Days 2 & 3: Cravings!

So 'quit day' went well... what about days 2 and 3?

Day 2

I'm starting to feel like I'm going to be successful. It's past lunch time and I've only had two cigarettes, that's good right? Well, it felt good at the time.

I get a re-assuring phone call from my quit buddy +Shazz Beddison (who is way better at this quitting stuff than I am), and I'm proud to tell her that I've only had two smokes so far today!

I'm still feeling strong, and I know that every cigarette I'm NOT smoking is doing me less damage.

+Natalie Campbell tells me over on Google+ that she's with me (attempting to quit), minus the "everyday Aussie" part because she's on the other side of the world.

She usually smokes about half the amount I do, but she's doing great with her quit attempt! She's down to 1 or 2 smokes a day, and has just ran out. It's nice knowing that someone else has been having a few ciggies on their way to a smoke-free life.

I ended up smoking one more smoke than I did on quit day! :-(

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Day 3

I wake up and smoke, I wait a while, and I have another. I decide that there isn't many smokes left - so I'll just finish them off, and then I won't have access to any (yeah right). I've already smoked much more than I'd like to admit to.

I remember to put my dermal patch on after lunch. (Oops!)

I give +Shazz Beddison a quick call and let her know where I'm up to. She's doing perfectly as I expected. I'm proud of her. I tell her that I'm starting to differentiate the need for a smoke and wanting one. I almost always want a smoke, but most of the time I realise that I don't really need one.

I wonder if these patches are even doing anything other than irritating my skin. I consider discarding them and trying to do this without them. I then consider the possibility that they are doing something, and that taking them off is only going to make the cravings worse. I decide I'll be staying on them - for now.

Before I know it, the smokes are all gone. It's time to start feeling good again! I can do this!

I get through the afternoon with an eCigarette. I can't really inhale it as this particular one is stronger than I'm used to and closes my lungs up (I have asthma). I try and tell myself it's working for me.

At dinner time, I start getting annoyed and snappy over the most stupid things. (Sorry +Liz Davison)
After dinner, I know I'm at breaking point. This is one of my favourite times to have a cigarette. I'm suffering the most difficult cravings that I've ever had during this attempt in my life!

I decide it's best for everyone if I go and buy some cigarettes. I buy one of the cheapest brands hoping I won't enjoy it, even though I know deep down that I'll put up with it. I feel weak, but instantly happier once I have that first puff. I don't really feel happy, I just forgot that I was so grumpy!

I think the cravings settled down a little when I went for a drive to get some smokes from the local Woolworths (supermarket).
The cravings must have settled for one of the following reasons:

• Time had elapsed
• I knew I'd have a smoke soon
• I was driving (I love driving)

I'm not feeling as confident about quitting anymore. I should really call the Quitline and order a quit pack. Maybe that will have something useful in it? Maybe they'll have some advice for me?

I know that I've failed today. But tomorrow is a new day, and I'm still keen to quit.

I wonder how +Natalie Campbell is managing? I haven't heard from her today. It's quite possible that Natalie has ended up in gaol for killing someone, but it's also possible that she's doing really well and is smoke free (fingers crossed!)

P.S. Gaol is the correct way to spell Jail in Australia. Most Aussies still spell it 'Jail', probably because of the game Monopoly.

The Quitline can be contacted on 13QUIT (137 848)- in Australia. Sorry Natalie.