It's a fascinating process my mind and body has been going through and it's making me realize just how addicted I was to smoking in the first place.
My boss has been tremendously supportive - telling me I could come by his office and chat if I needed to take a break (after I accidentally revealed that the day seemed a lot longer without breaks). He even apologized for interrupting me as I frantically chewed on a gross piece of nicotine gum today. (I don't know why they call it gum as it tastes like dried vomit and there's nothing remotely chewy about it. I can only stand to have a piece in my mouth for about twenty seconds).
Boyfriend as well as my friends and family have been supportive as well. Mostly I've been holing up by myself this week as withdrawal has affected both my attention span and my irritability. It has also made for pretty much 3 back-to-back No Spend Days - except for one soda and one bus ride - this week.
Since some readers seemed curious about the method I have chosen to quit (cold turkey with occasional nicotine gum), I have decided to share a little more about my progress.
Today was a lot better in terms of focusing on work and not getting distracted. Still eating too much though have forced myself to drink water at work instead of soda. Perhaps my bringing a family sized snack variety pack to the office in order to save money has been counter-productive as it has given me carte blanch to eat multiple bags of Cheetos in one day.
I noticed my lungs feeling clearer today. Saw a girl smoking today and felt only a little jealous. Told myself that I have quit already and just wanted a cigarette "for old time's sake" only three times today but managed to talk myself out of it.
Not having any cigarettes on me has really clinched the success of this quitting process - money is tight right now so the thought of shelling out 7 bucks for something so bad for me just seems dumb. That being said, I can still taste them on my tongue and my mouth has yet to accept the fact that they're not coming back. I wish the feeling would go away so I would stop eating! According to this web site, my ability to taste and smell should already be improved by now. Does anyone know when the cotton mouth goes away?
I do think I will be successful in this endeavor because I'm a pretty optimistic person and also because I've changed A LOT of negative behavior in the past couple of months so why not this too?
I'm not gonna lie though, I want a cigarette right now and denying myself one, though all for the greater good, is probably the hardest thing I've had to do outside the bar exam.
19 comments:
Did you know that when you can control yourself, you can control your money? The psychological breakdown of addition is mostly a mental thing, not so much a physical need. Nicotine is actually a poison, same with alcohol, and the body frantically works to get rid of it. You're just going through withdrawal since you quit cold turkey (best way to quit IMO) and are doing very well to reach day 4. Remember if it’s easy to do, it wouldn't be worth it.
Good luck!
I am on day four. Does it get better?
YES!! It gets much better I promise! I passed by someone smoking today and it smelled gross! I do miss my breaks from work I won't lie but I've been a lot more productive because of it! Hang in there, you can do it! Think of all the money you'll save!
After taking Chantix, I experienced a very scary side effect. I am not normally depressed about any thing in my life but after taking Chantix for a week i became depressed to the point of extreme emotional responses to life and i could not figure out what i was bummed about. I thought it was the withdrawels but i did not experience this with doing cold turkey.
So i did some internet research and it turns out that one of the side affects of Chantix is a stronge depression and sometimes suicidal tendencys.
There are many people that are worrried about the permenant problems they are having after trying this mind altering drug.
Personally i stopped taking it and after a few weeks felt normal again. Thank god. It was so scary for me that i have chosen not to take any perscription drugs. They are not worth the side affects. trust me.
oh... u r a lawyer...but a gvt one of some sort.
"Told myself that I have quit already and just wanted a cigarette "for old time's sake" "
It's amazing what the mind can do and the psychological tricks we play on ourselves. I do what you just said in a diff. form with food...and trying to lose weight...so hard
Yes UV, I don't go into specifics about my job too often as it would be wrong in so many ways but you are right.
And I've been off smoking since July!
Warning!!!
Be very careful with Chantix.
This warning is on there front page of there website.
" Important Safety Information
Some people have had changes in behavior, hostility, agitation, depressed mood, suicidal thoughts or actions while using CHANTIX to help them quit smoking. Some people had these symptoms when they began taking CHANTIX, and others developed them after several weeks of treatment or after stopping CHANTIX. If you, your family, or caregiver notice agitation, hostility, depression, or changes in behavior, thinking, or mood that are not typical for you, or you develop suicidal thoughts or actions, anxiety, panic, aggression, anger, mania, abnormal sensations, hallucinations, paranoia, or confusion, stop taking CHANTIX and call your doctor right away. Also tell your doctor about any history of depression or other mental health problems before taking CHANTIX, as these symptoms may worsen while taking CHANTIX. "
please take my caution before taking this drug
After taking Chantix, I experienced a very scary side effect. I am not normally depressed about any thing in my life but after taking Chantix for a week i became depressed to the point of extreme emotional responses to life and i could not figure out what i was bummed about. I thought it was the withdrawels but i did not experience this with doing cold turkey.
So i did some internet research and it turns out that one of the side affects of Chantix is a stronge depression and sometimes suicidal tendencys.
There are many people that are worrried about the permenant problems they are having after trying this mind altering drug.
Personally i stopped taking it and after a few weeks felt normal again. Thank god. It was so scary for me that i have chosen not to take any perscription drugs. They are not worth the side affects. trust me.
Chantix is great...I'm telling ya...I was a 1pack a day and decided to quit for new years...yeah I know I'm posting the 7th but I still had friends over and a lot of beer left. Anyway my wife quit or 'started' lol, with me and we split a half of a pill. the 2nd weeks pill for 3 days...That's "3" total pills. We smoked the first day and that was the end...The terrible taste came immediate from chantix working in like 5min. I haven't really wanted a cig again...I do crave it but I know how it'll taste...I've seriously been reconditioned...but subconsciously I'm addicted. I can't believe I spend 10 years doing that crap... I want my money back! -Jimi
I think I am in a dream...
Smith Alan
Can someone please stop the "CHANTIX ONLINE" Spammer who keeps posting. It's getting beyond a joke!
Chantix worked great for me id recommend it to anyone.as far as the side effects I had 3 dreams and that's it no suicide thoughts no depression nothing but success in not smoking I honestly think the people who say they stoped taking chantix because of the side effects are just looking for an excuse to go back to smoking.
That really good that you are quiting smoke and making an good effort for it.
Today I am 4 days off tobacco. I seriously don't enjoy one minute of this.My mind is twisted. I can't finish a chore around the house. I can't even finish a thought. I am wearing a patch. I had to take it off last night after waking up from crazy land. My vision is blurred. I quit meth and booze 2.5 years ago. I think this is harder.
On the plus side..I rode my bike 5 miles today without getting hit by a car!!!
On 4th day of quitting and it's been hard but hopefully worth it in the end but not had many symptoms yet and I was a quite a heavy smoker
Wow great job. you are doing trying to quit .. That is superb.
Hi Sally's Niece,
I hope that you are doing well and have achieve on quitting smoking.
Best,
Adam
It is not really easy to quit smoking habit. Quit smoking by using the alternative devices like the pen vaporizers or e-cigs. They will help you quit smoking easily.
Everyone says you need this to quit , you need that to quit, medicines, patches etc, but the first time I quit was because I fear Allah and knew Smoking was Haraam, then I quit for 7 years, until I had again forgotten about Allah, and one day 2 girls made me smoke again. Now I remembered Allah again and started praying, well at the same time stopped smoking, day 3 now, but never use anything except I pray to Allah to help me through it and Mashallah I can quit but only when I remember Allah and do it for the sake of Allah.
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