Advice (girlfriend, social, feelings, serious)

[cremebrulee]

Originally Posted by Padgett2

You're used to the calm person you were when you smoked. Maybe that wasn't the real you. Maybe you would have been cranky, moody, etc. long ago if you hadn't been a smoker. Think about it that way.

well shoot, if that be the case, I'm going back....I don't like me this way, and I heard someone say that, that they started smoking again, b/c they were like I am now....

there are some days, like today, it's really tough...I mean it...

well, thanks so much....

[cremebrulee]

Originally Posted by shuke

I'll fix the over/under on this getting moved to the health forum at... oh... 4 hours. I'll take the over.

Anyhow.

Ol' Shukey here quit smoking May 1, 1989. Before that... quit on and off many times. Always seemed to start back again thinking that there was no harm in just one. And, just as recovering alcoholics say it's the first drink that gets 'em drunk, I finally learned it was that first butt that got me smoking again.

As far as the feelings you're describing are concerned... I really can't say for sure whether, six months later, that's due to smoking cessation. As you are probably aware, the physical effects of nicotine withdrawal last a relatively short period of time... say, somewhere between 10 days and 3 weeks. After that period of time, you're learning what psychological addition is all about.

And, as others have mentioned, there are lots of other variables that could be causing the anger and impatience you may be experiencing. Not so sure about mood swings per se, but impatience... sure. And here's another thought... just the fact that you're linking these psychological problems to quitting smoking, suggests to me these may be part of the mental addiction process at work. Your mind is probably sending a message... 'creme... if you want to feel normal again, have a cigarette...' Your mind will try all sorts of tricks to try to get you smoking again... if the anger and impatience doesn't work, something else might.

I found one of the most valuable things in quitting smoking, and staying stopped, was to start up an exercise program. Something cardiovascular that gets the lungs and heart pumping again. I found that, besides the expected benefits, the frequency and intensity of the cravings went down considerably... as well as the other side effects. If you haven't started such a program, you might want to give it a try and see if it helps with the anger, impatience, and mood swings.

Good luck.

I think your right on all accounts Shuke, thanks so much...I can't wait to start working out again...but I have a few feet problems right now, so I can't. I am basically a very active person (hard physical work and gardening) and this is all driving me nuts.... Plus, I'm almost a year into two knee replacements....thanks to the hard physical work and gardening, athletics, horses)

[shuke]

Originally Posted by cremebrulee

I think your right on all accounts Shuke, thanks so much...I can't wait to start working out again...but I have a few feet problems right now, so I can't. I am basically a very active person (hard physical work and gardening) and this is all driving me nuts.... Plus, I'm almost a year into two knee replacements....thanks to the hard physical work and gardening, athletics, horses)

bicycling?
swimming?
rowing?
cross-country skiing?

If you give it some thought, I bet you can come up with low-impact cardio activities you could get into.

[GASunshine]

Creme - you are not alone. It took me over a year to stop having cravings, and even years later, I'll get one now and again. And, like you, I was a raving, moddy maniac. People were begging me to start smoking again. Take Shuke's advice - cardio exercise. It was the only thing that helped me. Plus, it was a good way to work out my frustrations and general surliness. After awhile, I incorporated yoga. You can do it. You've made it this far. Don't pick up another smoke. If you need to dress somebody down - let me have it. We don't know each other and I won't take it personally in the least. Hang in there!

[Padgett2]

You can do it!!! really you can. Some days are going to be worse than others. Try to stay away from people that smoke if you can for a few months longer. I think that must be the worst thing, watching others light up right in front of you.

One day you'll be able to look back and be glad that you did it!!!

[JerZ]

Creme, I tried to give you some reps, but have to spread some around, etc. So let me just say here, CONGRATULATIONS on quitting smoking. I'm in that process myself. I picked them right back up again once the baby was done breastfeeding (I had quit three months before I conceived him). I'm on the patch now. It is hard.

I can't give long-term advice because the longest I've stayed quit is a year and a half. I do recall that after a few months, I only "wanted" cigs maybe once every two weeks or three weeks, just briefly for a minute or two, and it wasn't an actual craving; it was more wistful. In fact, I fell into the trap of starting up again by just picking up ONE cigarette, thinking, "Well, since I don't think about them any more, I can just have one casual one every few days or something." Uh, no.

So I just wanted to congratulate you. You SO do not seem b*tchy to me...you must have gone way beyond the average conventions of nice before and maybe you needed some kick-*ss to start spreading around!!! That's only halfway a joke...I mean it, seriously...you are not nasty, from what I read here (I know people aren't exactly the same IRL as online, but still)...I think you may be concerned about something that really isn't anywhere near as offensive as you may think. During the times that you're impatient, you may be overcompensating. It may just be something that takes time to balance out. Wish I could help more.

[cremebrulee]

Originally Posted by GASunshine

Creme - you are not alone. It took me over a year to stop having cravings, and even years later, I'll get one now and again. And, like you, I was a raving, moddy maniac. People were begging me to start smoking again. Take Shuke's advice - cardio exercise. It was the only thing that helped me. Plus, it was a good way to work out my frustrations and general surliness. After awhile, I incorporated yoga. You can do it. You've made it this far. Don't pick up another smoke. If you need to dress somebody down - let me have it. We don't know each other and I won't take it personally in the least. Hang in there!

ohhh my, then you know what I'm speaking of, finally!!!! I was really starting to worry...I am really scarey... and it's scaring me....I'm a female doggie right now...

thanks and thanks again

Hugs
Creme

[cremebrulee]

Originally Posted by JerZ

Creme, I tried to give you some reps, but have to spread some around, etc. So let me just say here, CONGRATULATIONS on quitting smoking. I'm in that process myself. I picked them right back up again once the baby was done breastfeeding (I had quit three months before I conceived him). I'm on the patch now. It is hard.

I can't give long-term advice because the longest I've stayed quit is a year and a half. I do recall that after a few months, I only "wanted" cigs maybe once every two weeks or three weeks, just briefly for a minute or two, and it wasn't an actual craving; it was more wistful. In fact, I fell into the trap of starting up again by just picking up ONE cigarette, thinking, "Well, since I don't think about them any more, I can just have one casual one every few days or something." Uh, no.

So I just wanted to congratulate you. You SO do not seem b*tchy to me...you must have gone way beyond the average conventions of nice before and maybe you needed some kick-*ss to start spreading around!!! That's only halfway a joke...I mean it, seriously...you are not nasty, from what I read here (I know people aren't exactly the same IRL as online, but still)...I think you may be concerned about something that really isn't anywhere near as offensive as you may think. During the times that you're impatient, you may be overcompensating. It may just be something that takes time to balance out. Wish I could help more.

Well, thanks so much, always, your a good friend....and let me say this, even though it may not seem like I'm bad on the outside, inside I'm BBBBBB Bad to the bone....hehe it's hard to explain....

Wull whatever, I plan to make this the last time...chantix really helped, or whatever the heck it's called, and the patch for me was a temporary thing....I'd pull it off after work for a smoke home in the car.

I tell you, the withdrawl was very hard...I smoked for a long long time....

Welp, thanks so much and wishing you the best with quitting to...

Hugs to ya
Creme

[lilika]

I quit smoking about 4 years ago, I smoked for 7-8 years;problem is i subsittuded with chokolate!!! gained a lot of weight but never felt cravings!!!! jajajajajjajajaj since i quit i have smoked on several ocassions(socially) but the next day i dont need it. So just dont think about it,its a matter os attitude, one of the hardest things to cope with is rutine...break it and youll be fine

[Beth56]

Originally Posted by shuke

Ol' Shukey here quit smoking May 1, 1989. Before that... quit on and off many times. Always seemed to start back again thinking that there was no harm in just one. And, just as recovering alcoholics say it's the first drink that gets 'em drunk, I finally learned it was that first butt that got me smoking again.

Yep, I quit for six years once. Had that one cig thinking no harm in just one. Wrong. Quit again over a year ago, then husband diagnosed with prostate cancer, stressed me out, started smoking again. Quit again 3 months ago. I'm doing OK, but always a weight gain that I have to lose later. I don't think cravings really stop for me, but they become far and few between. I always enjoyed a good cig and a cup of coffee. But a friend told me about how his brother died of lung cancer with all the details (which I won't go thru here), and I am determined to stop for good, whether I like it or not. Nicotine is a horrible drug. Even tho it leaves your body after a few weeks, the effect on your mind likes to hang out for awhile. Be strong.

So hang in there Creme. Don't ever put one of those to your lips again.