[mrscurtwkids4]

This weekend was my graduation from the State University of New York with my BSN!!! It was a long, emotional, and tiring weekend. I had been promising myself that after graduation, I would quit smoking. I've been a smoker for about 22 years and know I NEED to do this. I want to be done with smoking when I start my first job in mid-June. I'm just stressing and having a very hard time going without. I've got the nicorette gum and I'm trying to keep my hands busy. I haven't been smoking since 1 in the afternoon yesterday. Who would have thought how insane I would be driving myself already when it hasn't even been one full day yet. I mean, I knew it would be hard, but geeez. I didn't want to seem like a hypocrite to my future patients when telling them they should quit smoking when I was still doing it myself. That's why I promised myself after graduation. I figured, one life change at a time was good enough to have to deal with. Anyone have any suggestions for going from smoking anywhere from 1-2 packs a day to quitting? I'm using the nicorette, so the nicotine withdrawals aren't really what is getting to me. I think it's more the psychological addiction to smoking that I'm battling with now. Any suggestions to get my mind off my darn near life-long bad habit?? Thanks

[maybe1day]

Well, number one - Congratulations on your graduation!

Number two - congratulations on making an effort to improve your health! Breaking any habit is hard, but smoking seems to be particularly difficult. I just want to give you some encouragement. You can do this! Every time you want a cigarette, just stop whatever you are doing and take a couple of loooooong, slow deep breaths. Once you get in the habit of doing that, you will realize how much better it feels to inhale nice clean air, rather than cigarette smoke.

It is going to be hard - don't give up and don't beat yourself up about it. Check out the resources available on the internet. Find something to do with your hands. Heck, download a game onto your cell phone and when you find yourself needing to take a break, play a game or two of solitaire and do that deep breathing!!

Just keep telling yourself that you are a former smoker and eventually you will be!

Good Luck!!

[naturalcuriosity]

Congratulations on your graduation!! I will be there myself in December. Woohoo!

Good luck with being a non-smoker. I am sure it will be hard, but you can do it!

[kiszi]

Congrats!!

I quit smoking after 5 years. I tried the patch, started up again. Tried switching to cigars , went back to cigs again. Quit cold turkey, didn't have a smoke for 5 months, ................and started up again.
I think you see my point. BE PERSISTENT and you can do it. Don't ever quit quitting.

After even a couple of days, you'll be amazed at the energy you have. Ride that as far as you can. If you last two weeks, tell yourself next time it'll be three weeks. I know you can do it. God be with you.

~~non-smoker 3 years and counting!~~~ (hey, that party didn't count!)

[Ohmygosh]

Originally Posted by mrscurtwkids4

This weekend was my graduation from the State University of New York with my BSN!!! It was a long, emotional, and tiring weekend. I had been promising myself that after graduation, I would quit smoking. I've been a smoker for about 22 years and know I NEED to do this. I want to be done with smoking when I start my first job in mid-June. I'm just stressing and having a very hard time going without. I've got the nicorette gum and I'm trying to keep my hands busy. I haven't been smoking since 1 in the afternoon yesterday. Who would have thought how insane I would be driving myself already when it hasn't even been one full day yet. I mean, I knew it would be hard, but geeez. I didn't want to seem like a hypocrite to my future patients when telling them they should quit smoking when I was still doing it myself. That's why I promised myself after graduation. I figured, one life change at a time was good enough to have to deal with. Anyone have any suggestions for going from smoking anywhere from 1-2 packs a day to quitting? I'm using the nicorette, so the nicotine withdrawals aren't really what is getting to me. I think it's more the psychological addiction to smoking that I'm battling with now. Any suggestions to get my mind off my darn near life-long bad habit?? Thanks

Congratulations on graduation ...about the smoking. I live in Alabama and there is a program in Birmingham- a one time visit 4 injections (1 in each arm and 1 behind each ear) and 2 weeks of oral meds. My brother in law -- a heavy smoker for 35 years was able to quit with no withdrawls after this program. My sister did it also with good results as well. The program is about $400.00 but well worth it. The web address for here in Alabama is www.stopsmokingbirmingham.com -- If I remember correctly you can put in a zip code and find this same program in other states as well. I hope this helps...if you try it let me know how it works for you.