Onica
02-19-2007, 10:54 AM
I don't get it. I hate smoking. I hate having the smoke in my face or around me...even if its coming from my own. I can't stand smelling like smoke. Here's the kicker...I look at people who smoke and think to myself that they have no self control and how pathetic they look doing it!!! :eek:
What's the deal? I get really angry with myself when I smoke. I've been doing it for 16 years! I know I'm getting to the point of stopping, but I've tried before and failed. I've noticed that I can smoke a whole pack plus in an afternoon if I'm consuming alcohol. I've recently stopped all alcohol because I think it was getting out of control, which I attribute to a 3 year court battle. (which I won) So now that the alcohol is gone, I have to get rid of the cigarettes.
I talked to my Dr. about Chantix, and she said she would write me a script, but thought I should try other means first because I have a VERY ABNORMAL fear of throwing up, and upset stomach seems to be the biggest complaint she gets from it. She said to use it as a last resort for me. My fear of throwing up is really severe and probably my only paranoia, but it's really bad, and if I do ever throw up, I call my mother (even in the middle of the night) That's how big of a baby I am about it. I'm 31 and married!!! lol.
I feel I've tried everything. Patch, gum, books, etc. Actually the patchs work for me, but it's the actual habit I think, because I don't want a cigarette when I have it on. I'm a stay at home mom who doesn't do much so I think I might be bored???
So I guess I'm just venting, but would like some suggestions or support if anyone has any. Thanks.
What's the deal? I get really angry with myself when I smoke. I've been doing it for 16 years! I know I'm getting to the point of stopping, but I've tried before and failed. I've noticed that I can smoke a whole pack plus in an afternoon if I'm consuming alcohol. I've recently stopped all alcohol because I think it was getting out of control, which I attribute to a 3 year court battle. (which I won) So now that the alcohol is gone, I have to get rid of the cigarettes.
I talked to my Dr. about Chantix, and she said she would write me a script, but thought I should try other means first because I have a VERY ABNORMAL fear of throwing up, and upset stomach seems to be the biggest complaint she gets from it. She said to use it as a last resort for me. My fear of throwing up is really severe and probably my only paranoia, but it's really bad, and if I do ever throw up, I call my mother (even in the middle of the night) That's how big of a baby I am about it. I'm 31 and married!!! lol.
I feel I've tried everything. Patch, gum, books, etc. Actually the patchs work for me, but it's the actual habit I think, because I don't want a cigarette when I have it on. I'm a stay at home mom who doesn't do much so I think I might be bored???
So I guess I'm just venting, but would like some suggestions or support if anyone has any. Thanks.
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DeadFish
02-19-2007, 11:52 AM
Welcome Onica!
I'm pretty new here, but not new to that feeling you say you have about smoking.
Actually, I think you are STARTING to get it! I've spent a lot of my life not liking my habit, but feeling powerless to do a darned thing about it.
My thought is that when we start smoking we have all these reasons that we start, whether it is to look cool, suppress appetite, we think we like it, etc... but given time, all those hollow promises don't deliver. It sounds to me that you are starting to see your habit through clearer eyes.
I'd been disgusting myself for quite a while before I made *this* attempt to quit. Every time I tried and fell down again, I disgusted myself more and made the connection that I wasn't a bad person, just one helpless to this drug habit.
If the patch works for you, go for it! If you think in your soul-of-souls that boredom is part of it, find something you like to do. Maybe try something you always wanted to but never got to.
I don't have a lot of answers, but I've got more than I did the first time I tried to quit 'for me', and I'm using them all and getting more here, and inventing new ones along the way!
I'm only 21 days into being smoke free but HEY, I'm 21 days without falling to that nasty junkie habit I see others on the street helpless to!
I only felt pukey a couple of evenings on the Chantix but learned to take 'em with food, and some folks learned to cut the dose in half for less immediate strength, but 4 times a day. Hey, that can mean an extra meal and you can make it a favorite! :)
Read around in here some, there are some great answers and I'm sure there will be more folks welcoming you with suggestions and support real soon now.
Keep your good attitude, as you have already slipped the blinders saying that smoking is a legitimate part of your life.
Treat yourself right if you are ready to try quitting, you deserve it!
Best Regards!
DeadFish
I'm pretty new here, but not new to that feeling you say you have about smoking.
Actually, I think you are STARTING to get it! I've spent a lot of my life not liking my habit, but feeling powerless to do a darned thing about it.
My thought is that when we start smoking we have all these reasons that we start, whether it is to look cool, suppress appetite, we think we like it, etc... but given time, all those hollow promises don't deliver. It sounds to me that you are starting to see your habit through clearer eyes.
I'd been disgusting myself for quite a while before I made *this* attempt to quit. Every time I tried and fell down again, I disgusted myself more and made the connection that I wasn't a bad person, just one helpless to this drug habit.
If the patch works for you, go for it! If you think in your soul-of-souls that boredom is part of it, find something you like to do. Maybe try something you always wanted to but never got to.
I don't have a lot of answers, but I've got more than I did the first time I tried to quit 'for me', and I'm using them all and getting more here, and inventing new ones along the way!
I'm only 21 days into being smoke free but HEY, I'm 21 days without falling to that nasty junkie habit I see others on the street helpless to!
I only felt pukey a couple of evenings on the Chantix but learned to take 'em with food, and some folks learned to cut the dose in half for less immediate strength, but 4 times a day. Hey, that can mean an extra meal and you can make it a favorite! :)
Read around in here some, there are some great answers and I'm sure there will be more folks welcoming you with suggestions and support real soon now.
Keep your good attitude, as you have already slipped the blinders saying that smoking is a legitimate part of your life.
Treat yourself right if you are ready to try quitting, you deserve it!
Best Regards!
DeadFish
SanyBelle
02-19-2007, 06:00 PM
I feel I've tried everything. Patch, gum, books, etc. Actually the patchs work for me, but it's the actual habit I think, because I don't want a cigarette when I have it on. I'm a stay at home mom who doesn't do much so I think I might be bored???Onica, once you make up your mind to really quit, it will be a bit easier, notice I didn't say easy. I used the patch and loved it... loved it so much that I used it an extra month.... but hey, it worked. :blob_fire
Can you take walks with your children? Go to a park? Play with them? Nap with them? Are they old enough to know that smoking is bad for you? If so, tell them to nag you every time they see you smoking! That should help. Good luck in your decision to quit, is sounds like you are almost there. :angel:
Can you take walks with your children? Go to a park? Play with them? Nap with them? Are they old enough to know that smoking is bad for you? If so, tell them to nag you every time they see you smoking! That should help. Good luck in your decision to quit, is sounds like you are almost there. :angel:
Memaw649
02-20-2007, 01:32 AM
Onica,
Hi! And Welcome!
Yep! Sounds like you're about ready to get rid of this addiction.
Let me suggest that you go to smokefree.gov and read all 8 of the booklets they offer. You can download these to your computer and read them when you get time.
A couple of other good sites are surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/ and surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/lowlit. These will help you started on your quit.
If the patch worked before, after reading these booklets, you may be able to use them again with success this time. Read all you can on the subject. It will really make a difference. The more you know, the better able you are to beat this addiction.
Keep coming back and reading what everyone here is saying. Let us know how you are doing. Keep venting. It helps!!
Memaw
Hi! And Welcome!
Yep! Sounds like you're about ready to get rid of this addiction.
Let me suggest that you go to smokefree.gov and read all 8 of the booklets they offer. You can download these to your computer and read them when you get time.
A couple of other good sites are surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/ and surgeongeneral.gov/tobacco/lowlit. These will help you started on your quit.
If the patch worked before, after reading these booklets, you may be able to use them again with success this time. Read all you can on the subject. It will really make a difference. The more you know, the better able you are to beat this addiction.
Keep coming back and reading what everyone here is saying. Let us know how you are doing. Keep venting. It helps!!
Memaw
Memaw649
02-20-2007, 01:33 AM
Deadfish,
Has it been 21 days already? WOW! You are doing super!! Congratulations.
Keep it up!!!!!
Memaw
Has it been 21 days already? WOW! You are doing super!! Congratulations.
Keep it up!!!!!
Memaw
paulagizmo
02-20-2007, 09:13 AM
Onica:
It certainly sounds like you have a great attitude and the 'anti-smoking' feeling towards it will only help you.
I think my only side effect from Chantix was nausea but only when I don't drink a full glass of water or eat something and I never threw up or felt that I would. If you choose to try Chantix, you'll especially need to remember to do one/both of these things to keep that away.
Since you have such an anti feeling already, another option that may work for you is the book "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" by Allen Carr. He does not believe in nicotine replacement, cold turkey, etc. HIs book explains how we got addicted to nicotine and how to break the chain. I never heard of the book (Although it's been around for 20+ years) so didn't start reading it until after starting Chantix but I find a lot of what he says has helped me through some difficult times. I didn't have the same 'anti' attitude as you so I don't think I could have quit with just this book but you really have a great attitude and due to your fear of nausea, it may just work for you. I ordered from Amazon and you get it very fast. If you've never heard of him, he's a British guy that smoked 3-5 packs a day! for 33 years and quit. Unfortuantely, he has since died (lung cancer) but his book and clinics (there and in the U.S.) have helped a lot of people.
Whatever method you use, I believe in you---what a great attitude so just stick with it, come here (it helps enormously) and when an urge hits keep telling yourself "I am FREE" and/or "I am a NON SMOKER"!
All The Best to you!
It certainly sounds like you have a great attitude and the 'anti-smoking' feeling towards it will only help you.
I think my only side effect from Chantix was nausea but only when I don't drink a full glass of water or eat something and I never threw up or felt that I would. If you choose to try Chantix, you'll especially need to remember to do one/both of these things to keep that away.
Since you have such an anti feeling already, another option that may work for you is the book "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" by Allen Carr. He does not believe in nicotine replacement, cold turkey, etc. HIs book explains how we got addicted to nicotine and how to break the chain. I never heard of the book (Although it's been around for 20+ years) so didn't start reading it until after starting Chantix but I find a lot of what he says has helped me through some difficult times. I didn't have the same 'anti' attitude as you so I don't think I could have quit with just this book but you really have a great attitude and due to your fear of nausea, it may just work for you. I ordered from Amazon and you get it very fast. If you've never heard of him, he's a British guy that smoked 3-5 packs a day! for 33 years and quit. Unfortuantely, he has since died (lung cancer) but his book and clinics (there and in the U.S.) have helped a lot of people.
Whatever method you use, I believe in you---what a great attitude so just stick with it, come here (it helps enormously) and when an urge hits keep telling yourself "I am FREE" and/or "I am a NON SMOKER"!
All The Best to you!
Skimmer
02-23-2007, 08:11 PM
Onica:
Hi and welcome! You described me to a tee when you talked about smoking and hating the smell of it, and everything else. That's me too! So why do we keep doing it? I agree, boredom and habit are a big part of it. Then they become your friend, your pal, someone to hang out with. I have been taking Chantix for 7 days now, and haven't felt nausea yet. I make sure I take them with meals, and I drink a lot of tea throughout the day, so that must be helping too. I haven't felt sick once, and I hope I never do, because I hate throwing up too! Although, my mother probably wouldn't appreciate me calling her at 1:30 a.m. to tell her about it. LOL....
If the patches work for you, do that. I tried them, and since I was a light smoker, they were a little too much for me. The Chantix makes you feel a little funny in the head, some good dreams and maybe some mixed up sleeping. But, hey, it will all be worth it in the end.....your kids need you around for a long, long, time.
Keep posting and let us know how you're doing! I'm not smoke-free yet, but will be soon!
Hi and welcome! You described me to a tee when you talked about smoking and hating the smell of it, and everything else. That's me too! So why do we keep doing it? I agree, boredom and habit are a big part of it. Then they become your friend, your pal, someone to hang out with. I have been taking Chantix for 7 days now, and haven't felt nausea yet. I make sure I take them with meals, and I drink a lot of tea throughout the day, so that must be helping too. I haven't felt sick once, and I hope I never do, because I hate throwing up too! Although, my mother probably wouldn't appreciate me calling her at 1:30 a.m. to tell her about it. LOL....
If the patches work for you, do that. I tried them, and since I was a light smoker, they were a little too much for me. The Chantix makes you feel a little funny in the head, some good dreams and maybe some mixed up sleeping. But, hey, it will all be worth it in the end.....your kids need you around for a long, long, time.
Keep posting and let us know how you're doing! I'm not smoke-free yet, but will be soon!
sunstar1946
02-24-2007, 11:03 AM
I agree with paulagizmo, I bought the allan carr book and audio cd, and It absolutely worked for me. I'd been smoking for 13 years. Had wanted to quit for so long. I perused the internet for help and found this guys book. I think listening to the audio book helped more than reading it. And now I just keep the last disc handy so I listen to it now and then for a reaffirmation. Try it, it's like a motivational cd!
Skimmer
02-24-2007, 09:22 PM
Onica - how are you doing?
Onica
02-27-2007, 10:58 AM
UGH! Sorry I have't responded. Thank you so much for all the replies and suggestions! My whole house had to be re-wired so I didn't have internet access for awhile. I don't know how we use to live without it!!
I seem to have really good days, and then REALLY bad days. I love the patch, but I can't sleep with it on because my dreams are crazy! So the mornings are tough. I set my alarm for 1/2 earlier and keep a patch by my bed and put it on then hit the snooze button until it's my actual wake up time. If I don't do that, I'll end up smoking.
I've read the Allen Carr book, and I really like it, and it does make sense. I'm so frustrated with myself that I even have this issue!! I just feel weak about it, and that is not something in my personality.
I just want it to be over!!
Thanks again. I'll let everyone know how it goes...
I seem to have really good days, and then REALLY bad days. I love the patch, but I can't sleep with it on because my dreams are crazy! So the mornings are tough. I set my alarm for 1/2 earlier and keep a patch by my bed and put it on then hit the snooze button until it's my actual wake up time. If I don't do that, I'll end up smoking.
I've read the Allen Carr book, and I really like it, and it does make sense. I'm so frustrated with myself that I even have this issue!! I just feel weak about it, and that is not something in my personality.
I just want it to be over!!
Thanks again. I'll let everyone know how it goes...
Memaw649
02-28-2007, 01:01 AM
Hi Onica,
How long have you been quit?
I guess we all have good days and bad days in the beginning of our quit. Shoot....I still do.
That's a good idea of putting the patch on before you get out of bed!! Very clever!!
Keep us posted as to how you are doing.
Good Luck to you!!
Memaw
How long have you been quit?
I guess we all have good days and bad days in the beginning of our quit. Shoot....I still do.
That's a good idea of putting the patch on before you get out of bed!! Very clever!!
Keep us posted as to how you are doing.
Good Luck to you!!
Memaw
wailana
02-28-2007, 04:36 AM
Aloha Onica! Hang in there. I just picked up the Allen Carr book a few days ago. I read a few chapters everyday. It's pretty interesting. Remember, one day at time and keep up the positive self talk!
Wailana - Free and Healing for Nineteen Days, 12 Hours and 35 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 16 Hours, by avoiding the use of 195 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $50.61.
Wailana - Free and Healing for Nineteen Days, 12 Hours and 35 Minutes, while extending my life expectancy 16 Hours, by avoiding the use of 195 nicotine delivery devices that would have cost me $50.61.