Nicotine Withdrawal Timeline

[Sexy Beast]

It has been about a week and a half since my last cigarette, or Saturday April 27th, and let me tell you, it's been a blast. I've had some much fun going through withdrawals, that I would like to beak it down for you.

First 48 hours: I stayed home for Saturday and Sunday. Honestly the cravings weren't that bad and I got caught up on some TV that I had missed.

72 hours in...or Monday: The first think that I noticed was that I had a hard time paying attention to...well anything, while driving. My focus was off and I found it difficult to pay attention to the road. This continued at work, where I just stared off into space for most of the day. The craving were minor during the day, but got progressively worse at night. Also, I noticed that I got tired really early.

Tuesday: My attention problems improved, but my general mood got worse. Cravings got bad at night again. Energy levels were all over the place during the day.

Wednesday: I snapped at everyone at work, is just a really angry person all day. I later told them that I had quit smoking and apologized. Later that night I went out drinking with friends...the cravings sucked. Oh, and I had dreams about smoking, it was weird.

Thursday: Nothing to report really, helped a friend move, cravings were at a minimum.

Friday-Monday: Stayed busy, cravings were noticeable at night again and again and again...It has been a running theme for this experience. Also I developed a near constant dry cough and noticed some issues with my sinuses.

Tuesday: I was selling an insurance policy to someone and was about to bind coverage when the company uprated the policy for no reason. I told the client I'd call her back and then preceded to yell at my computer screen and loudly insult said insurance company. This continued for like 10 minutes, I was nearly in tears...I was just that upset, possibly because I was tired of looking dishonest because of something that another entity pulled. I eventually calmed down, called back the client, and sold the policy. Sinus issues, cough, and cravings continued.

Wednesday: Went drinking again, had bad cravings. I need to disassociate drinking with Nicotine...this will take a while. Sinus issues and cough continue.

Thursday: Drove my brother to Orlando airport, cravings were at a minimum.

Friday-Sunday: Minor cravings again. I've developed something that resembles post-nasal drip...which could either be a cold or related to me quitting. Coughing still persists. Oh, and two week off now.

Monday: The post-nasal drip thing is continuing...it sucks and is really messing with my sinuses. Also I still have that cough...yay.


Things I have noticed:

- My lunges are definitely improving, I can breath all the way in and not cough.

- Hangovers are now either non-existent or drastically reduced. Yay.

- I now have more energy in the morning and my mouth no longer tastes awful in the morning.

- I am noticing some weight gain, I plan to start running in the mornings before work to combat this and try to improve my lung function.

- I haven't had as many headaches as I used to.

 

[Fullmetal]

Something else you'll notice is that food will taste better.
Keep up the good work.

 

[Sexy Beast]

Something else you'll notice is that food will taste better.
Keep up the good work.

Yeah, I've noticed that...also I notice smells more.

 

[MrHashtagSwag]

Good luck in your fight. It can only lead to positive results in the long run.

 

[Fraurrix]

I'm surprised you didn't give in when out drinking. I'm not a big drinker because I can't resist smoking when I drink.

 

[Ledzo]

Do some sport, and try pulling out a date, it will use some time to think about something else than the routine.

You should really do some sport as an advice of an ex-smoker, it will really deter you from smoking, well at least, it will make you forget that you did smoke.

When you have some of those cravings, drink water, or do something else to think about something else.

All the addiction happens in your brain, so make it work for something else.

 

[Supergamer087]

Not sure what to say since I'm at a fairly young age, but I'm glad to see your trying to quit.

Takes a lot of self control to just stop. It may have been just as good to just smoke less and less until you stop. I say this since in my class we're reading To Kill a Mockingbird and An old woman ( Mrs.Dubose if you've read the book ) Stopped taking Morphine by stretching out the time she usually took it until she just stopped.

Either way would of worked but regardless it's good you're stopping since you can live a happier, healthier life.

 

[shan^K]

Good luck, I tried quitting recently and lasted about three days.

 

[Ric]

ok.

 

[xosniper]

That is pretty much how it went for me. Except the drinking part, I always cheat when drinking.


DON'T JUDGE ME!

 

[Sexy Beast]

Good luck in your fight. It can only lead to positive results in the long run.

Thanks

I'm surprised you didn't give in when out drinking. I'm not a big drinker because I can't resist smoking when I drink.

It's not easy, but so far I haven't given in...

Not sure what to say since I'm at a fairly young age, but I'm glad to see your trying to quit.

Takes a lot of self control to just stop. It may have been just as good to just smoke less and less until you stop. I say this since in my class we're reading To Kill a Mockingbird and An old woman ( Mrs.Dubose if you've read the book ) Stopped taking Morphine by stretching out the time she usually took it until she just stopped.

Either way would of worked but regardless it's good you're stopping since you can live a happier, healthier life.

Yeah, I remember her...which is surprising since I haven't read the book since...like 2007 and she doesn't show up in the movie. I'm just glad that I got addicted to cigarette and not something crazier. I'm constantly reminded of Trainspotting, where Ewan McGregor is hallucinating while going through withdrawals.

Good luck, I tried quitting recently and lasted about three days.

This is my second attempt in my six years of smoking, my first was like a month or two ago.

ok.

alright.

That is pretty much how it went for me. Except the drinking part, I always cheat when drinking.


DON'T JUDGE ME!

Man, it would be awesome to smoke while drinking...but I really need to break that connection or my brain will just demand a cigarette every time I have a beer.

Do some sport, and try pulling out a date, it will use some time to think about something else than the routine.

You should really do some sport as an advice of an ex-smoker, it will really deter you from smoking, well at least, it will make you forget that you did smoke.

When you have some of those cravings, drink water, or do something else to think about something else.

All the addiction happens in your brain, so make it work for something else.

I'm not really a sport oriented person, I'm finding myself coping well enough with the cravings. Still, thanks for the advice

 

[Swayne]

I quit on Dec 10th 2012. That was the day my father had a quintuple (5) bypass due to 40years of smoking. When a craving would hit me, I would go for a walk or go outside and hammer nails in to a block of wood. After about the first 3 months the cravings started to die down for me drastically. I am sure it will get better for you too. I also noticed the hangovers don't hurt as bad as when I would smoke a pack while out for a night of drinking, but I also notice I don't drink as much. I feel way better in the mornings, I don't have to stand out in the weather to smoke, and I'm saving money by not purchasing them along with the occasional coke or candy bar that I would also buy while I was in the store.

Congrats on taking the step to quit and good luck on your journey.

 

[Sexy Beast]

Throughout this process, I'm reminded of a line form one of Douglas Adams' Hitchhikers books. It goes something like, "the trick to flying is to throw yourself at the ground and miss" or whatever.

For me its "the trick to quit smoking is to not smoke cigarettes". It sounds simple enough, but it's something that my mind keeps gravitating towards.

I quit on Dec 10th 2012. That was the day my father had a quintuple (5) bypass due to 40years of smoking. When a craving would hit me, I would go for a walk or go outside and hammer nails in to a block of wood. After about the first 3 months the cravings started to die down for me drastically. I am sure it will get better for you too. I also noticed the hangovers don't hurt as bad as when I would smoke a pack while out for a night of drinking, but I also notice I don't drink as much. I feel way better in the mornings, I don't have to stand out in the weather to smoke, and I'm saving money by not purchasing them along with the occasional coke or candy bar that I would also buy while I was in the store.

Congrats on taking the step to quit and good luck on your journey.

I'm sorry to hear about your dad man.

I had been meaning to quit for a while. I told myself I'd quit when I graduated, which I did last December, but laziness dragged it on for like another five months. I finally developed a cough that just wasn't going away so I decided that now was as good a time as any to quit.

 

[ChocolateVillain]

This is the time to pick up a hobby or new activity that will help with filling the need for an addiction.

Reason I took up drawing again to help me with my anger and eating problem... Not so much my eating tho

 

[Dr.Compton]

Great job on quitting, I work in an army hospital so I see first hand what smoking can do to you, and it aint pretty.
Just watch lots and lots of movies and update your rating thread with all this free time you'll have now.

 

[Crusty Bunk Sock]

The easiest way that I found to quit was switching from ciggaretes to snus pouches. And only really using them for those moments when your gonna go hulk and snap someones spine over your knee cap. Try not to get to crazy into working out right away. Keep it light at first to bring back lung function. Depending on how long youve been a smoker there is going to be a lot of lactic acid stored in your muscles and such so if you do a gnarly workout, you will vomit and it will not be fun. Keep up the good work though. I know its very tough. I myself have been an on again and off again smoker and any time I really need to quit Ill do my snus method and within no time im smoke and snus free.

 

[Sexy Beast]

This is the time to pick up a hobby or new activity that will help with filling the need for an addiction.

Reason I took up drawing again to help me with my anger and eating problem... Not so much my eating tho

Well I haven't stayed in a single night since I quit...so I guess that's a hobby of sorts. My anger is balancing out, I'm normally a pretty chill guy, so I figure that the bursts of anger are temporary.

Great job on quitting, I work in an army hospital so I see first hand what smoking can do to you, and it aint pretty.
Just watch lots and lots of movies and update your rating thread with all this free time you'll have now.

Well I have been watching a good deal of movies lately. Not entirely certain if its more than what I normally watch though.

The easiest way that I found to quit was switching from ciggaretes to snus pouches. And only really using them for those moments when your gonna go hulk and snap someones spine over your knee cap. Try not to get to crazy into working out right away. Keep it light at first to bring back lung function. Depending on how long youve been a smoker there is going to be a lot of lactic acid stored in your muscles and such so if you do a gnarly workout, you will vomit and it will not be fun. Keep up the good work though. I know its very tough. I myself have been an on again and off again smoker and any time I really need to quit Ill do my snus method and within no time im smoke and snus free.

I quit cold turkey, I figured nicotine replacement would just draw out the process. Anyway thanks for the tip about the exercise. I did some running today, it sucked...but its something I'll have to get used too.

 

[Mini]

Smoking is bad, mmkay?

Keep up the good work, don't let the cigarettes win this battle.

 

[Dobbeh]

That is pretty much how it went for me. Except the drinking part, I always cheat when drinking.


DON'T JUDGE ME!

Ditto. It's when going out and drinking that gets me too.

Though sober, I don't get hardly any cravings at all (well, maybe missing the flavor occasionally). Just that second beer takes effect the urges come around again...

 

[Crusty Bunk Sock]

Yeah they go hand in hand far to well. I often find myself following my buddies out when they go for a smoke and then stopping mid stride and thinking. What the hell am I doin. lol.