To ask you to give me a boost to keep on with no smoking

[Maydaybankholiday]

Im day 2 of no smoking.
Its gone from now and again smoker last year to full time at the xmas lockdown and since .
Yesterday I've felt irritable and anxious and had to go to bed early .
Today I'm anxious again, irrirable and tired.
Can anyone give me a boost and tell me this is temporary and I'll feel fine in a few days?
The devil part of my brain is telling me to just buy ciggies and all this will go away!!

Soon you’ll wonder why you ever did it. You no longer stink. Your clothes don’t stink. Keep at it 😊

So proud of you op.....my dad smoked all our lives as kids and 5 years ago gave up cold turkey.
I think he is incredible. He used to keep his hands busy to try and occupy his mind.
He also ate a lot of mints.
For the first year he would save the momey he spent and get himself something new-like a coat or some boots.

You are doing amazing ❤️ please keep at it. My DM is now off them over 7 years and the difference to her lungs is amazing. Save the money you would have spent for treats for yourself

I haven't smoked in 4 years (even though I only smoked when I drank). I hate the smell of cigarettes now. It makes me sick. You can get through this and out the other side. Just keep going cold turkey. You'll save loads of money and your skin will be nice. I couldn't imagine smoking a cigarette now.

@RandomDent

Soon you’ll wonder why you ever did it. You no longer stink. Your clothes don’t stink. Keep at it 😊

I stopped my 10 a day habit 6 months ago. I’ve had a couple of minor lapses (ie scrounged a fag 2/3 times in the pub) but other than that have stopped, haven’t even had one in the pub for about 2 months and have got to the stage RandomDent talks about.

Keep going! It's hard but so worth it.

I stopped four and a half year ago, the first few days all I could think was I want a fag, I want a fag, over and over again. Never thought I'd do it, but I have, and aside from a few really tempting moments I've not given in.

Cheering you on OP

Worst will be over soon. Smoke free since 2002 :) eat stuff

You can do it.
Do anything to keep your hands and mind busy.
Crafts, knitting, gardening, paint a wall at home.
Something you can feel proud of and know that you're also doing the greatest thing for your health.

What pp said about saving the money you would have spent, is a very good idea.

Set aside a proper piggybank or jar and at the end of each day put the money into it that you would have spent on cigarettes. That way you can see the money grow.

I did this when I gave up years ago, and you'd be amazed how quickly it mounts up. Then you take the money and spoil yourself with something nice.

Try not to feel like you're 'losing' something from your life by stopping but put all your focus on the future and how much healthier you'll be and feel and the risks you are cutting from your life by stopping. And keep reminding yourself how much money you'll save; it's just such a terrible waste of money - that was one of my biggest motivators, I think.

You can stop, thousands of people do, you just need to keep on motivating yourself and whatever you do do not go and buy a packet of cigarettes because the craving will pass if you stick it out but once you have that packet of cigarettes in your possession you'll smoke them and the two day or two months or whatever it is that you've achieved will be for nothing.

Just keep moving forward and you will get there.

Oh forgot to say. Doing something with your hand: knitting, sewing, cross stitch or similar will keep your hands from wanting to hold a cigarette.

I did knitting.

You got this!!
Great tips by PPs.

Imagine how much cleaner and healthier your lungs are looking. Stops the lines forming round your mouth.

It’s absolutely worth it

My mood is the worst side effect so far. I'm coping with the cravings but I'm feeling so flat and down.

Thank you for the positive tips.
I'm going to whiten my teeth tonight as a treat as I've been holding off till I stopped.

How many did you smoke a day? Get yourself a reward jar, physically withdraw cash and put a tenner in every time you would have bought a pack.

You won't just feel fine soon, you'll feel amazing, better than ever!

I quit in 2017 (2018 maybe?) and it's been great. I can't tell you what a relief it is.

Are you doing any exercise? That might lift your mood a bit. Even just a little walk.

Feeling flat and down is part of the withdrawal and craving.

Can you find things to do to try to counteract that: play music, go for a few walks, phone a friend, go to the cinema, go out for a coffee - you can't smoke in the cinema or a café - dance around your living room, even if you don't feel like dancing; anything to try to lift your mood.

Try not to just go to bed, because you'll probably just lie in bed thinking about cigarettes.

It's very early days OP and it's having a huge impact on your body and mind but it's so worthwhile to stick it out, and you can get through it, you really can.

I gave up when someone called me a 'slave to nicotine', and I realised I was - my life was governed by when I could have my next cigarette. I really resented something else being in charge of my life, and it made a switch flip in my brain from 'smoker' to 'non-smoker'.

I didn't say to myself that I was giving up smoking, because that suggested I was depriving myself of something, I just said 'you're a non-smoker now' and began to count the benefits.

I'd also read that the cravings only lasted a couple of minutes, so I used to say to myself ' here we go again, another of those cravings', and just observed it as dispassionately as possible until it faded.

When you've ridden out of the worst of these withdrawal symptoms, I hope you'll feel as glad - and as free - as I did.

Well done so far!
It’s not easy but what about this:

What kind of damage does smoking do to your face?
Skin damage from long-term smoking can result in a “smoker’s face,” which can cause facial skin to appear grayish and lines to develop around the eyes and mouth, according to the University of Montana. Tobacco smoke can also have damaging effects on skin’s collagen and elastin.

If you cave now you'll only have to start the whole process again, don't let the last 2 days suffering have been in vain! This is the worst bit, honestly, get through the next few days and it will get easier, still hard moments sure but the low mood will start to lift at least. You're doing really well and it's honestly the most amazing thing you could do for yourself and everyone who loves you, keep going, it will be worth it

Well done you are doing great! Brush your teeth after every meal to help you not want one. Have you tried gum or patches? I used them just a bit for when I couldn't bear the cravings. Also try mindfulness meditation, there are free ones on YouTube.
Quitting greatly improves your quality of life, especially as you age.

Thanks for the encouragement!!
It's keeping me going.
I've got a vape with 3mg nicotine but I can't see it's making a difference tbh. Might be a good alternative when drinking though I was thinking

Exercise and sip ice cold water. I used Nicorette Lozenges in the early days and they did it for me having just that small hit of nicotine when i had cravings.

Keep it up - best thing you'll ever do

3mg vape is probably less nicotine then silk cut ultra low. I see this all the time from friends who go from full strength fags to low low vape juice - never lasts because the nicotine cravings are not being satisfied. It's like going from Malboro reds to ultra-lights and then wondering why you still have cravings.

Smoking involves two things: mental habit and physical addiction. I think the idea is that vaping (or gum etc) are for the habit breaking to start. Like for like in strength. Then once the smoking habit is gone, you work on the nicotine addiction by slowly reducing the mg. Starting at the lowest dose is pointless as you're trying to break the habit and addiction at the same time.

Keep on with it. After 20 a day for 30 years I gave up 26 months ago. Taste and smell things better. Feel healthier. And have more money. It helps to tot up each month what you would have spent. It's amazing. It gets easier too ! Well done x