Guess I'll Go Eat Worms.

[Danustouch]

Ok..I'm trying to quit smoking, and am having some personal problems. These problems and the addiction thing, are making me go on an emotional rollercoaster. When I get onto an emotional rollercoaster, there's usually a great feeling of anxiety. The anxiety leads to paranoia. Generally.during these bouts of paranoia..I think that everyone hates me, I'm a pain in the butt...noone wants me around..etc, etc, etc.

Now..I'm never quite sure, if it's some sort of pschological problem, or if I'm just a very psychically empathic person, or if i'm just hormonal.

So..I'm posting this poll...just to straighten it out in my head. Please answer honestly...you don't have to tell me who you are...or write any notes..just answer the poll....and at least i'll know if i'm nuts or not.

Thank you.

[Myst]

I think you're brilliant, friendly, strong, and opinionated.

I know exactly what you mean, I have days like that too. Usually about the time I normally would've been ovulating, wonder if it's a hormone thing.. err.. Here, have some chocolate (ferrero rocher!!)...

[Yvonne Belisle]

Relax quiting is a difficult thing to do find a nonfattening substitute. I chewed on toothpicks some people use gum. Write a letter run in place find something distracting. Just think of it like pms it will go away but unlike pms unless you pick up the cigarettes again it's a one shot deal.

[Danustouch]

Thank you willow.

And thanks for the advice, Yvonne...

now, if you'll excuse me..I have to go blow my nose. Gods..this is HORRIBLE!!! Why do I keep having these mood swings?

[Lavender]

Hmmm...so far, I'm the only one that voted. You would be someone I would like to get to know better. Your posts are very informative and intelligent. I enjoy reading them. I enjoy hearing your opinions. It doesn't matter whether or not we agree or not...I enjoy hearing other's thoughts on things. You have a sense of humour. That's good.

Big hugs!

Pst! I agree with Willow...chocolate is good for EVERYTHING!!! :D

[Yvonne Belisle]

Because nicotine is a drug and you are going through withdrawl. It gets better but one of the most common things is gaining weight because we are used to having something in our mouths hence I used a toothpick. I have seen people use baby pacifiers but I don't recomend it at your age you may wind up in the hospital in the locked ward.:eek:

[Rævyn Cigány]

Originally posted by WillowRaven
I think you're brilliant, friendly, strong, and opinionated.

I know exactly what you mean, I have days like that too. Usually about the time I normally would've been ovulating, wonder if it's a hormone thing.. err.. Here, have some chocolate (ferrero rocher!!)...

And that goes triple for me (except for the chocolate...I hear they make the cravings for a cigarette even worse!!)!!!

Speaking for myself, and hopefully the whole community, you are highly respected and certainly well loved around here...no worries, honey :D

BB

Rae )0(

[stormyray]

honey I just quit smoking to and was just put on hormones so I totaly understand what you are going through. Smile I have heard life gets better. of course so far its just a rumor Im still waiting lol. :uzi:

[EasternPriest]

When I quit smoking, I felt like crud on and off for about three months..but it does get better. Nicotine is one of the strongest of the alkaloid family. In pure form, it would only take a few drops on the tongue to kill someone. The only alkaloid stronger is opium.

[Swanspirit]

Merry Merry,
And please do stay ((((((((((HUGS)))))))), and dont let a little free floating anxiety get you down. If you are not allergic... and there is not
any other medical reason why you cannot take it;
valerian is WONDERFUL for anxiety as is chamomile.
That is what " the village witch " is for, you know; to come to in times of insecurity and find solutions and support, so thank you for trusting us with your most precious feelings.
Trust me.... when I tell you that the energy I get from your posts is deeply sweet and sincere, and a little smile comes to tickle the corners of my mouth when I see your name in a thread.
Quitting smoking is a very hard thing to do , and what happens is that when you no longer have the "smoke screen " to mood alter with , the issues that havent been dealt with come up. I was depressed for about three months after I quit smoking, went back through some of the grief issues of my mothers death, and my sisters mental illness,which is chronic and essentially was another loss to deal with, which wasnt easy , but I didnt want to STUFF the feelings and pretend they werent there, that is so unhealthy, so I just "went THRU it".
And I am so glad I have,,,and you will make it thru too :>
Love and am holding you in my heart
Swannie

[Lucidia]

i was gonna say a bunch of stuff, but i'd rather keep my mouth shut.

i dont' know you, so i choose not to judge and make assumptions.

[Semele]

long thin slimy ones, short fat juicy ones, oh how they wiggle and squirm....
uh sorry what was the question??? YOu silly little girl you know we love you!!! Smoking is a hard thing to quit....good luck to you. If you can get over that initial hump you will have it made. Until then feel free to let lose on me....I have thick skin!!!

;)

[gunner]

"nobody loves me
everybody hates me
i'm gonna eat some worms.

everybody loves me
nobody hates me
why did i eat those worms?"

[Xois]

wait a minute

you don't have a poll choice for

*I think you are cool just the way you are*

so I couldn't vote

[gunner]

"you don't have a poll choice for
*I think you are cool just the way you are*"

come to think of it you're right

[Danustouch]

Thanks guys...i really need the extra support. It's really hard to quit. To make it worse...my hubby still smokes. He tries to hide it from me, by smoking only in the morning while I'm still asleep. But I wake up in the morning, and smell it lingering in the air. It drives me nuts. I've spoken to him, and BEGGED him not to smoke in the house..but somehow, he thinks I won't know when he does. Drives me NUTS.

So right now, I'm eating ALOT, trying to pacify my urges, but I can't continue at this rate. Maybe I'll start with the toothpicks.

Thanks guys.

[Mariposa De La Luna]

Stick to it and it'll get easier one day! We can put up with you till then ;) You'll be so much happier in the long run. Why don't you take that money you save from not smoking and buy yourself something special?

I love your posts and the forum you brought about. You are an asset to the Community. :D

[Niamh]

Doesn't quitting suck!? Not to be blunt, or anything...
I really feel for you. I quit just after Thanksgiving this past year, and it was difficult. It made holiday stresses slightly worse. But at the same time it was a good time to quit, as I had other things on my mind.

Like Yvonne said, chewing on things helped me. Gum, life savers, toothpicks. I spent the first few weeks always drinking out of straws which I then chewed on. And valerian will help calm those nerves!

I'm sure you'll be fine. It's rough in the beginning, but I know you'll do just fine!

[Wyrdsister]

Grrlfriend, no wonder you're having a rough time! :( Don't worry about us here at MysticWicks - we'll support you!! :) :)

Wyrdsister

[Yvonne Belisle]

I still chew toothpicks and straws and I quite 13 years ago.

[Niamh]

Let's not scare her!
No, really, we need to be completely honest around here. It's been 8 months and I sometimes get that far-away distant look in my eyes when I catch a whiff of a Marlborough...
But when I walk into a smoke-filled bar my eyes itch and I cough and can't stand it!

[Swanspirit]

But I had no cravings at all after the third day !!!! so everyone is different LOL
HUGS and GO girl!~


When smokers quit, within twenty minutes of smoking that last cigarette the body begins a series of changes.

At 20 minutes after quitting:
blood pressure decreases
pulse rate drops
body temperature of hands and feet increase
At 8 hours: carbon monoxide level in blood drops to normal oxygen level in blood increases to normal
At 24 hours: chance of a heart attack decreases
At 48 hours: nerve endings start regrowing
ability to smell and taste is enhanced
The first year after quitting:
At 2 weeks to 3 months:
circulation improves
walking becomes easier
lung function increases

1 to 9 months:
coughing, sinus congestion, fatigue, shortness of breath decreases
1 year:
excess risk of coronary heart disease is decreased to half that of a smoker
Long-term Benefits of Quitting
At 5 years:
from 5 to 15 years after quitting, stroke risk is reduced to that of people wo have never smoked.
At 10 years:
risk of lung cancer drops to as little as one-half that of continuing smokers
risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas decreases
risk of ulcer decreaes
At 15 years:
risk of coronary heart disease is now similar to that of people who have never smoked
risk of death returns to nearly the level of people who have never smoked
That is from the AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION, HOW IS THAT FOR INCENTIVE ??
hugs
Swannie

[Myst]

Great idea, Swannie. I was looking for that list and couldn't find it, but you've done it!! :) I think this post you've left is the best thing to read when you're tempted to have a mistake.

[Niamh]

That is a great list... I know I've seen it around somewhere before. Thanks! It really does help to look at something like that in moments of stress when the cravings might be getting to you!

[SeekerSandy]

We don't agree on everything but you'll come around sooner or later, Danustouch. Yer good people!
I quit a 40+ year three pack-a-day habit almost two months ago, my wife quit her 10 cigarette a day habit of 30 years a day or two later. She is having the harder time of it. I decided to cop out weakness and used the patch for three weeks and wifie did the same. She is having worse withdrawals than you are. and talk about mood swings!
:uzi: :smash: :uzi: :smash: :uzi:
I have to admit to being kinda grouchy lately but I know it will get better because I am feeling better.
Then fun part is when the nicotine nazi's give me attaboys and I tell em where to shove it.hahahahahahah
Keep up the good work, you'll do just fine sis.8O

[Danustouch]

You guys give me SUCH a lift .....Thank you sooooo much :)

[Swanspirit]

Merry Merry,
Everyone does talk about their "craving nd misery, but hardly anyone goes on and on about how GREAT you will feel hen you quit.
I was depresssed yes, but i was HIGH ON OXYGEN for about six months LOL.....hmmm maybe I still am LOL
Love and HEART HUGS
Swannie

[Draeconin]

Originally posted by Danustouch
Ok..I'm trying to quit smoking, and am having some personal problems.

Here are some things I learned after I quite smoking that I wish someone had told me:

Wash all your clothes and curtains that you haven't washed since you quit smoking. They may be clean, but the smell is in them.

Wash and put away or give away all the ash trays in the house.

Wash the walls (you'll be amazed at the tar that comes off of them), get some strong-smelling carpet deodorizer, and spray your furniture with Febreze.

Get a worry stone or cut a straw down to cigarette length. You still need something to "fiddle" with - and in the case of the straw, if you forget and "take a puff", all you're getting is fresh air.

Change your routines. Note the times that were habitual smoking times for you and find something else to do during those times. Quiting smoking is a wonderful thing to do for your body, but just quiting leaves a void that needs to be filled. If you don't fill it in other ways you'll wind up filling it with food. That's just exchanging one problem for another. If you've ever wanted to learn a new skill that keeps your hands busy, now's the time to do it. :)

Find a few "No Smoking" signs to put up around the house. There are some that don't look like they belong in institutions. :)

Congratulations on your decision! :D

[reanna]

Originally posted by Xois
wait a minute

you don't have a poll choice for

*I think you are cool just the way you are*

so I couldn't vote

I totally agree. :)


Plus, Quitting smoking is an excellent choice. I wish I could do it at this point. I was going to and then major life upheaval happened, and it became nearly impossible. However, I have promised myself, that I am down, but not beaten. I will quit. I can do it.
My doctor has told me that when I am ready to come back and see him and we can discuss some of the options for quitting smoking.

Hang in there. You can do it! You have this whole community to back you and support you. Strength in numbers right?

Sending you down whatever energy you may need. :):):)

[Niamh]

Draeconin,
What wonderful suggestions and advice! And all so true, too.

[Swanspirit]

Merry Merry ,
Is a good Guy !!! now he is gonna blush LOL
HUGS
Swannie

[Bethra]

:lol: Do you rember this Danus??

[Ahautenites]

Aw, drat. And here I was thinking that "Go eat worms" was going to be a poll option.