OMG I want a cigarette sooooo bad - I'm climbing the walls

luvmykids wrote: I can't believe it, this craving came out of nowhere and I haven't had one like this in the whole time since I quit....I'm chewing my Nicorette, tried eating sunflower seeds (which has seemed to help at other times) and now I feel like I'm just generally going to go crazy I just want one, just one teeny tiny one. I'd even settle for a drag of someone elses

It's so bad that I actually tore through the garage hoping to find a half smoked one...I feel like a crackhead

A&A'smommy replied: ugh I'm sorry, maybe try having something like a little piece of candy or a little chocolate.. don't eat much and drink some water!!

luvmykids replied:
It's funny you said that, I thought for sure the hardest times would be after eating since that was one of the main times I smoked but it's actually better if I snack a lot and don't let myself get hungry; I had a bad habit of getting hungry and smoking to put off eating if I didn't have the time right then.

And I'm terrible about drinking water so I've been making myself drink a glass everytime I have a craving in the hopes of getting in the habit of drinking something other than just coffee, which also went hand in hand with the smoking

Nina J replied: Chemicals in cigarettes:

Benzene (petrol additive)
A colourless cyclic hydrocarbon obtained from coal and petroleum, used as a solvent in fuel and in chemical manufacture - and contained in cigarette smoke. It is a known carcinogen and is associated with leukaemia.

Formaldehyde (embalming fluid)
A colourless liquid, highly poisonous, used to preserve dead bodies - also found in cigarette smoke. Known to cause cancer, respiratory, skin and gastrointestinal problems.

Ammonia (toilet cleaner)
Used as a flavouring, frees nicotine from tobacco turning it into a gas, found in dry cleaning fluids.

Acetone (nail polish remover)
Fragrant volatile liquid ketone, used as a solvent, for example, nail polish remover - found in cigarette smoke.

Tar
Particulate matter drawn into lungs when you inhale on a lighted cigarette. Once inhaled, smoke condenses and about 70 per cent of the tar in the smoke is deposited in the smoker's lungs.

Nicotine (insecticide/addictive drug)
One of the most addictive substances known to man, a powerful and fast-acting medical and non-medical poison. This is the chemical which causes addiction.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) (car exhaust fumes)
An odourless, tasteless and poisonous gas, rapidly fatal in large amounts - it's the same gas that comes out of car exhausts and is the main gas in cigarette smoke, formed when the cigarette is lit. Others you may recognize are :

Arsenic (rat poison), Hydrogen Cyanide (gas chamber poison)
Does that put you off a cigarette? It's hard, but remember cravings don't last forever...just ride it out You can do it.

A&A'smommy replied:
huh I'm the oposite it sometimes gives me heartburn if I try to put it off with smoking... but after I eat anyway I need to quit too I am just affraid of failure i think... but your doing SOOOO good keep it up!!!! I'm proud of you, quitting is SOOO hard (i have done it 4 times)!!

luvmykids replied: That puts me off in my mind just the good old nicotine still has me in it's grip I guess I have a new respect for addicts who manage to quit other drugs, I don't know if I could do it.

I'm trying to remind myself how much I'm loving wearing my favorite lotions again (didn't bother before because I smelled like smoke anyway), how much whiter my teeth already are, and how much better my skin already looks not to mention the example I'm trying to set for my kids....I know I'll survive this craving, I think it just blindsided me because it's so much worse for some reason than any other so far.

When you quit Nina, how long before the cravings went away?

luvmykids replied:
I can't even count how many times I've quit, I think the only difference this time is for some reason I know I can do it, kwim? You'll get there, TBH I never thought I would because I enjoy it so much but here I am

And speaking of heartburn, the Nicorette gives me big doses of it, blech.

Nina J replied: I remember the first day I didn't crave a cigarette even the tiniest bit was about 2-3 weeks after I quit. For me, every day after the 2 week mark was easier than the day before.

I think you know when you're ready to quit. I tried to kick the habit more times than I could count too, but when I finally did it was because I really, truly wanted to.

~Roo'sMama~ replied: You're doing great Monica!! I'm sorry it's giving you a rough time. You can do it!

JadensMama05 replied: You're doing so good!! I wish I could get DH to quit.. Keep it up girl!

(PS Ive seen people digging thru trash for half-smoked cigarettes , don't feel too silly. I've seen DH dig thru the WHOLE car...)

sparkys2boys replied: TRy to stay focused on far you have came.. don't throw that away. You can DO IT!!!

PrairieMom replied: Hang in there. You have already come so far! I hope you are doing okay.

lisar replied: LOL..... I am quitting Monday when I go in the hospital. If I am gona be in the hospital for 5 days then why should I pick another one up when I get out of the hospital.

Good luck. Just fight it off.

C&K*s Mommie replied: You are doing GREAT Monica!

lesliesmom replied: Monica, don't feel bad about digging through the trash looking for butts... I've done it MANY times when I've been out of cigarettes, at home with the kids by myself and I won't pack the kids up in the car just to get me a pack of smokes, so I've dug (at my old house I'd just ask the neighbor). I admire you for quitting. I've tried SO often. I have cut back but just can't seem to give it up. I started carrying teh nicorette gum with me for nights (I don't smoke at home unless DH is gone and then only outside and it's just getting too cold to go out) and weekends if I can't get away. I know it would be easier to just quit but can't seem to bring myself to do it. So keep up the good job. Maybe I will join you soon!!!

Also, one time when I quit I got myself some cinammon sticks. Sounds strange but if you need that hand-to-mouth feel, a cinammon stick feels like a cigarette and then you chew the tip of it. Worked well, just had no will power to follow through. They taste good too!

I've also heard that if you put some cream of tartar into a glass of orange juice that helps through cravings. Haven't tried that myself but some people I know who had the laser therapy were told that to help them through...

Good luck and Keep up the good job!!!!

CantWait replied: You're doing great Monica, hang in there. Remember we're here if ya feel the urge or need to vent. We'll talk you out of it.

holley79 replied: Dh put a note on my computer screen at home last night for our insurance company. they have a quitters program. When I get up the guts to do it I really need to.

Your doing great Monica. I'm very proud of you.

siblingtooolivia replied: Hang in there Monica - you are doing do well

kimberley replied: brush your teeth. every time u want to light up.. go brush and floss. nothing grosser than smoking right after you brush and your dentist will love you

keep up the great work.

MyLuvBugs replied: Keep strong Monica!! You can do this!! A friend of mine chewed on pen caps and pencils when she wanted a ciggy. But she said she liked the feel of the ciggarette in her hand and in her mouth . LOL But you can do this!!