I don't remember it being this hard before

[wvjules]

I quit smoking on Friday...again. I quit for 6 months and started back up about 1.5 years ago. I decided (with strong encouragement from BF) to quit again. I honesty don't remember it being this hard the last time. I quit cold turkey before but this time I'm wearing the patch. I thought this darned thing was supposed to make it easier?!?!?!?!

Anyway, I'm just here venting. He's been very good about my moodiness but I'm sure he's got to be getting tired of it by now. lol (We spent the weekend away.)

 

[The Mystery Machine]

That is because you need to quit after Nov 4th.... I am waiting until then.

I had been quit for 5 yrs and started up again in July. I call it being on vacation.

 

[Barbossa]

I quit smoking on Friday...again. I quit for 6 months and started back up about 1.5 years ago. I decided (with strong encouragement from BF) to quit again. I honesty don't remember it being this hard the last time. I quit cold turkey before but this time I'm wearing the patch. I thought this darned thing was supposed to make it easier?!?!?!?!

Anyway, I'm just here venting. He's been very good about my moodiness but I'm sure he's got to be getting tired of it by now. lol (We spent the weekend away.)

I sympathize with what you're going through. I've seen my mom try to quit and saw how horrendously difficult it was. I go through the same thing with food. Addictions are a b__h, the self-righteous few who don't have them have no idea how difficult they are to kick. Good luck!

 

[mickeyfan1]

Honey, I haven't had a cigarette, or even a puff since 2006. In 2005 I had 1 cigarette, in 2006 I had one puff. To this day I don't say I quit smoking. I still get the urge.

I think the patch may be what is making it so hard, it is still putting nicotine into your system. Every person I know who used the patch never stopped smoking, they did the patch thing to the end and lit right back up when it was done.

 

[Chicago526]

My brother tried a couple different times to quit before he was successful. Just keep trying and take it one day (or even one hour) at a time. Good for you, and good luck!

 

[agentpleakley]

DH has been trying to quit for 6 years. Last year, he switched from cigarettes to cigars (with occasional cigarettes). On August 8 of this year, my sister called me -- my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that had spread to his liver and brain. My dad was a life long smoker. They are giving him 3 months to live. He is 65 years old. He was diagnosed in August and by September had to have a feeding tube inserted and is in hospice care. On this same date, my husband's sister called him. Their grandmother was diagnosed with dementia and has to be put into a nursing home. The doctor said it was from lifelong smoking and diabetes. Who knew?

On August 8, 2008, my husband threw away all of his smoking paraphernalia and hasn't smoked since. He had been through Chantix, other prescriptions, hypnosis, patches etc. This time the dangers of smoking finally hit home.

I hate to be a Debbie Downer and I realize how hard it is to quit smoking - but sometimes it takes a real wakeup call -- my DH got his.

 

[PatsMom]

DH has been trying to quit for 6 years. Last year, he switched from cigarettes to cigars (with occasional cigarettes). On August 8 of this year, my sister called me -- my dad was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer that had spread to his liver and brain. My dad was a life long smoker. They are giving him 3 months to live. He is 65 years old. He was diagnosed in August and by September had to have a feeding tube inserted and is in hospice care. On this same date, my husband's sister called him. Their grandmother was diagnosed with dementia and has to be put into a nursing home. The doctor said it was from lifelong smoking and diabetes. Who knew?

On August 8, 2008, my husband threw away all of his smoking paraphernalia and hasn't smoked since. He had been through Chantix, other prescriptions, hypnosis, patches etc. This time the dangers of smoking finally hit home.

I hate to be a Debbie Downer and I realize how hard it is to quit smoking - but sometimes it takes a real wakeup call -- my DH got his.

My thoughts are with you regarding your father. My dad died of lung cancer in 1999. It is a very painful thing to watch. When I hear of things like feeding tubes I am actually very grateful that my father chose to halt all but pain relieving treatments after a very bad bout with chemotherapy.

OP - good luck to you. I quit about 50 times before it "took" two years ago! It was hard every time. Last time I used Chantix and it helped a bunch. Even my father dying of cancer wasn't enough to make me quit - in fact I had quit for about a month when he was diagnosed. Seemed like the stress of taking care of him made me start again. You will make it one of these days! But like someone else said, the urge never seems to pass. I still have times when I feel like I would kill to have a cigarette. So far I've resisted because I know that I would never stop with just one. Giving up smoking is the hardest thing I'v ever done.

 

[Patch'sD]

I am a 35 year smoker who quit using chantix six months ago. I have not had a cigarette since. Not a day goes by that I want one, and it has been tough. Good Luck

 

[momoftriplets]

GOOD LUCK to all of you!!

This is one of the hardest things to do. Stay strong!

 

[dnoyes]

I've been on "the patch" for about six weeks now. They itch and burn my skin but they are working. Hang in there jules the first two weeks were the hardest.

ps. Last Friday night my football team was on ESPN (Boise State ) so I had a few beers with friends ......... NOT A GOOD IDEA ...... I would have kissed a perfect stranger just to taste their smokey lips ..

 

[wvjules]

OK, so did any of you former smokers go through a depression-like state when you quit? Maybe its just moody but I just feel kinda sad since I quit.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

OK, so did any of you former smokers go through a depression-like state when you quit? Maybe its just moody but I just feel kinda sad since I quit.

Not a depression, but you go thru a change to being a non-smoker.

You miss having that cig in the morning with your coffee, when you have a drink, etc...

You mourn the "smoker persona".

 

[Patch'sD]

I was cranky and some say that I am still Cranky. However, The weight gain was hard. I am now trying to shed about 20 extra pounds.

 

[LivelyLissa]

I quit about 13 years ago. It was hard. Bendy straws were my trick. I would put them in my mouth and play with them. I also avoided bars like the plague.

 

[H.E. Pennypacker]

OK, so did any of you former smokers go through a depression-like state when you quit? Maybe its just moody but I just feel kinda sad since I quit.

Hang in there. You can do it! I'm coming up on 11 months since I quit cold turkey. This is probably the 4th or 5th time I've tried and this time I really think I've kicked it for good. It's definitely the longest I've gone in the 15 years I smoked. The sad feelings are just part of the nicotine withdrawal process, along with irritability, feelings of anxiousness, insomnia, etc. Stick with it - all those feelings go away and you'll be feeling great in no time!

 

[ckay87]

OK, so did any of you former smokers go through a depression-like state when you quit? Maybe its just moody but I just feel kinda sad since I quit.

Yes ma'am. I have a hole in my bedroom wall (from throwing a door open too hard) which reminds me never to make myself go through that again! Really, I will never start again because I never want to have to quit again!

I'm going to guess that the reason you're having such a tough time is because of the patch. You're still getting your nicotine but not your smokes which is much more fun, right? You gotta get the nicotine out of your body. The sooner that happens, the sooner you can move on. IMO, the patch just prolongs the whole crappy experience.

Good luck and come on back and check in. I think it would have helped me to have some support. But everyone around me had the attitude of "tough cookies, you shouldn't have smoked in the first place." Forget that quitting was one of the toughest things I ever did. One of my proudest accomplishments. Nobody was patting me on the back. Anybody else have that?

Hang in there.