I QUIT SMOKING , YOU CAN TOO. I QUIT SEPT 27, 2012, SUPPORT EACH OTHER HERE

For the second time now I have had dreams that I was smoking........

Nothing worse than feeling guilty in your dreams....lol

And both times(in the extremely vivid dreams), I was like WTF, I don't even remember buying, opening or smoking this damn thing!! I seem to "join" the dream right at the moment of putting the smoke out....... really strange

That's funny, I had a smoking dream last night too. I woke up wanting a cigarette. Didn't, but had the urge bad.

I wouldn't say I had the urge to smoke upon waking but I certainly avoided the coffee for a half hour ;)

So I'm driving back from Westchester an hour ago listening to the Fordham University radio station (they play a really nice mix of stuff) and the sun is shining, traffic is moving, and I'm feeling pretty damn happy about being smoke-free. The DJ spins a couple of tracks off the "O Brother Where Art Thou" soundtrack ("Man of Constant Sorrow" and "Big Rock Candy Mountain") and moves into Al Jolson doing "Brother Can You Spare a Dime" in an apparent nod to the economy. Good stuff.....

Then.....Like the Lark ascending to Heaven's Gate, I hear the first plantive notes of Donald Fagen's new single "I'm Not the Same Without Out You."
My goodness, rent the room and sell the model airplanes, if ever there was a song about the freedom we have found by putting down the smokes it's here. Of course, I'm a sucker for anything Fagen/Becker/Steely Dan has done and continues to do. And while I'm sure Fagen is speaking of an ex-lover, the words and sentiment describe exactly how I feel about being free from the smokes.

Fight The Power!

Well, thanks for the kind words and for all the shared experiences....its helping me to read others struggles and successes.
I knew it was going to be painful, but I didnt remind it so strong.
The idea of not using gums or patches is to make this thing as painfull as it can be, so if/when the urge comes, I ll have strong reminder of how bad was to quit.

Im finishing my 3rd day, still feeling like crap, the headache doesnt feel that strong, but still beating the back of my head and behind my eyes.

Thanks all for your support, as best wishes for the new quitters

Anon 132 - Finishing Day 3 is Huge. We're the ones that should thank you. What an accomplishment. That headache sucks. No doubt about that, but try and get some sleep and the headache (and all the other irritating stuff) is going to be better on Day 4. A minute, hour, day at a time.

In between the tough stuff, I hope you find a moment to be really proud of yourself. You have a lot to be proud of at the end of Day 3.

Congratulations and please keep coming back to the thread.

We'll all go through it together. Again, Great Congratulations.

Day three was hard for all of us, trust me. From here on it sorta eases up a bit. Be sure and don't let yourself get hungry, if you do your mind will suggest you smoke to make it feel better. In my case at least, hunger required a cigarette. Don't fall for it. Onward my friend. DF

Last Edited by Desert Fox on 12/19/2012 11:03 PM

I want to add that the MOST important thing I have done to quit is pray. I'm serious. Pray for strength, it works. The cravings have been minimal. I have smoked for 30 years and have quit more times than I can count. It's different this time, I don't want one and no longer envy those who still smoke. I feel better and most certainly smell better. =D

I KNow One Thing that really Can Help You have the power to feel at ease and stay sober.
Find an Amethyst and keep it on you every day. Rub it till it gets real warm now and then, especialy if you are feeling anxiety. And Place it under your pillow too. You Will See. Or Feel Rather.

God is Good!

Last Edited by CHL2T on 12/20/2012 01:18 AM

it's getting easier

Grump. Day ten (double-digits) for you today. Where you at? How you doing?

What ever works. Yes, I am really surprised how much smokers stink to me now. I have friends that still smoke and I never smelled the stale smoke on them before. Really is quite a disgusting smell, but my senses were so messed up I couldn't pick it up. Congratulations on the quit. DF

Just a week from hitting three months for you, DF. What a personal milestone (not to mention the formation of the growing snowball of health, freedom, and joy you and your thread have given to others - a true win-win for all touched by this).

God Bless all of us, our collective crew of Tiny Tim's, casting aside our crutch and stepping gingerly, then more confidently, on our own two feet a day at a time (cue the old toxic stick Scrooge whirling-away in a swallowing swirl of blue smoke).

May nothing we dismay.

Day 14 for me...... Woo!

Feels like the muscle memory of smoking is fading a little more each day

Yesterday I grabbed my wifes burning smoke as kinda like a willpower test and was amazed at how bad and how long my fingers smelled even though the total contact time was under ten seconds....... Then as a real test, I stopped by handy mart and bought her a pack.I am continually reminding her that I'm the weak one in the family and that if I can do it, then so can she


For me, and I know that it is different for everyone, I have resigned myself to knowing that I am addicted as though it is cocaine and heroin and I ever touch it again it will kill me and that is that.

Is this becoming an online and public diary?
Sure looks suspiciously like it....lol

Congrats, CHL. You earned every day clean. Two Weeks, Fourteen Days. Straight through it.

Man, I hope it's an online diary. Saved my ass and brought me to where I am today with a smoke-free life. Still can't believe it sometimes (so deeply ingrained it was I never thought I'd be free). This thread, this online diary, this fucking blog of freedom, saved my ass and carried me to this point.

Gutsy on picking-up the smoke (from the tray and the store). Just confirmation of your resolve and willpower (there's our boy Carr again).

Me, I couldn't do it. I don't go into a whore house for a haircut and I don't expect a car to give birth to a tree. Like begets like and I spent my life as a blind ass nic fiend groping for the next stick fix. I fondle a cig at this point and I'll be smoking like a soot-laden chimney within seconds. Not cut of the right stuff, not strong enough to tempt fortune. Just grateful I dodged the bullet.

Big congratulations, CHL. Huge Milestone.

Where's the Grumpster on Day 10?

Hope we make it past the 21st so I can celebrate 3 months on the 22nd. Feels so good not to smoke. Just wish I could have done it sooner, but its ok, I still am doing it! If I could do it so can you! congrats to all who have thus far. Peace

Shit, even if it's all coming to an end I still aint gonna smoke..... Other than although it's wesley pipes rather than billy bong thornton for me

Happy end of the world eve everyone

Thanks, congrats to you as well! It is truly a nasty habit, in so many ways. Loving this thread, nice to share experiences and successes with each other.

We're down, Riggs. Three months on the 22nd!
Huge and great congratulations to you. A power of example to us all. It's pretty amazing isn't it.

All good things to you (please stop in to celebrate your three month anniversary with us - another firm confirmation it can be done). Best - Mac

Anon 128, it truly is something isn't it? I read what you wrote about prayer last evening and it really moved me. I admired your courage and conviction for writing about it. I rarely speak about my faith, but I know that Grace has carried me thus far in this endeavor as I'm certainly not strong enough to have quit by myself. Glad you're here. All best.

Will do BX! Thanks

Thanks Bx. I am thankful for the thread being a success for those wishing to quit. I am also thankful for the faithful supporters such as yourself, for repeatedly signing in to support all those who need our support. I will be taking a brief sabbatical from my GLP desk to visit my Daughter and grand kids in Branson Mo. I may or may not be logging on for a week or so, but I am pretty sure there will be someone to kick start the thread in my absence. Wishing all of you coming to this little thread of mine, A MERRY CHRISTMAS and continued success in all your endeavors. DF

That sounds great, DF. Certain your daughter and grandkids are going to love being with Grandpa over the holidays (and while I've never been to where you're going in MO, I heard they have a huge music scene so I hope you get to enjoy that as well). Wishing you a wonderful trip and holiday with your family.

You do have to find a way to check-in and post on your thread on 12/27 to celebrate your anniversary. Need to hear from you on that big day, DF.

Best to you.

I've been smoke free for almost 3 months. I quit by using "ecigs" and it was extremely easy. I did have some nasty anxiety when withdrawing from the thousands of other chemicals in tobacco besides nicotine, but that's finally starting to lessen. I don't miss smoking at all. I like being able to breathe and not be winded. I like not smelling. I wish my husband would quit. I try to get him to use ecig but he just goes right back to smoking. Even worse he does it in the house which I think is mean and selfish. Congrats to everyone on their quit and may you all have many healthy days ahead.

I know I'm quoting an old post, but I'm doing so so that others who might be starting their journey in their quit have a variety of anecdotal information at their disposal to help them be successful.

The disposables and the rechargeable "cig-alike" versions are terrible. They don't produce a lot of vapor and they taste awful. Plus they're expensive and oftentimes a downright ripoff.

The key to vaping is using big batteries and custom blended juices from small reputable vendors. My favorite is menthol crystals in 95% VG. It's naturally sweet and very minty, like inhaling gum lol. My second favorite are juices that taste like mint Girl Scout cookies. Mmmm.

I don't vape much anymore, but it's definitely safer, cheaper, tastier, and more enjoyable than smoking. I don't need to vape like I needed to smoke, but if a situation ever arises where I want to (because maybe I'm socializing with smokers and want to join in without sucking down a cancer stick), it's nice to have an option that's significantly less harmful than smoking.

We're talking a few vaporized chemicals(pg and/or vg, possibly nicotine, & natural flavoring) vs thousands of combustible carcinogenic chemicals in tobacco. Plus it hurts BT and BP, and helps put money in the pockets of small businesses where it belongs. These small businesses are doing a good deed for humanity. That makes me feel good to support them.

Congratulations on reaching three month mark soon, Anon. Big accomplishment. I agree with you, if it's a choice between the poison of a live cigarette or vaping, chewing gum, or slapping a patch on, the choice is clear. After about three and a half days of wearing the patch, I decided to go totally nic free. That said, I kept the patch and nic gum close in case things got dicey. Much to my delight, I didn't need the nic subs (there's a link some pages back posted by "Ric Roc" that leads to this guy Alan Carr and his take on nic cessation - it was a huge part of my ability - thus far - to get off the nic) and it's astounding to me that I'm nic free.

I hear you on the difficulty of your husband smoking in the house. I can see how it would hurt your feelings and make you wonder where your support is. I can say that when I was smoking, I had no idea what a big deal it was for someone to quit. I had no reference point for grasping what a big, life-changing, accomplishment it was for someone (including those I loved). I just didn't know. And while it may seem obvious and defy common sense, I didn't understand what putting the cigs down really meant to someone. Maybe, no certainly, I was self-centered and simply driven by my own nic addiction.

Even now, there are days when I feel my family may not be giving me enough props for quitting (and my family has been as supportive as anyone could hope for). Hell, I probably wouldn't be totally satisfied until they greeted me each smoke-free day by tossing rose pedals in my wake (and, even then, I'd still probably find fault with the color of the roses). I do know I have been a little raw and sensitive from time to time and day to day over the last few weeks. People are living their lives and just because I chose to quit smoking and save my life doesn't require they do complete 180s to accomodate me (and please know I'm speaking about myself and not you and your husband smoking in the house lest I seem to be giving unrequested and out of order advice). I try and live and live - never want to be a dick of an ex-smoker as I hated those twits - and keep the focus on how extremely fortunate I am to be freed from the slavery of the smokes.

Best to you in all and please keep coming back here to post of your journey.

Grumpy - You're jamming me up - Where you at and how's it going on day 11?

Isn't it amazing how much nic is not needed? It's so freeing to know that neither it nor tobacco can keep anyone enslaved if their mind is determined enough to walk away from it.

My husband smoking doesn't hurt my feelings so much as piss me off. I went into my quit journey alone. I was so determined to never smoke again that him smoking doesn't tempt me. It's more like I think smoking was masking some severe underlying anxiety I had. When I stopped, it hit me full force. So now I'm paranoid that I'm going to have a heart attack if I inhale smoke. If I smell it, I may get anxiety which leads to chest pain, then I'm convinced I'm dying. It's not logical lol. I'm healthy and only 35. But the thoughts are still there. I ask him to quit only because I love him and don't want to see him get heart disease or lung disease. I know he will come around eventually. I'm patient about him quitting. I'm not patient about him polluting my blood vessels and stinking up the house.

Being raw and sensitive is normal. It takes a long time to detox and kick the habit. It's totally understandable to want people to give props or throw rose petals at your feet lol. Quitting isn't just about doing it for oneself, although that is the number one reason. It's for everyone around you too. I think non smokers take for granted how hard it is to kick the addiction. That is not their fault. They can't know. I think it's important for ex smokers to support smokers trying to quit. A little bit of positivity and encouragement goes a long way to helping someone. I used to get angry when people would be self righteous or preachy with me so I try never to be that way to others.

I definitely plan to return to help support and encourage others. I wish you well with your quit and hope today is a pleasant one for you.