Quitting cold turkey CAN be done.

[voddiekeepsmesane]

Just want to give a big call out to those who are wanting to quit cold turkey and say it CAN be done no matter how long you have been smoking. I smoked between 20 and 30 a day for 30 years and as little as 8 months ago would have sworn there was no giving up for me. I got really ill with sinus, ear and chest infections between October and January just gone. 14 WEEKS!! So many times I went to the doctors and I don't think I was ever really taken seriously when I wanted further tests, was always referred back to smoking being the cause. I swore that never again if I got that ill would I be fobbed off with smoking being the issue. I went cold turkey 18th January the first 2 weeks were a little rough but my mindset was in the right mode so didn't seem all that bad. Almost 7 months on and all is good. I really do feel that anyone can get to their own point of realisation but only your own mind is holding you back. I hope this story may help someone own their own path.

Thank you Kat. Today I am feeling better. Onwards and upwards.

Hello again. Well done Sarah, you sound really strong and motivated which is helping be in a funny sort of way. And Kitkat you have done brilliantly, are you counting the months now?!

I am do

Oops, posted too soon, I'm not used to the tiny keys on my phone, normally use a pc.

The place I'm staying is perfect and I managed to get out between showers and stomp across the fields in watery sunshine which was lovely. I am in to my 2nd day now (around 26 hours) and I'm starting to feel a bit fuzzy edged and sleepy but I think the fresh air and exercise in different surroundings and change of routine will all help.

I don't feel strong. Took me a lot of willpower this morning to not go and buy any. I just keep thinking to myself if I have a cigarette then the past few days have been for nothing.

Also started to put the price of a packet of cigarettes in my savings each day. Hopefully seeing that build up will help too.

I think that acknowledging the feeling and letting it go is a powerful change in behaviour. You are still winning as long as you don't actually smoke.

I really need to stop

Quick update to say I'm do- thank you so much OP for starting this thread

Another oops, it posted before I was ready. Thanks for starting this thread OP. It's early days but I'm so

Doing fine so far apart from posting on my phone which I am clearly rubbish at. Hope you are doing ok Sarah and kitkat and everyone else.

Well this is half way through day 3 ( 72 hours will be 3.00pm) and I am seriously questioning my decision. I don't understand it, I don't feel terrible or even bad but there's a voice saying what's so terrible about smoking, humans across all races have smoked since forever it's only present day society that has made it completely unacceptable. It's not the worst vice and it is my only one.

I am grieving for the good old days of wine bars pubs and clubs and cafes and galleries where smokers were welcome. Well, we were welcome everywhere. I know it's unreasonable to feel that because we polluted the air for everyone and killed ourselves slowly without a thought for loved ones so I do know my thinking is skewed but it's not helping me stay on course.

Year 6 with cold turkey! It can be done! Well done to all quitters!

Hardest thing I have ever done, far harder than giving up litre bottle of vodka a day !!!!

Starbrightnight hang in there you are at the hardest bit. The first 7 days are so hard, I still grieve my ciggie with a morning coffee or an evening glass of wine, life does feel quite as good without it so I know how you feel but I don't crave it anymore just miss it. But I know that will pass. Well done and stay strong xx

At midnight I am a week smoke free. Gosh it's hard 😭😭😭

Hope everyone is doing okay.

Well done Sarah! You are doing brilliantly, you are there now on the sunny side. Sadly I am not.

Thank you for your encouragement, KitKat but I had fallen just before I read your post but was too ashamed to post my failure that day.

What happened was I had a terrible night not sleeping (and sweating -was that withdrawal?) really spooked by scratching sounds (mice, RATS?) inside the walls of the converted barn where I was staying, right by my bed. I thought I can't go another night here and rang my OH asking him to come and get me. He was also meant to be giving up but had found some cigs in an old jacket...

He stopped at a garage on the way home and you know the rest.

I was 4 hours away from it being 72 hours, so the worst was probably over. I am disappointed with myself but will get determined again very soon.

For those still doing well, or aiming to go cold turkey the truth is there was no pain at all. It wasn't awful, I didn't feel terrible. It was more of a mind game than physical discomfort in my experience. Then when I did light up I actually was feeling fine, but my brain was behind, saying this is what you want, go on, you might as well cos you're going to anyway so may as well get on with it. It was a decision I made - the wrong one.

Well done sarahlux. Starbrightnight don't feel ashamed, we are the people who truly understand! You'll do it when you're ready xxx

Starbright you have not failed, it is just a blip.

Just wanted to pop on to say well done @sarahlux Ive been reading this thread but slightly reluctant to post in case I tripped up (last cig NYE  !). I won't lie it's been bloody hard and there are still times I'm tempted but it's getting easier as each day I think about it less and now know it's really just a mind game as all the physical affects of the addiction are long gone so it's just the same old triggers and learning how to avoid or manage them. Plus the thought of being on day 2 or 3 again is keeping me going

@starbrightnight TBH I think going away to a retreat sounded a really hard way of doing it as all the usual triggers will still be there once you get home so you first had to deal with the emotional side of quitting then get home and have to deal with the practicalities or day-to-day life without your usual ciggies. Don't beat yourself up over it but start again tomorrow with a clear head & firm resolve and take each day at a time. My advice would be face the triggers head on and try and change your habits as someone else upthread said. So for example I used to always have a cigarette as soon as kids were in bed but now I make myself a cup of tea and sit with a book or magazine for 10/15mins; on my day off I'd go for a run and then get home pour a coffee and sit and smoke a good 2 or 3 ciggies (yes I know I know ) . Now I make myself scrambled egg on toast and have a long soak in the bath. Changing habits is bloody hard but does stop the ongoing temptations.

Thisgirlrides well done you are over the worst, as you say it's a mind game from now on. It gets easier alot quicker now. I had last cig 30th November and don't really crave it just miss it alot but was a smoker for years so takes time to re train the brain I guess. Well done everyone and stay strong.

Yesterday I threw away all my smoking stuff. I had a packet of fags still which have now gone.

Good for you xxx

Just think you have gone through the hardest week knowing you had cigarettes and not sneaking one, that's strength.

How is everyone getting on?

I nearly slipped up today & it was only sheer laziness that stopped me driving to the shop ! thankfully after rummaging desperately hopefully in old bags & costs for a hidden ciggie I resisted the urge to actually go out and buy any after a quick talking to (along the lines of - ffs pull yourself together woman ) and busied myself to distract me. Literally minutes later it was all forgotten but goes to show those little moments are still there to test us

Good here, ticking along, 7 weeks now. Still can't quite believe I have managed it.