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I CAN'T STAND THIS.......

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1080

Payromm Mama, after reading more of these posts I think if anything comes out of them it is how very addicted we are/were to smoking and how we must not ever let something so powerful get hold of us again. If it takes this sort of strength and suffering to get free is that really something we want to be enslaved to? Hon, we are addicts, it is a tough journey sometimes to break free, but the freedom is so worth it, you are getting through, you really are you may not think so yourself but you are, hang on in there.
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 5/10/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 186
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 4,650
Amount Saved: $2,790.00
Life Gained:
Days: 21 Hrs: 19 Mins: 58 Seconds: 12

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 967

I took all of the supplements that Faryal suggested. Not at the same time of course. I tried the Bs and St Johns wart together, and it did help, but not enough. Then I switched to 5htp, and that worked some too, but still not enough for me. I finally had to go to my doctor and had a couple of really nasty medications that worked terrible on me with really bad reactions so that money went down the tubes, but then she put me on Cymbalta and that, while not perfect, worked enough for me to stop crying and hold the anxiety down to a tolerable level. I can understand the insurance situation though, medication is expensive enough even when you have insurance. Try some of the suggested supplements and see if they work. I also found some homeopathic websites that sold products to help with depression and anxiety. They worked very well for me, that was a few years back, after a failed attempt at quitting I needed something to pull me out of that funk and it really worked for me then. Explore all your options, but never give up on yourself.

Kelly

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 12/6/2007
Smoke-Free Days: 341
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 10,230
Amount Saved: $1,278.75
Life Gained:
Days: 27 Hrs: 18 Mins: 46 Seconds: 0

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 855

Hello, We all ride the same boat , the same rollercoasters, when you get to the point where you think you just cant go anymore you have to re focus, brush off and tell yourself you can do this, it does get real hard, i know because the quit was very hard for me, but if you are to become a non smoker you have to Power through these times, and if you want the quit you will,it takes alot of will power and determination for some of us like me, stay with your quits you wont be sorry and know you are stronger than this nasty thing called nicotine hang in there :) tresa
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 8/8/2002
Smoke-Free Days: 2287
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 54,888
Amount Saved: $9,605.40
Life Gained:
Days: 326 Hrs: 22 Mins: 20 Seconds: 49

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 823

Good Morning Payroll Momma,

Welcome to our support centre and congratulations on 42 days smoke-free! That is a remarkable accomplishment.......one you should be very proud of.

Your frustration and sadness are totally understandable. You have had some major stress recently and you need to develop other strategies to deal with these stresses other than reaching for a cigarette. Remember that smoking will not make anything better - it will not cure your mom of her ailments nor fix your broken dryer. In fact it will make you feel worse emotionally and lure you into giving up altogether.

What are your mechanisms for coping with these unexpected stresses? Doing things like going for a walk, phoning a friend, posting here until you get 5 responses are some ideas.

As for natural anti-depressants, I would suggest you exploring B-vitamins and herbs such as St. John's Wort or 5-HTP. It is best to consult with a naturopathic doctor about this so as to avoid any interactions with your current medications. Consult your doctor also.

Good luck,

Faryal, Health Educator

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 63

It is really good to know that this is actually part of the healing process and not just me being weird about this.

I do want this to work and will do whatever it takes. I'm coming to realize that everything good/great is worth

fighting for!

Are there any herbal/natural anti-depressants? I do not have a doctor to go to (no insurance) but am realizing also that

I think that would help.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 9/30/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 42
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 504
Amount Saved: $113.40
Life Gained:
Days: 3 Hrs: 18 Mins: 56 Seconds: 6

Quit Meter

$50,123.70

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 696 Hours: 22

Minutes: 44 Seconds: 46

Life Gained
Quit Meter

5063

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

111,386

Cigarettes Not Smoked

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 967

Payroll momma,

How long will it take? That is a question we have all asked at one point. It is different for everybody, and it just happens. It is hard to grasp that because we want a timeline as to when the suffering ends. I had to do many different things to make this quit stick this long between hypnosis and medications, I did what I needed to get over ever funk. I was on anti depressants and anti anxiety meds for at least six month, but I wasn't going to lose my quit over something that I could control. Seek out any help you can, talk to your doc and listen to yourself inside, it knows what it needs. If its sleep, get sleep, if you need to cry (which I did constantly for months) then cry. I would hide in the bathroom at work and hold tissue under my eyes as the tears streamed out. I got pretty good at catching them so it didn't even smear my make up!! It was horrible, terrible I can't lie to you about that. BUT, I wanted to quit so bad I just couldn't give up on myself and I convinced myself that if I could just make it until tomorrow, maybe that would be the day that I would be ok. At some point I started a transformation and I can't even tell you when because it was so gradual. Now that I read posts like this, it makes me cry for two reasons. ONE..I can feel everything that you are going through and I feel for you and TWO...I finally realize that I am past that point and THAT is a great feeling. You need to fight and feel miserable for awhile to get the gold, but when you do you will be so happy. Pray, read, post, journal, do everything you can to get your emotions out, it is very cleansing. I had a journal and took it out the other day to read it, I had forgotten how terribly miserable I was. I printed posts from everyone that helped and put it in my journal on the day that I asked for help. You can do this, let me know if I can help you in any other way.

Take Care of yourself,

Kelly (((

)))

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 289

I'm not sure of the answer to your question but it does get easier with time, you had said you had just recently stepped down on the patch so you are still adjusting to the lower dosage, hopefully in a day or two the cravings will ease up. I jumped in this post to welcome you and ziggy to the site. Keep posting and drink lots of ice water and you will see your days continuing to add up

Lisa

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 3/30/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 226
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 9,040
Amount Saved: $994.40
Life Gained:
Days: 24 Hrs: 16 Mins: 54 Seconds: 27

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 63

How long does it normally take before you feel completely in control (or at least be able to tackle the cravings with confidence?) I still feel like the cravings are stronger at times than me (especially when the world is going nuts all around you).

I will listen to any advise right about now.....I really want this quit to work!

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 9/30/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 42
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 504
Amount Saved: $113.40
Life Gained:
Days: 3 Hrs: 18 Mins: 45 Seconds: 36

Quit Meter

$50,123.70

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 696 Hours: 22

Minutes: 44 Seconds: 46

Life Gained
Quit Meter

5063

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

111,386

Cigarettes Not Smoked

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1080

PM, forty two days is excellent and you would be so mad with yourself if you gave in to the justification voice wouldn't you? Its understandable what with your mom and the dryer etc that you are feeling a bit vulnerable and that is the time the addiction fights back when you have your defences down..............But, you came here and posted and hopefully just writing it down and sharing with us might help.

Ziggy you are over the worst bit and you say it wasn't too bad, and I am pleased for you, I too never found it too difficult either, just psychologically rather than physically- as for the weight gain- oh dont go there, but I can justify that at least I am not smoking -I'd rather be a few pounds heavier and not smoke than be skinny and smoking.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 5/10/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 185
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 4,625
Amount Saved: $2,775.00
Life Gained:
Days: 21 Hrs: 17 Mins: 44 Seconds: 50

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3

Thanks for the cheer up people. I quit cold turkey and it actually has not been a hell week for me. It's been pretty easy so I guess I should not complain. I think I am more in an emotional funk than anything today. I know I'll be okay - one day at a time and more prayers. Have a great day everyone!!
My Milage:

My Quit Date: 11/4/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 7
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 140
Amount Saved: $23.10
Life Gained:
Days: 0 Hrs: 18 Mins: 45 Seconds: 28

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I CAN'T STAND THIS.......