Smoking is the devil and I need excorcised!

[KarenRN]

So I need some help and/or encouragement! My DH and I stopped smoking Sept 1 of this year. Used the patches which worked wonders! Of course there have been cravings but easy to beat. Yes, we have cheated on occasion but to our delight found that the taste/smell, etc were no longer appealing which is great! However, it has been too easy in the last week or so to cheat and I find myself thinking about it more frequently and thinking, "one won't hurt cause I can still walk away and not crave them and am not addicted anymore". Well, I'm afraid that that addiction is slowly trying to over power me again...

I am such a strong person having triumphed through several obstacles placed in my past and do not want to be weak and let this over come me...thoughts?

[gammazach]

Being in the medical field and seeing all that I see in radiology, it absolutely scares me to see all the lung cancers that are out there, and yes most of the people when questioned are smokers. Why poison the body and make it hard for our lungs to filter out all the toxins. Also with prolonged use of cigarettes, cigars is the increased potential of copd- which will also require a person to carry around an oxygen tank where ever you go when you are older because of the difficulty of breathing. Save your money--- Take a vacation with your savings!!!!!!

[~PaperMoon~]

Hi great job on quitting smoking so far! Maybe you might want to try an electronic cigarette for those days when you feel the need to light up. It simulates the smoking process without the nicotene. My coworker had one and it looked real, even the vapor that she blew out looked like real cigarette smoke but it had no smell. I thought it was neat. Maybe one of those might help?

EverSmoke Electronic Cigarettes - 1st Time User Reactions -...

[Patkid]

Oh, Karen.............I so get you.
I am struggling, as well. I gave up smokes in 1995. When my husband died in 2006 I picked them up again, thinking they would comfort me. They didn't and I am addicted again.
I have been quitting since Jan. I did really well till this week. Now I am smoking again.
It is so hard.
I just want to tell you I get it. I am, also, a very strong person who is powerless over nicotine.
I will add you to my prayers.
Lots of hugs and support,
Pat

[lterry913]

I First of all congrats on your losses so far...t is your head playing tricks on you...your body is trying to get that section of the brain that is excited by the rush of sugar from carbs from the cigs instead...it's common for the brain to want to replace one addiction with another...that is why people who undergo gastric bypass and other medical weight loss have to under go counseling or have a lot of support or they will most like become addicted to something else...the brain wants that feel good high and it ain't gettin it from food anymore so it's pushing you to look else where...go to the nearest computer and log on and talk to us every time you feel you need help to avoid this...we are all in this together.

[KarenRN]

Originally Posted by gammazach

Being in the medical field and seeing all that I see in radiology, it absolutely scares me to see all the lung cancers that are out there, and yes most of the people when questioned are smokers. Why poison the body and make it hard for our lungs to filter out all the toxins. Also with prolonged use of cigarettes, cigars is the increased potential of copd- which will also require a person to carry around an oxygen tank where ever you go when you are older because of the difficulty of breathing. Save your money--- Take a vacation with your savings!!!!!!

I am a nurse... I have seen it all myself and been with lung cancer victims as they draw their last breath while comforting their families
...should be enough incentive for me, huh?

[KarenRN]

Originally Posted by lterry913

I First of all congrats on your losses so far...t is your head playing tricks on you...your body is trying to get that section of the brain that is excited by the rush of sugar from carbs from the cigs instead...it's common for the brain to want to replace one addiction with another...that is why people who undergo gastric bypass and other medical weight loss have to under go counseling or have a lot of support or they will most like become addicted to something else...the brain wants that feel good high and it ain't gettin it from food anymore so it's pushing you to look else where...go to the nearest computer and log on and talk to us every time you feel you need help to avoid this...we are all in this together.

Everyone on here are such great, supportive people...I'm so glad I found this website.

Originally Posted by Patkid

Oh, Karen.............I so get you.
I am struggling, as well. I gave up smokes in 1995. When my husband died in 2006 I picked them up again, thinking they would comfort me. They didn't and I am addicted again.
I have been quitting since Jan. I did really well till this week. Now I am smoking again.
It is so hard.
I just want to tell you I get it. I am, also, a very strong person who is powerless over nicotine.
I will add you to my prayers.
Lots of hugs and support,
Pat

Thanks so much Pat. I understand your struggle as well and keep you in my prayers. It is so tough, but I know we can do it!

[Sharss]

Originally Posted by KarenRN

So I need some help and/or encouragement! My DH and I stopped smoking Sept 1 of this year. Used the patches which worked wonders! Of course there have been cravings but easy to beat. Yes, we have cheated on occasion but to our delight found that the taste/smell, etc were no longer appealing which is great! However, it has been too easy in the last week or so to cheat and I find myself thinking about it more frequently and thinking, "one won't hurt cause I can still walk away and not crave them and am not addicted anymore". Well, I'm afraid that that addiction is slowly trying to over power me again...

I am such a strong person having triumphed through several obstacles placed in my past and do not want to be weak and let this over come me...thoughts?

How is it going, Karen? I've been playing the yoyo game for the past year of using lozenges, smoking a pack or two and back on lozenges.

Presently trying to get back to my yoga because at one time I came close to naturally quitting. Only close because a negative relationship came up again and I blew it. Should have gotten rid of him along with the cigies. But that's the past.

Just know we are drug addicts. Alen Carr in his book, "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking", describes the process perfectly including what we tell ourselves - just one or one pack and we can stop again. Thing is, this is one of the tricks of the nicotine addiction.

Blessings to you, Patkid, and all of us in over-coming this addiction. Don't even think of electronic cigarettes. Only feeding the monster.

[Sharss]

Need to make a correction about e-cigs. Read some past posts and it seems many have successfully quit using that system although they didn't work for me. However, in reality, all our aides are unfortunately just feeding the monster. So we have to use what helps us the most.