Well, I made it another day.
Tomorrow will be a HUGE milestone in my life, and I WILL see it.
Tomorrow will be one month without smoking.
That is huge for anyone. 30 days is a long time, and the longer I go, the easier it gets.
Most of the time now I’m not even contemplating the thought of smoking. I’m way past the hump of easily going back on a whim.
However, I have caught a cold, so work today was miserable. It really has nothing to do with nicotine withdrawal, as I got sick as soon as the weather changed from really hot to cool.
Sometimes the weather does that to you.
As soon as the climate changes, something snaps in your body and you get sick. It’s happened to me numerous times.
There is one topic I want to talk about, though, as long as I’m on the subject of being sick.
When I was a smoker, especially during the last 6 years or so of my addiction, whenever I got sick, either the cold or flu, my sickness would ALWAYS start in my lungs.
That’s how I knew it was coming, because I would start feeling pressure in my lungs.
It used to be really bad, too.
I thought it was some form as asthma, but it was just the sickness moving throughout my body.
But my lungs were affected so much. I was barrel chested, and I literally couldn’t breathe.
I couldn’t lie down, I couldn’t get comfortable, and there was no way I was going to get a good night’s sleep. I coughed too much, and it drained every ounce of energy I had.
Guess what?
I haven’t felt a single thing in my lungs yet.
Why is that? It’s because I haven’t been smoking.
I’m still miserable. I can’t breathe through my nose at all, and I sneeze and my eyes water. I just don’t have any symptoms, like wheezing or coughing.
That’s great news in my world.
When you can’t breathe period, then life is horrible. I can deal with not being able to breathe through my nose.
But wheezing in my chest and barely getting a breath out of my lungs is no fun at all.
This is why it’s imperative to quit smoking. Don’t be stupid and end up like I was for many, many years.
I did, and every time I got sick, I paid the price of smoking.
I was literally on my deathbed for days at a time.
Am I like that now? Absolutely not!
Sure work was horrible, and my nose was dripping every 5 seconds, but I could still breathe. I could still work.
I didn’t have to rush myself to an emergency room. I didn’t have to run upstairs to puff on my asthma inhaler.
In reality, all I needed was a Kleenex. That I can live with!
So, despite my illness, did I feel any nicotine withdrawal? Nope. Am I completely over it? Probably not, but I know I’m over the worst part of it for sure.
The first week really sucks.
Then after that you start to get a handle on things and your mind is changing so much that you begin to develop new goals and ideas. All that stuff leads to more motivation.
But slipping up is very easy at that time.
Do I expect more times in my life that will be challenging to not smoke during? Of course! I still haven’t been to a wedding, or to a concert, or any big event like that, and those will be tough times indeed.
But I am ready to face them! I am ready to kick my addiction to the curb forever!
Tomorrow is one month and after that, I’m going to start trying to forget which day I’m on, because once I forget, I’ll have truly quit smoking.
Today is a hard one, day 29… Perhaps its just because I really want it to be day 30 already and to say that ive made it a month on average. Technically i don’t hit my one Month for two more days… Its ok though. Reading people’s stories and looking at my bank account is really helpful. Sometimes i think wait to hit milestones makes me so anxious i feel like i need a cigarette and that its not really a craving but my mind fighting with myself trying to figure out how go calm myself down and relax and enjoy the moment. Recognizing it only took a hundred quits but i aim to make this the last one. I am an addict and i always will be but i can control my urges and become a happy non smoker. I can do it, as i am.
Can’t believe I made it to day 29. Left a comment on day 7 also. I didn’t give up. Its getting better. I would chew on straws when I’d get cravings. Its eased up so dont chew on as many now. But I have them in case. Love this site. Used it every day. I’m 60 years old and smoke free. Thanks everyone!
Congrats Anita!! Well done!
Thank you!
Can’t believe I made it to day 29. Left a comment on day 7 also. I didn’t give up. Its getting better. I would chew on straws when I’d get cravings. Its eased up so dont chew on as many now. But I have them in case. Love this site. Used it every day. I’m 60 years old and smoke free. Thanks everyone!
Day 29, and still can’t believe the power nicotine has. For example yesterday I was headed to the store and spent 3 minutes looking for my lighter, then realized I’m a non-smoker. But it felt so great knowing I will not smoke ever again. I feel fantastic, knowing that tomorrow will be 30 days. Good luck everyone, and wish Mateo would add days 31-60 on his site. Thank you everyone.
Hi,
This is Himanshu from India,aged 26 years was smoking since last 7 years and lockdown helped me to work on my plan to quit. Although it’s my first attempt to quit but I am sure Iwill be able to go through it.
Despite knowing disastrous effect on health,Iwas smoking relentlessly and never realised that cigarette was never my friend,it always harmed me.
Hope all other non-smokers going through withdrawal symptoms will win this fight.
and yes Namaste from India!!
HK
Good luck to you from the UK day 24 for me
On day 29 too, beginning to not worry about no smoking, or even think about it most of the day, however those cravings when they kick in are very convincing….starting to get their number now!!! I quit alcohol the same day and thats helped enormously with losing weight, and exercising too…luckily live across the road to the beach in a warm part of spain so easy to walk,run,bike etc.. I expect to drink again in a month or 2 but discovered 0.0 so that will be my new drink, not 6+ glasses of wine daily with a pack of cigs…30 years! 53 now and down to 170lbs (5.10′) so its working, and feeling good about this now. To be honest, although never smoked in the house or car, my 8 yr old son was starting to say I should stop, lose weight etc, so….no choice…what kind of role model would I be if I couldnt show an 8 yr old I can beat old nick!
I’m GLAD I found this blog. I really am. Thank you!
I’m on day 29 today. I feel like I have a lump of mucus in my throat which I feel a need to clear out every now and then. I should probably get that checked out. I had developed very bad mastalgia due to smoking but I’m more than glad to say that the symptoms have greatly reduced.
DAY 29 I’M SUPER EXCITED !! I JUST REALIZED THAT ITS DAY 29!!!!!!!!! I KNOW I COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT LORD GOD , AND THE PEOPLE HE USED TO HELP ME!!!!!!!!! THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I made it to day 29!! I have more energy and overall I feel great. It has been a battle to get to this point but I would have it no other way. There are still daily cravings but I don’t give them any thought. Anyways, Mateo I want to thank you for sharing your experiences with us I have read every single posting from day 1 to the current and it has honestly helped me quit.