ever morning==== - Smoking Cessation Message Board

smc612 · 09-16-2005, 03:45 AM

i have quit smoking three times. twice made it about a year the last time only 3 months. the last time was horrible. i have to quit. every morning i get up and it is the first thing on my mind."just for today don't smoke" i don't make it past one hour. i am so scared to make the decision. cigarettes have been my best friend through thick and thin. as family members died and close friends passed away they were always there for me. i have GAD and PTSD. my anxiety level is outrageous on a good day. when i quit smoking i can't function for months at first. i am in therapy for the PTSD but still can't seem to calm myself enough to get rid of my addiction to nicotine. any help?i am petrified to give them up.

DaVinci · 09-16-2005, 04:11 AM

Quit yesterday, cold turkey, it's been about 13 hours.....I am totally wired ... knew for years that was one of the reasons I continued to smoke...the calming factor.
Don't put unreasonable expectations of yourself, especially number one: if your not ready, your not ready. And number two: who said you had to quit in the morning....that is the very worst time for most of us...as our bodies got depleted of our favourite drug overnight. I quit at approximately 5 pm...wanted to quit on my day off(as my job is at times extremely stressful)and I also promised myself once I had the keys to my new home in my hand, that's it!No more! Find ways to calm yourself Angel54, and you will know when the time is right.

Deda · 09-16-2005, 09:51 AM

Hi Angel54--

I quit 2 years ago next week, the 24th, after 30+ years of chain smoking. Like you, I have quit many times, and just like you, 2 of those quits I made it to the 1 year mark. I think what was wrong with all of those quits, Angel, was I was not mentally committed, 1OO%, to quit smoking forever. Always playing in the back of mind was this little voice going, "It's okay, someday you will get to enjoy it once again", and dummy me, I did. This last time, before I quit, I made up my mind that no matter what, I was going to make it work this time! And thankfully it has! Lots of hard work, but I did it.

I want you to know that I too suffer from anxiety disorder, and 2 months before I quit I found out I had a thyroid disease, (autoimmune) which caused me even greater anxiety, but my mind was made up. I started reading lots of posts here to help get me motivated first. Then I bought me some patches. I really didn't "pick a date", I just waited until one day I was so fed up, and quit around noon that day. (I still had almost a whole pack of ciggies left, and went into my back yard and doused them with the hose, then threw away everything I had related to smoking) I put on my patches, and came to this board everyday.

I also started walking, really walking a lot...a great stress reliever! I prayed a lot, and here I am 2 years later, and I swear to you, angel, I DON'T miss them one bit!! Not even a teeny bit, in fact I HATE to even be around them now!!! I honestly have to say, if it wasn't for the patches, I wouldn't have been able to do it. Another thing is, I was/have always been the nervous type, and I stress much too easily about little things, but I am honestly calmer and more relaxed now than I was as a smoker! (I swear!)

Just do it Angel, but like Davinci said, make sure you are ready, or it won't do ya any good. We're here to help support you any time you need it!

Deda

smc612 · 09-16-2005, 04:40 PM

thanks to both deda and DaVinci------ you are right. the first quit i had bronchitis and decided i never wanted to see another cigarette. quit that day and never looked back for a year. never missed it. never thought i would ever smoke again. felt like a million bucks. calmer. then experienced a tragedy and started one at a time. never smoked more than 5-6 a day for 3 years until my second quit. same thing. cold turkey and didn't look back for another year. both times it was my decision. last time my dr. told me i had to. i have vocal cord polyps(one surgery under my belt) and diabetes(diet controlled) i quit and hated every minute of it. was angry,depressed and just miserable all the time. couldn't sleep for thinking about smoking. the difference ? it was my choice the first 2 times and i felt i was being forced the last time. i know i will do it again i just have to be ready and committed to my quit. i don't know when but i hope you are both still on the boards for support.
have a good night!!!
angel

Deda · 09-16-2005, 04:52 PM

I'll keep my eye out for your posts Angel.

Just make sure you come back, okay? The time to quit is soon!

Deda