(no subject)

[katallison]

Yeah, yeah, I need to write up con notes, but I can't seem to get my brain focused. I'm attributing a lot of my edginess and crankiness to job issues, which are continuing to cause me a good deal of stress; but I think another factor could be the 44-hours-now-and-counting without a cigarette.

It'd odd; edginess/crankiness notwithstanding, this is going much more easily than I'd anticipated. I'm not having any of the typical physical withdrawal symptoms, and I don't really crave cigarettes as such--I don't miss the smoke. I miss the smoking, the activity, the ritual, the break. I keep having this vague feeling like something's missing, as I move through the day, some reward I ought to be getting.

But that's it, really. I am completely sold on Zyban/Wellbutrin as the way to go about quitting; it seems to completely short-circuit the craving, and the compulsivity of the behavior pattern. When I feel itchy about wanting to go smoke, I stop and think, "Do I really want a cigarette?" -- and I realize I don't, not really, not at all. This is different from any of my attempts to quit in the past by dint of sheer laborious muscle-straining willpower; this feels effortless.

So I think this round of quitting is going to stick, which is a great relief, and my blood pressure has already started to edge down. Next step is getting back to the gym on a regular basis, which sounds much more appealing now that my lungs are starting to unclog.

Comments

[ex-verdandi713.livejournal.com]

*enjoys icon*

[sinensiss.livejournal.com]

Something my mother also found helpful when she quit (after a habit of decades), was taking deep slow breaths, all the way down to the diaphragm, when she got cravings. It's evidently the action of the breathing (like taking a drag) combined with the extra oxygen that helps, and probably other factors as well.

(and Patti rocks.)

[tsamm.livejournal.com]

Kat-- So glad it's going well thus far; wish you the best of luck. It will feel wonderful to work out with clearer lungs. Welbutrin is really good at cutting down on compulsive behaviors IIRC and I sure as hell better bec. I took it for years. *g*

Go you!

[kassrachel.livejournal.com]

I hear one's circulation improves when one quits smoking, too. Of course, living in the frozen tundra means your fingers and toes will be cold in February no matter what, but I sitll thought it was an encouraging factoid.

I've never become a habitual smoker, for a variety of reasons, but when I indulge the desire, it's always for the activity. The ritual. The shared moment, or else the solitary reflection. I guess that's the definition of a periodic smoker -- never having had the physical craving, my need for a cigarette is always situational.

Anyway: I ramble. 44 hours sans cigarette -- brava!

[thepouncer.livejournal.com]

Congratulations on your efforts so far! I've never smoked, but my mother has told me about one of her friends who quit. She cut carrots and celery into cigarette-sized pieces and munched on them whenever she got a craving. Perhaps when you miss the ritual, you could take a break and have a snack?

[twistedchick]

Kat, I'm so proud of you for quitting. It's rough. Any major lifestyle change is hard, and especially ones that involve taste and smell -- because, without the smoke, everything is going to taste and smell different to you.

::wafts virtual red roses in your direction::

[laurashapiro.livejournal.com]

A non-smoking friend of mine used to take cigarette breaks with a co-worker of hers. The co-worker smoked, and my friend blew bubbles. Maybe that could be a new activity/ritual/break for you.e

[sanj.livejournal.com]

Go Kat!! I don't have anything to offer wisdom-wise, but you've certainly got me in the pompom gallery. :)

I'm taking

[houseofsnark.livejournal.com]

Your advice and am going to go the Zyban route. I haven't had a cig in about 12 hours and am about to kill something/tear out my hair.

Anything that would make this easier is fine by me...

Yay for you!

[ardent-muses.livejournal.com]

I'm glad it's not as hard as you expected, and I'm happy for you! Yay!

[lapillus]

Congratulations!

And I'm envious of unclogging lungs.

[arallara.livejournal.com]

Okay, first of all, that is the sexiest icon EVER. Damn.

Second, I was so incredibly happy to see you last weekend! Whirlwind social craziness aside, damn, it was so great to spend some time with you again. And now, ConneXions! Woo-hoo! *g*

Third, hey, super big congratulations on the smoking thing! I've watched my dad try to quit a couple times, and it just never took, you know? It's a hard one. I wish you very much luck!

[therealjae.livejournal.com]

You do realize you're going to have to change your default icon if you quit smoking. I'm just saying :-)

-J

if you find

[(Anonymous)]

If you find something to replace the physical smoking urge -- like anything to do with your hands, of the same kind of ritual-indulgence type of activity-- let me know. I crave the activity of smoking without ever having been a smoker, because I am always fidgety.

Yours from mysterious Betagne (a damned spooky place, too),
Lynn