by Makinamess » Tue Jan 16, 2007 2:24 pm
Why are you putting yourself through agony, going *cold turkey* when you could be using NRT and gradually weaning your body off the nicotine ? May I suggest you try the patches or the gum - at least to start with - so that your body gets used to having nicotine from a source other than cigarettes (which are absolutely full of some of the nastiest chemicals known to mankind). There are several things going on here (no nicotine=physical cravings from hell; no fags=errr what do I do with my hands; change of routine=time goes at a different speed), plus your mind (possibly on a sub-conscious level) has to really WANT to no longer be an addict. As I say, seriously hard stuff to overcome ! Take one step at a time, starting with (as Bea mentions) - it has to be the right time for you. I am impressed that you want to do it for your little one - that is a good incentive - but you still need to feel, deep down, that you WANT to give up. Do you want to be in control of yourself ?
Here are a few hints that may help in those vital first few months:
Clean your house in order to remove the smell of tobacco (curtains, soft furnishings, clothes, febreeze the carpet etc)
Don't go into smoky atmospheres if you can avoid it (pubs, clubs etc)
Urges / Cravings will happen - accept that - but have a strategy to deal with them, eg sipping ice cold water, brushing your teeth, going out for a walk, doing something totally different can really help (a lot of folks end up sucking on lollies or sweets or chewing gum, whatever works for you)