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Posted 10/20/2014 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hello family

I was just curious and wanted to raise this topic... Any smokers on the forum?

I quit smoking about 5 months ago and unfortunately, I didn't prepare myself (or have a back up plan) and my anxiety took off like a rocket ship!

Any time I would get nervous or anxious (which was quite often), I would grab a cigarette and it would calm me down.

I would try to hide it from my girls but they caught me one day and I could tell that it nearly broke their hearts. That was the last day I smoked!

It's been challenging finding the coping skills to take the place of smoking but little by little, I am doing it!!!!

Anyone else care to share their story?

Love you guys!
Posted 10/20/2014 9:19 PM (GMT 0)
Yep. I quit smoking 15+ years ago. What worked beautifully for me was the gum. Part of the *kick* from smoking is control. Being able to have a cig when you want to.

The patches never did diddly for me. Never dared tried the Chantix (not even sure that was out back then?)

The thing with the gum is that it comes in 2mg and 4mg. You choose. And you put it between your cheek and gum. When you get the urge, you're in total control and you just chew a few times, the nicotine gets released, calms the craving, and life goes on.

Get another urge, just chew a little. The effects are rapid, almost immediate.

You just can't get that with any type of sustained released med or cold turkey withdrawals.

Yes, you still get nicotine. At first. But NOT all that other stuff they stack into those things. And it's really true, it works, in huge part because you retain a degree of control of how much gets released and when. And eventually you start to notice that you just crave less and less.

Haven't looked back since. And, as they say, "quitters are the worst" when it comes to being around smoke!! Never mind my weak lungs, asthma, allergies, blah-blah-blah....I now have no tolerance re: smoke. And I like it that way. Life is good!





M.
Posted 10/20/2014 9:24 PM (GMT 0)
Ohhhhh, sometimes I miss smoking so much! I quit because my mom had a lung cancer scare and it was during the peak of my health anxiety, so I just quit cold turkey. I have no tips, but hang in there. It is so hard!
Posted 10/20/2014 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
I smoke *hangs head in shame*

I'd never tried to quit until the end of January of this year. Little did I know that a week or so later & after switching AD's, I'd have my "breakdown" which led to this years struggles. I'm sure quitting was a factor but obviously the med switch was the major factor in my struggles.

I've since been afraid to try & quit again.. But it's def on my radar...

My friend quit using a vapor stick. She kept going down on the nicotine inserts til she went down to 0 nicotine and just quit it all together.

That doesn't help your issue so I hope others will chime in bc I'm curious too. Your struggles this year didn't happen to correlate with quitting smoking did it? shocked

5 months is uh-mazingggggg!!! 👍👍👍 How did you do it??? I have hope if you did it, I can too!

Btw, my psychologist told me there are studies now saying that even though nicotine is a stimulant, the act of sucking on a cigarette and exhaling is what relaxes smokers bc it's just like the deep breathing we are told to do for anxiety so it makes sense why it relaxes smokers.

Looking forward to hear what others say.

Sending you love Cornell-
Lisa
Posted 10/20/2014 9:47 PM (GMT 0)
I am trying to quit now because Ive been having panic attacks that I have lung cancer or some sort of cancer. My chest has been hurting bad and I feel like I have shortness of breath. I get the urges to smoke but when I try to inhale I feel like I cant breathe. Hopefully I don't smoke anymore. I don't want too. I hate it and now im having major panic about it.
Posted 10/20/2014 9:52 PM (GMT 0)
Umm, I never smoked in my life. Not even once *.*
But I was a "heavy" secondhand smoker for four years in my first marriage and this is scaring me about lung issues. Secondhand smoke is nasty :(
Posted 10/20/2014 10:06 PM (GMT 0)
Well I HATE to admit it but I still smoke. It feels like it relaxes me but i'm willing to admit that could just be an excuse. I can tell you one thing...when I'm going through the bout of anxiety I'm currently experiencing, this is NOT the time to quit....I think it would just send me over the edge. And I've tried to just "fake" smoking by breathing in and exhaling as if I have it lit but, sorry, it doesn't do anything for my anxiety. Shameful I suppose but we in the 'older" crowd started at a very early age when it was accepted by everyone and done by almost everyone. Can you believe that permission to smoke was one of my "birthday presents" when I turned 16!!! And i was thrilled!!! No, the other present wasn't a prepaid burial plot but it might as well have been...LOL. Anyway, it's the anxiety that worries me the most these days, not the smoking.
Posted 10/20/2014 10:12 PM (GMT 0)
Nomorepanic,

Good for you wanting to quit! That's the first step! There a lot of places that offer smoking cessation classes... I have heard they are quite beneficial, just a thought! Learn from my mistake, and have a back up plan for when the "cravings" start. Start developing your coping skills/ techniques now! You can do it!

Rrakma,

Wow!! That is so impressive that you have never smoked! That says a lot about your character... You don't give in to peer pressure and you are strong willed (and obviously health conscience)! Good for you!
Posted 10/20/2014 10:18 PM (GMT 0)
I smoked for years and finally quit 30 years ago. It was the hardest thing I ever did. My dad also quit cold turkey after many years of heavy smoking. His mom was also a smoker and died from emphesema complicated by a stroke. He smoked his last cigarette the night of her funeral because he wanted to be around to see me married and his future grandkids. His trick, which worked for me too, was keeping a roll of lifesavers in his pocket and when he wanted a cigarette, he'd eat a lifesaver instead. It worked. He's been smoke free since 1982.
Posted 10/20/2014 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
Well actually Cornell, mine can be a bit psychological, instead of a flashy sparkling personality which I doubt, LOL
But well yeah, my brother and I grew up inside my dad's cigaret smoke fog in the house and my brother was sort of very sensitive with it and coughing all the time. And I was watching him like this. He also, never ever smoked once.
So I guess this is a kind of a protest.

But, after I read about how being a secondhand smoker has higher risks of lung conditions, I got freaked out and said "wow, what an unfair world" xD
Posted 10/20/2014 10:29 PM (GMT 0)
Anwes and Lisa

Don't hang your head!!!!!!! Nicotine addiction is very tough to overcome.... My mom has smoked all her life and she is still going strong!

Here lately, since being around my workers (they smoke) my cravings has really increased. Hopefully I can hang on!

Yep, I loved my coffee and cigarette in the morning and then after each meal! It was hard to let go!
Posted 10/20/2014 11:53 PM (GMT 0)
I used to smoke too. Never a lot because I always felt guilty about it and knew how bad it was for me. I'd have maybe one a day, more if I was stressed or having a few drinks. When things got really bad for me the summer of 2013 is when I gave it up. I was so scared I was going to die every day that I couldn't even bring myself to smoke because it scared me so much. So, I gave up the smoking AFTER my first panic attack.

Sometimes I wish I still could. I know it's dumb because it is so much better not to smoke, but I think I miss how much it used to relax me. I miss who I used to be then before all of this ridiculousness started. I used to have what I called my "victory smoke". Like I said, I only smoked about one a day and it was usually at the end of the day after I had completed all of my tasks, etc. It was my "victory" for completing everything and my reward and relaxation at the end of the day. Ahhhh, those were the days. :)
Posted 10/21/2014 12:13 AM (GMT 0)
Hahaha, I totally get it MissGigi! Those were the days. ;-)
Posted 10/21/2014 12:18 AM (GMT 0)
I smoke sometimes. I feel like it relaxes me. I use to smoke a lot before I had kids. Horrible habit but sometimes I enjoy it.
Posted 10/21/2014 1:37 AM (GMT 0)
First of all Cornell, WAY TO be on quitting smoking. Your lungs are going to be thanking you for that one in the years to come. :) I smoked from the age of 14-19 and managed to quit through a series of events. I'm not sure what to suggest for you, but here are a few things that have worked for me:

-pen clicking. I'm an antsy person so I tend to click pens
-gum chewing.

I think you will eventually get to a point where a cigarette will just taste plain disgusting and you simply won't want to smoke anymore.
Posted 10/21/2014 1:50 AM (GMT 0)
It's probably not cool that this whole post makes me wanna smoke, right?
Posted 10/21/2014 2:30 AM (GMT 0)
Haha! I was thinking the same thing P.
Posted 10/21/2014 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
LOL Park!!! Didn't mean to trigger you!!!

TMA - we must have the same personality. You said that you chew gum and click pens because you are 'antsy'. Well, I chew pens! Just a weird habit I have!
Posted 10/21/2014 4:32 AM (GMT 0)
I got it bad too ....im a smoker. Pack and a half a day. When I have bad bad days, 2 packs or more.

I tried everything. Then I read the book by Allen Carr, Easy Way to Stop Smoking. I got half way through and realized I was down to half a pack a day. They say when you finish the book you quit. I got scared and never finished the book. Soooo....

Last spring I read it again, this time the whole way through. Unfortunately, my mind was too strong and wouldnt let the words sink in. I cant say much more than that, because if someone would read what id say, theyd have a preconceived notion about the book, and it wouldnt work for them. But it DOES work for millions of people.

That said, and im going to sound like a hypocrite, its easy to quit. Yes I said it....lol.
It has nothing to do with nicotine addiction. Nicotine enters the body quickly, and leaves almost as quick. We play mind games with ourselves. I can barely go 30 minutes without one, unless im working hard and have my hands full. If im at the computer, I chain smoke.

Simple fact. I go 6-10 hours every night without one when I sleep. Let that sink in. During the day, if I refrain for an hour or two im ready to kick the neighbors dog! But every night I go to sleep and never a thought in my mind to wake up ever 30 minutes for a cigarette.

Its easy to quit. Now if I could only get my mind to believe it.
Posted 10/21/2014 5:19 AM (GMT 0)
I tried to get my husband to bring me home a pack and he said no. Rude. Lol.
Posted 10/21/2014 8:02 AM (GMT 0)
LOL, JF!!
Posted 10/21/2014 8:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi

I quit smoking 4 years ago I recommend you get allen carr´s ¨the easy way to stop smoking!¨

Smoking can actually make you more nervous as the nicotine stimulates your body and mind!

I feel a lot calmer since I quit!

Jon
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