@tocevoD you need to ask yourself if you want to be tied to a crutch.  if you were getting over a broken leg you would want to get off the crutch and strengthen the leg so you could walk unaided and pain free, right?  that would be the goal.  So why would you want to keep the crutch while getting over the addiction of smoking?  To get over the broken leg and to strengthen it you must endure some pain.  This is no different.  You can't cheat the process by replacing one vice for another and expect to beat the addiction.  It's not easy but it is simple.  Don't over complicate it.  Otherwise you will just end up bouncing back and forth between NRT's and cigarettes.  Other people can give you encouragement but only you can quit.  Hope this gives you something to think about.

I agree with what you have been advised.

If there is nicotine in them ,staying on them means you will always be a Slave to nicotine.

I would be more positive in freeing yourself 

altogether….

Try finding something else to chew or suck 

that is not dangerous.

I found regular chewing gum did the job fir me 🐸

 

Thanks for checking in @tocevoD.  Glad to hear you’re still smoke free! I smoked for over 40 years. And I, too, temporarily used lozenges (and patches and gum) to support the first stage of my quit. So I respect NRT as a tool in our quitting toolbox.

 

Only you can decide what kind of relationship you want with nicotine. The pattern you are describing sounds like an active addiction. Is that okay with you? Perhaps not, if you’re even asking…

 

It wasn’t okay for me. Nicotine is a super addictive chemical that distorts our brain receptors and can alter our ability to experience joy and fulfillment in other ways. I was always craving my next fix. And I was beyond tired of being imprisoned and manipulated by a chemical that was making someone else rich off of my suffering. 

 

Weaning gradually off of NRT did not work for me, because it put me in a more or less constant state of withdrawal. So I used NRT for a few weeks, to reorient some of my physical behaviors around smoking. But then I cut myself off from the lozenges, etc. It was rugged at first, but I made it. And am so grateful that I did. After things settled down, my heart rate and blood pressure improved, foods tasted better, and I became able to enjoy more of life. 

 

Everybody’s story is different - you do you. But it is 100% possible to smoke heavily for over 4 decades and then become a happy nonsmoker. I’m living proof. 

 

Great advice from everyone @tocevoD You have to get off the NRT's after a while, as everyone said.  I remember when I first quit, I was weaning myself off ciggies, eventually down to 2 a day, one in the AM and one in the PM and I thought maybe I could keep it like that.  Worst thing I could ever have done.  I was in constant withdrawal looking at the clock to see how many more hours I have until the next cig.  It was horrible! Withdrawal all day long.  Everyone on here told me I have to give those 2 up in order to quit so I did.  It wasn't easy, but I couldn't stand the withdrawal symptoms because they were driving me insane!  So I stuck it out. The first month was the absolute worst, but the longer you go without nicotine, the easier it gets.  You see that it works, look at everyone on here, some haven't smoked for over 5, 10 and 20 plus years.  That says that it is definitely doable!! Read the instructions on the Nicerette and follow exactly what it says to wean yourself down and totally off of them.  You can do it!!👍 If you are really serious about quitting, that is what you have to do and only you can decide.  We can advise you and support you, but the quitting has to come from you! 💪

I was stewing for a bit and thinking about everyone's comments on here.

 

"What do they know."

 

"How bad can sweets be."

 

"I'll stick with these sweets if I want to."

 

Took me an extra week and a bit to realise that everything everyone was saying on here was spot on correct. I was becoming reliant on the nicotine in the sweets. I was starting to have that hankering I'd get when when waiting for my next ciggies. A sickly feeling that I thought has gone when I packed the ciggies in was continuing with the lozenges.

 

Been off the lozenges since about Tuesday. I never marked the date like when I packed in the ciggies but when I think about it it was another milestone day. 1m 1w and 5 days a non smoker and I can now add no nicotine aswell.

That's Great News @tocevoD!!

 

You'll be much better off without that nicotine monkey on your back!

Congratulations👍

Great news @tocevoD  You will do it!  Just keep coming on here and do the daily nope pledge and you will get there! 👍

Well done 

This Achievement deserves a Huge 

Pat On The Back 🐸

Nearly had an upcoming test tonight. Was nearly going out for a drink with friends. It's had a late fall through though. I think it would have been a massive test so I'm not too bothered that's it's fallen through. Now I can just keep on keeping on this course I'm on and am determined to see through. 

 

Might even do a bit of shopping with my free Saturday instead. Get some presents and get some clothes to go back the gym finally. Been packed in now for 2m 2d 17hrs (just checked app) so it's time to start moving onto the next phase. Gym and getting out and walking a bit more. Start to feel the benefit of these healthier lungs.

You’re making wonderful headway @tocevoD! I’m so glad that you’re feeling inspired to breathe and move and make the most of your new smoke-free life!

 

Lovin It

Now you got rid of those horrible cancer sticks , you now what to concentrate on getting back your health and fitness 

Great stuff 🐸

You are a bit ahead of my quit date but I also feel the improvement in my lungs. I always pushed myself to be very active in hiking and biking while smoking. Kind of excuse: see what I can - I don't need to stop. But it was hard work. Now it goes much easier.

Still plodding along. I do feel different this time to the failed times from before. I can't even remember if this quit has been NRT free at the beginning. I think it has, my memory not so good. Just checked my quit tracker and it's 4m 3w 3d. On previous quits I was romanticising having one, this time around I'm remembering the way they made me feel, the anxiety mostly. It used to cripple me. I felt terrible off smoking, I'm remembering them days. I haven't had an urge.to have a ciggie at all which is so different to the other quits. It just feels different all around. 

 

Feels great to be honest.

 

*Just checked through previous posts, came off the lozenges late November. Best thing I did with the good advice of people off here. Thanks people.

Edited March 6Mar 6 by tocevoD

So great to hear that @tocevoD You are doing really great!! 👍😀 Support is definitely the key to quitting because it really does help and make a difficult situation a little bit easier.

That's great you have a different feeling about this quit @tocevoD

You've made great progress so keep up the great work. I'm betting you make this one your life long quit  

Good to hear you are still nicotine free since late november. Keep going!!

Well done @tocevoD! 💪 😊

Ended up going out Friday for a good drink with friends watching the Cheltenham gold cup. Was out for a good 7-8hrs and never once felt the urge. I think I have demonised it enough and knocked it into my head how it used to make me feel. This was another massive hurdle for me to clear. In the past when getting ready to go out if I hadn't smoked for a good while on an attempted quit I would talk myself into smoking. Now it seems I don't even have to talk myself out of smoking. I'm not naive enough to think the battle is won this easy, it's still a battle. Just got to keep the thoughts I have and keep on along this path I'm on.

Edited March 15Mar 15 by tocevoD
.

You are doing great @tocevoD and the longer you stay quit, the faster the urge will diminish.  Just keep doing what you are doing!!👍💪

That's great news @tocevoD! Must be a great feeling to have reached a new stage of tackling the urges, well done! 😊

Great news @tocevoD!!

 

You really have seemed to put things in proper perspective this time around and that's a Winning Formula!

Nice Job 

You should feel proud …

It only gets better …. Well done 🐸

Well done @tocevoD 

Now at 8m 1w 2d.

 

A few small observations. In previous quits I used to see smokers everywhere and this would being one of the triggers. Now I hardly see smokers. I see vapers, they're everywhere. I actually pity them. I think in my head "Why do you need to do it. Introducing that shite into your lungs." I don't understand the need to stand there and get a pull in whenever they can. Then it hits me, the answer. They're addicted, I was addicted. The addiction to nicotine in all its forms of being administered is a pitiful life story.

Edited June 19Jun 19 by tocevoD

You are doing greaat @tocevoD  Awesome job!