Can anyone help me quit smoking?

[violetbloom]

I'm so keen to stop. All advice and tips very gratefully received.

Depeche I am so sorry things are going to be tough this month . Money problems are just so draining I know .

You know you want to get back on track cigarette wise and that is the main thing .

hello everyone...
Do you mind if I join you?
I've stopped smoking this morning and am feeling really narky already!
I'm a 20 a day smoker and have been for years.. I stopped for 4 years when pregnant etc, but unfortunately had a horrible miscarriage and started again.
I need to stop because I can't afford it and it's upsetting my 10 yr old, who nags me constantly. I also found out that my smoking buddy is also giving up today, due to her new bf.
so,.. I've got a patch on and keep reminding myself how much I'll save. I've also ordered the nhs stop smoking pack.
I'll get Allen Carr later I think.
How are you all today?

Hi Ingles , you have done the hardest bit I reckon , making the decision you don't want to do it anymore .
I can def recommend Allen Carr , I watched the dvd and just felt so elated about stopping and I have to say that the first couple of weeks were a breeze . It has only been the last few days when I have been chilling out in the evening that I have started getting really bad cravings .

Good luck

Thanks TW
Feeling dreadful today, got to say. I have a stonker of a headache. I must be coming down with something.
So from reading the thread you must be nearly 3 weeks?! That is really fantastic and you must be feeling very proud of yourself. Are you going to reward yourself when you get to a month?
I'm planning on putting all the money in a jar, so I can see it regularly. We've had such a crap 18 months with our business and haven't been able to afford any luxuries. I'm aiming for a mini shopping spree, or maybe a day out with my boys

It will be 3 weeks on wed , I am really pleased

I haven't really got a big treat in mind but I have been buying more for myself in general . If I see a book or cream or an item of clothing that I fancy I am finding that I have enough money to buy it where as before I would be feeling skint in general so wouldn't have got it .

Welcome Ingles. Remember that the first week or so will be tough. After that it's much less tough and just a case of mastering your psychological addictions. I will be one month free on Friday and I'd say that 4 days out of 5 a week I'm not thinking about smoking at all really but I'll suddenly get a day where I feel that empty feeling in my chest, a craving feeling, although it's very mild now and I can ignore it with a bit of willpower!

Depeche, don't worry. Remember I started this thread on a Wednesday then 'forgot' and smoked all of Wednesday evening and all of Thursday before I got fed up with myself and started again on the Friday. I'm utterly amazed I haven't had a slip up, especially during that first week. And even now, dp's been under pressure at work and he's one of those maddening people who can smoke occasionally then not for months, he's got a pack around and I do find myself walking towards them in his coat pocket, almost like I'm hypnotised! I've resisted. But it's been a huge challenge not to give in to that. If he'd had them here in the first week I wouldn't be at this point at all. I'd probably be smoking as much as ever.

Thanks Violet.. I know it's going to get hard but am feeling strangely excited. Haven't had a craving yet today and there are fags on the shelf. Will bin them now.
Well done forgetting this far btw are you using a replacement?

Morning everyone
Day 2...
Got through the 1st day feeling ok,.. a few cravings but really not too bad. Dh bought me the Allen Carr book, so I'll start on that
and the boys have covered the computer in post it notes saying things like, Mummy smoking will ruin your life and think of all the shopping you can do.
The one saying I don't want you to die Mum, has got to keep me on the straight and narrow..
Hope you are all having a good morning... I'm keeping my fingers crossed for us all.

Well done Ingles , those post it notes sound a bit scary . Good scary but scary all the same .

I am doing ok now during the day I do think about it sometimes but don't really crave then . But I am still struggling with the evening thing . It was part of my wind down after the boys had gone to bed .

you're doing great Wilbury....
I know exactly what you mean about the winding down though. We'll have to come up with something else to do with our hands.
I'm at work Wed - Fri and am dreading it. I use my fag break to stop and think about what I'm doing because people talk to me constantly. Perhaps I won't say I'm quitting and stand outside anyway.

For anyone who is thinking about quitting.

Sod the self-help books, hypnocrap etc...

I quit six weeks ago and it was easy - I cheated and got a drug called Champix from my GP. It surpresses the physical withdrawal symptoms beautifully.

I highly recommend it to anybody who is genuinely scared of quiting.

Obviously not everyone can take it - it's a no no if you're pregant or breast feeding but if you can - get it. You must get it before you stop smoking though. Ring your GP and ask if they have a Smoking Cessation Clinic. It is so much easier than cold turkey or nicorette. I started smoking when I was 14 with the odd break for a year or two. It bloody works.

How is everyone doing ?

Depeche have you managed to get back on track ? I am still struggling a wee bit in the evening .

amber , well done for quitting . Whatever works it is worth it .

Isn't it odd how fags just don't do the job so well once you've stopped. In some ways, I LONG to be a smoker again! I so want to be naughty and draw on a fag. Unfortunately one cigarette wouldn't even touch the sides, and probably nor would a packet, or even 10. I need liquid nicotine tipped down me. That's what it feels like anyway. It's not going to happen, so it seems a bit silly to start smoking again. I stopped on the first Monday in November, had a couple of blips over Christmas, and 2 fags at the start of Jan. That's it for this year. Oh for the company of smokers!!!

Sorry about the whinge. I should be rejoicing in my filth-free air!!

Hi Everyone... How's your week going?
I'm now day 4 of being a non smoker! and it's proving easier than I thought at the moment. Only problem time is evening,...like now,...just had dinner, am sitting at computer and I'd kill for a fag. Have been going to bed early instead.
and I have to keep going, I've booked my reward already..
A long weekend with the family in York over Easter, courtesy of fag money and Tesco clubcard rewards. Result!

Well done everyone!

I am, believe it or not, 1 month fag-free today!

silentcatastrophe, your post strikes a cord with me. Everything you've described is probably the reasons why I've failed in previous quits. I miss the act of being a smoker, being someone with an addiction which can be satisfied. And one month into this quit, I still miss that: the feeling of having a fag to look forward to after doing something / at lunch break / when dd's gone to bed. Mostly also when I'm bored, stressed or tired.

BUT I also know that when I was smoking and enjoying those 'reward' things I was also riddled with guilt almost constantly. I had a lovely friend who died very brutally of cancer earlier this year and I saw her go through hell and was even more aware than ever of how I'd hate myself if I died of a fag-induced cancer and people had to see me go through that. I'm scared that I've already done that kind of damage, of course, that it's already too late. But you never know.

Slightly depressingly, after one month free I do still fancy a fag! Evening, like you travel, is worst. But other moments as well. I can't work out when that's going to stop!!!

I will never smoke again though. I'm determined about that. I couldn't go through this again.

That is absolutely brilliant Violet Well done you.
I'm following in your determined footsteps as I too suffer from fear, and guilt of smoking induced illness

Well done DepecheMode....
and it's a week today for me... and today was the first day that I didn't think about smoking when I got up...a minor breakthrough I feel.
Have a good week everyone

How are my fellow quittees?

Hi Violet !! I was just thinking about you !! I'm still doing well but I had my ups and downs ! I'm happier !! And you ?? Its going to be 5 weeks !! And without help . How are you travel ???

Hello summer. Yes 5 weeks on Friday. I can't believe it really sometimes.

I'm hoping that everyone else is quiet because they're doing so well!