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I Don?t Get It?

for 14 år siden 0 +0 / -0 98

yeah lolly found this....

I found this article on relapsing faster than I thought. I've no idea where it came from but it does mention 17 weeks. Hope this helps you. Lolly.

Hi.  We all know about the first week and the next one, but after that, many people expect that it's all over.  Well it just isn't.  Nicotine metabolites can hang around for three weeks in your system, for instance, and those toxic additives in cigarettes have been affecting your body too.

The entire body goes through major changes. It's in serious recovery mode.  In every single cell, from your lungs, your brain, your skin, to every part of you, everything is affected when you stop feeding it nicotine and its accompanying toxins.  That requires a lot of cellular energy, a whole lot of adjustment.  It's no wonder people are tired or feel spacey at certain moments.  Those recovery changes do not end for a while.  They are quite intensive in the beginning.

The brain undergoes physical and neurological changes too.  Things start to even out or dampen at around 17 weeks, though the changes and the recovery still keep happening in a less obvious and perceptible way, except perhaps for a few cluster days every month.

Now while it's true that some people feel a whole lot better after the second month, many don't think they have it under control until the fourth month, though they have had increasingly good moments in between.
This does not mean that there can't be tough moments in the months that follow, but by the end of the fourth, if your skills have been developed, you have enough time in, determination and confidence to get through those moments.

If people know that they can feel depressed around 10 weeks and have lots of junkie thinking in the third month (inability to feel pleasure while the neurotransmitters are "realigning" so the question comes up "Is it all worth it?" (Along with a bargaining stage where they toy with the notion of having "just one", they will be better prepared to handle the quit.) Thus it's wise to have a reward plan.

Many of the letters I get about relapsing occur around weeks 12-16.  They inevitably say "I thought I could have just one" to get through a stressful moment, or test the quit, or "I expected it to be all over by now."
My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 3/12/2010
Smoke-Free Days: 114
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 2,850
Amount Saved: $1,425.00
Life Gained:
Days: 8 Hrs: 22 Mins: 6 Seconds: 45

for 14 år siden 0 +0 / -0 98

hey S.R.

bit late getting in here... but i wanted to point out that i know how you feel want to know how i got over the 3mth hump...

a post got bumped about the 12-17 week time period and how that time period is when people fail...it is when the other habits start to kick in when you start recovering from the bad habits,...i will re bump if i find it it says so much more than i could repeat... it was so good for me to hear since i felt like you felt like argh this is goin to be like this forever...knowledge is power and after reading the post i felt that at least i knew what to expect... i knew that it is almost scientifically proven that it's going to be hard right now...i just got done finding a new apt for myself in Manhattan (anyone remember my post about roommate hating me for not being her smoke buddy anymore) i was dying to smoke the entire time...stress, excitement, reward...it popped into my head every 5 mins, then it popped out...cause i knew- it's just a thought, it isn't reality...beating your brain will allow you to start down the hill...to the road to recovery

hang in there... it feel good when you beat it...

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 3/12/2010
Smoke-Free Days: 113
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 2,825
Amount Saved: $1,412.50
Life Gained:
Days: 8 Hrs: 19 Mins: 52 Seconds: 33

for 14 år siden 0 +0 / -0 1209

Hi Steel, you were a big help to me, and a great cheerleader

I think it is called PAWS Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome. You are in the No man's land. The quit is not as exciting as it was. Yes it is hard. and even though the nicotine is out of our systems.. our bodies/minds are still asking for it.

Ou friends (especially the non=smoking ones) Don't understand it is still difficult, than we are addicts and still romancing the darn thing. It kind of helps me ... to think why and what is making me anxious.. the stupid cogarette is. Am I going to go out and spend $8.00 or $9.00 on a pack... uhhhhh that would be NO. I look and see how much more I get done in a day. I m not wiping up ashes or washing out yucky ashtrays. Benefits.. no green gunk, my dogs are not sneezing. I can go out to my garden and NOT worry about touching my tomato plants ( tomato plants can get blight and nicotine poisoning from touching them.. or smoking around them).

Yes I still a " thought about sitting down to relax and light up... that was my routine for 50 years. Those thoughts are not going away over night. I have to tell myself.. oh I don't smoke anymore.

Can we really hide smoking from someone? Most people you can smell it on their clothes or hair.

We are all proud of you and Understand the struggle. I also find when I get close to a milestone or anniversary date.. then the thoughts try to lure me..

You have NOT given up a darn thing.. YOU have taken back Control... you are in charge of your life, your time and your money.

have a great vacation..

Bonnie

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 5/7/2010
Smoke-Free Days: 55
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 935
Amount Saved: $187.00
Life Gained:
Days: 7 Hrs: 7 Mins: 3 Seconds: 5

for 14 år siden 0 +0 / -0 2778

Hey Steelroots!

Soooo... you're getting it? Sounds like it! You are going to be thinking about smoking for a while yet because of all of those previous associations. The thing to remember is that you are a non-smoker now! You will get urges and craves, but you have figured out for almost 3 months how to deal with those! That's awesome! Just keep on keeping on and keep a big ol' smile on your face because FREEDOM is right around the corner!

Jim

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 3/5/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 847
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 21,175
Amount Saved: $3,493.88
Life Gained:
Days: 145 Hrs: 22 Mins: 21 Seconds: 12

Quit Meter

$45,825.00

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 1096 Hours: 16

Minutes: 17 Seconds: 52

Life Gained
Quit Meter

6110

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

183,300

Cigarettes Not Smoked

for 14 år siden 0 +0 / -0 109

Thanks Todash, Ashley, Hot and Memie - needed to be reassured that these feelings and emotions are normal (at least to some degree) and that I'm not totally alone or going crazy.

I read all the way back to the original post by MissyFit on the nicotine addition and the pairing/association engrained in our brain. Wow, I've helped that natural process to really become engrained "big time". It makes a lot of sense and at least now I can see it for what it is and work harder at getting through the 4 seasons and trying to take those thoughts captive. This helps me to plan and prepare to deal with instead of thinking everyday that I won't think about anymore.

Seems like I believed and felt it was JUST nicotine - and that's why I never kept a quit going previously. I was getting through the W/D of nicotine itself but all the other reasons and issues kept me going back to smoking.

Memie thanks for the encouragement - sounds like you really do understand my pattern/routine of my closet smoking.

Why in the world do we do that to ourselves? Close to my quit day I usually smoked about 10-15 cigs a day. But for many years earlier I smoked 2 pks a day.

Hopefully, this new info will help me regroup and refocus and keep my quit (I was almost ready to give up).

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 4/10/2010
Smoke-Free Days: 80
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 1,200
Amount Saved: $300.00
Life Gained:
Days: 11 Hrs: 9 Mins: 48 Seconds: 31

for 14 år siden 0 +0 / -0 242

Hi Steelroots,

Your situations is so much like mine, I was also a closet smoker for the last 6 years that I smoked. I only smoked about 10 cigarettes a day but I think its just as hard to quit as someone that smoked two packs a day because we did like that cigarette with the coffee or the one after a meal or the one after work.

Last november I went for a trip with my daughter and grandkids and never smoked for a week and it did not bother me because I never liked smoking in front of people. But as soon has I got home I couldn't wait to go in the garage and have a smoke.

Don't give up it will get better, my worst cravings were when I got home after work, and today when I was reading your post I though, I haven't been getting cravings after work like I use too. So everyone is right it will get better.

Think about it do you want to be smoking in three years from now, I don't think you do. Don't get discourage it will get better.

Memie

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 1/25/2010
Smoke-Free Days: 155
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 1,550
Amount Saved: $620.00
Life Gained:
Days: 19 Hrs: 0 Mins: 28 Seconds: 23

for 14 år siden 0 +0 / -0 11226

Hi Steelroots,

Know that what you are going through right now is normal and it will pass. It sounds like you had smoking down to a very specific ritual. Many quitters have trouble letting go of the habitual behavior of smoking. They cannot let go because smoking was such a big part of their life; they used it to relax, celebrate, vent, have fun, socialize, etc. It sounds like this is the case with you only more specifically making this behavior very difficult to change. However it can be changed. You can let go of this "relationship" and feel better and healthier. The key is to continue rewarding yourself, reminding yourself how important this is to you and replacing smoking with other and habits.

You have been given some great advice already!

Now I have a question for you. How have you been rewarding yourself for all your hard work. How have you been celebrating your quit every day?

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

for 14 år siden 0 +0 / -0 2778

Hey Steelroots!!!

Hang int there, Kiddo!!! Go down a couple lines and read the thread "This is why I think about smoking"... I think that Roses was the last one to post on the thread. Go to the first posting in the thread and you will then know why you are still thinking about smoking! It's a long read, but read through the whole thing and you will get a better understanding.

Oh, by the way.... CONGRATULATIONS on 80 smoke free days!!! That is something that you should be jumping up and down about and shouting WOOOO HOOO.... I AM doing this!!! Keep looking forward to another smoke free day under your belt and keep rewarding yourself for every defeat you inflict upon the nico-demon!

I know that a few of our new quit buddies are struggling and that is why I have been bumping up some older posts that I know will have meaning and hope offer some inspiration. I'm glad that you read that dwelling post, and you really need to think about what Stickin' was saying! The other post I mentioned above, is also something to think about and see if you also have one of those "ah haaa" moments.

Just know that some days are going to be better than others and do what ever you have to do to keep the prize in your eyes! Freedom is just around the corner for you and you have just got to keep telling yourself that you DO want this quit more than you want to smoke! You really are becoming a great quitter... just keep on taking it one day at a time and keep those rewards coming!!!

Post before you smoke and wait for those 5 replies and by then your crave will be gone!!!

We're here for you!

Jim

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 3/5/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 846
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 21,150
Amount Saved: $3,489.75
Life Gained:
Days: 145 Hrs: 18 Mins: 11 Seconds: 39

Quit Meter

$45,825.00

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 1096 Hours: 16

Minutes: 17 Seconds: 52

Life Gained
Quit Meter

6110

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

183,300

Cigarettes Not Smoked

for 14 år siden 0 +0 / -0 984

Steelroots, so sorry you're having a crappy time right now. But know that others have faced the same things precisely so read read read on this site!

First off - happy anniversary and congratulations on a massive 80 days!

You're about to celebrate an anniversary AND go on a trip. These were 'celebration' smoking occasions so your brain is trying to figure out how on earth you can be happy, how you can celebrate anything without that cigarette. I felt that on my first vacation away as a non smoker and nearly blew my quit. I was saved by an herbal relaxation remedy I'd brought with me (Kalms) and a huge dose of willpower.

The addict hiding away in the back of your mind is waiting to pounce. This is the time you need to really steel those roots, dig in, brace yourself for a rough ride and most of all do not fall into the 'feeling sorry for myself' trap that the addiction is setting up for you.

You're approaching three months which is when the real journey begins. This is when you realize you have to make changes in your life, when it's not so much 'fun' anymore but it sometimes feels like work. It's difficult for many when they stop seeing old friends, lose the old routines, etc., because they were affiliated with smoking. But that often is the thread that holds our previous life together. Sometimes we throw the lot away when we quit but it's too much to bear to lose our entire past so we use that as an excuse to light up again. I've done that once. But the bottom line is as always - if you want to quit more than you want to smoke, you will succeed. The choice is yours. Choice. Remember that word; it is your hero.

Get a survival kit ready to go. Book some really indulgent dinners, some great days out where no way could you smoke (like boating, something where it's impossible). Do things you couldn't do as a smoker. That require energy, endurance - you should have more now.

Hang tough, do your damnedest to pull yourself back up and keep going.

I wish you well.

x T

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 1/1/2007
Smoke-Free Days: 1275
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 29,325
Amount Saved: �8,064.38
Life Gained:
Days: 113 Hrs: 18 Mins: 50 Seconds: 34

for 14 år siden 0 +0 / -0 109

Well, today is my 80th day with this last quit! The first 30 days were great and unusually easy for ME. I was very proud, excited, good outlook and attitude. Memorial Weekend was very very difficult for me and it's been slowly getting worse. I''ve talked myself out of some craves and urges (thought I can do this and was so excited). That's about all I think about is smoking - I see others smoking and smell the smoke and think "I wish I had not quit".

Today I see all the comments on don't dwell and that's all I do is DWELL. There is so much "mind chatter" and one minute I want to smoke, and one minute I don't. Then my thoughts are but you quit for (? days) and then "so why are you even thinking about smoking.

I was a closet smoker for so many years and had such a weird routine and only smoked outside that now I don't even want to get up in the mornings (after 80 days) I'm miserable. I don't want my morning coffee without my smokes. Will be celebrating anniversary and birthday in about a week. I don't want to do our usual trip and restaurant because I'm not smoking. Everything in my life revolved around smoking and I had worked out my smoking times to a "fine art". When I would smoke, who I would smoke around or knew I smoked. I've even gone a day or two depending the circumstances and what situation I was in. Then I could make it on the thought of I'll be back home or on my routine and I can and will smoke as much as I want. I knew I could smoke in (my) car but never in anyone elses car.

I smoked outside at my home but wouldn't smoke outside at some elses home. I didn't smoke in "smoking" sections with other people because most of my family and friends don't smoke. So it didn't bother me when restaurants and public places banned smoking. I guess you get my point (I had my routine and if my routine changed then I didn't smoke) but otherwise I smoked and now everything I do and especially at my home (outside) I'm constantly wanting to smoke a cigarette. Feel like I'm going nuts because of my CONSTANT thoughts of smoking and regretting and resenting the fact that I quit. I was committed to this quit and did it cold turkey for the first time ever and thought it was going better than any other time with NRT. Why am I almost 3mths and still constantly associating everything I do or think with smoking? Will I be able to keep talking myself out of smoking when I think about just starting back to feel "normal" or "myself". Feel like a fish out of water!!!!! Questioning who I am or who was I.

I miss the way I felt when I still smoked? I know it's crazy, but I'm beginning to feel like I'm crazy or going crazy!!!!!

I had to vent and get these thoughts out in the open. I'm leaving for the anniversary trip in two days and I'm feeling very uncomfortable with my negative thoughts, doubts etc. and would really like to return smoke free but I'm really concerned about fighting the feeling.

Can anyone else identify and offer hope for renewing my negative attitude and mindset for positive.

My thoughts are like a multi-lane highway with very heavy traffic and before I can think thru one thought 20 other thoughts bombard. Whew I'm very tired and frustrated.

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 4/10/2010
Smoke-Free Days: 80
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 1,200
Amount Saved: $300.00
Life Gained:
Days: 11 Hrs: 9 Mins: 10 Seconds: 39

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