An excellent website for preparation on your quit is whyquit.com
This is for cold turkey quits but you are welcome to read it even if you use an aid.
We are very supportive here and we all know how difficult quitting can be, so when an urge hits, post to the forum instead. I found carrot and celery sticks to be a great help, as well as chilled water. I used lolipops too but that can lead to cavities and weight gain so you might want to try a straw of toothpick.
The physical withdrawal lasts about 3 days so be prepared and gather up all your willpower. It can be done but you have to want it.
Make sure to write often, anything that you want.....yell, get mad, whatever gets you through it, but make sure you QUIT and never smoke again.
Were here for you : )
Kathy Jo
I too am quitting cold turkey. I find that keeping busy has helped me. I also chew a lot of gum. Usually this helps with the cravings. I stopped on Oct. 1, and have slipped twice, but everyday is a new day.
Make sure you read the articles at whyquit.com
For every question you might have, for every thought you think, to combat urges as well as growth from your experience, Joel's Library has so many articles that are so helpful!
The first few weeks will bring many urges and what helped me to get through it slip-free, was to read, read, read.
If you do slip, then you need to count the first 72 hours all over again. It takes that long for nicotine to leave your system.
Gum chewing will help but it may cause other problems : ) Exercise is probably the best thing you can do for yourself, physically and mentally, so whenever you can, walk, run, whatever works for you. Imagine quitting and exercise.......what better way to treat your body : )
Make sure to ask for support from family & friends.....we are here for you so you can post often.
Good luck to you both and keep us updated : )
Hey Autum,
Education is an important part of getting free of this addiction. If we don't know what we're fighting, then how could we possibly win the fight? So, I have to second Kathyjo's recommendation for www.whyquit.com....or simply do a Goggle search for "stop smoking support" - you'll be amazed how much support is out here.
Lots of water and POSITIVE attitude went a long ways in my early days/weeks/months. Recognizing the first 3 or 4 days was physical withdrawal and from there it was all in my head helped a lot too. The mind games go away in time but it does take time. More a case of WANT power than WILL power. If you want it badly enough, you can achieve it.
Good luck and hope to see you following up with posts in here that you've actually quit and you're starting to enjoy some clean air.
Yes I have slipped some today..ugh! and I just started! But the good thing is that I am completely out of cigs now and I am not buying anymore!!!!! I think having them here was a killer for me but Im working on it... I get stressful or bored and then...ugh! I work 22miles from my house...and the drive home is the hardest I think... especially when I get in my car...I am so use to lighting one up! Im going to do this...I am determined! Im doing this not only for myself, but for my family.
Thank you guys for help supporting me!
Autum ::::::I will keep you posted.
Autum, please get the nicotine patches. It is a 10 week program. 6 weeks on 21 mg/day patches, 2 weeks on 14mg/day patches, and 2 weeks on 7mg/day patches. You won't have these terrible withdrawal symptoms, and you can re-learn how to live your life without smoking. I quit in 1992 after 23 years of smoking a pack a day. I had tried everything from cold-turkey to hypnosis, but only the patch helped me. Remember, you CANNOT smoke while on the patches, because it will cause a nicotine overload and you could have a heart attack. If you were a light smoker (but it doesn't sound like it) you could start with the 14mg/day patches. Good luck, Autum!
Hi there (I am new here), but I too am using the patches and gum. It seems to be doing the trick. I have been quit for a month, but I slipped too....so I started over and have been quit for over two weeks now and about to step down on the patches. If you can do it cold turkey t hat is great....and probably the best way, but the patches do help with the intense cravings. (although not a day goes by that I dont "want" one) Just doin it one day at a time tho!!
Good Luck
Peace,
Lexxie1018