New and wondering how to quit with mental illness?

[QuittingGirl]

@shy READ EVERYTHING!! AND I MEAN EVERYTHING!!   You will become one of us in a short while, and when I say that, I really mean it!!  Stick around and you will  become like us!  I promise you!!

[greatcall73]

I, too, have a mental health disorder and this disorder has made me relapse to cigarettes everyday for a long time.  I quit today.  Yay me! I am doing cessation - had to have a patch.  The saving grace is I am now a full fledged born again Christian.  I was happy to see someone out there like me who identifies smoking with mental illness.  You are me.  I am drug free 11 years 6 months and kicking cigarettes is a hard thing to master, but have hope because I know if I can do it living with a smoking parent than so can you.  Dying to bolster and take this patch off and move beyond taste.  3 days to go til the Nic is gone.  I pray you be strong, encouraged, and tempered by your own spirituality.

[DenaliBlues]

Welcome @greatcall73! It’s great that you are on the road to your own freedom, as well! There are many sources of strength to help us quit, and I’m glad that you have strong faith in your toolkit. And your other recovery experience will be an asset, too.

 

@shy, good on you for being accountable for your slip. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start again. The next time you feel tempted to smoke, immediately distract yourself… watch videos on this forum (I’m sure folks can offer good suggestions), call a buddy, take a walk, do countertop pushups, jump up and down, do the dishes… anything except smoking. My first 2 months of my own quit, my house was RIDICULOUSLY clean, lol.

Edited May 26 by DenaliBlues

[shy]

Well I wanted to give an update. The patches really haven't been working so I am going to attempt cold turkey and see if that helps. I did quit last year for 5 months on the gum. But I keep reading cold turkey has the best chance of lasting. Plus I feel like if I just get the nicotine out as quick as possible it would help keep me off. Nicotine is out of your body in 3 days. In three days it is my nieces birthday so I will be nicotine free for the first time in her life. Once again thank y'all for the help and I'm going to keep going until I can finally quit. 

[shy]

On 5/26/2026 at 4:12 PM, greatcall73 said:

I, too, have a mental health disorder and this disorder has made me relapse to cigarettes everyday for a long time.  I quit today.  Yay me! I am doing cessation - had to have a patch.  The saving grace is I am now a full fledged born again Christian.  I was happy to see someone out there like me who identifies smoking with mental illness.  You are me.  I am drug free 11 years 6 months and kicking cigarettes is a hard thing to master, but have hope because I know if I can do it living with a smoking parent than so can you.  Dying to bolster and take this patch off and move beyond taste.  3 days to go til the Nic is gone.  I pray you be strong, encouraged, and tempered by your own spirituality.

Thank you so much! It means a lot someone out there is truly going through the same situation! You got this! 

[GonSo]

That is a nice goal to be nicotine free at the birthday of your niece!.

But it is far away. Take quitting day by day. Or if necessary hour by hour. Understand that how you feel the first days of your quit is only temporary. The longer without nicotine the better you feel! 

 

[Pilgrim]

Welcome to the group, Shy. You can do it. Life really is better free from the addiction. Keep focused on the benefits, like not stinking. I'm rooting for you!

[shy]

2 hours ago, Pilgrim said:

Welcome to the group, Shy. You can do it. Life really is better free from the addiction. Keep focused on the benefits, like not stinking. I'm rooting for you!

I think that is one of my biggest goals with this is not smelling bad lol thank you. I still haven't been able to make it a whole 24 hours without a cigarette but I really believe I am close. I do so good throughout the day. It's early morning and late evening that get to me. Today is a new day though and I am doing this! 

[SD2026]

I hope you're doing okay @shy 

[shy]

@SD2026 I'm doing okay. I keep having to change my quit date but I had a new shipment of patches come today so I have one on and going to keep moving forward. It's just been a stressful time around here but I'm learning to navigate it and looking up coping skills of how to deal with emotions. I started my finalquit today and I will not give up. I'm anxiously waiting to tell y'all when I have 24 hours smoke free! Thank you for checking on me

[Doreensfree]

Welcome aboard Newbies

knowledge is power ,it’s what you fight this monster with 

We have tons of great information here 

Also videos to watch 

Lookkng forward to getting to know you better

[DenaliBlues]

Cheering you on @shy!!

 

Things are simpler if you just take smoking off the table. Period. It ends the “Can I make it through this craving?” debates as well as the shame cycle.

 

When I first quit, I couldn’t fathom not smoking for more than 24 hrs, let alone a month or a year. The thought of being without smokes for any length of time was terrifying. The trick for me was to not think about tonight or tomorrow or forever. I’d start to panic when I would think about measuring time. Instead, I focused on what am I doing right now, in this moment, to help me through the discomfort if NOT smoking. A subtle - but powerful - perspective shift.

 

Also, I equipped myself with lozenges to use at times where I felt my will crumbling. I had to be careful about the dosing, since I also used patches for a few weeks. (So I used mini low-dose lozenges.) But they saved my quit a couple of times. Again, it’s about how to creatively equip/support yourself through withdrawal… which is temporary, I promise! 

 

To cope with all the emotions that came up I talked things through here on the Quit Train, came up with many activity distractions, shouted/cussed a lot, and gave myself permission to self-soothe in any way I needed to, EXCEPT by smoking. I eventually made it to the other side, and so can you! 

[shy]

@DenaliBlues thank you for the advice. Your right when I think about never having a smoke again it feels so overwhelming I run to them every time. I will use your advice and try not to think of a future of never having them and think in the moment. I did quit once last year for 5 months on the gum then me and my sister got into a physical altercation and I broke down and smoked. Maybe I can combine the nicotine gum with the patch or just try the gum again. 

[SD2026]

14 hours ago, shy said:

@SD2026 I'm doing okay. I keep having to change my quit date but I had a new shipment of patches come today so I have one on and going to keep moving forward. It's just been a stressful time around here but I'm learning to navigate it and looking up coping skills of how to deal with emotions. I started my finalquit today and I will not give up. I'm anxiously waiting to tell y'all when I have 24 hours smoke free! Thank you for checking on me

Make this your final quit so you're not putting yourself through the first few days/weeks of quitting over and over as it's not worth that! I'm glad you haven't given up fighting this and try to remember you will feel less stressed when you are free from nicotine! I wouldn't have believed it before quitting but it's very true!  Looking forward to you letting us know you're 24 hours smoke free! 

[shy]

Well all that sobriety just blew up in my face. Been struggling the past week or so. I went back to drinking and smoking pot. Smh. But today is a new day and I will quit my addictions. I'm just sick and tired of being sick and tired. 

[Doreensfree]

Your going around and around like a little hamster on his wheel never getting off 

You need to Jump off and stay off 

There will ALWAYS be a reason to smoke 

But you have to make the decision never to smoke no matter what’s happening 

NOPE always 

Come on @shy you can do it

[shy]

Your right @Doreensfree! I just have to take that leap and change. I want to cry already just thinking about it but I have to do this! I haven't had a cig since this morning and I'm going to keep pushing forward. 

[Reciprocity]

Go for it @shy !!

Edited June 28 by Reciprocity

[QuittingGirl]

Hi @shy  Sorry to hear that you went back to your addicitons.  It happens to many of us, but you need to learn what to do when you get a really bad urge!  There is an SOS section for when you think you are going to smoke.  As soon as you get that bad urge where you want to smoke, come on here and post an SOS post.  Since our members are from all over the world, someone is usually online.  I had to use the SOS section once in my not so early quit, maybe between 8 months to a year and a half, I don't really remember exactly. Denali was there to get me through it! Thanks @DenaliBlues  Shy, I am hopefull that this will be the last time you go smoke again!  Oh and if you have any cigs, lighters, matches, etc, THROW THEM AWAY RIGHT NOW!!! AS SOON AS YOU READ THIS!!

 

You know how difficult it is to quit, right, and you get lots of urges when you quit, right? Ok, my question to you is, do you like getting those urges?  I know the answer is No! But, you do realize, every time you go back to smoking, you are going back to square one with those horrible withdrawal symptoms!  Do you want to keep repeating such horrible feelings in your body and mind for so long?  I know I didn't want to!  This is the second time I have quit, and I am NOT going back, I can't, I think if I did, it would kill me at this stage of my life. Not that I'm old, but I still want to be here.   Believe me, if I can do it, anyone can.  My 100 year old mom lives downstairs from me, so I smell her smoking.  I am also down there several times a day to check on her.  Thankfully for a person of that advanced age, she is doing great!   Sometimes the smoke bothers me, but not very often. But like I said, if I can do it with all this temptation, ANYONE CAN!!!

 

Anyway Shy, YOU CAN DO THIS!!! YOU, just have to have patience.  I shouldn't be one to talk as I was very impatient in the beginning, but I was determined.

 

GO FOR IT!!!

Edited June 28 by QuittingGirl

[Doreensfree]

5 hours ago, shy said:

Your right @Doreensfree! I just have to take that leap and change. I want to cry already just thinking about it but I have to do this! I haven't had a cig since this morning and I'm going to keep pushing forward. 

Shy I know I’m right I spent decades on the same wheel 

Dont wait until you have been given the news you just don’t want to hear like me 

I faced amputation 

I had run out of chances 

Yes it will be tough for a while , but once you’re over the other side you will so glad to be free ..

Lets gets this done , we are all here to help you through

[SD2026]

22 hours ago, shy said:

Well all that sobriety just blew up in my face. Been struggling the past week or so. I went back to drinking and smoking pot. Smh. But today is a new day and I will quit my addictions. I'm just sick and tired of being sick and tired. 

You really don't want to be sick and tired of being sick and tired for the rest of your life so quitting right now and staying quit is the only way forward.  Focusing now on your LAST AND FINAL QUIT (), you must fight it! Do what you have to do to get through those cravings (within reason lol).

 

Keep pledging your NOPE every day, every single day! I'm not sure if you have but please do! Makes a huge difference. If you don't and you're struggling, post in the SOS thread! You have options there, use them! You can do this. 

[shy]

Well I have an update. I still have not stopped smoking but today I am going to do this! I'm picking up my first inhaler later and it's just got me in my feelings. Like I have really messed up my life from smoking and I'm angry at myself that I never stopped a long time ago. Smh. I HAVE to do this now. I want a better quality of life. I hope you are all doing well and thank you.

[catlover]

Hi shy, good to see you back, and getting back at it. It is scary to think of never smoking again, but take it a day at a time, and give yourself small rewards for getting through a day, then a week, and so on. It’s amazing how health and wealth grows.

 

 

[QuittingGirl]

Very sorry to hear that you went back, but it's very good that you came back on here!  This is my 2nd, and last time quitting!  I certainly don't want to go through those horrible withdrawal symptoms again! NO WAY!!! Just the thought of that really upsets me because it was just terrible! The first time I quit, I didn't have this forum, but I believe if I did, I would not have gone back to smoking.  The members of QuitTrain are amazing! They have helped me so much since the day I came on here, and we will help you too!  You just have to stick around!  I really mean it, support will really help you to quit.  We are addicts, just like drug addicts, gambling addicts, and any type of addict needs support.  I remember when I used to go to Weight Watchers, they said that you really have to attend the meetings for it to work, and it's true.  Addicts need support because quitting any addiction is really really difficult, but it can be done, and when you have support, it makes it so much easier because you aren't alone.  We were all newbies at one time, some were able to quit only once and others like you, myself and many others are on their hopefully FINAL time!

 

Hey I can't go back to smoking because my dear friend and co-moderator @Doreensfree would woop my A$$....LOL!!! 

 

YOU CAN DO THIS SHY!!!

 

I want to add another tip, if you haven't done it yet.  Get rid of any smoking paraphenalia that is in your living quarters.  No packs of cigarettes, ashtrays, matches lighters, anything related to smoking!

Edited August 4 by QuittingGirl

[shy]

29 minutes ago, QuittingGirl said:

Very sorry to hear that you went back, but it's very good that you came back on here!  This is my 2nd, and last time quitting!  I certainly don't want to go through those horrible withdrawal symptoms again! NO WAY!!! Just the thought of that really upsets me because it was just terrible! The first time I quit, I didn't have this forum, but I believe if I did, I would not have gone back to smoking.  The members of QuitTrain are amazing! They have helped me so much since the day I came on here, and we will help you too!  You just have to stick around!  I really mean it, support will really help you to quit.  We are addicts, just like drug addicts, gambling addicts, and any type of addict needs support.  I remember when I used to go to Weight Watchers, they said that you really have to attend the meetings for it to work, and it's true.  Addicts need support because quitting any addiction is really really difficult, but it can be done, and when you have support, it makes it so much easier because you aren't alone.  We were all newbies at one time, some were able to quit only once and others like you, myself and many others are on their hopefully FINAL time!

 

Hey I can't go back to smoking because my dear friend and co-moderator @Doreensfree would woop my A$$....LOL!!! 

 

YOU CAN DO THIS SHY!!!

 

I want to add another tip, if you haven't done it yet.  Get rid of any smoking paraphenalia that is in your living quarters.  No packs of cigarettes, ashtrays, matches lighters, anything related to smoking!

Definitely. I mean my mom keeps cigs in her room cause she smokes in there but I am going to try my best to stay away from her room