I’m Trying to Stop Smoking, Will It Get Easier?
Question by rileymorgan: I’m trying to stop smoking, will it get easier?
I’m on day one of my attempt to quit smoking, it’s been about 12 hours since I had a cigarette. It sucks, but the worst thing was that I was mean most of the evening. I am keeping busy, but feel like I stop and think “I’m going to get up and get a cigarette”..then I remember I can’t. This happens about 10 times every 5 minutes.
Will this go away, or even lighten up? Seems like the mean/grumpiness and the mistaken thoughts that its time to smoke are all that are getting to me, but it’s really irritating.
Best answer:
Answer by Eriatarka
It will when you’re over it. Good to hear that you’re quitting cold turkey, that’s the way to do it!
Maybe you could try to occupy yourself when you think of getting one, with something else. Fold a paper crane when you think of getting a smoke, so that you’re focused on folding rather than “Why is there not something on fire in my hand”.
Answer by Been There
Here are two stories: One is has an important point to make, the second is advice.
1. My husband and I stopped being friends with another couple when they became addicted to heroin. Ran across J. about 20 years later. He’d kicked the habit and this is his story:
J. had tried many many times to quit, but every time he tried the withdrawal symptoms were so horrible that he had to go out and find a fix. Finally he gathered up 3 months of supplies and had a friend drive him up into the northern wilderness (I’m a Canadian) in early May, and drop him off there with instructions to come fetch him in 3 months. J. did not have a single withdrawal symptom. He said he thought that withdrawal symptoms were our mind’s attempt to blackmail our will.
2. I tried to quit smoking several times, using support groups, the patch, etc etc. Finally succeeded (over 4 years now), and these were the elements of my “program”:
– Had my husband take me on a 3-day drive through the mountains, not taking any cigs with us, not buying any. I felt a little fuzzy headed, but that was all.
– Every time I wanted a cigarette, I thought of J., I reminded myself that the craving would only last a few minutes, and I didn’t need to “scratch the itch” or “fix” the “problem”.
– Every time I wanted a cigarette, I told myself firmly, “I don’t DO that anymore”.
– Every time I wanted a cigarette, I took a suck off my pop-top bottle of water. Water helps detoxify your body, and the sucking is a substitute for smoking.
Yes, it does get easier … the first 3 days are supposedly the hardest. The more you can break your routine, the better. On the other hand, I know someone who went to bed for 3 days in order to quit. But please, stop telling yourself you “can’t” smoke … tell yourself you “don’t” smoke. I know it seems to be nit-picking, but there is a world of different between victim-can’t and empowering-don’t.
It got easier and easier with every day, every week. And I can’t remember the last time I wanted a smoke. Good luck to you … there’s no shortcut, but it doesn’t have to be hard if you make sure your unconscious knows this IS the time.