quit smoking for 3 days so far!

[bladderpain451]

I quit smoking on new years, I went through alot of stress, anxiety, depression, breaking out in hives, and had to go on an antidepressant. I never did during that 5 mths once stop wanting nicotine, and the antidepressant stopped working, and I started smoking again. I quit several days ago taking Chantix and haven't had any problems whatsover (yay!). Just went through a nervous breakdown and my Lexapro was doubled, still didn't get rid of the problems, but after I started taking Chantix, this stuff stopped all of my high stress feelings/anxiety, depression completely. It's amazing. I am deprived of REM sleep too and now I'm getting plenty of deep sleep. I don't get how a quit smoking pill can do all that but it does. I might ask my dr about long-term use for other purposes with this. Just wanted to share the story with anyone thinking about quitting, this stuff is great. I was a heavy smoker (3 packs a day) and I did it without any problems.

[nottoc4]

Hooray!! I'm glad it is helping you.

[sailawaygrl]

Good for you keep up the good work. I found that putting my mind on something else when I was in situations where I would normally light up helped me a lot.

Wishing you great success with quitting. Not at all to discourage you but I had small cravings for a while after I quit. Like if you see someone smoking in a movie. I think it is not just the nicotine but the act itself. You just have to have a plan or someone to "slap" your hand. LOL!! They will get less and less over time. Really once you are over the first big hurdle it is all a cake walk after that. Just think about how much nice your hair and clothes will smell. I started out by getting rid of the smell from everything, that way I was motivated to keep them smelling pretty!!!

Oh and you will breath so much better. My little one never had an ear infection again after I quit many years ago. I never smoked near her, I thought at least. But apparently it did bother her. I felt so badly after I realized that=more motivation to stay quit.

[VickiB]

:woohoo::woohoo:

Good for you! I'm glad to hear it's going well!

Vicki

[nanawaggs]

Hi, Bladderpain ~ That's great!!!!! Never having smoked in my life it was my husband who told me how difficult it is to quit (he smoked prior to us meeting) and to be supportive of those trying....

Keep up the good work....and here's another :woohoo:
Ginger

[traceann]

Good job and keep up the good work! I know it's hard - I'm 41 and started smoking when I was 16 - I had a couple times I quit in there, once for a year. Then my 1st marriage was heading to divorce court so, I started up again. I quit 2 years ago as of the 22nd of this month, and wow, I still can't believe I did it! If you can get past the first week (well, at least that was for me) you should be okie dokie, lol. Granted, this last time I quit because I got pregnant and to not make it scary for me (I had always had this can't-put-my-finger-on-it fear of quitting), I told myself that I could go back to smoking if I wanted to after the baby was born. Well, by then I didn't want to ruin all my hard work and I didn't need them anymore! Granted, there are days when boy, I sure could use one, but the moment passes and I forget all about it!

Just never beat yourself up if you slip - just keep on trying and trying and trying...

[bladderpain451]

I slipped up yesterday, it was basically because I was around a smoker and just honestly didn't care. Chantix really takes the ease out of the rough part of quitting though. I'll keep on trying, if I could get by with smoking just once in awhile I'd be happy with that. I want to quit but I think my body is saying something different. Like if I go into a nicotine craving, my chest gets all tight and it won't stop until I smoke a cigarette. It's crazy. But it doesn't matter. My health is most important. And I'd rather deal with the chest pains than have the fatigue cigs cause.

[ICNDonna]

One important thing to remember is that nicotine is extremely addictive! It's your addiction telling you that you want that cigarette. Once you get the nicotine out of your system, it gets easier. Unfortunately, second hand smoke can feed the addiction so it's best if you can stay away from smoking areas.

Been there!!!!!
Donna

[bladderpain451]

After 5 mths of not smoking, I went to my brother's on vacation and him & my son were smoking around me. My antidepressant wasn't keeping my anxiety under control and I went into a relapse for a month (that's why I have to quit again), and I cried, had screeming fits, hyperventilating, numbing pain, chest pain, breathing attacks, muscle pain all over, the anxiety went through the roof. So I don't know about it getting easier, maybe a little bit, but if you expose yourself like that, you really are asking for it. I am so addicted to it, it's like withdrawing from a heavy drug.

[ICNDonna]

Actually nicotine is not "like" a heavy drug --- it "IS" a heavy drug --- extremely addictive. I don't allow smoking in my house or car. If someone lights up in my presence, I simply tell them the smoke is a problem for me and I move away from them. People are so used to smoking limitations that nobody seems to mind.

Just remember --- it's YOUR body and the only one you will be issued --- so you want to do everything you can to protect it.

Sending encouraging hugs,
Donna

[traceann]

Oh I to know it's not an easy thing to do - it takes a lot of courage and guts if you ask me! I know I had this "terror" of quitting, and I honestly couldn't tell you why it scared me and produced tons of anxiety - every time I tried to pin it down, there was nothing there. As in "what's the worst that's going to happen if I am no longer a smoker?" - and there were no answers, it was like that dang nicotine was the "fear keeper" and was whispering to me "oh no no, you don't want to quit, quitting is BAD" etc...it was weird!

And a lot of my addiction was just it was "something to do", an activity. I couldn't imagine doing my regular things without them, like driving, or on the computer or the phone, after dinner etc. That's the stuff I think for me was the hardest to get past - it was a whole new way of life! ;) It's not easy to do, but it's so easy to say, "well, I had one I might as well have another and another etc" - I've so been there! But as long as you keep trying you're going to win this battle eventually. Don't forget to be kind to yourself and try some rewards for your efforts!!! :)

[tigger_gal]

Hang in there it will be og, just keep quitting. I quit April 15th and still smoke free.