Question by bbbiz47: How to deal with Quitting Smoking?
So I quit cigarettes on Sunday the 10th of April. I was really excited to quit, I received the E-Cig in the mail and thought this was going to be a lot easier with it’s help. I know all the reason’s I want to quit and I know in the long run it’s the best thing for me and my family. So why then is this so darn hard. I thought the Electronic Cigarette would be the cure all, and I could wean myself off the Nicotine little by little. The truth is, the damn thing just frustrates me, gives me a nasty headache, and makes me feel sick to my stomach and silly. Yes, I know its not the same thing, but I was really hoping for something that would make this easier. I never thought it was going to be a piece of cake but I never expected to feel the way I have been feeling for the past 4 days. I’m in a lull, and don’t know where to go from here. I don’t want to do anything, because it all makes me want a cigarette. Cleaning the house, answering the phone, eating, playing with the dog, having my morning coffee, playing with the kid out side, talking with my husband, going to bed, everything I have ever done for the past 13 years, I have either smoked through or had a cigarette right after it. On top of wanting or being reminded of having a cigarette, I feel so angry. I resent my 3 year old and also the New born, (Probably doesn’t help I am also going through a little postpartum.) and I have nothing but anger towards my husband. I think the only one I’m not angry at is the dog and it’s because he some how knows enough to steer far away from me. If I could just curl up in a hole and sleep for the next how ever long it will take to get through this I would. I don’t want to be around anyone and all I want to do is scream at everyone and everything that comes remotely close to me. When I smoked before it was my way of getting away from a situation and thinking things through over a cigarette. I guess it was a stress reliever for me, and my way of getting away. I was able to push a lot of feelings away or over come them with just that five minutes of smoking a cigarette. It was the only break I got in a 24 hour day. Now I have no where to go and no one to talk to. Just the stress and pressure I have reeling around in my head. On top of quitting smoking, my life has pretty much been turned upside down. We have been re-stationed to Fort Rucker AL,and I hate it here, we are in complete an utter Dept, with about 200 dollars, to live off of for the month, which has to buy everything for the new born, food for the month, gas, and all the other necessities. I know I have things much better then most, for sure, but right now, all i feel is frustration and anger. I don’t know what to do and it’s only been 4 days, and I could drive my car off a cliff. I have more restraint not to do that, but I don’t want to feel like I could every day for the rest of my life just because I quit smoking. I don’t want to resent my kids cries, or my husbands touch, or my own being. I know that as I write this all down, it sounds so silly, but it’s how I feel and I can’t escape it. Please some guidance would be appreciated, and you can tell me to suck it up pansy all you want. But I don’t think sucking it up will work this time.
Thanks for listening.

Best answer:

Answer by John S
Hi,
sorry this is happening to you, ive been through it. The truth is for many people, quitting is very difficult. I remember trying to quit many years ago before everyone was told how addicting it was. Back then I just thought it was a bad habit and when I decided to quit, I couldnt believe how terrible it was. One sentence ran through my mind, “I cant stop”. But I did.
I cant recommend a great method, anything that helps. One that helped me was a little time called lifesign. You smoke as usual, and everytime you smoke you push a button. Then on the third day, it tells you when you can smoke. It makes you wait just a bit longer as time progresses.At first its very easy. You will see, wait 2 minutes. Thats easy enough. What it does is get you used to a bit less day by day. It does help. But when you come to the end, its cold turkey time. It really always comes down to that. Here is what it is like for me, and I was pretty addicted.

First two weeks- horrible. you are thinking about it all the time and everything else aggravates you. you are miserable. you think of nothing else.

Third week- You are thinking about it often, but not constantly, less irritable
One month- You start to only have cravings several times a day, instead of constantly.
six weeks- You are feeling better, less stress, and you only get a craving once or twice a day.
Two months. Hooray. days go by without the urge to smoke. You still may have an urge once in a while
Three months. Much better. You rarely feel like smoking a cigarette. Seeing someone smoke may occasionally make you feel like smoking.

Thats the bad news im afraid. You may want to talk to your doctor about gum, patches, inhalers to help along the way. In one month you can feel 90% cured, but its very difficult. You really have to want to do this, and get support, its a serious addiction, but, many people have stopped. It may be the hardest thing youve ever done. I hope you quit.

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