Alive with Pleasure
I am almost finished with 21 days smoke free. Where I come from, that’s 3 weeks. It’s strange, I have moments, like right now, where it seems strange that I ever smoked. Then I have moments like I had earlier today, where I can’t believe I ever stopped. It’s an interesting dichotomy.
The urges are fine. They still come, at least a few times a day I will start the act of going for a smoke, or think about grabbing one…then I remember that I quit, and for the briefest of moments there is a slight pang of regret. Then the rest of my brain catches up to the pleasure center and I usually go get something cold to drink. Normally by the time I return from getting the drink I have forgotten all about wanting a smoke.
I’d like to urge anyone out there thinking about quitting to consider Chantix. It really has worked wonders for me. I remember when I was 25 and quit the last time, 3 weeks in, I was feeling a lot better by then but it was still a daily trial. I have always smoked a lot. And at least 2 packs a day, everyday for the last 6 or 7 years. I ALWAYS wanted a cigarette. Even as I was coming inside from having one at work, I was thinking about the next one (I did forget for a little while when I would get back to my work). I would go outside, once an hour, usually on the hour. Even still it would occur to me several times throughout that hour that I wanted to smoke.
What I am getting at is…if I can do it, you can do it. I was weak, I was scared to death to quit smoking. You have to want to quit, you have to give it your best effort, you have to stop junkie thoughts, but you CAN do it. Believe in yourself.
P.S. I want to let people know that I am available to (ex)smokers that want to chat off-blog about cessation. Zip me an email and I’d be happy to answer any questions you may have. Or just offer my encouragement. My email address is my firstname at this domain. If you can’t figure out my firstname, my last name is powell…if you still can’t figure it out, perhaps you should just send it to nathan at nathanpowell dot org.
Awesome, alive with pleasure - that was my brand of poison for many years. I definitely understand the opposite sides of the spectrum feelings that occur within a short timespan and stepping away from my desk every hour. Thankfully, it’s funny to me now how one hour without smoking really isn’t a big deal. One day is still kind of awhile, but we just keep stringing them together anyway. Congrats on 3 weeks!
Thanks Maggie! Indeed we are doing it, aren’t we! Keep it going!