Jclarke241

Nope.

I just posted an SOS the other day, just a few days after my quit but it was so helpful. I just hope that it's effective every time I come close because I anticipate more close calls. I hear what Wendy is saying though. If I was truly, TRULY, hell bent on smoking a cigarette I don't know that I'd use the SOS board for all the reasons she listed. The other day I WANTED to be talked out of it but I don't know that I'll always feel that way. For now, at this moment, I'm fine. :)

Only as a little girl, now it's just wrinkles on my face!

Festive!

It's been a little over a week since I quit and man, has it been a roller coaster! The quit started out pretty strong. With the help of the patch I felt like I could get through it easily and the bumps I was coming across weren't that big. "I can quit not problem!" In fact, I worried it was too easy and that later on down the road when I was tempted to smoke I'd be able to justify smoking again because, "Hey, it was so easy to quit last time!" I need not have worried. About four days ago I realized I had forgotten to refresh my patch the day before. I figured I'd just go through the withdrawal now instead of putting it off for a month. I mean, I'd already gotten 24 hours under my belt. Oh my god. I fell apart. I was crying a lot and the cravings felt so strong! I ended up posting an SOS to help me through it and man o man did y'all come through! I had responses immediately plus a few people went to the chat room in case I needed to talk. I ended up getting through it, obviously, but I don't know how gracefully. Thank you so much to those who were there! I'm also having a hard time sleeping although last night was a bit better. I was just lying there waiting for the restless legs to start or the having to turn over every two minutes but neither came and eventually I was able to go to sleep. I'm exhausted right now but am doing everything I can to not go take a nap! I'm hoping that I'm on the upswing of the sleeping thing since I know how important it is to your overall health. All in all this past week hasn't been too, too bad. Not nearly as bad as I has anticipated. And with the help from all of you, quitting has been even less horrible! I can't believe how much I've come to depend on this site and it's only been a little over a week! I guess being addicted to the boards here is better than giving in to the addiction of cigarettes!

NOPE!

I wanted to thank everyone for their support today. I just finished making dinner and I feel much better than I did earlier. Tomorrow I'm going to give knitting a try. Hopefully it'll keep my hands busy and my brain occupied. Thanks again all of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've stopped crying. I think I'll try to cook something.

I'm "this" close to asking my mom for a smoke. I feel like it's the worst time in the world for me to quit smoking. I'm on disability living with my parents in a very rural area without a car. I have nothing to do all day and the depression that's set in as a result leaves me with absolutely no motivation to do ANYTHING. Sadly, smoking is what gets me out of bed and now I don't even have that. I just want to say f it, not now.

Thanks everybody! This is day two of no patch so I'm a bit cranky and shaky but when I realized I had forgotten to put on a new patch, I decided I should just stop using them. I felt strong at that point and I know I'll feel strong again! Nope! You guys are great!

What a powerful photo!

Thanks so much for checking in with me, I can't believe how supportive everyone has been from the moment I logged on! Let's start with the bad. When I quit, I quit with my mother (whom I live with) but I don't think she's quit entirely. She's finding reasons to run off to the store when usually she hates leaving the house. It frustrates me that I'm going through this and she isn't making the effort. She's getting older and the chances of her getting a smoking related disease increases with every smoke she smokes. (It's the same for younger smokers too but as she gets older, it seems more and more unlikely she'll escape a horrible diagnosis.) Even though it hurts it isn't changing my mind about my own quit. She's at the store again right now and I'm in a supportive environment so I think I'll be okay. Something good. I showered and went for a walk. Doesn't sound like a big deal but I'm also dealing with depression and just getting out of bed is hard to do...especially without my morning cigarette! But today I made myself shower and afterwards, instead of putting on my slippers I put on my sneakers and just left the house without giving it too much thought. My dog is 16, blind, and deaf so she no longer goes with me but I did it anyway! I think between a shower, a walk, and staying smoke-free I've already had a good day but my days feel so long! I guess it's normal to feel like you're taking it hour by hour at this point but gosh, I should be more happy about my good day!

Close Marti! My quit date is actually the fourth. Yes, time differences are a pain!

My quit method is using the patch. I'm not sure I need it since I quit because I finally just got fed up with smoking, but I just want to be safe. I figure I'll go with the patch for the three weeks and maybe switch to the gum until finally I don't need anything. I just don't want the physical withdraw to overtake my mental desire to quit. I'm also finding this site useful because if nothing else, it's occupying my time. I will tell you that mornings and taking my dog out are the two hardest times for me. I've replaced my morning cigarette, always my favorite of the day, with making coffee and checking in on this site. As for taking my dog out, it's just something I have to grit my teeth and do anyway! JC

I'll have five days in 10 minutes. So far it's been okay which actually worries me. I'm afraid that because I haven't struggled too much, I'll easily go back to smoking because I'll just tell myself, "it wasn't hard to quit, I can do it again". I know I should be thankful for a relatively easy quit, and I am thankful, but also worried. Actually, it's not so much that it hasn't been hard but it hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. I've also been trying to walk every day, hoping to replace a bad habit with a healthier one. We'll see.

Nope!

I can do this, right? I'm 41 and have been smoking since I was 14 with a couple of years of quitting scattered throughout. Lately I've just become sick and tired of smoking but haven't been able to say goodbye to the old friend. That's how it feels, an old friend. I turn to a cigarette whenever I'm bored, anxious, depressed, excited, happy, celebratory etc. It's the constant in my life but I'm tired of being chained to such an unhealthy (and expensive) habit. I've had excuses to not quit but I've finally run out. Honestly it's probably not the best time in my life to quit. I'm unemployed and without a car so I'm stuck at home with not much to do. It's just that I feel like if I feel motivated to quit, I should just do it. I've already blogged about my first hour as I'm still getting to know this site and didn't know to start here but even so, the feedback I've gotten so far has been helpful. It's now been about three hours and my fingers are crossed that this time the quit will stick. Thanks for all the support!

I decided about two months ago I not only needed to quit smoking but I wanted to quit smoking. But I didn't. There were always reasons not to quit, a visit from a friend who smokes, a party, a stressful situation. I even put it off because I didn't want to inflict my bad mood on my family. But today I was out of excuses. I have just an hour under my belt but with the help of fellow non smokers (here) and my nicotine patch I think maybe this time I can do it. I have so many confusing feelings going on. How can I be so ready and so full of dread at the same time? I'm excited to finally be free of this horrible habit. I'm ready to stop wheezing at night, getting winded just going up the stairs, and I won't lie, I'm ready to be free of the financial obligation because that's what it feels like, an obligation. I live with my mom who also smokes and has told me for years she can't or won't quit until I do. Lately she's been coughing deeply and it's worried me every time I hear her in the other room "coughing up a lung". She's a puzzle though. For some reason, she can go for days at a time without a second thought to having a cigarette. I get jealous of her ability to quit so easily. I think, "If only I could do that then I wouldn't have to quit altogether!" But from my very first cigarette at age 14, I've been hopelessly hooked. Why did I ever start? To be cool? People talk about regrets in life and while there are plenty of little things I could regret, they're just that, little things. I've said it before, my biggest regret in life was the day I lit my first cigarette. But then I think of how free I'll feel if I can just stick with it this time. I won't be wondering when I can sneak in my next cigarette wherever I go. I can just imagine a long layover and not be frantically searching the airport for a smoking lounge! I won't have to deal with all the disapproving glares I get from people when I'm smoking in public. I won't have to make sure I have enough smokes to get me through to the next day. Plus, I won't stink! So yeah, I have just over 1 hour but I'm determined to make this work and with your help and support, hopefully it won't be the nightmare I worry it might be. My pack is empty, my stockpile of popcorn is huge, and I think I've got the determination to see it though this time.