DenaliBlues

I'm so sorry that you are going through this @SD2026. I'm glad the symptoms have eased up - it sounds very unnerving! I'm no medical expert (so please consult a doctor if you're still concerned). But I can affirm anecdotally that some bodies do wackadoodle things as they recalibrate to post-nicotine life. Sleep might get disrupted, digestion might be different, congestion could worsen, and some folks also report feeling quite anxious. For me, a big surprise early in my own quit was how sensitive I became to caffeine once I had no more nicotine in my system. Never a dull moment! Your mileage may vary, of course. But things DO settle down eventually. (I'm still drinking decaf though - LOL.) Hang in there!

NOPE

Hello again to all our newcomers! We’re thrilled that you are here, and we are ready to stand by your side as you give nicotine the heave-ho! The first days and weeks of quitting might be rugged. Some folks breeze through this time, and maybe you’ll be one of those people. If so, hooray! But for others - especially those of us who were heavy smokers for decades - the first few weeks might be stressful. I ended up naming my weeks as I went along: Week # 1: Hell Week (White-hot, white-knuckled, relentless withdrawal.) Week # 2: Wailing Week (Shock wore off. A deep sense of loss and longing set in. I felt utterly bereft without my smokes.) Week # 3: WTF Week (Major brain fog. What now? Will this ever get easier? What has gone wrong with my head? Why has my IQ suddenly dribbled out the bottom of my shoes? How long have I been staring blankly into space? I’m so sleepy. Will I ever poop normally again?!) Week #4: So-Bored-With-My-Coping-Mechanisms Week (This could also have been named“Terribly Tired of Prunes Week.”) After that, though, the miracle began to happen for me. There were still cravings and triggers. But the times in between them got longer. They grew weaker as I grew stronger. It started to sink in that I could finally, truly be FREE. Actually, I was already free, the moment I took smoking off the table. I just didn’t trust it, but should have. Fears that the cravings would overwhelm me or that I’d be incomplete without smoking were addiction-fueled hogwash. I don’t need nicotine, hydrogen cyanide, carbon monoxide, ammonia and carcinogens to “fulfill” or complete me! I just needed to stay busy, stay committed to NOPE, and give myself time to adjust and recalibrate to a life without nicotine. Veterans on this forum told me this beautiful tipping point would happen. I secretly doubted - I thought I was a lost cause. But they were right. Freedom from nicotine is our birthright. It is there waiting for all of us to claim as our own. To those of you grappling with cravings in the early days of your quit, hold on! Stay strong! You are not alone. Some anxiety and discombobulation along the road is normal, but TEMPORARY. You can do this. Your quit matters, and life is really sweet on the other side. Let us know how you’re doing, where you’re feeling vulnerable, and what your coping tactics are.

Glad you are doing well! For me, I kept a mini NRT lozenge handy to protect my quit in “emergencies”… that way I had more control over the timing of having nicotine in/out of my system. But I was soon able to leave the lozenges behind, as well. The first days were the hardest, for sure. But after that, things turned a corner. The cravings dissipated. Each and every time you feel like smoking and do not, your quit is growing stronger. Stay determined and you’ll soon taste sweet freedom!

balks

Zombiegeddon

Grifter

bees make honey

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How’s it going @SD2026? It’s great to have you with us - participating in the daily NOPE pledge, the games, and other posts. Over time, we see that active forum participants tend to have the most successful quits, so it’s great that you’re involved from the start! I, too, used NRT (patches and gum) temporarily to stabilize my initial quit. It helped me build some “quitting muscles” before I then went cold turkey. Everybody’s experience is unique, so let us know how this first week is progressing for you. We’re here to help!

NOPE

Welcome aboard @mm34. We’re glad you are here! The initial withdrawal sucks, no two ways about it. But if you can make it through the first nasty stretch, it gets better. I promise! I 100% agree with what others have said about how rationing your smokes ironically extends and intensifies your withdrawal, preventing you from getting past it. Cutting back just doesn’t work for most people. Your brain has become addicted to nicotine, and right now it is throwing a big ol’ tantrum about being denied its fix. When you first quit, the cravings will be intense and you may feel very edgy and miserable for a while. Stay strong in your commitment to quitting - this phase passes. Until then, read all you can about addiction. And remember that cravings are not commands - they are just loud obnoxious commercials for junk you don’t wanna buy. Change the channel! Stay busy and distracted. And when you feel the strain, post here on the Train. We’re here to help!

Congrats @Bassman! An inspiring achievement. Rock on!

Need nicotine? Nope! Nevah!

Zero

Entrepreneur

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Xenophobes

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