[gampy]

Trying to avoid the trigger behaviors, but it seems like everything triggers , lol. Actually, sitting at the computer is one of the worst. I used to always have a cigarette going while I surfed the net. I am getting all jumpy and shit just sitting here typing this out.

Sorry to turn this into my own private hell blog, hehe...just needed some moral support I guess, and maybe some feedback from folks who have been at this stage of the game.

I swear...that cartoon with the devil on your shoulder has got to be fucking true . I can feel him right now. "Hehe...don't sweat it man, you can quit next week..." Fucking prick.

haha...now I am talking to my self. Time to go out for a walk, but it's nasty out there. Anyone have that urge that feels like your guts are squirming, and tightening?

[BigTex]

Do some intense exercise.

Ask your doctor for a Xanax prescription.

Read some forums discussing the progression and survival rates of lung cancer.

Have you thought about just smoking one or two cigarettes a day? Like one in the evening maybe? It's a lot easier to quit smoking one cigarette a day than a pack or two when you get ready.

Good luck. I lost my dad to lung cancer. I miss him every day.

[gampy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Shannymara', 'T')he physical cravings should improve substantially after the 4th day! Don't give up now! The first 4 days are by far the worst. I've quit cold turkey several times. The last time, I found that a regular (20-30 mg, I think) dose of DXM (OTC cough suppressant) cut the physical withdrawal symptoms by about 50%, and also helped with the agitation by making me a little groggy. Nothing makes it all better, but anything that helps is good. Also drinking lots of water helps a little, and helps keep your metabolism going so you gain less weight. Good luck! You can't afford to keep smoking.

[ColossalContrarian]

I did self hypnosis and it WORKED!!!

I know a lot of people say they can't be hypnotized, especially by them self. That sucks for them, but if it works for you??? GREAT!

I self hypnotized myself to get nauseous anytime I put a cigarette to my lips and to this day (5 years) it works!

GOOD LUCK!!!

[gampy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('BigTex', 'D')o some intense exercise.

Ask your doctor for a Xanax prescription.

Read some forums discussing the progression and survival rates of lung cancer.

Have you thought about just smoking one or two cigarettes a day? Like one in the evening maybe? It's a lot easier to quit smoking one cigarette a day than a pack or two when you get ready.

Good luck. I lost my dad to lung cancer. I miss him every day.

[gampy]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Shannymara', 'T')he DXM does some of the same things as nicotine in terms of neurochemistry. That's why it helps with the physical withdrawal symptoms. Get thee Robitussin!

[roccman]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gampy', 'I') have smoked for all of my adult life and a good portion of my teenage years. Roughly 25 years. I have tried quitting before and always failed after a couple days.

I am about 4 days into cold turkey. Longest 4 days of my life.

When does it get better? Please tell me the urges subside after a few days.

Holy fuck, this shit is worse than heroin. Going a little crazy. Afraid to leave the house for fear of walking past a store. Seriously going bat-shit crazy lol. When do the urges begin to taper off?

Help? I need to quit this time. I don't wish to slowly die of COPD.

I must have eaten everything in my house already. Am trying to drink water when I feel an urge...(every fucking 30 minutes) but feeling a little full and bloated. Uggggh. Any help appreciated. Tried all the bullshit stuff like gums, and patches, but figured that cold turkey is the only way.But man...feels like a month since I had a cigarette...instead of days. Fuck it going for a walk..leaving my wallet at home.

[BigTex]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gampy', 'T')hanks for feedback, appreciate it. Did the "cut-back" thing...fail.

Same with the anti-depressants. Same with the patch, et al.

The exercise thing helps too...I usually go for a brisk walk, or a good bike ride, and raise my heart rate, and breathing. It's getting kind of old though, need a new distraction.

Just going to tough it out this time. Sounds kind of silly, but I think it's really the only way. Addiction is always a battle with yourself. You need to win that battle at some point. Smoking cessation requires will. Like I said before, this time I got myself into a different frame of mind. Going to test my conscious mind against that part of my primitive brain that keeps bugging me to fill those receptors with nicotine. I have been able to starve myself, easily. Weird. But nicotine is a tough one.

[Specop_007]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('HEADER_RACK', 'c')hantix ...bro.... chantix
It works just add a little willpower. I smoked over half my life. Heavy 2 packs a day easy. I quit, my sister she smoked and she quit and my mom quit on it to. It makes the cravings go away. You just have to get through the habit of not lighting up. Good luck I never made it four days cold turkey.

[BigTex]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Specop_007', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('HEADER_RACK', 'c')hantix ...bro.... chantix
It works just add a little willpower. I smoked over half my life. Heavy 2 packs a day easy. I quit, my sister she smoked and she quit and my mom quit on it to. It makes the cravings go away. You just have to get through the habit of not lighting up. Good luck I never made it four days cold turkey.

[jasonraymondson]

Doesn't it just overflow your body with dopamine?

[Schadenfreude]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('gampy', 'I') have smoked for all of my adult life and a good portion of my teenage years. Roughly 25 years. I have tried quitting before and always failed after a couple days.

I am about 4 days into cold turkey. Longest 4 days of my life.

When does it get better? Please tell me the urges subside after a few days.

[FreedomSlave]

I quit 3 years ago after many failed attempts. I had smoked a pack a day for 15 years.

Generally in all those attempts, the first three days were the worst, followed by cancre sores in weeks one and two, constipation, and big-time irritability. It always messed me up bad, and I would get a heavy urge to smoke again in week two.

On my successful quit, I picked a day to quit during a period of relatively low stress and after starting to read "The Easy Way To Stop Smoking" by Allen Carr (http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Way-Stop-Smo ... 1402718616). I highly recommend the book.

Again, the first three days were the worst, and I felt like shit and was a bit irritable and fuzzy-headed for a solid month. The only thing besides the book that helped me get through it was another kind of occassional smoke. And it did help.

I remain tobacco free and have no urge at all to smoke.

Good luck, Gampy.

[BigTex]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('jasonraymondson', 'D')oesn't it just overflow your body with dopamine?

[gampy]

Wow, that Chantix stuff sounds fucked up. No thanks.

Since quitting the tobacco, I have also foregone coffee, and wine. Plan on having little to no social life for the next couple of weeks, and going to do everything I can to avoid social situations with smokers.

Hopefully the worst is over for me. After 4 days it should ease up a bit, if what you folks say is true.

yeah, I was just fed up with it all as well. I guess my reasons for quitting kind of evolved. Not so much about the money, or even the health, but I think this time it's about gaining control over it. Saying fuck you to the tobacco. Think I'm gonna make it. Have my coping mechanisms worked out for the most part.

Thanks for the good wishes everyone, it helps a lot. Feel better tonight, especially after a brisk walk.

[uNkNowN ElEmEnt]

I sure hope you make it. I quit 6 years ago and it was by far the hardest thing I've even done. and I've done some hard things. Just keep telling yourself, that if you start again, you are going to have to go through all this pain and suffering all freaking over again.

Take lots of deep breaths, swear a lot, invent new curses and remember you've made it this far. This is by far the best thing you will ever do and its better to avoid having to go through all that shit again. Cause if you break even once... you know you will have to start right back at the beginning!

Good luck gampy

[mmasters]

I quit cold turkey a few years ago after 10 years of constant smoking. It wasn't easy, it's a good test of your strength. Are you gonna let that ciggarette control you or are you gonna be in charge? Think about lung cancer, many have said it's one of the most painful ways to die.

Anyhow, yeah quitting can be brutal, it takes about 4-5 weeks until things significantly ease up. The first week is the tougest because you're breaking a mental and physical addiction. Though if you have a lot of resolve it may not be TOO bad. Keeping your resolve strong is key. Once you've gotten over the physical addiction then you have about a month before the mental one subsides. You'll have some good days, OK days and bad days accompanied by nightmares. I found fruit juice to help me during the first week cranberry in particular. The vitamin C and sugar rush and perhaps somethign more from it helped ease the agony some. Things you like to do to distract you are good too as is exercise. Think about all that fresh air in your lungs when they can heal themselves! How great you'll feel. No more smokers cough!

Also do a search around the internet on forums for quitting smokers. Reading about all these other people going down the same path and all the heartfelt stories really helped me out a lot. I'm not sure I would have kept on track without that.

Get past 5 weeks the urges will drop about 80-90% in frequency and intensity. After that every now and then you'll get urges and they'll be mostly quick to pass and easy to deal with. Get to the 6 month point they're 99% gone and after a year you're smooth sailing.

It's so worth it to quit. I feel a LOT healthier, look younger and my all around stamina is pretty hardcore!

[gampy]

Thanks people...
Day 5. Woke up this morning and still had that terrible urge to run out to the store and buy a pack. Had to fight that fucking devil on my shoulder again. Lying in bed debating whether to run to the store. Had some breakfast, and a cup of tea. Afterwards another serious urge. Fuck it's tiring to have to go through this mental battle every 20 minutes. All I can do is hope that the worst will be over soon.

lol..sounds pretty grim, I guess, to people who have never smoked. Count your fucking blessings.

Hahaha....you are right. Possibly one of the hardest things to do.

5 days...oh man.

[Ayoob]

Just do pushups. That's enough to quit.

Long term maintenance is the application of willpower.

[Choon]

Used to go by as much as a pack of 21's a day. I've stopped smoking now because over the years, my eczema gets more and more easily triggered from the fags.