Alera's Non-smoking journal

[Alera]

I found when I first quit using drugs keeping a journal here really helped so I'm going to do the same here now that I'm quitting smoking.

Later I will do a CBA from SMART Recovery.

Today is day 1, action day. I know that I really want to quit smoking but day three is always the hardest day for me. Since keeping busy helps me A LOT I have chosen to quit while I pack to move. I am using the patch for two weeks, as in the past it hasn't made a difference after that. I have quit before for over three years so I know I can do it.

My replacement is those nice mint gum, the type with sweet flavor to freshen breath.

[Astro]

I wish you the best of success Alera, maybe you could also post on the Daily Check-In? It helped me to be accountable every day, posting kept me up to the challenge. Good luck!

[Dime]

Welcome Alera!!

So glad you are going for the quit. It is great to have a plan like you do as I found it really helped me.

I posted in the Daily Check here on a daily basis early on and found that it really helped to keep me motivated and the super folks here gave me tons of help and suggestions.

Congrats on your decision!

[Alera]

Will post on the daily check in!

Am exhausted from picking up twenty plus boxes, setting up the movers and packing five boxes of books all on three hours of sleep last night. Nighty nite.

[Alera]

Another busy day ahead. The gum worked really good. This is "action day 2" for me. That means I am still in the action phase of fighting my cigarette addiction.

From prior experience I know that the cravings will not be so bad until tomorrow. I plan to take advantage of this to work on my tools when day 3 and 4 come so I will have help to fight them.

As for now, I am looking at just today. Today I will not smoke. Today I will have cleaner lungs. Today I can chew gum if I have a craving.

[Alera]

Action day 3.

Terrible emotions yesterday. That is to be expected. So far my temper has not become as severe as it was in the past. I can only hope it stays that way.

One strong craving yesterday. I used my action plan. I went to the gum and chewed the heck out of that Trident White. When the craving was at the worst, I reminded myself that if the craving became too severe, I could use the piece of Nicorette I have in my purse from my last try at quitting. Never thought of using it yesterday, just knowing it was there was enough for me.

Time to take a bath. Bathing the first week is a very healing experience for me when I first quit. I imagine all the negative crap those smokes put on my skin and "watch" them come off my skin in the warm water. Take care!

[mattcake79]

Great job, Alera It's really interesting to read about your progress..

I'm getting ready to quit soon, and I'm curious about your experience with NRT. My doctor told me to use the patch for the first few day/weeks, as I smoke so much that the physical withdrawal symptoms are brutal. So I have the patch, nico gum, and lozenges... obviously not going to use them all simultaneously - but it seems like cold turkey is the best way to do it? I have tried going C/T, but within 48 hours I was a bed-ridden mess.

Anyway, thanks for starting this thread I'll try to do a CBA soon.

[Chef99]

I am in my sixth day without cigarettes. It is horrible.

I liked the idea od bathing and "watching" all of the evil yucky stuff washing away. I think I will try that later on today, thanks.

[Alera]

Matt, I recommend the patches myself. I found the highs/lows I get with the oral nicotine items don't work as well. This is especially true for me as I generally smoke after a meal or drink and the gum doesn't work well right after eating/drinking. Never used the lozenge so can't tell you about those.

Yesterday I slipped. Peer-pressure and moving combined and *snap* I smoked. That's okay, I'm still committed to being a non-smoker. Here is to day six!

[Alera]

Stopped the patch two nights ago. Dreams were getting crazy, and I needed my sleep. I was also getting bad cravings for the nicotine "peeks" and "valleys" so I decided to just cold turkey it. Halfway through my 72 hours now and doing okay. I told an old smoking buddy that I will not smoke anymore. When I get a bad craving I simply visualize her face, and that has kept me on the straight and narrow.

[Dime]

Great Alera!
So glad you are back at it! Just never give up with the quit. Most people do have bumps along the path. No biggie as long as we get back into the quit. Don't give up the fight!

[Alera]

Still holding on. Been stressed out and chewing gum like crazy. Now that my 72 hours are over the cravings are going way down

[Alera]

Back up to a single cig a day. It usually comes in the morning and I'm not awake enough to fight the cravings. I used to have the same problem with my DOC so I'm going to attempt to ad some of DISARM activities to my toolchest over the next couple days so they become habit. Once habit, I will begin to replace my behavior when still tired.

[SeekSobriety]

You can totally do this, check out "Glory Week" for some good tips. All the best!