after 8 days...

[BrandyF]

Well, I have not had a cig in 8 days 2day! very proud of myself, but more afraid of messing up & Relapsing!! can u telll me anything to help after the 1st week? I keep hearing tha.... U've got it "beat" after the 1st week, but I sure do not feel like thats True!! Is there any truth 2 that at all???..If so what??   Thank U so much & Wishin' EVERYONE the BEST, Brandy :)

[Jade59]

Hello Brandy and congrats on your quit!  You should be on day10 today and yes, you should be Very proud of yourself :)   Whoever told you, you had it "beat" after 10days must have been talking about the physical side because this is an ingrained "habit" so you must be watchful for triggers for quite some time.  I am on my third quit in 2yrs and my failures happened because of that "one puff" and thinking I could not get through "whatever" without going back to smoking.  Like Kathy Jo and Teko have pointed out, you must find a new and different way to handle your anxiety/stress.

What has helped me is to not even think smoking is an option.  Besides the triggers of being "on the phone" or "after eating" my triggers are anger and pain.  I peeked at your profile and I see you also struggle with pain.  I don't know about you, but I feel 100% better pain wise, not smoking.  I am still in lots of pain, sure, but it is not nearly so overwhelming and after 23days, just the "thought" of filling my lungs with smoke and all those poisons, scares me.  I have "tested" myself enough to know that I WILL BE sorry.  I can tell you, I feel Great and everyday gets easier and I hardly even Think of smoking for the most part unless something "triggers" the thought.  

And yes, B12 has been a great help with stress and even sleep (glad it's helped you too, teko :)

Best of luck to you, Brandy, and please come back and let us know how you're doing.  I would especially like to know if your pain has decreased and I mean, even if it's the tiniest bit, that is Something to hang on to alone :)

[teko]

You have come far enough that you know you can physically do this. You have 8 days under your belt and the nicotine is out of the building. However, the addiction is two sided. The mental side has to be addressed as well.  I am 5 weeks out and having hardly any cravings but have to admit the habit thing is still being handled. I do jelly beans! I no longer want a smoke for the nicotine but for the habit I had for 35 years in how I did just about everything. Anxiety has to be handled and you keep the money you spent on smokes for yourself and keep going forward one hour at a time. Get some B12 for the anxiety as Jade did and finally me too! lol  And hang with us! We will give support when and where needed. Now it is a mental challenge, and the part that determines if you are gonna make it longterm. Remember why you started this and do not lose that pic.

[kathyjo]

Congrats to you on your quit Brandy!
The physical withdrawals are generally over in the first 3 days so I would say you are through that. No one can put a timeline on how long it's going to take and only you know how you feel after 8 days. Everyone is so different so don't put any added pressure on yourself to try to fit into their quit.
You are new to the smoking addiction board so you will hear different people here talk about their quits and how they feel. Heck, some days I feel so strong and then there are moments that I feel the strong urge to "just have one." Usually stress brings the cravings on and as quick as it comes, it goes so don't think you will have to battle them all through your quit : )
On Thurday I will celebrate my 2 year anniversary. I smoked for nearly 40 years. I quit on a whim and when I saw that I could, I never looked back. I had some tough times....guilt, anger and stress were triggers but understanding why I smoked prepared me for a long term quit. Read the articles at whyquit.com under the "Education" column. Reading really helped me to understand my addiction and I daresay that there are many who have passed through here that have also benefited by them too.

We are going to be here for you, to support your quit : ) Good luck with day 9 Brandy!

Kathy Jo