Hi Aunt Deb, Your post is so comforting. Thank you so much for that. I know I need this time to heal and I do need to baby my quit. I've sort of cocooned myself while I protect my quit by being in a state of....transformation? Is that the word I'm looking for? At any rate, you know what I'm talking about and I'm so glad you answered me so quickly. It is completely against my nature to go numb like this so I needed some advice. Thanks Again AuntDeb. You're a peach. Hugs, Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 5 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 316 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $13.95 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 42 [B]Seconds:[/B] 36

I feel so bad about this but I've sort of shut myself away from everyone, except for my husband and ya'll. (Sorry about the ya'll but I'm Alabama born and raised in Texas) Everyone knows that I've quit smoking because I've told them. But, I try to get off of the phone as quick as I can and as far as my personal email, I'm not even bothering with it. The computer is one of my biggest triggers so, I work on my books here in the office and talk to my friends on this site. I feel very guilty for not corresponding with friends and family. I need to get a hold of this because if I don't explain to everyone WHY I feel the need to limit my computer time, they may become offended. They'll draw the wrong conclusion and may think I'm avoiding them for personal reasons. I'm not avoiding my friends and family, I'm avoiding spending too much time at once on the computer. It's hard to explain but I'm sort of numb right now. Like I'm not exposing myself to too much and I'm staying away from those triggers as much as possible. Like I'm protecting my quit while the healing process takes place at the same time. I've cleaned and rearranged everything on my desk. I have pictures of my husband and kids sitting around me. I have a big candle sitting and burning where the ashtray once sat. Along with my candy jar filled with sugar free gums and candies. Anyway, has anyone else felt this need to sort of go numb, spend time with yourself, and avoid phone conversations? Or if the computer is a trigger, have you avoided your email so that you're not on the computer for so long at a time? I'm winding down Day 5 now. Most of the day went pretty well but late this afternoon, rather strong cravings came again. Rather strong? No, some of them were VERY strong. I was so hoping that today I would just have those urges instead of really strong cravings. That's pretty disappoining and those cravings do wear a person out...physically and mentally. I'm still hanging in there though. Would love to hear from you. hahahaha Hugs, Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 5 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 316 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $13.95 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 39 [B]Seconds:[/B]

Hi Danielle, Day 5 is going pretty well so far. Again I say, "so far" as if I'm waiting for those relentless cravings to show their ugly heads along with the withdrawal symptoms and anxiety attacks. I tend to be on my guard because the symptoms seem to get worse late in the afternoon and evening. But I do believe things are settling down quite a bit. I think I'm over the worst of the withdrawal symptoms and by that I'm talking about getting the shakes and hot flashes. Actually, those symptoms were gone for the most part on Day 4. The Anxiety attacks....well, I've suffered from those in the past so I know what they are when and if they come. My anxiety attacks tend to come on me if there's a big upset in my routine. ha ha ha Yep, QUITTING, is a huge change in my routine. I did speak with my doctor about the attacks because I didn't want them to become too severe and he believes they will settle down once my system adjusts to being a non-smoker. I do too. I feel a little anxiety today but nothing to get worked up about. Day 3!! was a different story. ha ha ha ha I'm still having cravings but not so bad that I can't cope with them. They're not constant or real intense. It seems like I trigger a crave myself by, out of habit, reaching for a cigarette that isn't there. I'll either reach for a cigarette, or think about having one, to have with my coffee or whatever and then it hits me, "I don't smoke anymore. I'm a non-smoker." At first, I'll feel a little disappointed that there are no smokes around for me but then, I'll feel so much better thinking of all the benefits of being smoke free. I'll have some bad days I'm sure but, the more days added to my quit, the stronger I feel. Thank you so much for asking about Day 5. I really appreciate it Danielle. Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 5 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 305 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $13.95 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 7 [B]Seconds:[/B] 53

Day 4 was okay up until late this afternoon. Then, those withdrawal symptoms came again, along with hard cravings, and those nasty anxiety attacks. You know, 2 out of the 3 would be hard enough!! Two would be plenty.....no need for that third one. So, I'm going to curl up in the bed, watch TV, and let this afternoon sort of roll off. I'm still hanging in here but it is tough. It's physically exhausting. Keep me in your thoughts and prayers. Rest time now!! My Best Thoughts to All of You, Tutti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 4 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 266 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $11.16 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 18 [B]Seconds:[/B] 25

Tutti You've passed through the gates of hell now and are on your way to seeing some wonderful new things...Take heart, I know you don't want to ever go through that nasty withdrawal thing again...Be easy with yourself, but be hard on the addiction and you will win... nonic

Tutti Keep up the fight my friend...drink and drink and drink some more...There is something to say for good old H2O... Stay strong nonic

Tutti I know this is hard and my heart goes out to you...You have done well to get this far and it sounds as if you are doing the right thing, gum, fruit etc...I am convinced that there is a connection between heavy withdrawal symptoms and dehydration...Go get a whole lot of bottled water and just keep knocking them back until you can't drink any more, it will help clear the system and nobody ever over dosed on water, as far as I know... Hang tight there my friend, you are quitting this thing for good and you will never have to go back to this again... nonic [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/25/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 58 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,410 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $406 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 10 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 6 [B]Seconds:[/B] 46

Tutti...hey... feeling numb and wrapped up in yourself like a recluse...? Normal? Has anyone else experienced this...Absolutely! Babying your quit...do it and don't feel guilty! You are to be praised my Dear, going cold-turkey and already into day five! Hell week is almost over. This is an extraordinay Feat! Hang in there Tutti...it will get better and as each day passes smoke free...your confidence is going to get stronger! Keep the Quit...N.O.P.E. AUNTDEB :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 53 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,688 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $251.75 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 7 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 33 [B]Seconds:[/B] 13

I'll tell you a secret. One of my back up plans that I use when I'm really going crazy in a crave is to look in the mirror. It is not a pretty sight. I think about how I want to be able to handle this with grace and how I want to be composed as a non-smoker and most importantly, how I want my kids and their friends to see me. Keep fighting this battle, you will win. Just get on top of that crave and ride it out like a surfer dude. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/29/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 54 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 547 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $270 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 5 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 37 [B]Seconds:[/B] 47

Tutti -- You surely know that by now you are through the absolute worst of it, right?? Nicotine is usually gone in 3 days. Yeah, some of us still whine a lot after that (me especially), but mostly it's just whining -- the nightmare you described turns into kind of a dull throb, then an odd little feeling, then nothing at all... but by the time that happens, we're so used to being miserable, we don't know how else to be. I suggest savoring the excitement of the freedom that comes with each smoke-free hour of your life. No two are alike, and every hour -- every day -- really does get even better than the one that preceeded it. peteg [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/30/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 115 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,769 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $632.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 21 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 41 [B]Seconds:[/B] 16