Day One

[margo]

I quit today! So far, so good. Got the patch on, it itches, but it's tolerable. I'm alternately excited then nervous, but I'm doing it!

To all those who are also going through the early stages, keep hangin' in there with me - we can do it! For those who have successfully quit and have some experience under your belt, please feel free to share your ES&H with us!

[Andy F]

Good for you. I called and regarded myself a non-smoker from day one. Because that's what I quit for and that's what I was from my last cigarette.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by margo

I'm alternately excited then nervous

Me, I'm switching between raving lunatic and sobbing wreck.
Congratulations for getting out of the gate early Margo.

[lonlion]

Margo congratulations on your choice to be a non-smoker. It is day 28 for me today. The challenge continues. If there is one piece of advice I can offer it is this. Don't cheat!

I found myself having a couple puffs off of friends cigarettes the second week and onward. Today I decided that it just takes me back to the beginning and its too hard to feel like starting again. Another thing I noticed after doing this is that it is such a short lived feeling. Then it goes away as quickly as the puff and I am back to square one battling it again.

I have decided today to not do that any more. It's like slow torture. I think of all the money I have saved in the past 28 days, and how good I feel, and really have to remind myself why I wanted to quit in the first place. Like letting go of drugs or alcohol, I am trying to use the same theories and resources. Thank you for your other post, I read it and hung on every word.

Let's support each other here, and together with our higher power we can conquer this beast too.

All the best to you

Love Diana

[historyteach]

(((Margo)))
Good luck to you...you deserve freedom from this nicodemon!
Keep us updated on how it's going...
Shalom!

[margo]

Thanks for all your support!

Made it through the first day unscathed. Just have to keep remembering that the cravings will pass, and they do. The five D's are helpful too: Delay (until the craving passes); Deep breaths; Drink water; Discuss; Distract.

I didn't sleep very well - insomnia worse than ever, very crazy dreams, and a pounding headache in the middle of the night. The patch instructions suggest leaving it on for a 24-hour period to avoid nicotine spikes, but I think that may have been part of the problem and I'll take it off a couple of hours before bedtime tonight and see if that helps. We all have to remember that withdrawal is temporary and that it does gets better. It's important to keep our eyes on the prize when we are feeling bad or tempted.

Lonlion - 28 days is no small thing, even with occasional puffs. The most important thing is to just keep going and to focus on the times you don't smoke and how good it makes you feel. One thing I did in the last couple of weeks was start making a list of all the reasons why I wanted to quit, no matter how small. I researched through websites like the American Lung Association about the benefits of quitting. I printed that out and pinned it on the wall next to my computer. I will be reading it over and over during the coming days. Keeping a journal can also very helpful. Have you thought about doing a set of steps for your nicotine addiction? Nicotine is a drug with health repercussions just as serious as any other drug addiction. A pack a day smoker is taking about 400 hits of nictoine a day. I look at my addiction to nicotine as being as serious as my addiction to other drugs. Admitting I was powerless over nicotine and that my life had become unmanageable was a huge step forward for me. Hang in there!

Love and hugs!