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Smoking and How To Quit
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Amy from (United States)
March 3, 2011 10:46 a.m.
Day four...I didn't write in yesterday, just too tired. Every day is different, whether better or worse, I am not really sure. I am taking a medicine from my doctor now. I have noticed a pretty significant difference in the cravings and moods. One of the side effects people have complained about is vivid dreams or nightmares. I have had some strange ones but can't say that I would not have had them anyway from just the pure stress of quitting. Last night I dreamt I was married to a woman. I can probably easily associate this with the fact that I really want to be far away from my husband right now, as much as I love him, because he is still smoking and every time he comes near me I want to clean the smell right off him. I guess the worst thing right now is my brain. I know I have quit but I don't think my brain has caught on yet. The thought and feelings of "okay I will just finish this up and go have a smoke" flush over me, and I actually have to remind myself that I did indeed quit. Today I made the decision that I will not balloon in weight and opted for yogurt and oatmeal for "craving" snacks over the chips I had yesterday (and I am not even a chip eater normally!). So to sum up again, it is getting easier everyday but is still the challenge. I guess it wouldn't be called and "addiction" if people could take it or leave without any struggle. I hope my stories are helping others. I noticed tips and words of encouragement, which are great, but I thought it might help to know what hardships others are going through, that you are not alone.
Amy from (United States)
March 1, 2011 3:08 p.m.
Day 2...Well no tears today, but still hatred for the human race still in the air. Very tired and still have ants in my pants. My husband asked me what level the suck-o-meter was today and, although it’s better, I felt the need to make him feel like poo by telling him "he" made me cry yesterday. I guess I wanted someone to feel my misery. But that being said, today is a bit better than yesterday. I am probably not going to divorce my husband and my child is back in the will. Hopefully tomorrow will be even better.
Amy from (United States)
February 28, 2011 4:05 p.m.
Day 1.....I have quit before but I don't remember it being this hard. Sure I remember being irritable, but never the crying and constant brink of flooding tears waiting to burst from my eyes. I am divorcing my husband, and disowning my child (at least in my head ). My leg has not stopped shaking and my stomach is in a double tied knot. I can only hope that tomorrow is better. For tonight I plan on hiding in my bedroom, deep under the covers. Will let you know...
Judy from South Carolina (United States)
February 19, 2011 10:43 p.m.
I have been smoking for 25 years. I’ve been taking a medicine from my doctor for 2 weeks now. I hope and pray that it can help save my live. Because I want to see me children and grandchild grow up. If you smoke Please, please stop or get help...I love my family and grandchildren very much.
Tari from Florida (United States)
January 2, 2011 7:09 p.m.
I have been using sunflower seeds as a substitute for something to do with my hands and mouth. I have smoked for 35 years, two packs a day. I am quitting cold turkey and have not had a cigarette for over 24 hours and have not bought any cigarettes for 48 hours. My hubby is quitting too. I just wanted to pass on the sunflower seed tip. It has helped me a lot — better than sucking on candy or gum, and the calories are pretty low.
Kristen from Oklahoma (United States)
December 19, 2010 9:53 p.m.
I started smoking when I was 13 to look cool when hanging out with my friends, whatever. I would smoke almost two packs a day. I quit right before my 18th birthday cold turkey, put them down and never thought about them again. For five years I was totally smoke-free, and then I relapsed by smoking on a daily basis. I had a real scare to push me to quit again; my arm was falling asleep and staying asleep more often. I am not going to lose any body part due to smoking — that would just be stupidity. I had a friend in school and her dad had to have all ten of his toes amputated due to smoking. I am back on the nonsmoker bandwagon and proud of it. I find myself going to bed at 7 to 8 o'clock to avoid thinking about smoking, because the evening was my favorite time to smoke. I am at 48 hours of quitting, and with each time that I think one little drag won't hurt, I think of one bad thing after another to tell me that one little drag will hurt! Please tell your kids that smoking is a dead-end street and to NEVER EVER START!!!!!!!!!!
Salz from Illinois (United States)
December 7, 2010 4:59 p.m.
Today is the second day of my new life … cigarette free! It's tough, but easier than I believed it would be or than I have read on many sites. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I feel really good, and every time I have an urge, I think of all the positive reasons why I chose to stay smoke free. I suffer from depression, and I want a better handle on my sickness. I know smoking was a crutch, and I no longer want to use it. I want to enjoy life and be happy again, and this was my first step to getting there. I hope all of you who have quit keep up the good work, and to all of you who are thinking of quitting … please do it for yourself. Life is short - why cut it shorter with cigarettes? Good luck to you all!
Mary from Louisiana (United States)
December 7, 2010 11:20 a.m.
I am on my second day of trying to quit smoking after finding out Sunday night that I am pregnant. I’m 32, and first started smoking in middle school when I was about 11 years old. Until yesterday, I had been chain-smoking at least two packs a day for years. Trying to quit cold turkey has been so hard that I don’t know if I can make it another day without a cigarette. I gave in yesterday morning and smoked the last four cigarettes in my pack before trying a fresh start to quitting, and it’s been just over 25 hours since my last cigarette. It’s so hard to leave the cigarettes I loved so much so quickly, even when I know I have a good reason, like a baby on the way. I’m just so worried about how I’m going to deal with this pregnancy, as I am working full time and barely making it financially. Worse, I’m unmarried with no real marriage prospects, although I’m fairly sure it was my ex-boyfriend who got me pregnant. The withdrawals are absolutely awful, terrible headaches, and I’m just constantly thinking about how everything would be better if I just had one more cigarette. But, I’m determined to try to stay calm and stay away from the cigarettes as much as I can, so I’m just taking it day by day.
Louise from Arizona (United States)
December 2, 2010 10:26 p.m.
I need to quit smoking again. I started [smoking after successfully quitting 13 years ago] when my husband died in December 2009. I promised myself I would quit on his one-year anniversary. I have had a stroke ... well more than one. I really need help quitting. It is so easy to go to the store. But it would cause more problems with my strokes. Sometimes in the morning I get really lightheaded after smoking a cigarette. Not sure what it means. I'm only 50 and had my first stroke in 1995, then one in 2008 and November 2009, and then a couple after my husband died. Strokes run in my family as do high blood pressure and cholesterol and heart attacks. My mom died of a stroke, too. Good luck. Oh, one thing that helped me when I quit 13 years ago was sucking on liquorish, and symptoms would go away in three minutes … well I am going to write back and be a nonsmoker because I do not want to die. God bless every one, and may your angels take the desire away from you … and me.
Claire from Alabama (United States)
November 20, 2010 11:15 a.m.
I'm 29 years old and have been smoking since I was 15. I heard if you quit smoking before you’re 30, your lungs will fully repair themselves, so I quit six days ago. I have not found quitting too bad during the work week as I've had work and housework to keep me busy. But today is Saturday, and I am finding today the hardest day so far. I didn't realize how much time I spent sitting around smoking. Now the housework is done, and I have nothing else to do. I'm board and restless. I have been having trouble sleeping too since I quit, so I didn't get much sleep last night. I cannot relax and sit still for very long. My partner is watching football, and I'd love to throw him at the TV! I feel tense and angry today. I would love nothing more than to light up right now, but I won't give in. If all of you can do it so can I!!!
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Content last updated March 3, 2011.

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