Still tryin!!

[Roxy88]

I did start the patch but stopped it. I can't use step one, I get severe pain wherever I put it, so I used step 2 but found myself having bad cravings because I smoked more than 20 a day!!! So I am now using the inhaler. It really helps but I still find myself having the odd smoke. WHY CAN"T I JUST DO IT?????? I keep hearing that cold turkey is THE way to go but I feel that I really do not have the motivation for that, I know this is my life that I'm fighting for but that still does not motivate me!!!!! I really hate this. I am tired of failing.

Thanks for listening
Roxy

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by Roxy88

I did start the patch but stopped it. I can't use step one, I get severe pain wherever I put it, so I used step 2 but found myself having bad cravings because I smoked more than 20 a day!!! So I am now using the inhaler. It really helps but I still find myself having the odd smoke. WHY CAN"T I JUST DO IT?????? I keep hearing that cold turkey is THE way to go but I feel that I really do not have the motivation for that, I know this is my life that I'm fighting for but that still does not motivate me!!!!! I really hate this. I am tired of failing.

Thanks for listening
Roxy

Well you CAN just DO it, but it's not easy....
Until you can get all the nicotine completely out of your system each time you smoke, you are merely creating the NEXT demand from a falling nicotine level.
It's when we repeatedly fail to oblige that demand, that it eventually goes away.
Until you get to that point, it IS miserable.
But what is more miserable for me, would be to gasping for breath on my death bed, unable to breathe .
It requires the most intense sacrifice that we have experienced..
But most find that promising ourselves the next minute or hour (rather than forever) is doable...and then using every trick in the book to get past it.
Whether we smoke or not, the crave DOES go away.
A crave is just that..our bodies demanding we give it what it is used to...
fortunately the good news is that we don't die from a crave...but craves do die, if we refuse to cave.

ONLY YOU can do this..there is no magic bullet...If there were, someone would have made millions.
((((((((((Roxy))))))))))))))))

[CarolD]

The failure lies in giving up on addiction recovery.

I now have 4 days as a non smoker. Yes...I have the urge to relapse especially after a meal.

I find brushing my teeth helps.

Brushing teeth, walk around block.. shower.. ** anything ** to make that 5-15 minutes pass..

I made it to day 7 !!!
Those hanging on with white knuckle moments aren't happening anymore!

[Connie]

Roxy, you haven't failed at all. Each attempt is just practice. I've been smoke free since 1/31. I joined an 8 week smoking cessation class, stepped down on the patch, and am still chewing a few gums each day. This is tough, really tough. I crave every day, no matter how much nicotene is in my system. With me, it's behavioral, and I pray in time it will get better. The important thing is, you're still trying. Remind yourself each day how kind you are treating your body. Hang in there!

[erino134]

I tried to quit many many many times. You know the saying... "Don't quit quitting". I was a closet smoker - hiding my dirty habit from my children. My husband knew, hated it and told me so - but I still smoked every day in my smelly car haven. Then, in November a very close friend was diagnosed with lung cancer. The thing is - that hers is rare and isn't from smoking (she doesn't smoke.) We are only 35. Ofcourse - I've been smoking at least a little bit for.... OMG.... 20 years.
For some reason the fact that my smokeless friend has a possibly terminal disease (and has two young children) was shocking to me. She is doing well but she is going through hell. Her life is so hard with all the different aspects of the treatment, and the emotional stress, etc. etc. etc.
That was just it. She may die - and she didn't do anything to deserve it. Here I was going to give myself lung cancer????
I quit Cold Turkey on December 23. It only really really sucked for a few weeks. Now, merely 4 months later, I can't imagine ever picking up a cigarette again. I mean - there are times when I would like one - but it isn't that serious. I can't believe I blew all that money on cigarettes just to smell bad and kill myself..... The cravings went away. The thoughts I have now are merely thoughts, not cravings.
I am so happy I don't smoke. I am such a better mother for it.
Good luck! And don't quit quitting. One of these times it will stick.

[Roxy88]

Thanks everyone for your encouragement. I will not quit quitting.

How did you all deal with other smokers. I work in an enviroment that I CANNOT get away from having people smoke right in front of me.

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by Roxy88

Thanks everyone for your encouragement. I will not quit quitting.

How did you all deal with other smokers. I work in an enviroment that I CANNOT get away from having people smoke right in front of me.

Egads....that has to be tough.....
I mean I have to walk by them everyday at my work...but that is different.
I guess I would say, that quote:

What doesn't kill us makes us stronger....

KNOW that smoking IS a killer...very much a predator.....
Where do you work that it is like, right in your face?

[Roxy88]

It is a family owned company. 2 sisters, brother and I in the office. Everyone smokes and one sisters desk is right by mine.

[comfortablynumb]

((((((((((Roxy))))))))))))

I so don't envy you....
All I can say is that I have read some pretty inspiring materials...on the net..
it has really helped me stay quit....

And the amazing calm that I feel is such a treat to me..that it completely outweighs any minor craves that I get now.
And when I do get a crave now, which is fast and fleeting, I just tell it to *go to he**.*
I think I finally *get* it.....I think I finally see nicotine for what it really is.....
it is a death sentence and did absolutely nothing for me except rob me of precious hours I should have spent *living*
I know now, that I will never let it rob me again..not even for one nano second.!

[Roxy88]

I am starting to see it that way too. It's like I know I'm ready but I talk myself out of being ready. Strange!!!!!

So I decided that I need to make a plan and stick to it NO MATTER WHAT. I am going ask my sister to smoke in another room. I am still using the inhaler but smoking here and there. Starting monday I will only use the inhaler (no smoking) for 2 weeks and then be done with ALL of this #$@#. That is my goal. I know some of you swear by cold turkey but, but, but, but I cannot commit to that.

Wish me luck

Roxy

[comfortablynumb]

However we get there, Roxy....
This wonderful journey does get better with time...
What a great plan, too...
The most important thing is what you said:
****NO MATTER WHAT****

((((((((((((Roxy))))))))))))))

You can do this....
and I will be here to help remind you:

NO MATTER WHAT....
that is the winners attitude!!

send me a message if you need some inspirational reading.

[marebear]

Iam 3 weeks smoke-free and loving it! You can do it!
Keep trying and don't give up.

God Bless,Mary

[CodeMaster]

I've tried a bunch of stuff, I think the problem with using a bunch of stuff is your dependanding on that bunch of stuff to do it for you. When really, it'll come down to your own will.

I just think of my ex when I want to smoke as she was the one who brought it into my life and now she's gone, so will the smoking go with her.

I did it cold turkey, first 3 days were the insanity days, after that, things were much more maintainable...

Best of luck to your quest to quit! I suppose you could say I have a strong motivation, plus I'm focusing on myself in everyway and smoking only slows me down.

Did anyone find that once they went through the first week.. people who smoke (and who you used to smoke with) start treating you differently?
??

[comfortablynumb]

Originally Posted by Teri_BC

Did anyone find that once they went through the first week.. people who smoke (and who you used to smoke with) start treating you differently?
??

Not really because I don't hang with many people who smoke...
Most of my friends have already quit and I guess I am lucky that way.
Most I have to endure, is walking past the smokers at work when they are outside smoking.
Still, I hate to admit this...I still like the smell.
I am hoping that will change over time.....
Even so, I can handle dealing with that as long as I don't smoke....