Almost 24hours since quit smoking....

[LionMonkey]

I have been an on/off smoker for quite awhile. After a bit of a stressful spring/summer, I wobbled and restarted with abundance at the beginning of June this year after quite a long spell of not smoking.

I hate it, I don't know why I was doing it. It is just one of those things that once I start, I find it difficult to stop. I have been getting through about 10-20 fags a day (which is really heavy going by my standards).

So last night I finished my last packet and have vowed to quit. I really hope that this will really be the last time I quit!

I want to do it for the sake of my DD. I want to be healthy and be a good role model etc. I also feel INCREDIBLY guilty for smoking as I am putting my health at risk so unnecessarily.

PS I never smoke in the home or anywhere near her, always in the bottom of the garden and always used mouthwash etc afterwards, although I'm sure I still stank and worried about second/third hand smoke etc.

Today has been tough. I know I've had a right face on me all day and have just been very grrr. I know the first week (particularly the first 3 days are the worst...).

Just wanted to vent really and get my news out there. No one in my real life even knows that I started smoking again because I am so ashamed to be doing it because I'm a mum. I don't want to be a mum that smokes. Because no one knows I started smoking, no one knows I am quitting so I have no one to share this with, so I thought I would share it with mumsnet.

Anyway, thanks for reading.

Well done for giving up! Hardest thing I ever did, but so rewarding. I found the first four days were the worst, I did a lot of deep breathing and gum chewing to beat cravings, and swore almost constantly. Good luck! And post tomorrow evening, accountability can be helpful.

Am now half way through Day 2 of not smoking. I know from previous experience of quitting that the first 3 days are the worst, and to say that I woke up like a bear with a sore tooth is the understatement of the year! I feel sorry for anyone who has to deal with me today

I am using nicotine replacement lozenge thingies and they have been a life saver!

Well done for giving up. I gave up 8 years ago after smoking for 22 years.

It took several attempts for me to stop. In the end what helped me was patches for the first week or two plus keeping VERY busy! I also found a forum for people who were giving up and joined and posted on there. It helped to talk to people who understood.

Good luck

I used the NHS system, which was really good. Apart from free trials of all aids, we learned that the urges only last 2/3 minutes each time, so it's not impossible to take your mind off it for that long. First 48 hours are worst, I remember, and as you won't want to go through that again, just remind yourself that it's getting easier.