View Full Version : quitting again, feeling stupid
I have not smoked in years, and somehow I took it up less than 2 months ago. Feeling really stupid, at the time I thought I would crack open like an egg if I didn't do something. The trigger seemed to be that I was doing a little fiction writing and it is tied to smoking. I have been battling a cold over this break and yesterday I smoked about 4 times. Last night the weight in between my shoulder blades was increasing and I woke up coughing. Many years ago I got bronchitis and when the cough never left they figured out I have mild asthma. That ache was the start of the bronchitis as well.
So at least I haven't been back to bad habits long or really had that many in a day, but really don't want to go through this. Lots of fresh lemon ginger tea and taking it easy.
iris lilies
12-31-15, 2:59pm
I wish you well, you can do it!
iris, occasional smoker
Ultralight
12-31-15, 3:12pm
http://www.cancer.org/healthy/stayawayfromtobacco/guidetoquittingsmoking/guide-to-quitting-smoking-success-rates
Well that tells me why all my kids may have a serious challenge quitting. That is part of what affects me, they all smoke outside but they all do smoke.
And I am pretty excited that I quit back when I was 20, then in the last 5 years have smoked about 2 years total and quit for long periods. Mostly stress spikes combined with being around smokers. So I am in the minority there!
Ultralight
12-31-15, 3:19pm
I smoked for a year in middle school.
"Only about 4% to 7% of people are able to quit smoking on any given attempt without medicines or other help."
I'm skeptical about statistics like this; no one ever asked me. But "any given attempt" may be key. After a series of failed attempts (cold turkey) over the course of several months, one took about 35 years ago. I never had the slightest desire to smoke after that.
You've proved it's possible, ZoeGirl. Go for it.
Ultralight
12-31-15, 3:27pm
People quit smoking. We know that. Zoe, you can do this if anyone can.
Ultralight
12-31-15, 3:53pm
I am truly fascinated by addiction. Though I have not seen many people beat their addictions in my life. My mom and dad both quit smoking in the mid-1990s with no prescriptions or programs. My mom went in for a surgery and then was unable to smoke for a week. So she used that stint as a way to get clean.
Once my mom did this my dad kicked on his own.
As far as I know they have not used tobacco since.
My sis and BIL were smokers for perhaps 5 or 10 years. They both kicked but will still smoke when they go out drinking, which is a few times a year.
As I said, I smoked for maybe a year in middle school. Quitting was very hard and took a great deal of my willpower. I remember sitting in science class just craving cigarettes. I mean craving! :(
But I have not touched them since middle school, though I did smoke a few cigars early in high school. But I did not want to take the chance of awakening that demon again. So I swore those off too.
To be honest, I have been craving smoking a little bit lately. Probably the stress of working customer service for yet another holiday season triggers it. Also, if I drink more than two beers I really, really want to smoke on the rare times I actually go out anymore. So I make sure I never have more than two beers, mostly I stop at one anyway. Though tonight I am really feeling like I never to let loose 'cause I am so sick and fed up with work I just want to do something! .
I am sure i won't; I don't even know if I going anywhere tonight, as I have to get to work at 8am...
ZG: You've done it before, so you CAN do it again! I for sure know how hard it is to quit, and that has been what has kept me from sneaking even one in the almost three since I've quit. I can't even stand the smell of smoke anymore, so when I get a craving, I make myself remind myself how gross it smells...
Thank you all, I sat with craving for a week this time, argh. I am concerned about my kids of course. My oldest started at 15 and is now 25. She also has asthma, and doesn't take care of her teeth! So in general I worry, and the other kids all smoke, their SO's smoke, OMG, what happened to raising them hippy, veggie, etc. At least they all eat vegetables.
About to run errands and that is a trigger for me, but I am going to Target specifically because they don't sell any.
Good for you to not let it get the best of you.
Do you mints to suck on when you get the urge? Do you carry water with you to sip all day? I don't smoke and haven't other than the rare occasion but I would think it's the act of putting something to mouth that needs replaced.
rodeosweetheart
12-31-15, 7:24pm
Would chewing gum help?
freshstart
12-31-15, 7:30pm
rooting for you!
Zoe Girl
12-31-15, 10:21pm
gum is good, sunflower seeds eaten really slowly, Having fresh lemon/ginger tea in the morning is a good boost of energy (with some green tea as well). Lots of water! and letting myself get a few stops at Starbucks the first 2 weeks. Something about really hot milky chai hitting the back of my throat feels good. I can make some at home but running around I get some flexibility with my budget.
I ran errands today and didn't smoke or have the urge, I had 3 puffs from an old one this morning and felt gross. I think I am still feeling gross and getting headaches from it so that makes it easier to quit.
rosarugosa
12-31-15, 10:29pm
Oh Zoe Girl, I am rooting for you too! Next week will be the 4th anniversary for me & DH tobacco-free. I still chew Nicorette; I cut the lowest dose in quarters, so it may be a placebo as much as anything. Whatever it is, I'm OK with it. After 38 years of heavy smoking, I never ever want a cigarette even if I'm drinking with smokers right beside me. I absolutely feel like I got 10 years younger when I quit. So there's an incentive for you, who the hell wants to feel 10 years older? Tom's of Maine spearmint mouthwash was something I used as a treat when I was quitting. It's expensive, but cheaper than cigarettes, and I know you value oral care. It has a nice astringent herbal taste to it, not like most brands. I would brush my teeth and have some Tom's right after meals instead of an after-dinner smoke. Good luck!
Williamsmith
1-1-16, 12:03am
My father smoked, a habit he perfected in the Navy. Unfiltered Kools. He died with arteriosclerosis, aneurysms and heart disease. One of my uncles smoked Lucky Strikes....died of liver cancer. Another Uncle smoked Camels....died of lung cancer. A third Uncle smoked.....he died of liver cancer. My grandfather smoked......he died of lung cancer. My grandmother breathed second hand smoke all her life....she died of brain cancer.
I ain't no dummy....I paid attention so I don't smoke and I don't chew and I don't go with girls that do.
Okay I have had an on and off cold this entire break! I am finding it helps quitting because my chest ached really bad one night. However I am back to a runny nose and heavy cough. I am hoping it is just working the smoking out of my system because I am tired of being sick. It is definitely affected by the asthma even though I rarely have to treat it. Rosa do you recall working the crap out of your lungs or did you just feel great?
Gardenarian
1-1-16, 1:37pm
I'm rooting for you Zoe Girl! It took me many times quitting before I finally quit for good. I think you get better at quitting, and this time will be easier than the last.
Take care of yourself - that sounds likes nasty cold.
Zoe Girl: The truth is, I just started feeling better physically almost immediately, and my smoker's cough was gone in a matter of days. I felt foggy mentally for a week or two, because I always seemed to feel like I had forgotten to do something. Comparing notes, DH experienced the same thing, and we agreed it was because we were used to having a smoke before we did anything, after we did it, and often while we were doing it. I used an e-cig for several months, just on the weekends when I was having some drinks, but the desire for that faded away after 8 -9 months. I used to have a terrible time when I got a cold, and now it's a lot easier to recover from them, so hopefully your cold will get better faster if you "forget" the butts.
I smoked off and on from age 14 to 45 and then quit cold turkey. More than anything, I hated that sense of something having that much control over me When I decided to quit, the cravings came like clockwork and I would tell myself that I could have one when the next craving came. The longer I put it off, the easier it became to let go eventually. Have never had that craving since. Realizing that a lot of the things we do are habits more than anything was also key. Find a healthy replacement and it will be easier.
Do you mints to suck on when you get the urge? Do you carry water with you to sip all day?
I just wanted to say that I live in Colorado, seriously everyone has a water bottle all the time. Just one of those things in a dry state and generally hanging out with healthy people. Even our classrooms have trays of the water bottles for all the kids. I wonder if other areas have the majority of people who carry water bottles?
Even our classrooms have trays of the water bottles for all the kids. I wonder if other areas have the majority of people who carry water bottles?
Are you kidding? That is so funny. One environmentally-progessive area (SF) bans water bottles while another one gives them out to everyone.
Zoe, sorry you're back to smoking, but it sounds like you've been through the quitting process, and you are motivated, so I'm sure you'll quit again. I am no stranger to addictive behavior, but I never understood smoking. I've never experienced the connection with how it makes you feel better/more relaxed, etc. To me, it's just smelly smoke and carcinogens wrapped up in an expensive package. Give me a bottle of wine any day.
And knowing how they were marketed early on, especially to women, and how they were marketed to people in spite of the knowledge of all the negative health effects, I would never smoke just on principle. My mother died of emphysema, so I have that emotional connection as well. I don't judge smokers because I'm fully aware of the challenges they face if they want to quit, but I do judge the habit, and all I can is, yuck.
Yeah the water bottle thing is funny. The kids bring in nice ones they use all year, I can't imagine why you would ban them. Hydration in a dry state is so important and our school is environmentally focused. I even had students use water bottles all summer so we used NO disposable cups all summer. Okay I can imagine maybe middle school and high school to not sneak in other drinks.
On the smoking thing, I think my kids self medicate anxiety. They have all been refusing any psychiatric medication for a few years now despite the benefits they get. So smoking is the way of choice to manage, it also gives you a boost of energy so that may be a factor in my insomniac kids smoking. Not really an excuse but I know many people who self-medicate in several ways.
I am guessing catherine thought of commercially packaged water when hearing "Water bottles." I know that I did.
Glad this issue of water bottles and cognitive disconnect came up. I've been saving 2 photos of something I just can't wrap my judgy head around. Perhaps I am making assumptions here that are not true so y'all have to correct me. But here they are showing a water container I found in our community garden where the "organic" crowd (you know, the earth embracing/ natural people) loves to gather.
1560
1561
The first photo shows that the water bottle is a product sold by Students For Recycling at Ohio State.
The second photo shows the bottom of the container that has NO VISIBLE INDICATION it is made of materials that can be recycled.
How is this anything but a big WTF? to be clear: Did Students for Recycling at Ohio State distribute water bottles that cannot be Recycled????!!!!!!!
I think that is confusing, I know some reusable water bottles may be made from harder plastics, now I am seeing some heavy glass and a lot more metal ones.
The disposable factor makes sense. San Francisco would have an issue with those (heck I have a problem with them), but here many people have had their bottles for a long time. I still wonder what happened to my awesome nalgene one, I only keep disposable in the car and use them many times. But then my good one is not getting frozen or overheated all the time.
has NO VISIBLE INDICATION it is made of materials that can be recycled.
I always thought it was a given that metals can be recycled. I'm only used to seeing recycling symbols on items where it is not obvious it can be recycled (like various kinds of plastic). I've never seen recycling emblems on anything metal (and we have to recycle metal cans among other items where I live).
iris lilies
1-1-16, 6:37pm
I always thought it was a given that metals can be recycled. I'm only used to seeing recycling symbols on items where it is not obvious it can be recycled (like various kinds of plastic). I've never seen recycling emblems on anything metal (and we have to recycle metal cans among other items where I live).
Ok, that may be the clear explanation. I guess it was aluminum, it was a very light container. I guess its that simple, I should just know that all aluminum can be recycled.
Yes, I did assume the water bottles to be of the cheap BPH plastic variety. I've taken to using a stainless steel one, similar to a Kleen Kanteen. (Yes, like the ones that the Recycling Group carried!) Actually, I think it is a Kleen Kanteen, but it has a promotional logo on it. I really love it because the ice you put in it in the morning lasts forever! And the water tastes really good. (I know that must be psychological, but it does taste very good.)
Yeah the water bottle thing is funny. The kids bring in nice ones they use all year, I can't imagine why you would ban them. Hydration in a dry state is so important and our school is environmentally focused. I even had students use water bottles all summer so we used NO disposable cups all summer.
Our schools provide a water bottle for each student and they have these cool bottle refill stations. They have a display screen that says how many bottles they've refilled and saved from going to recycling or landfills. And yes, here in a humid state pretty much everyone carries around a water bottle all the time as well, but I asked because there is the odd person you run into every now and then who doesn't stay hydrated. :0!
Cool, I am glad people are doing the reusable thing all over.
I was reading and drinking a lot of water is supposed to help flush out the toxins. I will admit I drink a lot of tea and then forget plain water so good reminder.
iris lilies
1-1-16, 10:37pm
Cool, I am glad people are doing the reusable thing all over.
I was reading and drinking a lot of water is supposed to help flush out the toxins. I will admit I drink a lot of tea and then forget plain water so good reminder.
"toxins" always makes me laugh.
sure,drink a lot of water and pee more often, it's only bad if you can't get to a bathroom.
Okay I have had an on and off cold this entire break! I am finding it helps quitting because my chest ached really bad one night. However I am back to a runny nose and heavy cough. I am hoping it is just working the smoking out of my system because I am tired of being sick. It is definitely affected by the asthma even though I rarely have to treat it. Rosa do you recall working the crap out of your lungs or did you just feel great?
I quit five and half years ago while hospitalized for my other addiction(alcohol)
I have no cravings although pulling up to a stoplight and seeing someone smoking turns on an idea that looks relaxing(duh)
Even if I was climbing the walls,the 10 plus dollars a pack here in NYS would deter me,I think...
Oddly enough watching my wonderful husband of 32 years die from lung cancer that had also spread to his brain wasn't enough to get me to quit.
Out of my 3 kids,only 1 still smokes and I pray daily that she will quit soon.
Hang in,it gets easier.
When I see someone smoking, I just feel incredibly grateful that I finally managed to put cigarettes aside. Especially when I see someone smoking in the rain or the cold outside an office building. That was really depressing.
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