UGH!!! So here I am, 50+ hours into quitting smoking and it is not getting any easier, in fact, I think it is getting worse. I am afraid to leave the house because I might give in to the urge to purchase or "bum" cigarettes. There was a point this morning I wanted to cry. Don't get me wrong, I am determined to do this but it is seriously messing with me. I almost feel like I am grieving in some way. Anyway......dammit. I am not happy.

But here are my stats from the "stop smoking" website that AV suggested to me.


My Mileage
Smoke-Free Days: 2
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 32
Amount Saved: $6.12
Life Gained:
Days: 0 Hrs: 6 Mins: 11 Seconds: 47

The site has been very encouraging and helped me schedule a "quit date" which was 11/11.

_{(Well, that got me through that craving, thanks!)}

I have heard that posting naked pics of yourself on the internet really helps cut down the cravings.

Have you looked into Chantix? Everyone that I know that has taken it has good success with it. I am about to set up a doctors appointment to get some myself.

I wish you the best of luck and don't think I could ever quit without any help, or at least a padded cell.

Great Opheliaism! you got through this one plus 2 days!

I had an appointment with the doctor last week after a chest x ray. I was told I had pneumonia and the start of COPD. OUCH! I am only 42 and he said that I would be carrying around a bottle of oxygen by 55 if I keep smoking. I wish I could say that I am on the road to quiting like you. I have put it off. Sitting here with patches and a script for Chantix. What a wimp I am!!!!!! Keep on keeping it up girl.

Maybe you _liss_ and I can start helping each other.

MutantMandias can we work out a reward of naked pics?

Posted by _liss_ Have you looked into Chantix? Everyone that I know that has taken it has good success with it. I am about to set up a doctors appointment to get some myself. I wish you the best of luck and don't think I could ever quit without any help, or at least a padded cell.

I haven't seen it help people much. It kills a lot of things, including passion, motivation, happiness, dehydrates you terribly, makes you wicked unhappy, etc.

Cold turkey is the best route to go if you can. Mad props, Ophie.

my brother wore a wide rubber band on it with his wife's name written on one side and his daughter's name on the other. every time he wanted a cigarette, he turned over the rubber band. dunno where he got that idea, only that it worked.

weird.

Ophie..

I'm truly proud of you for trying to quit this deadly habit!

I wish I had some advice but I never tried smoking!

I see people chew gum or suck on lollipops!

I wish you only the best!

Posted by don_corleyone my brother wore a wide rubber band on it with his wife's name written on one side and his daughter's name on the other. every time he wanted a cigarette, he turned over the rubber band. dunno where he got that idea, only that it worked. weird.

Not so weird. I didn't use a prop, but that is essentially how I quit.

Posted by shellyl MutantMandias can we work out a reward of naked pics?

This feels very dirty.

Me likey.

Posted by Opheliaism There was a point this morning I wanted to cry.

Crying (and cursing, actually) will actually help your brain out quite a bit. I can explain the starving nicotine receptors and the neurotransmitters that your brain is fighting with, sometime, and there are different ways to help with it... But it will even out, and it WILL get better.

11/11 is a good date.

Love you. I'd like to request that you color me a picture (with crayons) the next time you need one. 'CAUSE I NEED A CRAYON PICTURE NOW!

keep it up. the first week is the worst. if you can get thru that, it will get easier, i promise!

my husband and i quit cold turkey, together in march 07 and we're almost 2 years smoke free.

you're doing a very admirable thing. please keep us posted. you'll feel so much better!

What's the website your using? I might want to check that out. I've been the "I'm gonna quit next week" guy for about 2 years now.

Posted by _liss_ Have you looked into Chantix? Everyone that I know that has taken it has good success with it. I am about to set up a doctors appointment to get some myself. I wish you the best of luck and don't think I could ever quit without any help, or at least a padded cell.

I had a buddy who used it. Said it worked great. IT supposedly makes you not even want to smoke. And if for some reason you do, you can't even finish the thing.

Keep it up however you do it.

Posted by trent I had a buddy who used it. Said it worked great. IT supposedly makes you not even want to smoke. And if for some reason you do, you can't even finish the thing. Keep it up however you do it.

I heard the same. After a few days you don't even have the urge to smoke. I guess you still have a little moodiness and irritability. I think it would be much worse without the drug.
I'm so addicted and smoke like a pack and a half a day. I'm one of those terrible smokers that has to have one everywhere at the most inconvenient times.
I have panic attacks when I run low on cigarettes in the middle of the night.

All of us smokers should band together and quit. I have such lack of motivation. Even the commercials with the guy with the hole in his throat don't phase me.

Oh gee not to mention its well over $6 a pack by me. Even more in lower NY.

Oops. I thought I linked the site...

http://www.stopsmokingcenter.net/

Well, I managed to go out and not buy or bum any smokes, but I ate a humongous amount of Chinese food. I really don't see the sense in getting Nicorette gum or lozenges at this point and I can't afford any prescriptions.

And Emma, I got the Crayons out but it frustrated me, so you will have to wait on the picture.

Posted by Opheliaism And Emma, I got the Crayons out but it frustrated me, so you will have to wait on the picture.

Markers? Colored pencils?? On colored construction paper? The point is to have a silly/creative outlet that gives sensory feedback--- crayons are the general medium of choice. But whatever feels (LITERALLY) the best.

I used to sit in a coffee shop ALLLLL DAYYY... coloring. People would always ask to see my pictures, thinking I was some great artist.

Then they'd see pictures that look like a two year old drew them, say "Ooohhhh.... neeeeaaaaatttt..." and slowly leave. Hehe.

Actually, I may have just found something that not only distracts but also something to do with my hands, much like holding a cigarette. A Nintendo DS!! The wand is perfect. I have been playing for over an hour and didn't think of smoking once. (Till just now, ugh.)

i've never smoked in my life. ever.
my only addiction is Mountain Dew (which is probably just as bad!)

Shael on the other hand... it drives me fucking batshit that she keeps putting it off. I HATE the smell of smoke, I hate the smell of old smoke on clothes. O get pissed off when I walk into somewhere and people are out front smoking. Fuck! I hate it when the car in front of me has someone smoking in it and I can fucking smell it! The sight of a full ashtray makes me want to puke... I think it comes from watching my dad... that fucking guy will chain smoke all day long if he could. He's 58 but looks almost 70... tell me cigarettes shouldn't be illegal and I'll kick you in the nutbag.

Posted by Samurai my only addiction is Mountain Dew (which is probably just as bad!)

I've quit pop/caffeine several times. I quit a few months ago, because I had a week of no work/no school. The withdrawal headaches I get are worse than my migraines, which send me to the hospital. So... It was an awful week.

The other person who lives with me loves Mt. Dew. I really don't like the taste. But anyway... I quit and then I kept drinking pop, because it was there.
I finally had to ask him to start leaving his pop at work or something. Because I really... REALLY can't stop myself from drinking it, if it is available to me.

I now understand how strong of a self-control issue this is for some people. I never understood it, before.

... I'd been *clean* for a few months, and then this week ...he bought a whole 24-pack of Mt. Dew. I tried SO HARD and I just couldn't do it.

Ran out last night. I was doing 2 cans a day, probably.

Today I have had a HORRIBLE headache.
At work, though... I still stuck to my normal leomonade. No tea, no coffee, no pop. I'm very proud of that but...

Christ... I'm dead fucking serious when I talk about this. It is a total mindfuck to me --- I just don't get it --- I have virtually zero nicotine receptors in my brain and I am physically incapable of developing an addiction to it (seriously, I would have). However, nicotine/caffeine receptors operate similarly: if you're addicted to one, you're more likely to be addicted to the other. I SHOULD be predisposed to be addicted to BOTH or NEITHER, and not just one.

(God I am such a nerd.)

That, and I still am still coping with the fact that I have "an addiction," for real, even if it isn't a drug people go to rehab or jail for...

tell me cigarettes shouldn't be illegal and I'll kick you in the nutbag.

I'm really glad they nominated you to run this board. ;)

the past couple of days, i have tried to really cut back on how much soda I drink, primarily Mountain Dew and the headaches I have been waking up with have been absolutely exquisite... did you get the sweats when you quit soda? I get them with the headaches.

Anyways, I went back to it. I'd rather be chubby than have headaches.

I'm really glad they nominated you to run this board. ;)

it's where i work. we're very blunt there. it carries over.

Posted by Samurai the past couple of days, i have tried to really cut back on how much soda I drink, primarily Mountain Dew and the headaches I have been waking up with have been absolutely exquisite... did you get the sweats when you quit soda? I get them with the headaches. Anyways, I went back to it. I'd rather be chubby than have headaches.

I got excruciating headaches, the sweats, and I had tremors. Some people get familial tremors when they drink caffeine (totally normal), which is when part of you just vibrates uncontrollably while it is otherwise relaxed. ... I had withdrawal tremors, had horrible headaches which I tried to sleep off, and woke up hot and sweaty (and not in a good way).

I would never, EVER try to quit ANYTHING without a week that I could kill and basically lay in bed and sleep all day, every day, and have no consequences.

it's where i work. we're very blunt there. it carries over.

No need to explain. I just thought it was funny