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Hello all - well I am on Day 9 of being a non smoker! I have been smoking for about 38 years...finally made the decision. Woke up one day and made a deadline for my quit day and just did it. I signed up for the NRT with my pharmacy, did the patch for the first 7 days with an inhaler. Yesterday was the first day without the inhaler and today is my first day without a patch or the inhaler. I have both with me in case I feel the need but want to see if I can do this. Thoughts??

Been doing a lot of thinking this morning about quitting smoking and realized that I need to go back to the drawing board and get off the cannabis. I've been experimenting with different doses and timing and came to the conclusion that I love being sober more than being under the influence of cannabis. Where I live you can get evicted if caught smoking cannabis in your yard and I can't live with polluting the indoor air in my home by smoking it indoors.

I've experimented with different doses and times for having cannabis and I still prefer being sober. Even though I quit cigarettes last fall for a month and a half by going out for a few puffs of cannabis every time I got a craving for a cigarette I want to be sober now. I feel I have reached the end of the road with cannabis. Today, this is what I will work on to be sure about going off cannabis for good, for life if possible. My cannabis package says when you smoke cannabis you get the same pollutants as are in a cigarette. Reading this took some of the shine off having cannabis. It's as bad as cigarettes for poisoning yourself. Nuff said. Take care everyone and thanks for your support.

Well Top of a new morning..
I made it.. I must admit getting thru day 1 was ok because I really didnt want a cig.. but the nagging thinking about it every second of every hour.. geeze... that got intense.
Tried to keep busy with my hobbies and my mind. I have been helping out a friend with a house watching job since Fri. You know the ol'huggin the fish and giving the cat a bath... lol so that gets me out in the fresh air and a wee walk.. which I have to do more of.. sooooo thought I would check in with all you fine people that are choosing to stop this unnecessary activity that most of us have done for all of our lives.. wishing you all a smoke free day and another one for me..
thankful
lilchronic d2

"Courage isn't having the strength to go on - it is going on when you don't have strength." - Napoleon Bonaparte

This wonderful quote emphasizes that true courage isn't about always feeling strong or capable; it's about persevering even when you feel weak, tired, or overwhelmed.

In the context of quitting smoking, this means that the real bravery lies in continuing your journey to quit, even when cravings are intense, when you're stressed, or when it feels easier to give in. It's in these moments of doubt or struggle, when your strength seems to be depleted, that courage truly shines.

It involves recognizing that there will be tough moments where you feel like you don’t have the strength to resist the urge to smoke. It's in those moments that your courage shines the brightest. Instead of focusing on always being strong, focus on taking one small step forward, no matter how difficult it feels.

Each time you choose to keep going, despite the struggle, you demonstrate the true essence of courage. Remember, it's okay to feel vulnerable and uncertain at times. What matters is your decision to keep moving forward, to keep trying, even when it feels hard. This persistence is what will ultimately lead you to a smoke-free life.

Still haven't figured out how to go about limiting myself to 6 cigarettes a day which is my goal. It's a lot like quitting smoking all together. Most of the time, you are not smoking.

It helps to pretend I'm quitting altogether. I need to be using an approach that doesn't have me thinking about smoking and cigarettes much of the time. I just want to be free, if only in my thinking, if that makes sense. Today feels like a good day to limit my smoking according to my goal. I need to practise moderation which is also my goal.

I'm pretty neurotic and impulsive so practising moderation will be a challenge. I can't change who I am, but I think I can let go of being neurotic about smoking and direct my impulses instead to other things that are important to me. Take care everyone and let me know if you thing I'm crazy, illusional or maybe on the right track. I'm craving cigarettes just thinking about what I'm going to do so I'll go now and do laundry. Darn cravings.

Good Morning...
well its here, once again day 1 of a quit.. I am feeling positive so I am looking forward to what no smoking will mean for me.. Woke up to a cloudy stormy kinda day sooooo looks like a good day to pamper myself indoors.. Feeling good about this one, so there's that.. lol wish me luck.....talk tomorrow
lilchronic

Wow 7 1/2 months of zero cigarettes!!! Yay!

I used patches for 1 week at the beginning then lozenges and gum.
Periodically I still chew on 2 mg gum.
My question is, after all this time when do I quit the gum?

Quitting smoking can cause withdrawal symptoms such as nervousness or anxiety, as the body and mind adjust to being without nicotine. Here are some tips to reduce anxiety after quitting smoking:

Practice deep breathing: Take long, deep breaths to calm your mind and relax your body. Try inhaling for four seconds, holding your breath for four seconds, and then slowly exhaling for four seconds. Repeat this technique several times to ease anxiety.

Exercise: Physical activity is an excellent way to reduce anxiety. Exercise releases endorphins, which improve mood and reduce stress. A simple daily walk, yoga, or cycling can make a big difference.

Avoid anxiety triggers: Identify situations that increase your anxiety and find ways to avoid or manage them. For example, if certain social situations remind you of smoking, try to avoid them or face them using relaxation techniques.

Use distraction techniques: When you feel anxious, keep yourself busy with activities you enjoy, such as reading, listening to music, drawing, or doing crafts. This can take your mind off anxiety.

Practice mindfulness or meditation: Mindfulness helps you stay grounded in the present moment and reduce anxious thoughts. Even a few minutes of meditation per day can help calm the mind and manage anxiety.

Seek support: Talk to friends, family, or a healthcare professional about your feelings of anxiety. Sharing your experiences can help you better understand them and find solutions.

Maintain a balanced diet: Avoid sugary or fatty foods, as they can increase mood swings. Opt for a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains to stabilize your energy and mood.

Stay hydrated: Drinking plenty of water can help flush toxins from your body and reduce withdrawal symptoms, including anxiety. Avoid caffeine-containing beverages, as they can increase anxiety.

Get enough sleep: Good sleep is important for managing anxiety. Try to maintain a regular sleep routine and create a sleep-friendly environment by limiting screen time before bed and ensuring a calm, dark room.

Be patient with yourself: Understand that anxiety is a normal part of withdrawal and that it will diminish over time. Remember that each day without a cigarette is a step toward a less anxious and more balanced life.

By combining these strategies, you can reduce anxiety after quitting smoking and thus promote a smoother transition to a smoke-free life.

Today, I'm thinking about goals. I looked up goals on the internet and it said that your goals should be realistic and attainable. I take that to mean smaller goals that stretch you a bit, but are doable. I want to apply this to reducing cigarettes. Have to do some thinking on this.

The times I quit smoking this past year something unexpected happened both times: from the moment I had my last cigarette my life became chaotic and dramatic. It was usually a lot of drama until I relapsed and then when I was back to smoking, things became calm.
Drama gone.

This got me thinking about setting smaller, easier goals to avoid the drama and ease my way along my journey to drastically reducing my smoking. At least, with an easier goal, I hope I can say often, " yay, I did it, I stuck to it!" because I need to feel successful instead of focusing on my failures to reduce smoking. Please don't give up on me.

So I am not entirely sure if one would consider this a relapse or not, but day 1 quitting vaping with NRT was too challenging as I have been addicted to nicotine since I was 13 and now in my late 30s. I realized my addition is two-fold: nicotine and oral fixation.

I ended up getting my nicotine-free vape juice day 1 and found that has helped me tremendously this week while I overcome the nicotine cravings. For instance, I have had the worst insomnia of my life and keep waking up almost every hour just craving for nicotine. I will have a puff of my vape (even though it's got no nicotine) and it seems to help me at least a little bit psychologically. By using my nicotine-free vape juice, I actually haven't even used my NRT in two days. Once my nicotine-withdrawal insomnia settles down, which I understand could take up to about 4 weeks, I will quit the vaping altogether, but for now the 0-nicotine vape juice has helped me in overcoming the nicotine addiction so far.

well
make it through hell week
ya,
some tough moments
but stuck to the quit
thank you to the forum members for the support and encouragement

I'm finding it hard so far to limit myself to 6 cigarettes a day. I don't seem to have much willpower in me. The thing is I feel so good physically and save so much money when I stick to the 6, I don't understand why I would ever have more that the 6. I guess it's the darn nicotine addiction.

Plus, I'm socially isolated. In all honesty, I don't have any friends right now. No one to call when I'm getting a craving and want someone to talk me out of it and remind me how crazy a decision it is to smoke. This post is my way of checking in and staying on course. I'm grateful for all the comments I get when I post. People on this forum are very wise and helpful, thank you.

All I can do is keep trying... I feel so ashamed of myself for not being strong enough, diligent enough,and most important not loving myself enough to do this. The clock she is a ticking and I want to at least accomplish this one important thing that I should do for myself.. Enough should finally be enough .. thank you for your support
lilchronic

Day one and I am so weak for a puff to amp me up. I've had my party for the week back to work til next week. Enjoy your weekend people. I'm so excited to be six hours without crashing so far. That's the longest time yet this past week. Quietly confident I can refuse to smoke that garbage anymore. Deny myself I can never trust myself. It's a big fight against all the cannabis and methamphetamine but not cigarette. Tonight I have had my fill of it. I refuse to smoke ever again. My lungs hurt but the craving doesn't last once I knock it out the park.