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Hi, I was a member of QSMB back more than a decade ago and with my quit birthday this week I decided to see if a replacement of the board exists. Not only that it does, but I also see many familiar faces. Glad to see that the forum has found a new place and that more and more people are jumping on the quit train. I quit cold turkey 11 years ago and have not been back to it. My life has changed so much for the positive that if I look back at it now, of all the things that I have done, all the achievemnets, I would say that quitting smoking has been one if not the most significant, positive changes I have ever done for myself. Love and peace to all!

NOPE!!

This could be because the brain wants nicotine. It will throw everything it has at you to make you go back to smoking? When I quit, I developed a swing of emotions that for a moment I thought I became bipolar. Depression to high excitation. Nicotine changes the hormones of the body and when you quit they are readjusting. Imagine going through puberty again. You just lost your closest friend-cigarettes. You are mourning. In fact, I would find it highly unusual if you didn't go through some sort of mourning or depression after you quit. Focus on the positive, quitting will bring you so many positive things you had and exchanged for smoking, a few days of feeling down is totally a fine price to pay.

Not today!

Nope!

Missed this somehow ... congrats on 3! You're racing toward 1 Month now. Promise not to miss that one @Pilgrim

Gday NOPE Especially on ANZAC day with old mates perhaps a few beers Less We Forget

Good morning. Just re-affirming that I am all in to committing to be here one year and beyond!

Hello @TOMMY S... feeling depressed temporarily is absolutely a side effect of smoking but I know from personal experience that this will not last. Mood swings early on in a quit are very normal. Your brain is ajusting to functioning without nicotine. If you give it some time, you will start to feel normal again. I think consulting with a Doctor is a good idea before you make any firm decisions about returning to smoking. Please stay close to us and let us know how you are doing. You can keep your quit!

Hello @Leander.. Thank you for coming back to check in with us. It is always very encouraging when someone comes back after having quit for a long period of time to let us know about the positive impact stopping smoking has had on their lives. Love and peace to you as well! Regards, Gene

NOPE for today!

"I have decided that if this feeling doesn't go away I'm going back to smoking." Why the heck would you do that & have to redo the smoke free days you've achieved again?! You would never be happy smoking again. Eventually, you would want to "try" quitting again which means more than likely ending up in the same place you are now or in my & others experience worse off. Not all our quits are the same every time we quit. It could be worse. Obviously, we are not medical experts so if you have a great concern about feeling depressed be sure to touch base with your doctor about it. Personally, my doctor(s) were active participants in my last quit journey or should I say roller coaster ride. Problems experienced do not necessarily go away even in the first few months. It takes our brain chemistry & body "a while" to readjust and re-calibrate itself back to a "new" normal without nicotine. Patience. You can get through it but you don't need to go it alone. I promise that it's worth the angst (whatever it takes) to keep nicotine addiction dormant. You can do it!

NOPE!

Hey Tommy, I've quit a few times over the years, and from my experience, once the uncomfortable physical withdrawal symptoms have subsided it's a pretty enjoyable recovery. It's a matter of perspective, of course, but I want to encourage you to focus on the positive: your senses clearing up, not stinking like an ashtray, the time you gain, saving money, etc. If you're feeling depressed, the obvious question is, are you going through anything else at the moment, or is quitting the cause? If a smoke-free life is the cause of your blues, then put an end to that attitude this moment! You've freed yourself from a death trap addiction! There's nothing to mourn over. healthy body = healthy mind

I appreciate the support. Thank you all.

NOPE

NOPE…

NOPE!!

Nope. FN!

NOPE!

Thanks for this great message today!

Sorry you are going through a tough stretch. Feelings of loss, longing and even despair can be part of withdrawal for us smokers. We have all kinds of transient feelings. It takes a while for our brain chemistry to adjust after our dopamine receptors were pickled by nicotine. Sad feelings do ease with time…. if you keep your quit! Talk with your doctor if it gets bad, but give your brain a chance to rebalance itself. It’s worth it. You’re worth it.

nope

Not One Puff Ever!

Hello and welcome your body is going through some massive changes … It’s been having hundreds of chemicals o many times a day … for decades . Hang in be patient it should get better , if your still concerned a trip to the docs might help , going back to smoking is definitely not the way to go

Congrats on quitting @TOMMY S You didn't mention how long ago you quit. I suspect it's been recently? We are all different in terms of how our brains react to not only the loss we might feel after quitting but also the chaos ccreated in our minds in the early time of our quit. Our whole life is turned upside down and that can produce all kinds of different emotional reactions. This could just be the way your mind is reacting to these early days/weeks of quitting. We all experience different symptoms, some common and others not so common. I would stronly encourage you to hang in there for the short term. I believe your feeling is onlt temporary if it is connected to your quit. Get active; exercise, even walking can be a great activity after quitting. Keep busy and distracted from your normal routine so your mind is focused on something positive. Think hard about the positive things you're seeing as your quit progresses. And stick around here with others who've quit as well. We all understand what you're going through and we've all managed to beat this addiction and are very happy we made the effort - it's never easy for any of us!

Your depression may be caused by other things, so smoking may be of no help. Some people feel the loss of smoking as a stage of grief and are upset by the change in their life. You can discuss this with your doctor and ask for treatment options that don't include smoking. I do know your body is undergoing a lot of cleaning as it rids itself of the crap smoking puts in it.

3 weeks is awesome @Pilgrim.. One more step along the road you go! Keep it going. Warm regards.

I am a 2014 quitter from QSMB too so it is great to hear from you. Thanks for chiming in @Leander and I am glad you are smoke free and doing well.

Great to see you … Congratulations on your great Quit Hope you stick around … our Newbies can always use more support

Never heard that mantra before but it is so very true. Thanks for sharing it.

Yes, depression and sadness can definitely be one of the symptoms of quitting smoking. In the beginning of my quit I had this sense of doom because I felt like I lost my best friend. Please don't go back to smoking, the depressed feeling and all the other withdrawal symptoms will go away, they really will! Hang in there!!

Happy Special Friday... its time for all of us special window lickers to pat ourselves on the back for another smoke free week. I know that us window lickers' love to dance!! Who is ready to join in on a special Friday special Window Licker Dance Party?

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Hey Jane, Good for you! Try to rid yourself of nicotine in any form as soon as possible. As long as you keep putting it in you, you're fueling the addiction. Best to get that drug out of you completely. Purge your body and rejoice for your independence.

-7

Nearly 1 month @Pilgrim Well done

Livin' Thing

Two great songs!! I love them from the 70s. One of my favorites! Ian Anderson Robert Plant Jimmy Page

I love hearing this, @Kdad. It is wonderful that you are embracing your forever quit. There is an old addiction recovery mantra that says, “First it gets better, then it gets worse, then it finally gets different.” Welcome to different, my friend.

I will never smoke again! No matter what the statistics are. I just am doing a deep dive into the topic. I have watched all the videos here many times. Also have seen all the Joel videos, YouTube etc.. The hard look at smoking has made this quit different. Thanks for all the advice.

Stay strong and it will be 100% for you. It`s not 100@ and if it is only 7% be part of that. Your quit is all that matters. Best wishes Kdad.