Okay, I've been suffering lately wanting a cigarette and I haven't smoked, don't even have a cigarette in the house (thankfully) but I have started taking a half blue Chantix tablet again each morning - it helps. I had some left over when I was weening myself off and I probably have enough for 30 days. I'm hoping I won't need it for that long. I really don't want to smoke, I know I don't need to smoke so why the hell do I think about it all the time? Could it be that I'm feeling more winded than usual lately? Yes I'm going to talk with my PCP about this when I see him in August. In the meantime I'm chewing gum like it's my lifeline, which there is some truth to I guess.
I honestly don't think I'll smoke, no, I know I won't smoke but damn it, I'm tired of wanting one. Does this ever go away?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Why can't I quit thinking about smoking a cigarette?
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29 comments:
i've never smoked so i don't know, but i have had other cravings that just seem to linger...no pill or gum for it either. you can do it though, you've done so well. might help not to dwell on it, easier said than done. i know.
Keep up the good work! I've been on the nicotine gum for 5 years now! Works for me!
Never smoked here so I'm sure this won't really help, but here are some words of encouragement that you can beat it, and you will conquer this!!!
Good luck!
Hang in there Deb, sending positive energy to keep those cigarette thoughts away
How weird, I took half a Chanitx today too...same reason.
Peace,
Diva
Thank Goodness I never smoked. I'd never have been able to quit if I had. That much I am sure of. I hope it gets easier for you very soon.
Aw, Deb, hang in there. I know you will, but I also sometimes feel like I would *love* nothing more than to have a cigarette. I hear from people 20+ years quit that sometimes the thoughts still creep in, but thankfully it does seem to get fewer and further between. There are still rough patches for me, too, but knowing that this will yield to smoother sailing for another while pulls me through. You've made it this far through far tougher moments, so I know you can do it, but I also know that it's not as much fun when it's harder. You know I'm always here. Keep going. You are still making it. :)
It's been years since I quit smoking (can't remember exactly how many ... at least three since my last cigarette). At any rate, I substituted other things like gum chewing, suckers and breathing exercises which helped considerably. The thing is that out-of-the-blue I'll still get the occasional craving ... especially when I'm in a defiant James Dean kind of mood! Anyway, the best of luck to you! I'm so glad I quit ... now my clothes smell better, food tastes better and my sinuses are always a mess!
Ahh geez, I have quit so many times, I've lost count. Everytime I quit, and I hit the 6 mo to year mark I would start getting those hard cravings back. I would even dream about smoking. It's really hard. Keep being strong, you will win.
Deb...don't do it! You've helped me thru a few 'interesting' moments of late so here I am with my words of encouragement.
Grandma's are meant to smell like apple pie not smelly cigarettes...think of your beautiful grandson and go make yourself a coffee. Infact, I make a lot of coffee these days but I hardly drink any...I just do it to keep me from thinking about having a cigarette. So far its worked!
I came by again, and ditto what Leanne just said.
Little Rudy is the perfect extra boost to pull you through the rough spots that you know will not last forever. Keep smelling good; you are a grandma now!
I'm a smoking cessation advisor and I know from my work how difficult it is.. But be strong, you're doing so well!
I don't smoke and I dislike to be around smokers.
Please don't go back to smoking.
I haven't smoked in about 13 years, and honestly, no the actual craving never goes away. My mil hasn't smoked in over 20 years and she says the same thing, she still gets the craving. It mostly comes during times of stress. However! When you think about how insane the cost of cigarettes is these days(they were about $4.50 a pack up here when I quit, these days they're $8 to $10 I believe), and when you think about how horrible the smell is, and when you think about what you are doing to your body and everyone around you by smoking...well it makes it a lot easier to just let the craving slide right on by.
When the cravings get really strong just make sure to busy yourself with something else, especially things with your hands, and especially things that you normally didn't smoke while you were doing anyway. You have come a long way and it would be crazy to turn back now! Think of how many years it takes to rid your body of the toxins? You're almost a year into that, you wouldn't want to turn back that clock.
I never smoked so don't really know if the craving ever goes away, but I'd say not having any cigarettes around makes sense. Just stick with it and keep the gum if it helps.
I was a smoker, so maybe I can help. You may really want one from time to time...and that can go on for years.
You need to replace 1 habit for another. I gave it up by swigging water from a bottle every time I would normally smoke or when I wanted to. That also meant more time in the ladies room... so every pee break I also did 20 squats or calf raises at the sink. So I actually replaces one bad habit for 2 healthy ones.
Thank you for your support everyone. It's a new day and I still haven't smoked. At least at this point this morning the urge isn't so bad but I've already taken a half Chantix to help ward off the evil habit.
I found it was easier when the weather was colder - I have no doubt that's because I'm outdoor more now and I associate outdoors with smoking.
I will persevere and make it through this rough spot because I know I don't want to smoke anymore.
I used to work by a man whose son was a surgeon. The man was a chain smoker and although he was a true gentleman (the real old fashioned king - ladies always first and so on), you never saw him without a cigarette hanging from out of his mouth. As soon as one was finished he would light the next.
This is really terrible so don't read on if you are at all jelly tummied.
His son said to him "Dad, if you could see what I have to see in the bodies of smokers you would never light up again." He pushed his son to ask what he meant. The description was truly hideous. He was told that no matter whereabouts an operation was performed the young surgeon would have to cut into and through flesh that was marbled with black sticky tar like substances. It would get onto his scalpel, onto his gloves, and onto everything ... a terrible sight for any young man to view day in and day out as part of his job.
The man still had his cigarettes but on the Monday he came into work without them. He said that he had lit up on a number of occasions but had not enjoyed a single puff as every time the image of the black tar-like ooze came into his mind ... eventually he got rid of his remaining packets and never lit up again!
I hope that this helps a little, if you managed to read on.
I've never smoked, so I can't imagine what you're going through - but please know you have tons of support here (including new friends like me!) who are rooting for you to stay cigarette free!!!
You can do it!
♥
mo
Good luck to you MamaFlo I went 2 months and decided I wasn't ready to stop, but I only do it outside and not in my smoking room anymore. Regardless of how hot or cold it is. I decided to punish myself if I'm that desperate. I have smoked since I was very small so regardless of popular opinion if I want to I will. I still have 2 months worth of Chantix.
The cravings don't ever go away, and it would be unwise to pretend they do. The only way I could manage it (I tried three times) was to chew Nicotine gum (low strength) I am still chewing it after more years than I can remember. I know that I would have gone back to smoking if it hadn't been for the gum.
The truth is, that the gum actually becomes far more enjoyable than smoking ever was. You will never crave a cigarette again while chewing the gum.
My doctor said that a low strength nicotine gum is far less harmful than a cigarette that is full of chemicals (and tar). Therefore chew the gum for life rather than smoke.
I now hate being anywhere near a smoker.
The choice is, either give it up and struggle through the cravings, or chew nicotine gum and have no cravings. Only you can decide.
You have done very well, keep it up!
I left a comment yesterday, but I am not seeing it...so I will try again...
Congrats. Quitting is very difficult!
Anajz, it may have been due to blogger being down for some maintenance yesterday afternoon - sorry.
Did you quit? Are you talking from experience?
Glad today is easier, Deb. You know best what works for you, and apparently it still does. :)
Hey Mamaflo...I think there is something screwy on your posting cuz it says there is a post from me previously...which this is my first post...very bizarre.
I am 3 days away from 4 months quit and it still bugs me. Reading about how some people say it never goes away is not good eh?
Hopefully for us, it will eventually go away.
I guess the main thing is that we don't give in!
oh! nevermind, there is another jude. Whew, I thought I'd been bizarrely hacked
Yes, MamaFlo, I most emphatically am speaking from experience...lol.
After almost 10 years I still will occasionally get a hankerin', but it soon goes away.
I recommended a book...What to Say When You Talk to Your Self, but Shad Helmstetter. There is a chapter on quitting...can't say anything about the rest of the book because I was focused on the one topic. This chapter was instrumental in helping me to quit smoking.
Today is 31 days not smoking and the urge tonight is really bad. I am taking a 1/2 chantix a day and it has helped hoping to make it a 1/4 within the next two weeks. To all who are fighting the craving good luck and keep trying. God I know it is hard!!!
Anonymous - yeah for you!!! You're down to a half a Chantix after a month??? I was on the full dosage for 3 months and then did the weening and it helped.
You can do this, take deep cleansing breaths, go for a walk, take a shower, put mint chewing gum in your mouth, do whatever it takes to make the urge pass.
You can do this!!!!!
If I can be 10+ months without smoking after 36 years than you can get by this moment!!
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