Welcome • User Guide
ToS • Privacy • Canary
Donate • Bugs • License

©2024 Poal.co

174

Will continue making posts until I am free. Using nicotine patches to ease the abstinence. Will stop with the patches in about 4 weeks.

1st post 2nd post

Summary of 2 first weeks

Overall I am hopeful and optimistic that I can quit this time. I have informed pretty much everyone around me like family and collegues at work which I think will help me because I don't want to humiliate myself by failing.

First 1 and half week was rough with pretty much everything being and feeling worse even working out/running.

I think I started to notice the first positive effects yesterday (sunday) when running on the treadmill because it felt easier than usual, though it's dumb to extrapolate from one single occasion.

Some days are easy and unproblematic but sometimes nicotine abstinence comes back with vengeance with baseless negative thoughts, irritation/anger, cravings and concentration problems. Like today day 15, today was the first day I did not follow my plan exactly as I put on more nicotine patch than planned. I'll go back to following the plan tomorrow. Hopefully not a big deal. If it was weekend or evening I would instead have had a glass of beer as that does help with the symptoms a bit.

Adjustments

I will make one adjustment. I have been ripping the nicotine patches off before sleep, but now I will keep them on during the night hoping the mornings will be less rough.

I am considering slowing down the tempo (of reducing nicotine in the patches) but I will decide that depending upon how this week feels.

I will write posts every 10 days instead of weekly as to not spam the sub, because this journey is going to take some time to complete (at least the whole of february left).

Log/checklist of this (current/upcoming) 10 day period:

29 jan: ☑️ rough morning. put an extra nicotine patch on to deal with it. ripped the extra patch off after 4 hours, I just needed some extra help in the morning, the rest of the day was better.

30 jan: ✅

31 jan: ✅ (also new record on the treadmill)

1 feb: ✅

2 feb: ✅

3 feb: ✅

4 feb: ✅ (also new record on the treadmill)

5 feb: ✅

6 feb: ✅ (also new record on the treadmill)

7 feb: ✅

Will continue making posts until I am free. Using nicotine patches to ease the abstinence. Will stop with the patches in *about* 4 weeks. [1st post](https://poal.co/s/offthefag/690734) [2nd post](https://poal.co/s/offthefag/691748) ## Summary of 2 first weeks Overall I am hopeful and optimistic that I can quit this time. I have informed pretty much everyone around me like family and collegues at work which I think will help me because I don't want to humiliate myself by failing. First 1 and half week was rough with pretty much everything being and feeling worse even working out/running. I *think* I started to notice the first positive effects yesterday (sunday) when running on the treadmill because it felt easier than usual, though it's dumb to extrapolate from one single occasion. Some days are easy and unproblematic but sometimes nicotine abstinence comes back with vengeance with baseless negative thoughts, irritation/anger, cravings and concentration problems. Like today day 15, today was the first day I did not follow my plan exactly as I put on more nicotine patch than planned. I'll go back to following the plan tomorrow. Hopefully not a big deal. If it was weekend or evening I would instead have had a glass of beer as that does help with the symptoms a bit. ## Adjustments I will make one adjustment. I have been ripping the nicotine patches off before sleep, but now I will keep them on during the night hoping the mornings will be less rough. I am considering slowing down the tempo (of reducing nicotine in the patches) but I will decide that depending upon how this week feels. I will write posts every 10 days instead of weekly as to not spam the sub, because this journey is going to take some time to complete (at least the whole of february left). ## Log/checklist of this (current/upcoming) 10 day period: **29 jan**: ☑️ rough morning. put an extra nicotine patch on to deal with it. ripped the extra patch off after 4 hours, I just needed some extra help in the morning, the rest of the day was better. **30 jan**: ✅ **31 jan**: ✅ (also new record on the treadmill) **1 feb**: ✅ **2 feb**: ✅ **3 feb**: ✅ **4 feb**: ✅ (also new record on the treadmill) **5 feb**: ✅ **6 feb**: ✅ (also new record on the treadmill) **7 feb**: ✅

(post is archived)

[–] • 4 pts

Quit cold turkey 7 months ago after 25 years of 1/2-2 packs a day. Keep it up! It does get better around the three month mark.

[–] • 1 pt

Quit for over 10 years - 5-8 years ago decided to restart and smoke typically two cigarettes a day - and never ever before midday (late afternoon and after evening meal). I find i enjoy the whole process of just having a cigarette as a ritual of solitude (sitting quietly outside in my thoughts having a puff). Each to their own. Good work.

[–] • 1 pt

Quit cold turkey 7 months ago after 25 years

Awesome. It seems to me that it gets harder harder to stop for every year. I don't even want to imagine the kind of addiction that builds up over 25 years. Did notice much difference health wise?

Thanks. 3 months... I'll persist and wish that those 2.5 months left pass quickly.

[–] • 2 pts

Health wise, actually worse for the initial 5 months. I have to hike and climb while lugging up to a 60 pound pack in the mountains for work and it was hell for a while. Especially at higher elevation. It has been getting better slowly as of late. For you, just remember you are saving your teeth and gums from some nasty shit later down the road. Almost there.

[–] • 0 pt

actually worse for the initial 5 months

dear lord.

[–] • 1 pt

Awesome, keep it up!

1474 days left.

[–] • 1 pt

thanks. 1473. soon only 1472 days left.

[–] • 1 pt

Good job!

[–] • 1 pt

It was 23 years ago for me when I quit dipping snuff cold turkey. As others have said, the first part will suck, but it gets a lot easier the longer you go. For me, I kept reminding myself that the first one is the easiest to say no to. Mostly, I exercised a lot, stayed very well hydrated, and slept when it got really rough. You'll make it. Good job.

[–] • 0 pt

23 years clean, no mean achievement.

For me, I kept reminding myself that the first one is the easiest to say no to.

yea, you are right. Thinking about that might actually help.

thanks.

[–] • 1 pt

And you know, not to discourage you, but even 23 years I still remember the pull that it had in my life, but I also remember how much work and struggle it was to quit, especially at the beginning. Ultimately, I knew I had to do it for myself, that "future me" would greatly appreciate and benefit from the struggle at the time. Sometimes I had to put myself in situations where I could not indulge, just to get past the urge.

You will make it, but you have to want to. That was the part that was missing for me all the times before that I failed, which were many. Hang in there. It gets easier.

[–] • 1 pt

Keep up the good work! Nicotine might have given you a good feeling, but it was taking from you in other ways. You've already started moving the scales back into balance. Fight through the rough days. You're experiencing the death throes of a demon. It will pass.

[–] • 1 pt

thanks.

You've already started moving the scales back into balance.

true.

[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

Keep it up!! Never comeback to that shit