Quitting for good

ThePower11

So I was off the damned things for 12 days until I went out last night and I had 3 or 4, I drank way too much and let myself down badly, I was raging with myself, I even went to the 24 hour up the road after the club had finished and bought 20.

During the 12 days I was off them I felt so good abut myself, there was no smell off my clothes or in the car, my sense of taste dramatically improved and even in such a short time I noticed the money I was saving.

So now I have set 00:00 (midnight) January 1st 2012 as the time to take my last puff. I will be using the 24 hour patch for the first 2 weeks then I will be on my own.

It's just under 2 weeks away so I made this thread to give myself a reason to not give in.

I will be updating this thread every day until I am confident I will not smoke again, advice is welcome from people too I hope this inspires others to give up the cancer sticks for good.

Here's hoping for a smoke free 2012 and a new beginning for me, see ya'll on new years

Orion

Leave out updating this post until you stop. Then do it daily or more - that's what I did.

Don't put too much pressure on yourself to stop. Don't rage at yourself for slipping up last night. It happens. Have a look at what happened to me at post #30. I slipped up after 8 days but got right back on the horse. It's not an easy thing to give up - but if you want to do it you will. Just don't put too much pressure on yourself first.

clare ny

Best of luck...

tenreds

I gave up 9 days ago,,, I got a bit of a scare,pains under my ribs and really started to think the worst:( I was thinking how am I going to tell my wife and kids such bad news and all the things I would not see them do in their life.Got the all clear from doc today but it made me think that's one talk I don't want to have with my family. I hope I never smoke again

kflynn

Right Im giving up on Tuesday!

ThePower11

So that's day 1 over!

It wasn't too bad at all really, I was in work for a few hours earlier so that kind of took my mind off of the fags for a bit.

I'm using the 24 hour patch and I have to say I had some weird dreams last night

Here's hoping day 2 is as easy...

username123

Day 2 for me too. Cold turkey.

Didnt find it too hard at all yesterday or so far today, its a bit of a relief tbh that giving up is finally happening, Ive been thinking about it and putting it off and dreading it for so long. Im glad I can just get on with it now and not be worrying about doing it!!

How many were you on OP and for how long?

Ive smoked for maybe 20 years, the max I ever smoked was around 16 or so a day, the past 2 years I was down to 8-10 a day and the past few months was down to 5-6 a day. I was just sick of it. Every time I lit up I felt faintly disgusted. It wasnt the money or the health aspect that got me trying to give up, it was the sheer amount of disgust I was starting to feel in myself for dragging myself outside in any weather to have a 10 minute session of smelly suffocation.

spygirl

Well now 29 hours and 5 minutes off the fags cold turkey. Have had a few cravings but so far am doin ok. 3rd attempt in the last 12 months so fingers crossed that this time it sticks.

cloonton

Come on ye quitters!!!
Juat a quick post to let you know what worked for me in my most recent quit, which will be 5 months strong on the 9th of this month (after being the guts of a pack a day smoker for the past 15 years...)
Check out www.whyquit.com and its forums for loads of advice and support, I'm sure you've heard it before but Alan Carr's Easy Way also helped me. I also downloaded one of the quit counters from WhyQuit which I still look at every few days (and was glued to for the first few days (/weeks? /months? )
Personally it took me about 3 serious quits over the past 2 years to get to where I am now, as well as about 5 more "mini" quits, and I learned something from each and every one of them
Good luck with your quit, OP, and let us know how you get on.

ThePower11

username123 wrote: »

Day 2 for me too. Cold turkey.

Didnt find it too hard at all yesterday or so far today, its a bit of a relief tbh that giving up is finally happening, Ive been thinking about it and putting it off and dreading it for so long. Im glad I can just get on with it now and not be worrying about doing it!!

How many were you on OP and for how long?

Ive smoked for maybe 20 years, the max I ever smoked was around 16 or so a day, the past 2 years I was down to 8-10 a day and the past few months was down to 5-6 a day. I was just sick of it. Every time I lit up I felt faintly disgusted. It wasnt the money or the health aspect that got me trying to give up, it was the sheer amount of disgust I was starting to feel in myself for dragging myself outside in any weather to have a 10 minute session of smelly suffocation.

I'm 24 and started when I was 16 or 17 so I wouldn't be as hooked on them as much as someone like yourself.

Day 2 over and again it was easy enough, didn't really think about them much as I kept myself busy, the devil makes work for idle hands and all that jazz I suppose

username123

ThePower11 wrote: »

Day 2 over and again it was easy enough, didn't really think about them much as I kept myself busy, the devil makes work for idle hands and all that jazz I suppose

Well done, totally agree about keeping busy.

I find certain times harder, early in the morning, late at night, whole middle of the day is a dawdle by comparison.

drunky monkey

ekkk !! day 3 for me !! back to work was hard ! didn't think smoking had such a hold over me !! i am quiet proud of myself though ! i would have pulled out my hair for a smoke today and didn't!! lets hope tomorrow gets a bit easier !! good luck everyone !!!!!!

username123

I was actually getting mild dizzy spells today, as well as being cranky, feeling on edge, and a complete lack of concentration while trying to study. I feel slightly hyped up, stressed out, like Im waiting for something to happen.

Long swim in the morning, hoping it burns off some of the nervous energy and gets me calmer. Day 3 has been hardest so far (and its only 6.30pm!!).

Any idea when food starts smelling and tasting better because I feel like I need something to look forward to!!!

Orion

Day 3 is one of the toughest days. Food will start tasting better very soon. Keep going

ThePower11

Day 3 gone thank God.

Like Orion said that was the toughest so far woke up in a pool of sweat this morning but all I wanted was a shower not a cigarette. I was very lethargic all day, I had no energy what so ever. My sense of taste and smell has improved dramatically, the stink of stale smoke in the car is disgusting so tomorrow I'm going to give it a good clean out and scrub.

Also well done to the other quitters in here, keep it going folks, don't let it beat you.

Anyway, hopefully tomorrow will be a bit easier....

celticcrash

Going into day 3, cold turkey=madman, total fuzzy and extreams in moods.
Alot of cravings. Day 2 less intence all around. Craving s most intent morning end evening, feeling high I surpose over extra o2 to the brain.
Still as snappy as hell, got to learn to deal with the highness. channell it through talk. Another 24 hours and i shell be nicoteen free.
All the best to people on their journey.

skipz

I'am on day 4 today, yesterday was the hardest so far because i was around a smoker. But i stayed strong!
I have a vapebar that someone gave me and smoked a bit of that lastnight, so thats helping i surpose, but it nicotine free vapour so still good.

I'am 25 and smoking since about 17, i tried to give up 2 years ago and it nearly killed me on the first day with pains in my head and lasted about 14hrs. This time was lot easier for so reason, maybe i'am stronger mentaly!

racso1975

I gave up after st Stephens day. for me the hardest part is thwarting commute to work as it's about 2 hours. but defo worth it. feel much better physically and mentally.

Really hope we can all stay strong. dreading the big booze test.

username123

Well done everyone who is continuing their journey into freedom!!

After a good sleep, I feel fine this morning (day 4), just glad yesterday is behind me!!! At one point I was thinking Id have to go to a doctor if the anxiousness didnt abate. Luckily it did and the evening was fine, but Im glad my first thought was 'ill have to see a doc' as opposed to 'ill have to have a fag'!!

Im off for a test now, going to the gym, long swim, used to love my ciggie in the car on the way home after it.

Feeling ok though, just happy to still be off them and hoping it starts getting easier soon, no intention of giving in at least.

cassia

Quit this morning, tried so many times last year and here I am again.
Will keep reading here to keep me motivated

hiDEhi

Day 3 over for me. Today wasn't too bad. I'm not sleeping right, I'm eating more than normal but this is all part of the giving up. This is the second time in 6 months that I've tried but this time it's definite. Have a few cravings during the day but nothing too bad. Best of luck to everyone else quitting.

celticcrash

72 hours at midnight. What a day, no energy all day, day 3 the hardest by far. Still have headaches, I never want to go through this again. They say 3 days cold turkey and the cravings start to die down. Roll on tomorrow.
Its good to know I am not the only one who feels like this.

ThePower11

Day 4 over, I have to say it was no where near as bad as yesterday, I still think about them a good bit throughout the day mainly first thing in the morning and immediately after eating a meal. I gave the car a good going over today and it smelled lovely (after half a bottle of Fabreeze ).

I feel quite proud of myself TBH.....

celticcrash wrote: »

72 hours at midnight. What a day, no energy all day, day 3 the hardest by far. Still have headaches, I never want to go through this again. They say 3 days cold turkey and the cravings start to die down. Roll on tomorrow.
Its good to know I am not the only one who feels like this.

Take a Panadol or something for the headaches, just remember you will never have to do it again once you are free.

Keep it up people...

username123

ThePower11 wrote: »

I feel quite proud of myself TBH.....

Im proud of you too!!! Youre doing great!!

Day 4 was easy for me, facing Day 5 now, feel ok.

Have been having the odd moment of 'oh no, did I accidently smoke there earlier?' when I havent been near a cigarette - kinda weird, like my mind is trying to trick me!

Hope everyone else is doing ok.

cassia

On day 2 here and doing quite well, trying not to obsess about it and liking the fact that I no longer am paranoid about stinking of fags. Didn't sleep great last night though but other than that all good:)

celticcrash

Jesus, day 4 is rough, woke up early again and could not get back to sleep,
I think my brain has broke down, It feels like a virus is sucking the moisture out of my brain. I just hope that I am still in detox. because if I am not than I feel like I have permanent brain damage.
If you see a man on the late news eating the roof off his house, just say yes that man is doing well, at least he`s not smoking. I will be free.......I will be free........, I am free....I am free...... who am I talking to. Dam I am raving!
To all who are suffering..... We will be free.

hiDEhi

Today was tough too, but not as bad as yesterday. Not much energy, probably caused by the lack of a decent sleep. It should get better from here in. I feel the worst is over me now. Best of luck everyone, stick with it.

username123

Day 5 going fine, got some exercise this morning which is always good.

Am still getting the odd mild dizzy spell, nothing that would make me stop in my tracks but I notice it from time to time. Hopefully its just all this oxygen that wasnt able to get to my brain before getting there.

Didnt really feel cravings today, appetite normal etc...

Keep it going people, you are all doing GREAT!!!!!

celticcrash

Day 4 over with. This evening was a lot better than today. I didn`t eat one slate off the roof. Even at times when I think my head is going to explode, thinking about a filthy fag clogging my lungs, the guilt of crippling my health and pocket. brings about a reality that keeps me going.
Comming on here and reading username. power11 and all others help me a great deal. Stick with it everyone and soon we will be leading healthy lives,
What would be worse then the suffering of detox? For me it would the guilt,
Depression, I will get over the physical and mental detox, but I wont get over the guilt of killing the quality of life that I have been gifted with. Roll on day 5 here I come.

username123

celticcrash wrote: »

...thinking about a filthy fag clogging my lungs, the guilt of crippling my health and pocket. brings about a reality that keeps me going.

I couldnt agree with you more. Day 6 here. If I actually think about lighting a cigarette I feel kind of cringy at the thoughts of the suffocatingness of it. Im starting to wonder if my head was screwed on at all for so many years, was I really breathing smelly, dirty, suffocating, toxic smoke in on such a regular basis - by choice!

Im a bit in shock at this giving up lark, I honestly thought it would be MUCH worse than this. Its not easy peasy, but its not nearly as bad as Id feared for so long. I thought Id be behaving like a heroin addict and shaking, sweats, wanting to die etc.... Instead I am getting the odd 'ohhh...Id love a....NO I WOULDNT' moment (with the exception of Day 3 which was a day of anxiousness, dizziness and wanting to punch things).

Ive an exam later today that I could have used as an excuse to not give up this week, and Im proud that Im going to sit that exam as a non smoker

celticcrash

Feeling a lot better today, the cravings have died down, so have the headaches, Starting to feel a bit confident.
I have been here before and am very aware that this addiction can wipe the floor with me if I become complacent.
I have felt that I had this addiction beat, that the cravings have gone that I had won, only to end up smoking a few days later.
So be mindfull that addiction can be very tricky.
I will be going out tonight with a few friends and I am not going to drink alcohol.
I have a full wedding tomorrow and I am going to enjoy it all.It still is going to be too early to have a drink.
Remember a drink and cig go hand in hand.
Hold on in there everybody,it can only get better.

Lorri_L

Hi all, today is day 1 for me using patches. Its not as bad as i thought it would be, although i feel like i've been thinking about them all day.
I'm 24 and have been smoking 11 years, i'm ashamed to say. Or correction, had smoked for 11 years. Have to keep saying to myself I'm a non smoker.
I am dreading Sunday though. Day 3 sounds like hell but i'm confident I can do it.

username123

Day 6 nearly over and really looking forward to tomorrow night when I can announce Im a week off them!!!

Please everyone be extra vigilant over the weekend, it will be hard to get through a weekend. I am going to avoid alcohol just to play it safe, its early days yet, Id feel better knowing that Im not taking risks so soon.

celticcrash

Day five down. Went out to night with friends. No drink and no cigs.
Found it hard but we have to go through all social occasions to get used of them. Going to bed now, feeling really tired. Hold on in there everybody we will pull through,

hiDEhi

Day 5 is over for me too. I'd have to say that the worst seems to be over, so for anyone willing to try it, get this far and you'll be fine. I've had a tough day work wise, the type of day I wasn't looking forward to. I have to admit it was fine, I'll definitely get through this now. Keep up with it everyone, together we'll get there. They're bad for you!!!

hiDEhi

Try to stay off any drink. It doesn't help with the cravings. The less cravings towards drink/smokes the better. Try to forget about all the stuff thats bad for you and it will be fine. If anyone is having problems please PM me and I'll try to contact you and talk you though it. Anything else let me know!

HDH

YumDeiseMum

Day 8 here, and its been a tough week, a roller coaster of cravings and emotions, not to mention the psychadelic dreams when I have actually managed to sleep!!

But all that said, I feel great and am very proud of myself for getting this far. Well done to everyone else on the wagon with me

Lorri_L

I'm on day 3 here and still going strong. Beginning to wonder if i'll ever stop thinking about them 24/7 though.

username123

Lorri_L wrote: »

I'm on day 3 here and still going strong. Beginning to wonder if i'll ever stop thinking about them 24/7 though.

I wondered that too. I went for an hours swim on Wednesday (Day 4) and Id reckon I thought about them for at least 45 mins of that hours swim. Then I went swimming for an hour on Friday (Day 6) and I didnt think of them once.

The brain kind of 'lets go' of thinking about them after a few days.

drunky monkey

day 9 !! so proud of myself ! after day 5 it gets easier honestly !! went out ith friends on friday and had a few drinks was hard not to smoke but not as hard as i expected ! so as the night went on i poped out for a sly smoke !! on the second pull i could taste it and my god it was disgusting !! so happy threw it awaey was out again with smokers last night and it didnt bother me !! the smell off them was awfull !! really happy ive quit and hope i can keep it up !! cravings gone sleep back to normal and mood much better !!

username123

drunky monkey wrote: »

so as the night went on i poped out for a sly smoke !! on the second pull i could taste it and my god it was disgusting !! so happy threw it awaey was out again with smokers last night and it didnt bother me !! the smell off them was awfull !!

Well done drunky monkey, I couldnt do what you did above though, 1 pull and Id be afraid Id be straight back on.

Day 9 here now too. Finding it alright, quite stressful few days for other reasons but not any harder not to smoke.

Chuck Stone

Well done folks.

I finally packed in the smokes after numerous failed attempts several years ago. Watch out for the 3/4 week stage and thoughts of 'sure now I know I can give them up so I can have the odd one'. I got caught that way a couple of times.

Fair play to anyone who frees themselves from that the control of that nasty plant.

username123

Chuck Stone wrote: »

I finally packed in the smokes after numerous failed attempts several years ago. Watch out for the 3/4 week stage and thoughts of 'sure now I know I can give them up so I can have the odd one'. I got caught that way a couple of times.

Thanks Chuck, its good to have people who have already gone through it come and share the knowledge - I can see how itd be so easy to think 'ah yeah, sure wasnt I off them weeks, no bother, just one or two and then Ill go off them again'.

I personally dont want to get stuck in a give up/go back/give up cycle - I just want out, thats it, final.

Lorri_L

Well day 4 here and its a completely different ball game today. So far i've sailed through. Today i could only be described as a quivering hormonal wreck :-( I've alternated between crying hysterically and screaming loony for no real reason. Please please let this pass soon.

On the plus side, still smoke free!

Pulsating Star

Lorri_L wrote: »

On the plus side, still smoke free!

Stick with it, as long as you can say that at the end of the day it's all worth it.
I was breaking each 24 hrs into 6 hr segments at that stage and at the end of each reminding myself I was still in the game. Keep looking for distractions.

jem

On day 2, been a 40 a day man for more years than I can remember.
jasus teh fussy head unreal, realy taking effort to type properly, feels like I am very drunk, zero energy.
I know it will get better eventually but it is dam hard. Glat not driving too far today.

StickyMcGinty

jem wrote: »

On day 2, been a 40 a day man for more years than I can remember.
jasus teh fussy head unreal, realy taking effort to type properly, feels like I am very drunk, zero energy.
I know it will get better eventually but it is dam hard. Glat not driving too far today.

I'm in the same situation, feel quite dopey and I've had gallons of water, cranberry juice and orange juice all day

Playing football at 7 so hoping this will burn off some of the excess anxiety

Tomorrow should be today and then some but the end justifies the means....

sarah101

Hi folks, can I join ye? Am a non smoker since yesterday morning so almost two days done. Am so proud of myself. Spent three and a half hours in A & E yesterday with my two year old. Think if i survived that without giving in then I have a good chance of beating them this time. So far cravings not too bad but bad headaches, cant sleep and horrible night sweats. hope everyone had good fag free day today.

username123

sarah101 wrote: »

Hi folks, can I join ye?

Of course!!! All quitters welcome lol!!!

Fair play everyone. Day 10 here now and no physical symptoms anymore (maybe still a small bit of unrest sleeping but nothing major).

Psychologically Ive noticed that Ive stopped waking up thinking 'damn, I cant smoke!'.

I feel ok about it all and kind of forgetting what day Im on - I only know cos Day 1 was Jan 1 etc... I think when we get into Feb Ill lose track of my day count. Although I will always be able to reference the start of the year.

I havent had any social events, bars or restaurants yet. Id say itll be ok, Im worried about drinking too much and just forgetting myself so will prob stick to just a couple of drinks on a nite out for the next while anyway.

StickyMcGinty

Day 3

Morning has started off a little bit better than yesterday.

Football last night was great, was way fitter than before and recovery time was much improved and thats only after 2 days off the fags.

Head is still a bit cloudy and have this horrible pain in behind my eyes. Feels like a smokers flu. That and the night sweating are my major physical symptoms! Still sticking through it though, supposed to be the last major day of it today so determined to get through this, if only so that I wont have to go through this again

Lorri_L

Well day 6 here and its going good. I'm thinking about smoking less and less. In college and stood out with others having a fag and was fine

Can feel the difference in my breathing, and have to say that the smell of people who have just been smoking is horrible, which is helping me want to stay off them.