I quit smoking 2 months ago and I can't stop thinking about having one

[Scout1071]

today.

I know you guys will just encourage me not to smoke and I know that is the right thing, but dayumm - I really want a cig.

[Cathyclysmic]

1. Beast Man and I feel your pain

We quit on 2/13/06. Yesterday was the worst day, craving-wise, of this ordeal. And I quit, used patches for about a week, then went cold-turkey. This crap should be out of my system!

Now I know nicotine is a drug that alters your brain so you never really stop craving it...but, shouldn't my cravings be less?

Ugh! I have to admit that THE worst mistake I have made in my life was deciding to smoke. I know that sounds extreme, but, I really do feel that way. And of course, there is the addicted side of me wants some marlboro mediums.

Anyway, congratulations and good luck.

[IdaBriggs]

2. Just curious -- why? The flavor? The smell? The feel of "something"

in your hand or your mouth? The "feel" of before, during or after?

What is it you are *REALLY* craving? Perhaps if you figure that out, it will be easier to resist. :)

[billyskank]

6. It's the whole thing

The ritual. Getting it out of the packet. Putting it in your mouth. Lighting it. Taking the first draw. Inhaling it and feeling it. The nicotine rush. It's not any one thing; it's the whole package of experiences.

[IdaBriggs]

9. Perhaps creating a "new" ritual would help.

For example, put "something" in a package (that isn't as harmful to your health). Pull it out. Unwrap it. Put it in your mouth. Savor it. Feel the caffeine/sugar rush. Choose something decadent and delicious. Do you like coffee nips?

[Scout1071]

16. Like eating? Been doing that since 2/1/06.

I've replaced cigs with food. I've tried to make it healthy things lately - yogurt, oranges, light lemonade, etc.

It's tough. I'm going to go for a long walk with my dog, but I'm really obsessing over it. I know I shouldn't, but I really want one.

[Scout1071]

15. Correct. It's the whole ritual. nt

[timber84]

3. Don't start, the urge should only last for 30 seconds get up and

walk around when it hiys you. You will be amazed how quickly it goes away.

[WCGreen]

4. I quit 22 years ago and still think wistfully about a nice curl of

smoke making it's way up to the ceiling....

But then I breath in real hard and feel the sharp pain resulting, mostly, from my years of cigarette smoking and the feeling passes real quick like....

[billyskank]

5. Just don't! It will pass!!

:pals:

[Boojatta]

7. Have you been a teacher or tutor? (Paid or volunteer. It doesn't matter)

I can accept that you can't stop imagining smoking a cigarette, but is it really a strain for you to stop thinking about having a cigarette?

[MissMillie]

8. You don't really want to go back to how tough it was on day 1... do you?

:hi:

I've been there. Trust me... you don't want to start all over again.

You're doing GREAT!

[Scout1071]

19. Thanks MissMillie. Days 1-14 were the worst. Then it got easier, now

it's hard again. Don't know why. I know the nicotine is no longer in my system, but I still crave them.

[Scout1071]

20. Thanks MissMillie. Days 1-14 were the worst. Then it got easier, now

it's hard again. Don't know why. I know the nicotine is no longer in my system, but I still crave them.

[eeyore]

10. Awww, come on....you can have just one!

:evilfrown:

[rbnyc]

12. Evil! (nt)

[Scout1071]

17. I agree. Just one. That's all I want. Just one little smoke. nt

[rbnyc]

11. Cravings do pass.

I quit smoking 8 years ago and I've been craving lately too.

There is only one way to quit smoking, and it's a never-ending process:

Don't smoke any more cigarettes.

Sorry. Craving suck. But you can do it!

[SofaKingLiberal]

13. I'm on day two, again.

These fucking things are pure evil.

I don't really know of any advice I can give you. You are doing better than I have been able to do. But once you smoke that first cigarette after quitting, your fucked. Do not tell yourself just one more, not even one drag. You know you will regret it the second you put it out.

[MsUSA]

28. N.O.P.E. Not One Puff Ever.

Go to this website...... http://www.stopsmokingcenter.net/ Lots of people who have quit, and they're all so supportive. It's free, ya just have to register. It helped me quit last May 2nd. I'm on day 333 and I've saved over $1600.00 and I haven't smoked over 6 thousand weeds. Yup, couldn't have done it without this site. Very, very helpful. Good Luck and quiting is the best thing you can do for yourself. :hug:

[mdmc]

14. hang in there...perhaps a chew...peace and low stress

[riona]

18. to me it seemed to be worse at certain times

like the times i always lit up - with coffee, with a drink, after a meal - it was like i was programmed. it took 5 years for me to get over those situational type scenerios. it's not easy but really, really worth it.

[Scout1071]

21. Thanks for the encouragement. I gave up coffee when I quit.

That was equally as hard, but it was just too much of a smoking trigger for me.

[riona]

22. you've got the picture!

and no matter what gremlin starts messing with your head, believe me, you can win.
:woohoo:

[GoddessOfGuinness]

23. Take a deep breath...

You're probably taking in twice as much air as you did two months ago. Enjoy it. Take a walk and focus on your breathing.
Where you are now, I stood 21 years ago. :hug:

[BikeWriter]

26. It's going on thirty-five years since I quit. One of the smartest...

things I've ever done!

[BikeWriter]

24. Sweety, think about your heart and lungs!

Your lungs are probably beginning to repair themselves now.

[henslee]

25. Just remember you are broiling your lungs at 700 deg. F. everytime

you take a puff.

[Scout1071]

33. Oooohhhh. That's gross. nt

[henslee]

34. Actually, here are the exact temperatures of a lit ciggie........

Temperature without drawing:
Side of the lit portion: 400 deg C (or 752 deg F)
Middle of the lit portion: 580 deg C (or 1112 deg F)

Temperature during drawing:
Middle of the lit portion: 700 deg C (or 1292 deg F)

AS you can see, my original post underestimated the number.

[JackBeck]

27. My hubby would eat popsicles every time he got the urge.

It helped him lots, if you wanna give it a shot.

[BlueIris]

29. Just hang in there. Breathe. Distract yourself.

Chew some gum. Eat like a pig. Have some sex. Normally, I would never advocate this, but...have a beer? I don't know. Anything is better than relapsing right now.

[underpants]

30. Do you really want to go back to that?

Going to the store EVERYDAY

Having to check and see if you need smokes EVERYTIME before you leave work or home

Dumping the ashtray

OH GOD WHERE'S MY LIGHTER!!!???!?!?

and so forth.

You don't want that. Now do you?

[caty]

31. I quit smoking the hard way.

I had surgery for a ruptured appendix and when I came out of surgery my oxygen level wouldn't stay up. I was a 2 pack a day smoker for years. Anyway, I was in a special care unit for 3 days hooked up to oxygen. Between the pain from the surgery and the constant struggle to breath, the desire to smoke just vanished. I didn't miss it during the 5 days I was in the hospital. I was too busy trying to breath. I haven't smoked in 8 months and I know I never will again. I am actually afraid to smoke again. I don't want to go through the hell I went through in the hospital again. So, don't quit the hard way. Quit because you want to. Not because you can't breath without a struggle

There are many reasons to quit smoking. Health, inconvenience, money, wrinkled skin. But, the one reason few think about is what happens to a smoker when there is another health problem. Smoking makes any illness and any recovery that much harder.

I think that one mistake a lot of people make when they quit is using something to replace it with. For me, that just makes me think of smoking more. Get it straight in your mind that you are now a non smoker and that smoking is not an option. Don't do something else instead of smoking. Get on with your healthier life.

[bigwillq]

32. Stay strong.

:hug:

I know you have the willpower to stay off the smokes. :hug:

[Darth_Kitten]

35. Here's something to urge you on.....

My dad's a smoker and he needs to quit per doctor's orders. He's having bypass surgery in the coming week. :(

Hold out, you can do it! :)