Here we go again...

[RetroLounge]

I started smoking when I was 29 (don't ask) and I am now 44.

I've quit many times, once for a year, once for 6 months, once for a few months, and recently for 6 weeks.

Tomorrow I try again. Cold Turkey. My wife just went and bought the patch for herself, and will quit tomorrow also. We're doing it with a group of friends also quitting, or who are non-smokers supporting us.

Damn things are harder to quit than booze and drugs...

RL

[Enraged_Ape]

1. Good luck to you

I'm glad you're doing it with friends.

Yes, I'm convinced they are harder to kick than cocaine, and I am absolutely serious about that. If you can quit cigarettes, you can do ANYTHING you want that you put your mind to.

[RetroLounge]

2. Having quit other nasty stuff, yes, it is harder.

I will take advantage of the nervous energy and work on the house :D

RL

[Joe Chi Minh]

3. Technically, I'm still a smoker,

although the last cigarette I smoked was 30 years ago.

I could never give up cold turkey *as such*, but the way I get round it is by repeatedly putting off my next smoke - just for a few minutes! Knowing(?) that I'll have my next cigarette in a few minutes, I became less tense (smoking actually makes you more nervosu, rather than less, in my experience). As I don't have much difficulty living in the present, I was easily able to fool myself.

I did start again 6-9 months later, just from foolishness, but I stopped again and never looked back. In fact. I hate the smell of cigarette smoke now. I did notice that my body clearly reacted badly to it, the second time.

I recently read a description of the medical effects of smoking, including to the inside of your nose, in a John Grisham thriller, and I think it would have been enough to stop me without recourse to any mental tricks, if I'd read it then.

[RetroLounge]

4. Day 4, so far so good.

Hopefully last night will be the last of the "bad nights" I have. Restless, legs kicking out, kept waking up. Tonight should be better.

RL

[Enraged_Ape]

5. Man, I keep waking up too

And, when I do go to sleep, I have weird fever dreams all night long about television shows I watched that night. Last night it was Lost and Alias.

Hang in there. We can do this.

[RetroLounge]

6. Last night was better. I slept most of the night.

The leg kicks have ceased.

"Hang in there. We can do this."

THanks. Hopefully my wife and I don't kill each other...

RL
(Day 5)

[Digit]

7. Excellent

Hope you are still doing well.
Keep finding other things to occupy your time. Yardwork perhaps?
Going to the library, movies? Clean out your attic before it gets too hot?
Keep going, you are doing well.:applause:

[RetroLounge]

8. Made it thru a week...

My wife and I both quit.

RL

[Digit]

9. So, any difference showing up?

Congratuations
:woohoo:

Would love to hear how much better you both are feeling.

[RetroLounge]

10. Well, two weeks this weekend

I feel much better.

My wife hates not smoking.

RL

[Digit]

11. Hope you are still smoke-free!

Let us hear how you are doing.

[Enraged_Ape]

12. Still smoke-free

Amazingly, I'm still off it. I've been enormously, unusually busy at work, though, and maybe that's helped me. My routine's been totally interrupted over the last few weeks.

I try not to even think about smoking. I just try to put it completely out of my mind. I take deep breaths every now and then and revel in the sensation of doing ONLY that. Taking deep breaths is one of life's simple pleasures.

[Digit]

13. Excellent!!!

Great job!
:woohoo:

[Skittles]

14. YOU CAN DO IT RETRO

I smoked for THIRTY YEARS (don't ask!) - the first time I quit it was for two and a half years - then a series of events sent me over the edge - a layoff, the reinstallation of that piece of shit bush, the death of my brother - then exactly one year after the layoff I quit again so my new date is 05/15/05......man, I always want a cig though - I know what you mean, it's rough.

[Scout1071]

15. Welcome to the club Retro. 4 days and 45 mins smoke free myself.

Got the teeniest bit easier today. Not much, but a little.