my 1st post. hello!

[mm34]

This is my first serious attempt at quitting. For the past couple of weeks I’ve been cutting back and I’ve made some progress, but my anxiety is through the roof right now. I didn’t realize how much simply easing up on cigarettes would affect me. Still, I’m determined to quit—my mind is made up, and I just have to push through to the other side. I knew it would be tough, but it’s even harder than I expected.

[SD2026]

Welcome and well done on quitting!  I'm sorry your anxiety is through the roof  Do you have any coping mechanisms that have previously worked for you in other stressful situations? It sounds like you're determined to quit which is fantastic!   Some days will be tougher than others for sure.  Have you completely quit now or still cutting back? Will you be going cold turkey or using NRT/other?

 

I'm only on Day 6 (and using Nicotine patches) but can totally recommend checking in daily to this site, even if it's the Daily NOPE pledge. Lots of reading people's experiences here on the forum will also help. If you feel like you're going to cave in, post on here! 

 

You've got this!  

[QuittingGirl]

Welcome to QuitTrain @mm34  So glad you found us.  The first piece of advice that I will give you is to stop cutting back on smoking because it will not work.  It will keep you in perpetual withdrawal and you will climb the walls.  That is what I did with this quit, I tried to cut back and was down to two cigs a day, one in the morning and one in the evening after dinner.  That was the worst mistake that I did because I was constantly craving a smoke and was climbing the walls.  Please either go cold turkey or try the patch/gum and follow that program, but cutting down will not work.  I have been there, done that!  Yes, it's tough, it's very very tough, but definitely doable as millions of people have quit smoking and have stayed quit.  What I did in the early days of my quit was to take cinnamon sticks and pretend they were cigarettes.  I would suck in air and then pretend I was blowing smoke out of it.  They really helped me, plus it tasted very good.  If you don't like cinnamon, you can use cut up straws.  Withdrawal doesn't last forever, I promise you that, but the faster you get rid of ALL the cigs, the better off you will be.  The second piece of advice I am going to give you is to come on here every day, especially in the beginning months, and do the Daily Nope pledge.  I still do it after 2 and a half years as it keeps me focused.  Also, stay close to the forum because you will need the support.  I truly believe the more support you have from the get go, the more you will succeed.  There is even a fun game section to keep your mind off of smoking.

 

When you get the urge, drink a big glass of water, go for a walk, come on here, ANYTHING except smoking!  You can do this!!  Good luck and I hope to see you on here again soon!

[Doreensfree]

Welcome to the Train @mm34

Quitting us the most rewarding you can do for yourself 

We have lots of great information for you on our Main Discussion Board .

Check out the ones pinned with green .

Stay positive

[GonSo]

Welcome to the quit train!

I did quit 2 months ago, cold Turkey. The beginning was really tough for me but now it is going very well. Meaning I still think about smoking but not climbing the walls any longer. I think that by cutting down you will suffer longer from the withdrawal symptoms than necessary. 

No matter what method you choose to quit, you will find a lot of information here. Knowledge is a great support to your quit.

 

[QuittingGirl]

I just want to add something else @mm34 This, I believe was my first post that I made on here, way back on May 21, 2023.

 

"I am a new member and trying to wean myself off of smoking, (2nd time trying to quit...first time, back in 2009 I quit for 6 years but then went back).  I have been a 3/4 pack a day smoker and I have been weaning myself off for the past 2-3 weeks.  As of now, I'm smoking 1-2 cigs a day and it's very difficult because of the physical cravings.  I'm very irritable and it's just so hard this time.  Last time I used Chantix and it was very easy, this time doing the weaning method and it's not easy at all!  Any advice?  I would greatly appreciate it. What do you do to get rid of the physical urges?"

 

This was the first response I got regarding the "weaning method", compliments of @johnny5, thanks Johnny!!!!

 

 

"As long as you continue to smoke, even one or two a day, the cravings will continue.  I have attempted the weaning method and really struggled.  Not only did smoking a small number of cigarettes a day keep the physical addiction alive, I realized that I was thinking of smoking that cigarette as a reward for going several hours smoke free a day.  That really hurts both physically and psychologically."

 

He is SO RIGHT!!, @mm34, I hope you come back so we can help you!! 

Edited Tuesday at 08:56 PM by QuittingGirl

[johnny5]

Welcome @mm34  Quitting smoking is definitely doable and you are doing a right thing in quitting.  The further you go smoke free, the better you start to feel both physically and psychologically.  Stick around, read up on the quit smoking threads.....lots of support and knowledge you can gain here.

[Reciprocity]

Hey @mm34! Good decision to quit, in fact, the best one you'll ever make!

 

Now stop playing around and torturing yourself by smoking a couple or a few a day. That is not a viable quit strategy. Just make up your mind that you want NEED to quit and do it! Yes it's tough for a while but you just gotta rely on your commitment to yourself and power through those moments when you feel you can't go on ... you CAN go on and we're here to help you. 

 

What ever method we have used and what ever method you decide to use (other than cutting back) we all go through the same crap early on. No one is special, we all have to do the heavy lifting for ourselves with support & advice from other quitters but the ultimate reward is 100 times worth the short period of challenges. Every quitter here will agree with that so let's get you quit 

[DenaliBlues]

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!