Hope you are doing well! My husband chewed tobacco for 25 years. It was such a strong addiction, and he tried several times to quit but never could. He went to an acupuncturist and finally quit! She put ear seeds and ear tacks in his ear, which he wore for 3 days. Painless and you can hardly see them. He had a metal taste in his mouth during that time (detox), and even tried to chew and had to immediately spit it out b/c of the awful way it tasted. So after the 3rd day, he had another batch put it. Wore them another 3 days. After those were taken out, it was pretty easy. The acupressure only cost about $60 each time, but he would spend that in tobacco each week. So it was SO worth it and we just can't believe how well it worked. Look for a local acupuncturist -- it's worth a try!
Congratulations! You are giving your son a wonderful gift! Do not use the excuse of how you feel to argue with anyone. Just walk away. The more you give in to negative behavior and think about the smoking, the longer you will continue in the negative cycle.
Every time you feel negative thoughts or have pain, replace it with a positive thought. Do relaxing things like yoga. Picture your son's face or go play with your son if he is close by. Be sure to get exercise. Take your son for a walk and stop and smell the roses. Look at life through your son's eyes. Examine those tiny little bugs with him, etc.
When you are away from home and you are feeling pain or anxiousness, pull out a picture of your son.
I noticed that all of your comments are negative comments. Start sending us the positive comments. Keep a journal and only write down positive comments. When you talk to someone about quitting, tell them only the positive things that have been happening. Write down what is helping, how much money you are saving, what you will do with that money, how happy your son will be, etc. List the things that you will be able to avoid now: cheaper life insurance, fewer doctor bills, fewer illnesses, longer life, etc.
Whatever you think about and talk about, that is what you are "feeding" and giving "life" to. Remember, think only positive things. Talk encouragingly to you father. Tell him how proud you are of him (he must have been smoking a long time!) Laugh together about the negative stuff. Turn TO each instead of ON each other. Do not take it out on him or your son. When you are angry, go in a room and start writing down why you want to quit.
You can do this! Think of other bad habits you have had in the past and have stopped doing - even little things. As you have grown up and matured, you have become a stronger person. Picture yourself telling your son when he is older about how you were able to overcome this. Think of the words you would tell him.
Hang in there! It will be worth it! Remember your pregnancy and childbirth? Did you give up? No, because it was so worth it to go through. You probably thought continuously of the outcome - a beautiful baby boy.
Can't wait to hear about the positive things, like what you have tried that is helping, etc. There may be others that are in your shoes and want to know how to stop a bad habit.
there is a pill that helps. it costs about 100 dollars. i am sorry i cannot remember the name of it. our friend took it and she has successfully quit for almost a year now. i think the pill name started with a c...i am sorry i cannot remember. i could ask her if that is something your intreasted in...just email me. hang in there momma!
YAY! Go Brenda, you can do this! Go do something different---away from people who smoke. Go for a walk or a hike, or go take a bubble bath....paint your fingernails....read a good book...
A friend of mine quit her sugar addiction last year. While she was getting thru the first week, she avoided all her "sugar" friends, never went near the break room...etc... She stayed away from them when she was really tempted, but they understood and were OK with that.
She started with low calorie gum or mints and would pop one in her mouth when she needed a "fix." She asked friends and family to help her and asked her neighbors to come get her for a walk in the evening. Anything that takes your mind off your addiction is good! After a few days, your mind will be able to get beyond cigarettes easier with each day. Just have a plan to distract it ahead of time.....
Me and my husband went 10 days without smoking and I went almost 2 years (pregnant). The habit is bad for us and we know it, but can't seems to finally quite. I am concidering trying those new e cigs. They have nicotine and no smoke... Just an idea good luck and I hope you can do it!!
I quit after smoking for 14 years and I was 8 months pregnant. The key for me was 2 things: my son that was on the way and I prayed. I prayed heavily for God to help me quit and every time I felt weak I prayed for God to give me strength to get through it. That was over 5 years ago and I thank God now for helping me succeed. Try praying and He will help you.
You are on day 2. Way to go. YOU CAN DO THIS.
Try chewing gum. It is true that it can relieve stress. I like Orbit white personally and it is $1.88 at Walmart for a 3 pack. Way cheaper than cigarettes.
Eat carrot or celery sticks, things that are crunchy but not high in carbs or fat. Drink water.
Take walks, put your 2 yr old in a stroller or wagon and get out. The weather is perfect for it. Try an exercise tape just to get the aggitated energy worked out. I tend to vacuum, mop, or clean something when aggrevated or worked up. Gets rid of the angry energy and makes things look neater at the same time.
Before answering take a deep breath and let it out. Pray for continued strength.
Its hard, but you can make it.
My husband is about to start Chantix. He's taken it before (a couple of year ago, I think it's been). It worked GREAT! He said that it made cigarettes taste horrible. However, once he quit, his attitude was that he could still be a social smoker and have one just every now and then when he was out with friends. WRONG! I knew he would eventually start up again and I was right. It took a while before that happened, however. My father and step-father (both former smokers) told him once you quit, you can't ever slip up and have one. They were right. Over time, it became more and more frequent, now he's a full blown smoker. Anyway, he's learned his lesson now and will be using Chantix again to stop. Your GP can prescribe it. It's really expensive but there's a $30 coupon available online right now. Last time, he only took it for a month and it worked. He didn't have to go the suggested 3. I think it's about $120/mo. Unless that has changed since then.
Brenda,
Keep asking yourself do I keep on smoking and get cancer or stop and be a good example for my 2 year old. You know, your innocent little angel is also inhaling your smoke ( 2nd hand smoke). My brother smoked all his life and it was cut short because of his smoking, he was only in his 50s and I miss him terribly, His daughter was only 3 when he passed and now she is ready to go to college and blames her mom because she did not stop him from smoking. Believe me when I say you dont want to die from cancer. Try praying and ask our Lord to help you or go to a smokers annonymous class. Try drinking iced tea and chewing gum or ask your physcian to help you. Good Luck,
Hope
My 47 year old sister was diagnosed with oral cancer last month. Two weeks ago she had part of her tongue removed and now has a tracheotomy. She had lymp glands removed from her neck. It's stage 4 cancer. Don't for a second think it can't or won't happen to you. I'm afraid her 11 year old daughter will be mother less soon.
You can do this
take it one hour at a time
be encouraged with moments that you will
forget about it and know those precious
moments will become more plentiful
Treat yourself to some indulgent, preferably
low fat/caloric goody, fresh carrots, edamame,
fruit juice with low sugar, anytime, especially
when your hands feel idle.
Replacing a bad habit with a good habit will
benefit you greatly. Drink water to replenish
any moisture your skin, no doubt, needs.
If you need to, comare smokers' skin and xrays
to non-smokers. It will be an eye opener.
Be grateful for each babystep.
Continue to reach out for help.
Everyone wants you to be successful.
I wish you and your father much success.
Decide today that your success does not depend
on each other's success. Instead, inspire the
other.
Stick with it! It is hard but it is so worth it in the end! I had a hard time quitting also, but if you survive the first week you will be fine. When you need a time out go in another room and chew some gum or step outside and blow bubbles with your son. Replace the time you used to spend smoking with another activity and it will help you get your mind off it. I myseld chewed a lot of gum and once my jaws were sore I ate suckers. Good luck, you can do it! It will be so much better if your son doesn't know you as a smoker and you get so much money back in your budget it will absolutely be awesome in the end. I quit last year and there is still the occasion I want one but mostly I am over it. I can distract myself and remind myself that it's better for my son not to be around a smoker and that I am making myself healthier. I will be around to play with my grandkids instead of just coughing and watching them! Find your positive thought and hold on tight to it! You can do this!!!
Thanks so much everyone. It’s been 24 hours since my last cig. I am having such a hard time. I’m cranky and starting to feel more pain exp. in my chest. The cravings are crazy and I know it will get worse before it gets better. Thanks so much for all the responses. I have to do this. i am so tired of smoking and everytime I smoke I feel guilty. I am really ready to quit! I just need to get over this hump. Thanks again for the encouraging words. I will keep referring back to this page.
uggg…just don’t know if I can do this.