Thinking about smoking, Idealizing,

[SeekSobriety]

I am 2 1/2 days free of Nicotine I am having a tough time at work, I work 12+ hour days (Film Production) I am fantasizing about smoking, idealizing how good it will feel. I know it is bad, but I feel so depressed and hopeless that I dont care.
I am writing this to try and work through the crave, which hopefully only lasts 3 minutes per some websites, but I am not sure that I want to do this. I sometimes think I do not care about it anymore but then I realize why would I have come here in the first place. Damn Nicotine is a powerfull drug.

[historyteach]

Nicotine *is* a powerful drug, for sure!
And it's tthat very addiction to it that's making you think you don't care if you quit or not. I know. I did the same thing myself soooo many times, lol!

SS, quitting nicotine is very hard to do.
No bs here. It can really suck. I went a bit crazy for about 3 months quitting.

But, I knew I had to keep doing something different each and every time I had a craving -- yea, like every 4 minutes sometimes! Three to let the first one pass, then the next one began!

But, changing routines, using different behaviors, and remembering that you *do* want to quit does work. Each and every time it works.

I hope you made it though. I'm really glad you posted. Keep that up, talking about what your going through, how it feels, and what you're doing about it. I promise you that it *will* help!

Keep the quit and post before you puff!!!

Shalom!

[iuchewie]

Originally Posted by SeekSobriety

I am 2 1/2 days free of Nicotine I am having a tough time at work, I work 12+ hour days (Film Production) I am fantasizing about smoking, idealizing how good it will feel. I know it is bad, but I feel so depressed and hopeless that I dont care.
I am writing this to try and work through the crave, which hopefully only lasts 3 minutes per some websites, but I am not sure that I want to do this. I sometimes think I do not care about it anymore but then I realize why would I have come here in the first place. Damn Nicotine is a powerfull drug.

it is a powerful drug indeed - more difficult to kick that heroine in some instances.

a couple of things that get me through those craves.

1. don't worry about the concept of forever. it's too big. deal with one day at a time. we'll deal with tomorrow when we get there. i'm over a year quit, and i still dont' think about anything except for today. that way it's manageable.

2. remember WHY you quit in the first place. whether it was for your health, your pocket book, your family, etc. those reasons did NOT go away just cause you're craving.

3. have a plan - what are you going to do when you're craving? make a plan and actually USE it when you're having a rough time... there is no shame in asking for help.

here's my plan to give you something to go on.

step 1: take out picture of my son, look him in the eye and tell him that i love chew more than i love him.

step 2: take out www.killthecan.org business card and realize that i'm about to let down all of my brothers there.

step 3: pick up the phone and get permission to chew from all my killthecan.org friends.

FYI, i've never gone past step 1.

hang in there... it gets better!

chewie - day 369 free from dip.

[Astro]

Hopefully you're already familiar with this website, but figured I'd post it anyway www.whyquit.com

[SeekSobriety]

Thanks so much for the post! I am currently on day 5 here! Taking all the advice you gave me to help deal with the craves and stuff.
I have given up all vices at this point since everything seems to trigger everything else for me! I am going to meetings and working hard at getting back into exercising to which is a big help for me. In fact I had almost 90 days but stopped exercising and going to nicotine meetings and thats what began my relapse once work hours started getting rough and I did provide myself with the tools I needed to maintain freedom from nicotine. This time I will remember what I need to do to keep strong. Thanks again everyone.
One breath at a time!

[MeggieStar]

Hey you're doing great! Things can get tough in the entertainment industry, been there, but if you keep going soon all those rationalizations are going to sound very odd in your head and they will be easier to ignore.

Keep posting and keep quitting!

Hugs! (smoke free since 5.2.06)

[historyteach]

SS,
Did you make it through Hell Week?
Let us know... I hope so. But, if not, hop right back on the wagon again. A slip doesn't mean you have to go back to being saddled with nicotine addiction again.

Shalom!

[SeekSobriety]

Hi! Thanks so much for the posts! I am on Day 8 clean from nicotine and all other substances including caffeine (since they were all my triggers to smoke) one day at a time. Breath by breath. Thanks again for all your support. One breath and a time.