Giving up my last addiction - tobacco!

I have gone cold turkey for the last 3 days and it was fine up to the last hour, all of a sudden I was hit by nicotine withdrawal, I became very anxious and could not stay still, my legs got heavy and I became very light headed. I fought it for a half an hour but had to smoke one or else I was going to have to ring the doctor, I felt that bad. I thought these cravings only lasted a few minutes, I hope that is the last one I smoke. I never liked smoking tobacco but got addicted because I mix it with cannabis that I have smoked for 17 years. I am off the cannabis over a week and there is no problem or withdrawal and I don't want it any more, it has run its course. I was never a heavy smoker, so it will be easier to give up, I hope.

Has anyone gone through this that can give me some advice on how to deal with those cravings? I was off them for 7 months last year but I used nicotine patches for the first 10 weeks, it draws it out for to long.

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Permalink Reply by Shama-an on August 11, 2012 at 8:38pm

My body is my temple, so best to look after it and keep it clean.

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Permalink Reply by Eye of Change on August 11, 2012 at 8:14pm

This i can tell you:-)

Willpower is the greatest gifts of all<3

I love it and i'm still smoking because i like it, and i fell happy about and don't care what offer say:-D

So all i gotta say use your willpower, then you can do everything:-)

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Permalink Reply by Shama-an on August 11, 2012 at 8:41pm

I have good willpower, but the craving was overwhelming. I will try harder next time.

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Permalink Reply by Feather Winger on August 11, 2012 at 8:16pm

Shama-an.......Me and all my friends have quit tobacco cold .......without any trouble....no craving,,,nothing. But i you get a strong withdrawl symptom.....then smoke I cig...like you did. You may only need to do this once or twice. The trick to stopping tobacco is stopping the reason you were smoking. Some people smoke because they are nervous....and they won´t be able to quit until they fix their nerves....or what was making them nervous and stressed. Since you don´t have this problem, it should be easy for you. You don´t need nicotine patches either.....none of my friends used them and they had been smoking as long as you....some much longer. Your biggest problem is the fear...fear of withdrawl.....relax and trust. This is the same for stopping ganja.......my friends stopped smoking after many years....no problems...not one. Of course stopping ganja is more difficult if the life is stressful.

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Permalink Reply by Shama-an on August 11, 2012 at 9:20pm

I have withdrawn from many drugs and alcohol before so I do have fear of withdrawal, you are spot on there. I have no problems in life, only ones that I make for myself. Giving up ganja is no problem. Thanks for the good advice.....relax and trust. I am doing the right thing after all.

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Permalink Reply by Feather Winger on August 11, 2012 at 8:49pm

my friends have no will power and they stopped with no probs. If you fear the withdrawl then you will create symptoms with your mind. Don´t be hard on yourself i you need to smoke 1 cig to get thru this.

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Permalink Reply by Shama-an on August 11, 2012 at 9:43pm

I think thats what I am doing, that craving set off an irrational fear of withdrawal, from bad experiences in the past. I have done a psychology degree but with all that knowledge it is still difficult at the time. I must divert my mind to higher things and stop obsessing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgeDh1WCyeM

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Permalink Reply by Shama-an on August 11, 2012 at 10:04pm

I never got anything out of smoking tobacco, it was a necessity to mix with weed. I will try the chewing gum, it might keep my mouth busy. It is great to hear all these successful efforts to give up smoking, it makes me feel better and have more confidence. Thanks for all the advice.

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Permalink Reply by Shama-an on August 11, 2012 at 10:54pm

I have never chewed tobacco yet, but I get your point, no cravings since posting this.

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Permalink Reply by Starman on August 11, 2012 at 9:17pm

Quitting tobacco was the hardest addiction I ever gave up. I must have quit a hundred times before I finally got that monkey off my back entirely. I Am in my 20th year of being completely free of that addiction.

I found, in my experience, that you have to Really Really Really Want To Quit, before you can Really Quit What worked for me were a combination of things; First, I wrote down on paper whats called the "Ben Franklin Close". This is sometimes used in Sales, and in this case we are doing Sales with our Ego Self. You just draw a vertical line down the center of a piece of paper. On the left side of the paper you list all of the advantages of quitting, like "my breath will smell better I'll feel better, My skin will look better....."Once you get rolling, you will find a zillion advantages of quitting. On the right side of the paper, you list all the advantages of smoking, like.........(you will have to take over here, because I can't remember Any advantage of smoking.)

When you complete the process, tape it on a cupboard or the wall where you can see it. It well appeal to your ego, because it hates to give anything up, unless it is for a greater advantage. Believe me, this simple process is very powerful.

Some other things that helped: I drank quarts & quarts of water a day. We all know the first 3 days are the most difficult. Drink lots of water, to flush out the toxins. I also fasted from food the first 3 days, but this is optional, & not necessarily recommended if you haven't had much experience with fasting.

Also, every time I got the urge, even if I was driving down the street, I would find some place to run off the energy,even a short run helped immensely.

Also I tuned into my feelings through meditation, when ever the urge was there.

I did a lot of Breath Work. Just tune into your breath, especially when the urge comes. Follow your breath with your attention.

Also, of course you want to eat Good Wholesome Organic Food to nourish your body & give it what it needs for cleansing & repair. Spirulina & Chlorella & other antioxidants, are also very helpful.

Also I drank lots of fresh juice.

Some people find support groups helpful; God was my support group.

Once you Really Really get that Monkey off your back, you will feel soooooooo much better, and you will ever be sooooooo Grateful you did.

I hope some of this may be of some help for you & or someone else.

Peace & Blessings...........Starman

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Permalink Reply by Shama-an on August 11, 2012 at 11:10pm

I have done the "Ben Franklin Close" many times in the past, it always has the same outcome and makes you see that giving up your addiction is the right thing to do. I have had enough of it and don't want to go through this again. I have been drinking lots of water but have not felt like eating much, my appetite will come back soon. I will use the breathing meditation. That advice is of great help, thank you.....Starman. God is always a great support.

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Permalink Reply by Auorix on August 11, 2012 at 9:28pm

YOU ARE WELL ON YOUR WAY TO YOUR GOAL OF QUITTING SMOKING CIGARETTES. THE FIRST STEP IS RECOGNITION OF THE CIRCUMSTANCE YOU WISH TO CHANGE. UNLESS, YOU TRULY TRULY HAVE ONE OF THOSE EXPERIENCES WHERE THEY SAY THE CRAVING JUST LEFT YOU. SIMILAR TO THE LADY IN THE MOVIE "THE PREACHERS' WIFE". THE SECOND STEP WILL BE TO HONOR YOUR DECISION ON A DAY BY DAY BASIS. THIS IS TOTALLY A PERSONAL DECISION SINCE THERE ARE REALLY NO SPIRITUAL LAWS THAT I KNOW OF THAT SPEAK AGAINST SMOKING. JESUS TAUGHT THAT.."IT IS NOT THAT WHICH ENTERS THE MOUTH THAT SPIRITUALLY DEFILES THE MAN, BUT RATHER THAT WHICH PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH AND FROM THE HEART."