I have not been on the boards for a while, but only lurking about. However, 2 days ago a quit smoking, cold turkey! Holy cow! I never thought I’d do it as previous attempts failed miserably. But I am at 2 days 2 hours and going strong!
Anyhow, I thought I would get some moral support from others who have previously quit as it is kind of intense at times, but so far I have not slipped.
I am using Joel Spitzer’s method. I tried cutting down and such and I always ended up smoking again. So this time, it is no smoking at all – cold turkey or bust!
So let me know how you all survived through the cravings and such. I’ve sure been chewing a lot of gum myself.
Not being a current or former smoker, I have no advice other than you can do it. Plenty of people do it all the time and you’re no different from them. One day at a time and you got it.
Thanks Bees! I have the most bizarre feeling like my brain is wrapped in Saran Wrap or something. Must be needing something - maybe my blood sugar is getting low due to lack of stimulant (nicotine) in my blood stream. Time to get some juice or something!
Good for you Doctor! Cold turkey is the only way to quit. All these programs, methods, etc. are just con games. You know what worked for me? Jelly Beans. I carried a package of jelly beans in my shirt pocket where the cigarettes used to be and every time I reached in that pocket I pulled out a jelly bean instead of a cigarette. It’s going to be tough for a while but you can do it. And when it’s finally out of your system for good you will become a self righteous non smoking bastard just like me because you will have earned the right to tell others that smoking stinks!
Thanks Peanuthead. So far so good. I like the jelly bean idea! Gonna have to try that one. Hopefully I can sleep better tonight. Last night was a little tough. I guess only to be expected while my body adjusts to no more nicotine.
I read that nicotine interferes with caffeine so that my cups of coffee will be effectively twice as potent! Oh yeah!
I quit cold turkey three years ago after having smoked for some 20 plus years. Since I was truly ready to do it, the process was relatively painless, considering. After the 3rd or 4th day, the physical cravings were completely gone. The first thing I noticed was how much better I slept. That in itself was worth the withdrawals.
What helped me was changing up my daily routine a little so I wouldn’t reach for a cigarette out of habit. The hardest was learning to drink a beer without lighting up.
I too did it cold turkey in 1997 - if you react the way I did, right now you are felling odd - a bit uneasy. I couldn’t quite describe it and did some research on the internet, finally chalked it up to the disappearance of the last bit of nicotine from my system.
After that, I just kept feeling better. Started walking a lot, watching my diet and light workouts - lost 40 pounds + the nicotine monkey on my back.
It is good to have all your support! jasg you hit the nail on the head – I feel uneasy, odd, almost light-headed. But, I am on my 3rd day now without a cigarette. I can do it.
Funny thing last night, I sat near someone I know who is a smoker and it smelled, well, kind of disgusting! :eek: And I’m thinking “Is that what I smelled like?” Yuck.
Another thing I am noticing is that I often wake in the morning with a headache which sometimes turns into a real whopper. This morning, I didn’t have that phenomenon. Oh, my head feels all weird and such, but not the headache so much. Hmmmm…makes me think maybe I’ve been kinda stupid. :smack:
Alright, here we go to make it through Day 3 – it is supposed to get easier after this, right guys?
Keep it up! I stopped smoking some ten years ago by not lighting another cigarette, I just realised that if I smoke one pack a week I am probably not that addicted. On the other hand I kept on using snus, but quit that as well for the same reason using the same method.
Good for you!! I’m almost 11 months out from quitting cold turkey. My husband quit 10 months ago, using the patches for a little while. After the first few days, remember you’re dealing with a psychological addiction. So do things a little differently–have your coffee in another setting–go for a walk after a meal, etc. The most striking thing to me is the realization that the first concern I always had no matter what I was doing was “when and where can I get my next cig?”. You really are a slave to them, and freedom is so great!
Pharmaceutical grade nitroglycerine liquid infused into the human body at a steady constant rate via intravenous catheter, where it circulates throughout the system within seconds, dilating arteries, lowering blood pressure, helping to reduce angina and minimize infarct damage (hopefully) while giving you one of the worst headaches you’ll ever have in your life.
AH.
:smack:
Yeah, having “one of those episodes” may indeed be a lifestyle changer!
I should have known when I saw “Nitro” (especially since my Dad had a heart attack too back in the 1980’s from smoking and to this day carries a little bottle of nitro pills around in his pocket)…for some reason within the rest of your post I’m thinking “This is some new anti-smoking aid I haven’t heard of before!”
FoisGrasIsEvil: I recommend checking out Joel Spitzer. He has an e-book and other references on the web. That is what I did before taking the plunge. It gave me enough data and necessity to be able to say “that’s it!” and actually stop. Understanding the physiological effects does help. Not that it is pleasant, but at least you know why you feel like crap.
His key point is that it is an addiction, so any amount of nicotine will kick in a full relapse. It is similar to dealing with alcoholism. You have to stop totally or your brain is going to insist you need more to keep the artificial dopamine high going. After I was done reading up on all that, I decided it was time as I do not like being controlled by a chemical substance!
Ooooh. I just had to do something tough. I had to go grab someone who was in the designated smoking area for something. Test of will power there!! I made it back out alive. Damn it was smokey in there.
