3rd day of quitting smoking

[Arghhhhggggggggggg]

I hate to say it but I'm 33 and ive smoked since I was 12. And I love it. I just absolutely love smoking. I miss it so much.

I've had to quit as I have done irreversible damage to my lungs and I now have COPD ( I didn't have any breathing issues at all until I caught covid a few years ago )

I'm only on day 3 but I am none stop sweating through my hands, it's grim.

The shop is literally a 2minute walk from my house and they also sell single cigs. It is taking so much inner strength to not go and get some.

I know im doing the right thing quitting and I know im hopefully prolonging my life by a little bit compared to if I'd of continued smoking, but I'm just so sad about it. I absolutely loved having a cig and a brew in the morning

I look after my two disabled dc and after a brutally hard day there's nothing more I enjoyed than sitting on my door step having a cig

I don't even know what I want from this post, I'm angry at myself for doing this damage to my body and I'm sad at myself for still desperately wanting somthing that's damaging my body

It’s very difficult but you CAN get through. I gave up ten or so years ago now for the last time after trying many times.
I can only explain the feeling of not being able to smoke initially as like losing a friend- almost a grief feeling.
Like any loss you have to get over, it takes a bit of time but one day you WILL know that you are over it and that you don’t need to go back. That is a feeling worth having.
persevere!
you can do it!
reward yourself with something each day, or even each hour if need be.

Can you have a long bath? That’s what I’ve done in the past. You can’t get to the shop if you’re naked and wet 😂

Have an early night too. Less day to get through.

And think of it as “surfing withdrawal” - feel the craving and let it happen, ride the wave and be aware of it coming and going. If you count to 90 seconds the craving should be over by then. Keep surfing those waves. Every one you get through is progress.

Day 3 is always horrible and stinky. Well done you!

Keep going OP, take it one small step at a time. Every day that you are smoke free is a massive achievement - after 3 days your body will be nicotine free. I promise you will never regret quitting. Shift your mindset, you are now a non smoker. My mum found it an incentive when she quit to put the money saved in a jar. After a year she used it to buy something she'd wanted for a long time. Keeping a diary might help - to hopefully let you see things get easier over time.

I know it's silly but that's what I feel like, I'm really sad about it and I keep crying ( I know the tears are probably to do with the stress of not smoking )

Its such a big part of my life I feel lost without it. I know that's stupid. I know it was hurting me and I know this is for the best but I've got ridden of a 21 year old crutch. It's really hard.

I definetly need to find somthing as a reward.... the cigs were my reward 😅. I was hoping I could turn to mints or chewing gum but I havnt found them helpful as of yet

Thank you

A bath is actually a really good idea, I love baths. Unfortunetly I've had awful insomnia since quitting, I'm glad I got rid of all my smoking stuff as last night I was searching my house desperately looking for a cig 🤦‍♀️😅

I didn't Google before I decided to quit what the withdrawal symptons would be like but I did Google earlier and it did say that day 2 or 3 was partially hard. I know future me will be really pleased with myself and my children are both incredibly pleased I have quit

Thank you, it's so difficult especially when cigs are just around the corner 😅

Thank you, it doesn't feel like an achievement right now but I an wallowing in self pity at the moment 😅

Can I say I'm a non smoker now? My little boy is so happy I've quit smoking, he has wanted me to quit for years I've just never been able to find the strength before. A diary is a good shout.

The money aspect of it will be nice to see eventually, I spent over £100 a month on smoking, it's actually disgusting when you think about it

Cigs are ALWAYS just around the corner
going back to them is NEVER the answer!
Just grieve and then you can move on. Your fingers won’t stink now so buy some nice hand cream?
mints and gum won’t work because it’s putting stuff in your mouth that’s the problem. You could sing or put some lipstick on ??? I know these are random ideas but they may help. You have to get through each hour and then you’ll wake up and realise it’s been months and months since you even thought about it

Can I ask OP, how you stopped? Did you just go cold turkey or do you have patches?

I gave up several years ago but then started again after a bereavement and am seriously looking at giving up in the new year. I used patches before which really helped and they can be got free on the NHS via their smoking cessation service. I also have the Alan Carr book, which many people swear really helps them.

Well done by the way, I always enjoy a cig after eating and when I’m having alcohol in particular (but not when I have to stand outside in the freezing cold!!) so I can fully understand how much you miss them but we both know it’s the best thing to do for both our health and our purse

Stopping smoking is one of the most challenging but rewarding choices a person can make. Cravings, stress, and daily habits can make the process difficult, especially in the early stages. That’s why having the right support system is so important during the journey.
For anyone looking for guidance, shared experiences, and real motivation, this smoking cessation community offers helpful resources and encouragement from people who are going through the same process. Even small steps forward matter, and every smoke-free day is progress.

I smoked from
age 11. I’m now early 60’s and stopped 18 months ago after a particularly nasty chest infection. I can tell you it was the best decision I ever made although one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. I do still use nicotine lozenges so I guess I’m still addicted to nicotine but hey ho. For 18 months I’ve not had one cough, cold or virus. I also loved smoking and that first cigarette with a cup of tea in the garden is something I know I’ll miss forever. Do it OP it’s so worth it and will gain you many more healthy years even with COPD

I'm on my first day (again) and I'm in bits already. I'm using an inhalator. This has to work this time.

I've remembered when I gave up before (twice before) how the cravings never came and went they are ongoing for me.

I wish I had never started. I also wish I'd pushed through when I gave up before. And I wish I could be like the people who've never smoked so they don't even think about it. I hope I get to that point.

Keep going all of you who have quit. Don’t look back, look forward. I’m in my sixties now, quit many years ago. I am fit and active and only yesterday was talking to my friend about how glad we are that we knocked that disgusting habit on the head.

My brother and SIL did not. He can’t walk up a slight incline without gasping. He has lost most of his teeth. SIL had a heart attack before the age of 60 and sounds like every movement is an effort.

When we holiday together, it has to be somewhere with a garden they can smoke in. We then spend the evening outside, often shivering, so they can smoke. Their lives revolve around smoking and whether they can do it or not.

smoking in your thirties feels great. Smoking in your fifties and sixties is a terrible addiction that blights your life. I’m not sure DB and SIL will be smoking in their seventies.

You will get to that point. I promise you. Just keep keeping on

I'm coming to the end of my second day and I feel awful. I'm nauseous, tired, no appetite, an upset tummy and I could cry (I did cry yesterday on day 1). I'm going to have to come to terms with I can never smoke again. I can't do social smoking (that's what made me relapse twice before). I've now got some patches and chewy sweets.

I know I've got an addictive personality but I've never taken drugs (except smoking) and I'm not bothered by alcohol but this ...

It sounds dramatic but I can't see into the future when this gets easier although I can remember last time at 3 months when it was getting easier.

Honestly, I promise it will happen. You will get to the point that you are surprised you used to smoke because you hadn’t thought about it for weeks, months even.
I found chewing nicotine gum helped with the cravings. Have you asked for help from an NHS smoking cessation clinic? I hope they still exist.

I haven't asked for help but I think they exist. I haven't told anyone except my DS I'm giving up because I don't think that many people know (or know how addicted I am).

Well done, I know it’s really hard. If you can get through today you will be over the worst bit.
My tip is to keep yourself and your hands busy doing things you can’t do whilst smoking: knit, sew, have a bath, go to the gym or for a swim, sit in the children’s bedroom. Avoid mixing with other smokers, change your routine , find other ways to reward yourself. If sitting down with a cup of tea is a trigger, change your drink, or sit somewhere else.
Save the money you would have spent and either give yourself a little splurge every week or month, or save for something bigger. I gave up in 2018/when cigarettes were much cheaper than they are now, and wasn’t a heavy smoker, but even so, giving up 2 packs of cigs a week meant a new pair of shoes every month, or it could be a weekly takeaway If you want more immediate rewards. If you smoked a lot the savings will be substantial.
You've got this. Your body will thank you, your children will thank you.

Forgot to mention, I used a hypnotherapist to help quit, and her parting words at the end of the session were “ Just don’t have another cigarette. Don’t have ‘just one’. Throw away all your smoking paraphernalia.”

After 10 years of trying and failing to quit I managed it by using the mint flavoured nicotine gum. I got this free by using the NHS stop smoking service, they were so helpful and I couldn’t have done it without this service.

I'm now on my seventh day! I've had to stop the patches because I'm so allergic so I'm itching like mad on top of feeling still rubbish and sorry for myself! I'm using an inhalator which is helping but I feel so sick particularly in the morning.

I read somewhere that it's not just getting rid of one habit it's getting rid of hundreds and I feel like that. I'm an addict and I know I can never smoke again.

I'm so upset still.

I don’t know why this has popped up in active as it’s a few months old now but if you’re struggling please please read or Alan Carr easy way to quit smoking or listen to the alan carr easy way boot camp audio book. I quit with this in my 30s and again in my 40s after a big lapse from social smoking/ stressful times. It’s honestly magic. Somehow the process removes the feelings deprivation of not smoking and you feel great. I tired will power and substitutes countless times and always felt miserable ans ultimately failed but this ankara you feel great. Good luck.