Yes. I've quit before too. For a day or a week or 6 months or 9 months. I think having those fails makes it more difficult. You know that you went back before. No matter how far away you are, you are never "safe" from your addiction. I think what's helping me in that area is the idea that this IS the final quit. In those other quits I always knew I would go back, I wanted to go back. This time I don't want to and I won't.

As for the other thing....the spacey thinking....I think in time it will go back to normal. It's actually a symptom of withdrawal.

Yes I understand, when I started this quit I kept undermining myself by remember the 9 month quit I had a few years ago,...somewhere I changed it from "your tried once and failed..." to "I know I can make it 9 months I've done that before."

As for the triggers, when you feel a crave coming on, do something else for a few minutes; go get another glass of water, make more ice or an ice treat, go brush your wash your face, brush your teeth or gargle (pay attention to how good it feels and smells), do some deep breathing or meditation, listen to music, color a picture...anything to occupy your hands that doesn't really need your mind.

As for the spacey...ah yes the spacey...I looooved the spacey time ever so much...forgetting why I was in a room, stop talking mid-sentence and having everyone looking at me and not even remember I was talking....oh yeah those were great times.

Yes, yes they do eventually lessen and go away....although I notice my thinking MUCH clearer since I went on HRT.

I have had numerous quits before in my life too... usually from 2 weeks to 4 months. This time feels different though. I'm not sure why that is. At about 3 weeks I just had this feeling that I love being a non smoker.... all the doubts went away, all the fear went away, I just concentrate on the fact that I love being a non smoker and I have no doubt that I will never smoke another one as long as I live.

Have faith in yourself. 3 weeks is how long it take for you to psychologically give up a habit and you are almost there.

There is a pretty good book called Easyway by Allen Carr that is great for changing your whole attitude about smoking. It is supposed to be read before you quit but I read it after and it reaffirmed my decision. I paid for it but I hear that you can download it free online. Give it a shot... we can use all the tools we can find.

You CAN do this. ((HUGS))

I also read Easyway before my quit. It helped a lot to change my frame of mind. Glad to hear that it helped others as well!

Thanks, you guys. It really does help to know I'm just goin' through what everyone does when they quit. I appreciate the help.

This is the main thing that I'm doing different...having this support group.

Hugs
jc

jancam,

so glad you are here and posting! The support here is great! Many of us here had relapses before we got to this quit, hopefully the final one for all of us.

Re: that "spacey" & fuzzy thinking feeling>? It was a part of my withdrawal as well. I think it was gone by the 3rd week or so?

Anyway, I wish you the best! Don't forget its a day at a time!

Blessings,

Jess

I was just like you 16 months ago. I had quit and restarted so many times. . . when I quit on 10/3/11, I struggled. Part of me knew other people had been in my shoes, but I looked at the ones ahead of me and a very small part of me thought "they must have had it easy to make it so far". Well my friend, I promise you with all that I am that it was not easy in the beginning. I was just like you,,, I was very limited in what I would do. I slept alot and I took many hot showers and long baths. (I knew no matter what I wouldn't smoke in the shower) Everything reminded me of smoking. I even gave up pop and coffee with it because it just didn't seem right without the cigarette. Every day I bargained with myself... "I won't smoke for just the next hour, or day" I was obsessed with counting the minutes, hours and days that I had not smoked.
I had quit before, so I had a vague memory of what it was like to not be obsessed, but it was not a vivid memory. As the days turned into weeks, my obsession decreased. Instead of counting hours and minutes since I quit, I counted days. A little more time went by, and my obsession decreased more. I was now counting weeks (ok maybe I was counting half weeks :)--you know 2 and a half weeks, 3 and a half weeks) I started hitting milestones that made me want to strive for the next one. Instead of telling myself "I wont smoke for the next hour" I was setting longer goals,,, a week or so. Every goal I reached made me more confident, and more determined. As I started counting months, I realized hours, and sometimes a day or more went by and I did not think about smoking. That was an amazing moment for me.
I wanted more though. . . I wanted to be the person that hated the smell of smoke. I knew the only way to be truly free is to stay strong. And I did.... after a few months, I began to feel stronger. . I set my goal for one year. To be honest, I quit thinking about smoking long before the one year mark. I actually didn't even think about my one year anniversary until I saw the calendar.
I am now at 16 months, and I can tell you I have become the person that hates the smell of smoke.
I went from being a chain smoker who "loved" it. I loved the social part of going out with my coworkers, "loved" sitting every morning with my coffee... now I look back and I realize how brainwashed I was. I look at my coworkers going outside freezing, in the rain and snow, and I think they are insane. I do not envy them in the least. I enjoy my mornings and coffee from the warmth of my couch with my blanket and the news on. . not outside freezing.
I hope you find it in yourself to fight for this. I know it is hard, but I promise you it gets easier. Slowly but surely, you will get here. You have to want it bad enough to fight for it. Do whatever you have to do to not smoke. One year from now, you will look back and you will be so glad you fought for your freedom.
Good luck!!!
(sorry, I think I just wrote a book... I am rambling!)

I hear your pain and I understand it. This is a nasty addiction and it plays with your thought processes. Our thoughts control our emotions and quitting can be difficult psychologically.
It takes time to feel secure in your quit. It will come I promise but it takes a while.
When you crave remember the 5 D,s delay distract deep breathr drink water and DS or discuss
In the early days of my quit I felt like I was sleep walking. It passed and so will the feelings you are experiencing
You can do this
Hugs Deb

Thank you ! All of you.

It's so great that those of you that have " made" it...keep coming here to encourage others.

Hearing that you really do " get" the gut-wrenching yuck of it..
But still made it through..
That help SO much.

Hugs
jc