Like a virgin, my very first time

[kiriwas]

I have just found this site.  So here goes. I quit smoking, with the help of chantix, on July 23rd.  Much to my surprise, l still want to smoke as much as my quit day. As I'm reading some of the blogs, i am becoming aware of the fact it takes longer, much longer than a month.  How much longer before one goes through a whole day without craving? 

[Eric_L.]

Idk.  Everyone is different but most of us has found that between 30 and 130 days the cravings decrease but are more intense.

[Eric_L.]

I think about my Grandma or others I've known over the years that go 30 years without smoking and think about it every day.  I think the support group really helps dispel the myth that smoking benefits us in anyway.  I smoked for 20 years bc I thought it helped my anxiety.  Turns out it didn't, really, except for momentary distractions.

I'd recommend reading Allen Carr's An easy guide to quit smoking.  You should be able to type that into Google and find a free .pdf.  He's goofy but the content is good.,

[JonesCarpeDiem]

I've seen many get their first day where they realize they didn't think of smoking around 80 days but many will experience it later than that.

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2011/06/26/what-to-expect-...

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

Quitting smoking is a journey, not an event.  You are still on it!

The most important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

As well, read the sections on this site, and read the blogs, responses and pages of folks you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com and quitsmokingonline.com for the good information contained there.

If you have chosen to use an NRT, I personally recommend the aids that don't let the addict control the dose such as the available prescription drugs or the patch. If used properly, gum, lozenges and inhalers are fine, but they need to be used only as a last resort.  I have seen folks become addicted to them if they substitute them for every cigarette they used to smoke - just trading one addiction for another.  I do not recommend the e-cigarette for three reasons: 1) the vapor has been compared to the polluted air in Bejing on a bad day, 2) they just provide another nicotine delivery system while continuing the hand to mouth smoking motion, and 3) the batteries can spontaneously catch on fire. .

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand. If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different.

You need to distract yourself through any craves.  You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game.  Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time.  You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits.  Don't let that smoking thought rattle around your head alone.  Get busy!  Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...

The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?"  Then DO it.  You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.

Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!

Nancy