had enough,
Congratulations on your decision to quit and welcome to the SSC.
You are doing fine. You realize you are an addict and since you have broken one addiction (drinking) you know you have it in you to deal with this one.
Smoking and quitting smoking are entirely a mind game. The nicotine messes with us in so many ways it isn't even funny. Just keep focused on your quit and the knowledge that this crappy feeling isn't going to last forever. Time is the great healer. You have probably smoked for years and years. Quitting isn't going to happen in a matter of days. It's a process we all must go through. You are already doing many good things. The ice water really helped me. I also chewed on cut-off straws. Like you, I used the patch. However, after the first couple of nights, I decided not to sleep with it anymore since it messed up my sleeping so much. I took it off right before turning in and put a new one on right after I showered. My wife, who quit with me, also did the same. Check out my stats.. it's very doable!
Read all you can. There are many great threads/posts here. Dig deep into some of the forums and perhaps search for articles. You can also search out the net for info.
Remember, keep a clear head. Maintain your focus. Do not be distracted by other events occuring in your life. Life will go on, whether you smoke or not. So don't smoke! Nothing will change other than you smoked.
Here is a quote I like to share with all new quitters...
[b][color=blue]"May we never let the things we can't have, or don't have, or shouldn't have, spoil our enjoyment of the things we do have and can have. As we value our happiness, let us not forget it, for one of the greatest lessons in life is learning to be happy without the things we cannot or should not have."[/color]
[color=black]Richard L. Evans[/color][/b]
Best wishes.
[b][color=Purple]Be Strong. Be Smart. Be Quit[/color]
[color=black]Joe[/color]
[size=3][color=Blue]Knowledge Replaces Fear[/color][/size]
[size=2][color=purple]Hoping for success without hard work is like trying to harvest without planting.[/color][/size]
[size=2][color=black]Illegitimus non carborundum est[/color][/size][/b]
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/15/2005
[B]Smoke
-
Quit Meter
$36,495.20
Amount Saved
-
Quit Meter
Days: 9811
Hours: 22
Minutes: 47
Seconds: 47
Life Gained
-
Quit Meter
45619
Smoke Free Days
-
Quit Meter
364,952
Cigarettes Not Smoked