. Freedom begins between the ears.

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you will ever do for yourself. Enjoy the ride.

bakon · March 21, 2017

Beata what?

Directions to quit

NOPE

Post. Often.

Ask. Post. Post some more. Stick around for a year. Done.

That's easy method.

It's all mental after day 3. Really one week of you ask me but the others say 72 hours without nicotine. As for breaking a habit first then nicotine I say bullshit. Sit on your hands. Habit broke. It's the nicotine and mental that needs the year to heal. It's not tough. NOPE and move on.

You'll get it

Reciprocity · March 21, 2017

Welcome Beata :)

Sounds like you've tried a few methods to quit. They say getting the nicotine out of your system is a good thing but then again, lots of people use the patch and/or other quit aids. I was going to use the patch then forgot to put one on about day 3 and just went cold turkey from there. Can't say it was easy but as you probably have heard, gets the nico out of your body fast then the rest is mental. That part does take a while. different time frames for different people. The one hard and fast rule is don't cheat and take even one puff. Take the N.O.P.E. pledge daily (Not One Puff Ever). I think you'll be surprised at how important a role a forum like this can play in your quit. Really good to have others around you that are doing the exact same thing. No one in your daily life will be able to relate to what you are going through as we can so come often and interact. There's no judging here and you can vent all you want :) Look forward to following your non-smoking journey :)

BAT · March 22, 2017

Welcome to the train B :)

Stewie · March 22, 2017

Hi Beata, welcome! Stick to the forum and learn as much as you can plus have a laugh, youll get it done no doubt.

Jackie · March 22, 2017

Hi Beata, welcome! I too used the nicotine patches. I also wanted the nicotine out of my system right away because once I made the decision to quit, I didn't want any part left in me or any "bad stuff" lingering around. However, the patches helped me deal with some major major irritability and side effects. I successfully made it through the 10 weeks of patches and have been off of them for a few weeks now, doing just fine :). You smoked for 20 years, so 10 weeks with a small amount of nicotine each day should be just fine. Don't worry so much about how you quit, but just that you do!

You can do this no matter how long you smoked. Never a better time than now! YOU GOT THIS :D

joe · March 22, 2017

Welcome aboard!

Lots of good advise, and nothing really to add....except

It's not a habit,

it's an addiction.....you are addicted to nicotine and it's a drug.

Read, ask questions, and post. Understand how this addiction works...

The (addiction) to drugs will play with your mind.

Trying to make you believe you NEED it to survive....

Guess what? .. None of us here, and many others, get along just fine without it (now)

Life goes on without nicotine.....

And I am seriously enjoying it. (Smoked about 35 years, quit for 3)

MarylandQuitter · March 24, 2017

This will be fascinating!

I believe I have smoked for approximately 20 years. I was able to stop for a good bit of time using Chantix about three years ago but my boyfriend continued to smoke and I really had no idea how weak I was around other smokers. I picked up the comfort of habit once again. I tried cold turkey about a week ago...I was unprepared for the emotional backlash within myself. Today I am using nicotine patches for cessation purposes even though I really just want the nicotine out of my system for good. I also realize it is such an ingrained habit that the absence of nicotine may not be as magical as I perceive it may be. I suspect it will not be some glorious "I'm cured and will never want to smoke again!". This is my first time using any type of support group.

Thank you for all the future help I will need.

Cheers!

Welcome to the forum! You weren't weak around others who smoked, you simply made the choice to smoke, mostly in part because you're addicted to a drug called nicotine. The way to beat this addiction is to treat it just as that, an addiction to a drug. If NRT is working to keep you from lighting up, that's great but please use it only as a short-term aid to quit nicotine completely, in any form.

You can't feel that "magical" moment because you're still feeding your addiction. Once you get off of it, there will come a point where you'll undoubtedly look back and be very proud that you quit. Hell, be proud right now!! You're not smoking, be VERY proud that you're staying committed to quitting smoking even though you can't see what good lies ahead. That takes guts! As you put more time in between you and smoking, trust me, you will feel fantastic. I'm not saying that the lion will lay down with the lamb and little birdies will come to your window and sing to you, but you WILL feel better both physically and emotionally. I suppose some people have had birds come to sing praises but I never did. I just took it day by day and never gave an inch to this deadly addiction.

Please start reading here and start watching these videos right away. We all beat this addiction by being smarter than it, not stronger than it. :)

Please keep up posted and fire away posts at will. That's why we exist; to help you and support you. :)

Nicotine Is Nicotine Is Nicotine

Video discusses how nicotine delivered by any source via any route of administration has the full potential of causing relapse to any former smoker or user of any nicotine product.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KViTfIfHUv0&list=PL4F05C03D0F9B86DB&index=6

Related articles:

Original nicotine gum article referred to any video

http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_03_07_NR...

Pharmacological aids Part II

http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_03_08_NR...

40 years of progress

http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_03_33_Fo...

Whatever you do don't quit cold turkey!

http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_03_30_do...

Is cold turkey the only way to quit

http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_03_31_is...