[sporina]

So, today is Day 1. I am off work today - I think that is probably a good thing with regards to my not smoking decision. For those of you who would like a bit of background to my smoking habit, see link:

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showt...p?t=2055777228

So last night I smoked my last and broke up the cig's left in the box.
When I woke up this morning I felt relief that I did not have to smoke. However as the morning proceeded, I found myself automatically thinking of having to have a ciggy, and then I had to remind myself that I was off them. Strange. Anyone get that feeling too?
So I have been getting cravings but they they do not seem to last long so far. I am giving myself little pet talks (reminding myself of the advantages of not smoking, how its just the little nicotine monster sitting on my shoulder whispering no goods into my ear and to just ignore him).
I only just remembered that I have patches to put on.
So I am going to go about my day.
I can see that this is going to be some work. Smoking seems to be built into my subconscious.
But i feel relief too. Bring on getting rid of the evil addiction - i will fight it!!

Thanks all for reading….

(ps if some could show me to how rename the above link I would much appreciate it. Googled it but I can't seem to make it work. pss. I am using a macbook incase that is of any significance).

[sporina]

So, I read the Alan Carr book and while there is a lot of what he said in my head, I am not convinced by his theory. I mean, there is a part of me that is happy to not have to smoke, but I can feel cravings from true nicotine addiction. That is real, whether it is psychological or physical. It is taking will power to not smoke.
I do not think I would ever be able to be totally happy to quit smoking, like the way he describes.
Some day when I am well into recovery from smoking, I will read more about his theory.
Anyway, I think his book is helping me, but I am using patches too, to help with the physical addiction, as I will have a very tough time coping with the emotional and psychological side of things.

[locater7]

hi soprina
by 3 pm yesterday i was off cigs one week
second half of last week was really hard--still have moments and am grumpy
went cold turkey after giving up on champix after one week--too strange
best of luck on your journey and i reckon you will suceed-you have prepared yourself for this and now its down to will power
wishing you best of luck

[username123]

Hey Sporina, delighted for you that you took the plunge - welcome to the Clean Lungs Gang lol!!

When I woke up this morning I felt relief that I did not have to smoke. However as the morning proceeded, I found myself automatically thinking of having to have a ciggy, and then I had to remind myself that I was off them. Strange. Anyone get that feeling too?

Thats more or less exactly how Day 1 was for me as well.

You should start finding that life is less stressful without always having to work out the where and when of having a smoke!!

Day 2 was very similar to Day 1 for me, with the massively positive exception that I KNEW Id survived a day off them - so that made the prospect of another day off them doable.

Keep posting!

[sporina]

Originally Posted by username123

Hey Sporina, delighted for you that you took the plunge - welcome to the Clean Lungs Gang lol!!



Thats more or less exactly how Day 1 was for me as well.

You should start finding that life is less stressful without always having to work out the where and when of having a smoke!!

Day 2 was very similar to Day 1 for me, with the massively positive exception that I KNEW Id survived a day off them - so that made the prospect of another day off them doable.

Keep posting!

thanks a million for the lovely encouraging post.
Yeah I think if I manage one day off them, it will make the next day easier.
I thought I would feel really anxious but I don't at all. I think I use to get anxious before smoking as I knew how bad it was for me but I am only realising that now.
I do have a slight fuzzy feeling in my head though - not sure if it is psychosomatic or because of the patches. I am going to ignore a whole load of symptoms.
I am going to the cinema later so that will be nice.
Anyone had any side effects from using nicorette invisi 15 mg patches?

[sporina]

Originally Posted by locater7

hi soprina
by 3 pm yesterday i was off cigs one week
second half of last week was really hard--still have moments and am grumpy
went cold turkey after giving up on champix after one week--too strange
best of luck on your journey and i reckon you will suceed-you have prepared yourself for this and now its down to will power
wishing you best of luck

thanks but do not be fooled by my awareness - i am good at that - will power though does not come easy to me,. But I am doing good so far..

[username123]

Originally Posted by sporina

thanks a million for the lovely encouraging post.
Yeah I think if I manage one day off them, it will make the next day easier.
I thought I would feel really anxious but I don't at all. I think I use to get anxious before smoking as I knew how bad it was for me but I am only realising that now.
I do have a slight fuzzy feeling in my head though - not sure if it is psychosomatic or because of the patches. I am going to ignore a whole load of symptoms.
I am going to the cinema later so that will be nice.
Anyone had any side effects from using nicorette invisi 15 mg patches?

Every single day it gets easier!!!

Thats great youre not feeling anxious. Its empowering not HAVING to smoke!!

I felt fuzzy, dizzy, mildly drunk on and off for a few days - it wasnt constant, and it didnt last, but it came and went - nothing you cant handle - a glass of water would take care of it.

Im really delighted youre getting on so well today, imagine how BRILLIANT you will feel in the morning when you realise you lasted a whole day off them!!! Whooo hooo!!!

[sporina]

so I survived day one. Last night I went to the cinema and it was a relief not to have to smoke when the show was over and that is the truth.
Also, it is nice to be able to share a kiss with a non smoker without the guilt of having a stinking breath!!!

But, last night I dreamt that I smoked and I was really annoyed about it in the dream. I was sooo delighted when I woke up to find that it was only a dream. Strange how the mind works. But looks like the non smoking effort has really gotten into my subconscious which is great.

[username123]

OMG Sporina!!! Are you me???

You have described exactly how I felt over the first few days - relief at not having to smoke, guiltless kisses, smoke dreaming and being so annoyed in the dream and so glad that it was only a dream!!! Thats so funny!!!

Im delighted for you now, you have passed a whole Day 1 - which is the biggest day of all, the first step is the hardest and all that.

I had a stressful dental appointment with some bad news this morning (have to get nasty expensive things done) and even after it I didnt feel like smoking. I did cry the whole way home in the car though, but was still relieved that I wasnt trying to jam a ciggy into my numb lips!!!

[sporina]

Originally Posted by username123

OMG Sporina!!! Are you me???

You have described exactly how I felt over the first few days - relief at not having to smoke, guiltless kisses, smoke dreaming and being so annoyed in the dream and so glad that it was only a dream!!! Thats so funny!!!

Im delighted for you now, you have passed a whole Day 1 - which is the biggest day of all, the first step is the hardest and all that.

I had a stressful dental appointment with some bad news this morning (have to get nasty expensive things done) and even after it I didnt feel like smoking. I did cry the whole way home in the car though, but was still relieved that I wasnt trying to jam a ciggy into my numb lips!!!

wow - thats cool. Yeah I read somewhere else about smoking dreams so I guess it is typical for some. I am sorry to hear about your bad news on the dentist. But on the up side, at least you were able to go to the dentist as a non smoker. When ever I go to the dentist, he asks me when am I going to quit and I always feel guilt ridden. Hopefully next time I go I will be a non smoker - that will be another plus. He attributes my minute gum disease to my smoking. I am actually thinking of getting some teeth whitening done too in the future.
Again sorry about your bad news - but it would be worse if you came back from the doc having learnt that you have a smoking related illness.

[username123]

Originally Posted by sporina

He attributes my minute gum disease to my smoking.

Normally I get a check up and cleaning and he sends me on my way (unless there is work to be done), but this time after the cleaning he said to come back next week for more cleaning as now that Im not smoking my gums actually have a chance to heal and the second cleaning will be really worthwhile - they never told me that before!!

You are so right about doctors and smoking related illnesses though.

[sporina]

Hi Folks, well near then end of day 3. This was my first day at work and not smoking. I was worried about it but it turned out that I was relieved that I did not have to cut my dining part of lunch break short to go out in the rain and smoke. And I didn't even feel the need to eat extra after my lunch - I just had a cuppa and sat back and relaxed.
Actually, I mentioned earlier that I might find it difficult to quit smoking because I tend to be an anxious person - but I honestly have found that I am now more relaxed. Maybe it was the smoking that was contributing to my anxiety; the fact that I was smoking even though a major part of me hated it?!. I don't know - but the thought occured to be today.

[sporina]

Day 4:
Not been sleeping the best for the past 2 nights - not sure if that is not smoking related or not. But got mad cravings this morning. I have no urge to give into it - but I got no cravings yesterday. Strange.

[username123]

Hi Sporina, well done, youre a trooper!!

Very interesting what you said about anxiety. I too feel that it is in fact less stressful not having to smoke. There seems to be a few aspects to it. One is that you simply dont have to be wasting the mental energy of thinking about when and where you can fit in a smoke at appropriate times. Then there is the ease of not having to finish things quicker to go stand in bad weather. And then the internal battle of hating being a smoker but still doing it is gone. Oh yeah, and no more being super conscious of the smell of smoke of yourself when you dash back in from a having a cigarette.

I think its far less stressful to not have to smoke anymore. Its not something I ever thought of before I stopped. I suppose thats all part of the evil of the trap of smoking isnt it?

[The Irish Riddler]

Well done S. A positive attitude seems to be the most important thing. Not having to sit in a full car of non smokers and have someone say jesus lad the smell of those cigarettes is brutal is great.