8 days in, smoked for 10 years, horrible quitters flu, chills, shakes, coughing up blood-tinged mucus & having difficulty swallowing. Can't sleep well either. It'll get better, it has to.

Stephen again. I really suggest people go for runs, walks, pushups, sittups, pullups or some kind of physical activity. It really helps. Also the weight gain isn't a concern, actually its a motivator. I could use an extra 5 to 10 pounds.

Hey all my name is Stephen. Been about a pack a day smoker for around 6 years. Switched to mainly chew a year ago... but I still smoked a little. Then at the end of my final college semester (last may) I went off the wall and was smoking and chewing alot. Now I haven't had a smoke in 3 days and a chew in 2. I'm using the gum 2mg from time to time.

This is pretty hard, but honestly its not as bad as I thought it would be. Finally, a few years ago I quit an opiate habit of 2 years. That was total hell. I've been clean off of opiates since then, but maybe that's why I feel this isn't as bad? Who knows.

I have really enjoyed reading all the comments, it was very supportive. I'm on day four of quitting chewing/dipping. I had used for almost 30 years, and had been doing it 24/7. I even used at night during sleep. The thought of quitting was too scary for most of these years. I didn't even consider it...I decided that I did not want to be a slave to anything ever again. I quit cold turkey and am still having huge cravings, and terrible fatigue, I could easily take a ten minute nap every two hours. I was starting to think I must have cancer or something, so I was relieved to see that the fatigue was a common symptom. I agree with the poster before me, I also have panic disorder and could see those symptoms in a lot of other posters, so look up panic attacks on the web and you will see how those very real physical symptoms are created and controlled in your head. Best wishes to all, Decide who you are a user/slave or free.

After reading some of these posts, I just though I could add my own $.02. The last time I tried quitting was about 10 months ago. I used Zyban, and after a 10 days tried to gold cold turkey. Zyban is a mild anti depressant, and is supposed to replace the dopamine fix that nicotine gives you. I also have been diagnosed with anxiety disorder … something I had under control until I tried to quit, big mistake.

When I tried to quit on cold turkey with the Zyban, my panic attacks came so often that I began smoking again after only 4 days. After reading some of the comments above, a lot of the symptoms tingly extremities, tight chest, feeling that you are going to “lose it” are all eerily familiar to panic disorder. If you are having these feelings due to withdrawal, it might be a panic attack, so don’t worry it's all in your head. Techniques that I learned to cope with my anxiety will work for you as well.

I was able to get my panic attacks under control using the following techniques.

1. 60 minutes of cardio, 4 times a week.

2. Yoga for 30 minuets a day

3. Breathing exercises that I performed several times a day.

4. Xanax when I needed it.

The next time I tried to quit, 6 months ago. I used the patch. The patch is great because it gives you the nicotine that your body is used to, but allows many of the other withdrawal symptoms to work their way out of your system before you take away the nicotine. For example, the post smoker cough, its your lungs clearing out all that garbage that has been festering in it for years but your smoking killed all the cilia that would have normally induced your coughing reflex to get it out. The dizziness is your blood O2 levels coming back up to normal and flooding your O2 starved brain, making you feel dizzy. These ancillary withdrawal symptoms are so much easier to deal with when you are not trying to face the biggie, no nicotine.

For me, combining the patch with my stress management techniques, flowed by xanax when needed has allowed me to be smoke free for 6 months. I don’t know how typical my experience is, but take it for what its worth.

Good luck and God bless.

Allen Carr's book is pretty powerful. It makes you realise that the feeling you have as a smoker when you're not smoking is very similar to the one you feel when you initially quit. Once I really understood that it really affected my ability to enjoy a smoke. I knew that the temporary feeling of relief it gave was simply a prelude to another longer bout of wanting. That cycle can be quite addictive (even without the physical aspect) but ultimately a stress in and of itself.

I've been lucky in that I got really sick a couple of weeks ago and simply couldn't smoke and so managed to get through the first couple of days not even feeling physical withdrawal symptoms since I had a fever of 102 and had more important things to worry about.

Now that it's a couple of weeks later I must admit I underestimated the longer term detox process that would be taking effect. I've coughed up some nasty stuff and in general have felt some serious fatigue. I'm not experiencing any traditional cravings probably because I see having a cigarette as adding to my problems; not resolving them. Despite my smoking, I worked out religiously and now haven't gone to the gym since I stopped smoking. I'm hoping that once the fatigue finally lifts I shall be able to take my physical regime to the next level.

Probably everyone's experience with nicotine and its withdrawal effects is different. As one another note, I'm surprised more people haven't discussed herbal cigarettes. If you go six months without a smoke and really feel like you need a smoke, why not just have a herbal cigarette? You'll completely avoid the worry of putting nicotine in your body and by the time you've finished the smoke the real nicotine craving (or psychological wish for one) will probably have subsided without the worry of feeling that nicotine drain from your body.

Good luck to one all!

this is my third smoke free day, and the nausea, irritability and fatigue is definitely kicking in.

I have a splitting headache, and i know this is only the beginning. I even thought of just having one smoke for relief but i stopped myself. Goes to show how far willpower goes.

And i'd like to add, i'm doing it without any help (i.e nicorette)

misery loves company -- thank you for all these posts, i'm on my second day cold turkey after 25 years on and off. I thought it would be a piece of cake because I *only* smoked 10 a day, I cut down to 5 before cold turkey and wow, i feel it. DIZZY! last night I couldn't sleep because my mind was racing, I woke up at 1:30 am thinking it was morning already. my head feels heavy, my cheeks tingling. Last night i got cramps in my feet. during dinner, i felt like i was going to just explode so I took the dog and we walked as fast as I could go until the feeling passed, I thought i was going to be good for the remainder of the night. this morning im dizzy with a headache, foggy brained, cant eat which is different from day one cause i pigged out on seeds and nuts and i even made a homemade cake last night to keep busy. I didnt smoke, tho' -- and you know what the biggest reason was? I made myself a little one month starchart like we had in 2nd grade and I bought some colored foil stars before I quit. I want to fill up my one month chart. Last night I talked myself into wanting a star more than a cigarette. it's pretty! I am so glad to read all the suffering and know i can get through it too. thank you!!

I smoked anything between 14 to 20 cigarettes a day for the last 8 years. Since I suffered from ADD, smoking really helped me with my concentration during work. On the downside, I was very prone to mouth ulcers and over the last year I has quite a few of them.Everytime an ulcer showed up,I could think of was oral cancer.Thats when I seriously decided to quit. it has been 3 weeks now since I quit cold turkey.I had every single withdrawal symptom in the book - smokers flu, headaches, irritability, lack of concentration, chest pain, hunger and the one which drove me up the wall was insomnia.It took me more than 10 days to get a continuous 4 hour stretch of sleep.The cravings have reduced drastically but every time I see someone smoking I have to clench my teeth to resist myself.Someone rightly said, there is nothing like an ex-smoker,only a smoker who refuses to smoke.

I just found out I am pregnant so quit cold turkey . . not sure if it is hormones or nicotine withdrawal but I am having heart palpitations and just want to smoke to see if they will go away. I can't sleep and seem to get really anxious when I lay down. Please give me some tips . . . I haven't seen anyone on here talk about palpitations . .

I am on day 35 of not smoking. This is 3rd attempt in the last 12 months, side effects are horrendous!!! Any suggestions to put me at ease!! I am suffering dizziness, extreme fatigue and chest pains. Sleep patterns are up the creek, enlighten me pls, I would like to start to feel normal again!!!

Well, that was my post way back there...#9067, the longest post of all. Sorry for being so long winded, guess I had a lot to say that day, and that was my condensed version!

I'm happy to report that I am 13 weeks, 3 days and 14 hours free of cigarettes after 34 loooong years. I can honestly say looking back that I didn't know how I was going to ever quit smoking and really didn't think I could. Now I can't believe that for so many years the fear of living without them was the only thing keeping me smoking. I will never (and I'm serious) ever pick one up again. It is amazing how much I can smell now. Food tastes totally different too and not all for the good either. One of the best things is I've started growing new hair on my head. They say your hair grows 1/2 an inch per month and I have just over an inch and a half of new hair all over my head. At first I didn't realize what was happening. I thought maybe I had broken some hair off at the front with the straightener or something and it was growing back, but it's all over my head not just in a patch! My skin is brighter too. Amazing what wonderful things happen when you are not putting all those toxins in your body. As for the cravings, I hardly ever get them anymore, and when I do, I realize it's just the demon looking to be fed its dose of nicotine and so I focus on my breathing for the 30 seconds while it passes and move on. I still can't have a nap but I'm now able to sleep through the night for the most part. LIFE IS GOOD! Cigarettes ruled my life before, it was always when and where was I going to get the next one. It's so nice to go out without having to make sure I have my lighter, cigarettes, extras in-case I stayed out longer, cause I couldn't buy mine in the states except for a few vacation spots, so I always had to plan ahead. I don't have to look at the watch while I'm in a movie to see when it ends so I can smoke etc. I feel so free, and my husband and kids are all so proud of me. They saw how difficult it was for me. Their support is amazing and I'm so lucky. GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!!! Write it down, talk about it, just try to beat it. I know it's very rewarding when you do. It's an accomplishment that no-one can EVER take away from you or me!!

Thanks, everyone. I've just struggled through day 2. For me, it's cravings. I have this feeling that if I could smoke just one, my brain would re-set itself and then I would be strong enough not to smoke again. But of course, that's ridiculous. I'm strong enough now, and I will do this. We all will.

I am in Day 8 of quitting Cold Turkey after 32 years of smoking 1 1/2 packs per day. Even though the first few days were tough, I think it is tougher now than it was then. I think the reason is that for the first few days I was so thrilled that I actually went "so long" without a cigarette, that I felt like I had conquered the world (or at least my own person demon). Now I realize that it is a very long on-going daily battle. I have more urges and cravings now than I did a week ago. My mouth and gums are so sore, I can barely eat (I have lost 5 lbs this past week). I only pray it gets better.

i am on day 7. cold turkey. i have to say that this time quitting has been much easier than the past. i have not even had a craving. the smoker's flu kicked my butt tho. i am finally getting over the cough and sore throat. i think all in all this little cold has been the worse part about all of it. i was smoking half a pack per day for about 11 years. i think what has helped me is all the support from friends and coworkers. good luck everyone! you can do it!

Wow, I really enjoyed reading everyones experiences. Funny, I googled "withdrawal symptoms after 2 weeks" (or something like that), and I found this. It's helping me so much to read peoples stories. Im on Day 9 with the patch. I smoked for 12 years, and for the last 3-4 years or so, Ive pretty much been a pack a day smoker. I just hope its not too late. Im sure I have done irreversible damage to my health, but Im hoping I can still make it up (Im 31)! I thought I would feel better by now, but I dont! Granted, it is a bit better than the first few days, but I still feel it.

The first 3-4 days or so was hell for me, even with the patch. (Kudos to you all doing this cold turkey!) I had headaches, dizziness, the worst stomach cramps after about 4-5 days which lasted 2 days, and Ive been eating way too much junk food! BUT, Im also drinking more water, and slowly, little by little, its getting better. I physically feel much better. I can breathe better and Im not coughing anymore. My cravings are more off and on now, not constant. My main problem right now is that I am just exhausted! I just cant seem to get enough sleep.

Whats really helped me a lot is thinking of this as one day at a time. Dont think about tomorrow, just focus on not smoking today. Deal with tomorrow when it comes. Dont think "man, Im never going to smoke again", instead think "Im not going to smoke today." Do the same thing tomorrow and so on and so on, until you just dont think about it on a daily basis.

Also, I downloaded one of those quit meters. Every time I want a smoke, I look at it; the money Ive saved, the cigs I havent smoked, and the days, hours & minutes Ive been smoke free. It keeps me going! Id hate to have to re-set that meter!

Good luck to everyone! I know its hard, but if other people can do it, why cant we?! Remember, nothing worth having ever comes easy!

I am entering day 5 of my quit cold turkey. It's been hell, with no truly strong urges to smoke. I smoked for 20+ years, about 5-8 cigarettes a day. I want to live smoke free, that's why I'm quiting. I had a weird experience the other night with a racing heart and anxiety, don't know if it was because of a drop in bp or bs. ...Day 5 and no weight gain maybe later on, I must be stressed because I tend to eat less when I'm stressed, and used to smoke as well..but no longer. I'm moving forward and not backwards, I don't want another cigarette... so I'm investing in nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies for the cravings

I wish us all well on our quit... "Lets do this"

I am entering day 5 of my quit cold turkey. It's been hell, with no truly strong urges to smoke. I smoked for 20+ years, about 5-8 cigarettes a day. I want to live smoke free, that's why I'm quiting. I had a weird experience the other night with a racing heart and anxiety, don't know if it was because of a drop in bp or bs. ...Day 5 and no weight gain maybe later on, I must be stressed because I tend to eat less when I'm stressed, and used to smoke as well..but no longer. I'm moving forward and not backwards, I don't want another cigarette... so I'm investing in nuts, seeds, fruits and veggies for the cravings. I wish us all well on our quit... "Lets do this"

Day 24 for me, and what hell! I smoked for 36 years, mainly cigarettes, although the last 5 years, i smoked pipe tobacco cigars, appx. 80 per week. Even this late in the game, my D.T's are quite severe! Very dizzy, body aches, depressed, anxiety, stomach pains, damn, I sound like a hypochondriac. Have thought about having just one, but I realize, I don't ever want to go through this again!

Good luck to all quitting!

Day 5.

Not fun.

Making progress though... I think I've craved a little less today, finally. Last night I actually got a solid hour of sleep. Mostly, it's been 5-10 minutes, then awake for at least an hour. Took Mon/Tues/Wed off work, just so I could lay in bed and try to get through this hell. I've got all the classic flu symptoms, with back-ache, digestive problems, acid reflux, headaches, dizzy, blurred vision, and heavy emotions.

I smoked 2+ packs a day for 18 years or so. Started when I was 24... late bloomer I guess. This is my fourth time trying to quit, but first time cold turkey... no gum, no patches, etc.

Just threw them away. Angry with myself, and tired of being a slave to it.

Good luck to all of us "Ex-Smokers" May God grant us the strength to stay quit!

Havent had a smoke in 45 days and finally feeling my old self again!

Had em all! Anxiety BP went up to 289! Acid reflux like you wouldnt believe for 2 weeks! Got dehydrated and checked into the hospital. First 3 weeks were hell! No sleep, no real food, headaches.

Either it was the nicotine and caffeine withdrawal or the high blood pressure.

All I know is that after 45 days my BP is ok and my stomach is ok and i can taste food again!

And it was worth it....

I am a professional quitter, in fact I am so good at it I have done it twenty or more times. Not so good at sticking to it though. Today is Day Four on what must be my twenty fifth attempt, my many attempts have been fruitful, and brought me to this point of knowing Nicotine Addiction for what it truly is. I have no desire to smoke, to spark up just one more, but I have been irritable, cranky, moody, restless, short tempered with headaches, so I know that my physical symptoms are real, not overwhelming, copeable, but very real. To those two previous entries, probably schooled by Allen Carr and his quit painlessly methods, good luck to you both, but nicotine withdrawal is real, but I know I can deal with it as can you all. I enjoyed reading everyone's sufferings, so thought I would add mine to the list, we are not alone, sufferers. Stick at it, I know I will.

I'm in total agreement with the very first posting, that physical withdrawal symptoms can and are minimal if you really believe (know) that smoking is mostly a psychological addiction. I'm cold-turkey 2 and a half days into quitting and, like the author of the first posting, occasionally have a faint craving, an emptiness, but the feeling soon passes when I shift my thoughts elsewhere. From 30-40 roll-ups a day for 37 years, to nothing!! And because I'm treating any physical symptoms as 'manifestations' of my mind, then the physical symptoms are really just not present. A lot of you guys are making your quitting a hell of a lot harder than it needs to be. Please, please, take note of the first posting, and your symptoms will diminish, if not disappear altogether. Good luck!

I am a 30 year smoker who has 6 days into being a non smoker. Starting to get the quitters flu symptoms and have all the posted complaints in different levels of severity as everyone else. The only difference in the attempt this time as opposed to the last thousand is attitude and honest desire. I have always known the logical reasons to quit but never truly wanted to heart and soul. Until you reach that plateau it will more than likely fail. All the prior attempts were good learning experiences and to all keep trying. To all who say nicotine is stronger than heroin withdrawal I strongly disagree, nicotine is no picnic but having gone through heroin withdrawal cold turkey, there is a big difference. I know day 6 is just entering the land of discovery not recovery, but I feel positive and I hope we all can take control over this horrible drug and Marlboro you can kiss my butt before you ever get one more hard earned dollar from me. Thanks for letting me vent this craving has passed but I know they'll be more. chew gum and smell good..........................................

Hi! 5 weeks without a smoke! The past few days, I feel like I am going to lose my mind! When are these feelings going to go away?

Today is day 12 for me. I'm 53 years old now. When I was 30 I quit cold turkey for 10 years, then started back like a fool. So this time I tried the Chantix - my quit-day was day 12 of Chantix. And that was 12 days ago. I quit the Chantix 2 days ago - too many vivid dreams. I had the same symptoms as everyone else the first 3 days, despite the Chantix. But I gotta say, it has helped. I've done this both ways, cold turkey and Chantix - the Chantix makes it easier. Just wanted to tell everyone to hang in there - fight thru the cravings - you'll be glad you did one day - and so proud of yourselves. I feel kinda honored to be a part of this group.... we're gonna make it!!!

I've smoked over one Pack a day for 34 years. I made the decision to finally quit for good on a Tuesday morning and went without for 16 hours. Broke down and had one with the reasoning that one wouldn't hurt, it would just take the edge off! Well that was the "best" and the "last" cigarette I will ever smoke. I had not educated myself and had no idea that nicotine leaves your system within 72 hours etc. After learning more about nicotine withdrawal, I wasn't too happy that I had to start that 16 hours over again, just the thought of the torture that those hours were, I didn't know how I was going to handle what was to come. Armed with my printouts and my computer for some support, I quit cold turkey. I quit drinking a year ago (which was hell) so I figured well I've survived that it's time to quit smoking now. this is worse! I've been a stay at home Mom raising my own 3 + 2 stepchildren for the past 14 years and my husband and I are now empty nesters, so I can basically do whatever I want when it comes to taking care of myself now. I don't think anything can replace this horrible, don't know what to do feeling. It's been 5 weeks today. Don't think I slept more than 2 hours a night the first couple of weeks and then when I did sleep it didn't feel like it because it was all vivid dreaming. I was exhausted. I tried having a nap in the morning or afternoon and I couldn't even fall asleep but I was able to lie still and rest I guess you call it that. That's not what I wanted, I just wanted to sleep and wake up feeling like everything was wonderful and I was my old energetic (smoking) self. Well it hasn't happened yet. I'm still feeling lost. Eating isn't doing anything except adding 4 pounds to my perfectly healthy weight, so I now have to get back to eating right again & cutting back on the chocolate I'd started indulging in since I quit smoking. But it tastes so good!! I feel surprisingly calm inside since I know I'm not counting down on the clock for my next cigarette because there is not going to be one! That's the best thing I've put into my head. Come on, if we felt this torture forever than we would never quit smoking, at least that's what I keep telling my self. Thank goodness all the restaurants and bars are non smoking now, so don't have to put up with all that. My sense of smell & taste is unbelievable. I had no idea I've not smelled or tasted things properly since I was 13! Makes me so angry I just want to scream....but I have to keep saying that I can't change the past but the future is definitely mine to create. I'm really having a hard time concentrating on anything. It's not as bad as it was the first few weeks but it's still difficult. My back is really tight cause I think I'm holding all the tension there. I have to keep reminding myself to breathe, for some reason I keep holding my breath. Since I have a dog that needs to be walked, I have to get out in the fresh air, even though I don't want to cause I have no energy. Luckily it's freezing here so I can throw on my hat, scarf and boots and really don't have to worry about running into too many people cause I'm not in the visiting mood! I just have to keep telling myself that this will all be behind me someday. I drink tea. Green tea in the morning, detox or lemon tea in the afternoon and because nicotine withdrawal made me constipated (even though I eat all my fruit and veggies, grains etc.) a natural laxative tea after dinner. and a calming tea at bedtime. They all make a huge difference. Since I detoxed from alcohol, I had incorporated the healthy eating along with the teas and the water into my daily routine already. Now if I could just get enough energy to start working out again like I have all my life than I think most of the extra symptoms I still have will start to go away quicker. I'm planning on going to get some St. Johns wort for the mild depression feelings and I've made an appt. at the spa for a massage and I might also get some acupuncture if I still feel I need something else. That's my plan for now...I'm proud of myself and everyone who has ever gone through or is going through this horrible hell. Congratulations to us all!!!! Thanks for starting this for me to ramble on.

I smoked for 7 years. Usually would smoke light cigarettes and have somewhere from 7-12 a day. I recently made up my mind to really quit. I'd recommend people switch over to "natural" additive free cigarettes for a few weeks before they quit. I got myself down to 3 or 4 natural ultralights a day before I made up my mind to finally stop.

I guess it's like taking off a band aid slowly, but it taught me to tell the difference between a really bad craving and a manageable one. Also I think my body eventually realized that I was quiting so now that I'm going cold turkey it is more ready. Still irritable and can't concentrate but getting used to ultralights was actually less pleasant and now I feel like if i've gotten this far then there's no point turning back.

So I went 3 days without smoking and last night I relapsed. I couldn't take it anymore and the worst part is that as soon as I stopped smoking the black and mild, I relaxed and then the symptoms returned just like that. I just hate not being able to sleep. My chest starts feeling really tight at night and my heart starts beating fast because of my anxiety. I get very sad and then it turns into anger. I was angry at myself for smoking last night and now I feel like I have to start all over. Please tell me it's going to be easier this time around b/c I hate this constant anxious/tense feeling.

I am on day 3 of my withdrawal. Last night was soo terrible. I didn't know what was wrong with me. I couldn't sleep one bit. Hopefully tonight will be better but I did have to drink coffee to stay awake for an exam I had at 10:00 this morning. Hopefully the caffeine will be out of my system so I can at least get two hrs of sleep. That's all Im asking for. It is the worst feeling. I didn't think it would be this bad because I started smoking last yr. I did smoke black and milds though, so im wondering if that contains more nicotine than a cigarette. Oh well, I'm done smoking so that's all that matters.

I quit cold turkey after 41 years of two packs a day, and am on my 28th day today. Spent my first two weeks, literally, in bed, either asleep or crying. Have made an appointment with my doctor for tomorrow (even though I will be yelled at for the weight gain) to see if I can get any help with the overwhelming fatigue, muscle aches, weakness, and chest pain. I have finally quit crying every day (it's about every other day now) and my cravings are down to about three or four a day. Don't want a cigarette but I would really love to feel better, tired of feeling this way, even though being retired I can fortunately take a nap every day. I think it has a lot to do with my blood sugar because when I feel the above symptoms they're alleviated somewhat when I eat a LOT of high carbohydrate foods, which I've been craving. Now it's very hard to exercise because of the added weight...I'm sure I gained 25 pounds since I quit. I scream, cry, sleep, eat, whatever it takes to stay off the nicotine. Sure hope I can make it.

Today is day four. I'm overpowered by the intense gnawing sensation I have in my chest and gut. I have been a pack and a half smoker for 43 years. I'm tense and have this desire to scream. Please tell me this gets better.

I have not had any nausea or anything, but i have had a lot of anxiety. I am now on day 8 cold turkey, and the first 4 days were awful. once i woke up on day 5, i actually felt a lot better, but i still had a few cravings.

I was wondering if anyone had any joint pain in their fingers after quitting smoking. On day 5 i started experiencing joint pain in a couple of my fingers, and i am wondering if anyone else has experienced this or if it may be an underlying problem. I do work in the medical field and have already done a sed rate to check for arthritis, and the test was normal.

any advice would be wonderful

I feel like such a wuss now after reading everyones posts. I have been smoking over a pack a day for 17 years and just recently (11 days ago) began taking Chantix. I have been smoke free for three days now. The only problem I have had so far is the cravings. Like some I would start to get the shakes if I went more than three hours without a smoke, felt like my life revolved around my next cigarette. Now I'm ok except for the cravings. No sleeping problems, not moody, no illness except slight nausea from the Chantix.

Tried the patch before but I smoked just as much with it as I did without it. Zyban didn't phase me either. Chantix didn't make me stop but it did make me feel like I didn't enjoy smoking enough until I was able to say the hell with it and put it down.

My one question is when do the cravings stop? I chew tons of gum, hard candy, exercise, drink plenty of water, but that craving is still there. Any ideas?

As for whether or not to take Chantix? So far I'm all for it, seems as though by taking it I have avoided a lot of the symptoms other people are dealing with. From what I understand Chantix keeps the nicotine from bonding to the cells in the brain while you continue to smoke so that when you do quit for good most of the withdrawal is already complete. I guess it comes down to what is best for each person. Good luck everyone

I've quit smoking after 1/2 pack per day for 25 yrs. Cold turkey. I can't sleep at night or nap during the day. And I have the worst fear of gaining weight. Other than that I'm doing ok.

After dipping a can+ every day for the last 15 years, I've decided to kick the habit. I am in hour 71 without. Putting the cravings off isn't so bad, I munch on sunflower seeds or sour candies. I never anticipated not being able to sleep, though (maybe got an aggregate of 6 hours over the last 3 nights). Or that dang tingling in my hands that just won't stop. Being without it right now feels like when you were a kid and you had to stop carrying around your best blankie. I will stick with it; the symptoms have to ease up sooner or later... even if they don't, it's better than oral cancer.

I wrote the post above, just thought I would update, I'm now on day 10 and I'm on 1 - 2 pieces of gum a day now, only chewing for 15 minutes each piece, no bad cravings, had a really horrible couple of nights where I couldn't sleep at all but apart from that I'm holding strong :)

Good luck everyone!

I'm on day 5 of no smoking now, and I feel good :)

I cut right down over the last 3 months, I was smoking 5 - 8 cigarettes a day in that time, before that I had been smoking for 13 years, usually a pack a day. I have had no really bad cravings this time, I don't feel dizzy or blurry eyed, the only thing is I feel tired and can't sleep too well, but I don't care, because I don't smell awful anymore and I'm not coughing my lungs up all the time. Ive been using 5 pieces of nicotine gum a day, and already I'm thinking of cutting back to 4 pieces. I don't seem to be needing that much gum, every day I forget to chew that many pieces, I have to remind myself. It's all about positive mindset. Mind over matter. Cliche, I know, but true. It can be done. Good luck to everyone reading this!

i smoked on and off since i was 12. quit easily at various points so i never thought it was a big deal. started smoking again a year and a half ago after 5 years clean, quit 2 weeks ago. the first 72 hours were horrific. i was completely surprised and scared to death. i thought i needed to check myself into a psych ward. my mind was racing, i couldn't sleep, time stood still, and i was really anxious, very doom and gloom. i actually felt like i was on drugs ironically when i was detoxing. it was excruciating just being in my skin. 2 weeks later am much better but nightfall still stresses me, stomach is still adjusting, and i get fidgety and anxious when my body gets chilled (i need to crank up the heat regularly). am working through this, more exercise (as opposed to none previously), relaxation CDs, watch a lot of comedy and knit (hands are busy, mind is quiet). i have recently started cognitive therapy as well. one this is certain: this one experience of withdrawal makes me absolutely sure i will never smoke again. might not sound like much to go through and my youthful adventures never seemed that troublesome or consequential, but this time the experience was terrifyingly hellish. i only need to go through that once to know i am blessed to come out the other side and never want to experience this again. good luck to everyone and hang in there. in whatever form your withdrawal takes, it will pass. get help if you need support and stay positive.

I Was a smoker for 10 yrs i had 1 PACK + a day. During those 10 years i've quit 3 times: 1st cold turkey for 6 months , 2nd time with herbal rx tabs for 7 months, 3rd time i used lozenge 4 mg tabs for first 3 days and and cold turkey i quit on 21 st of november 07 it is already 25 days . keep in mind i had horrible urges first 7 days/ and they decreased day by day now i don't have anything i am free on 25 th day ... but i still avoid a smoke

do not take zyban or champix or chantix!!! i tried zyban it was bad. it messes with the brain.

dear anonymous,

i am so sorry that you are suffering so much through your nicotine withdrawal. it must have been really hard to quit after 30 years -- i bet your family is so proud of you! i hope that you can endure a bit longer and that the symptoms subside soon. don't give in!! have you talked to your doctor about your symptoms? they could be due to an unrelated condition.

my little sister who is 19 started smoking last year. nobody in our family smokes, so we were pretty sad and disappointed. i've been encouraging her to quit. i know everyone is different, but i was wondering what the best method of quitting is? cold turkey? gradually weaning yourself off? using nicotine patch/gum?

week eight now without a cig, and after 30 years of more than a pack a day, it still feels like hell. i was fine for the first two weeks, then acid reflux, and chest pains, that subsided over a two to three week period and replaced with stomach aches, and muscle aches that seem to appear and disappear all over. Now I wake up each day and feel good in the morning, but as the day wears on the body aches, especially the neck and shoulders, get a numbness and mild headache in the back of the head. This all peaks in the early evening that seems to become a wave over the whole body along with the odd added chest and stomach pain and then it subsides before bedtime. I go to bed, wake numerous times during the night and then repeat the whole cycle the next day. I am still holding out that this is temporary and my body will normalize. While I appreciate some or most people who quit have mild physical symptoms, I and others do have real and quite intense, long-lasting effects.

This is real and anyone who calls it rubbish can only see things from their own experience and should be forced to experience it. It is hell to go through and it would be much easier to deal with and more people would quit successfully if all the promoters on the stop smoking campaign would provide information on these symptoms and guidance on how to manage through the withdrawal process.

I am on day 7 and lucky for me the only thing i have really had a hard time with is very fatigued. it is starting to ease up but i could sleep forever.

constantly tired all day. I pushed myself to keep up my workout routine and i believed this has really helped. My husband on the other hand is also on day 7 (not fully quit). he was a 3 pack a day smoker, and he is having a much more difficult time with the symptoms. The headaches are unbearable they come back as soon as he starts feeling relief. this has been for 5 days now with the constant headaches for him, he is almost fed up enough to go back to increasing his smoking. my question to anyone out there have you experienced this and how long do these terrible headaches last? they are constant and even wake him up from sleep. any suggestions would help.

Kudos to all here who quit cold turkey! The metaphor that quitting smoking is something like an exorcism is quite right in my estimation. I am 3 and 1/2 months smoke free and while during the day I am completely fine without the patch I am having a hard time getting off the last step of the nicotine patch at bedtime. I now cut the smallest one into quarters... that's roughly less than 2 mg of nicotine now. I've had to put it on at night to sleep because I keep waking up every ten minutes regardless of how tired I am...I guess my best option would actually be a sleep aid to get me through the first few nights of no patch.

Agreed about the first comment. The physical symptoms are mild?? When I tried to quit cold turkey, I was entirely unable to last 8 hours without completely breaking down because I felt like a physical disaster. My VISION actually became completely blurred...I physically couldn't see! If that is mild, I'd hate to see what severe symptoms are like.

Congrats to everyone here for successfully making the healthiest decision we could ever choose for ourselves and our loved ones!!

Thirty eight years of cigs, now I am at 3 weeks cold turkey. The first 3 days were the pits, then things leveled off, but the last few days have been tough. Seems the depression is really sinking in.

I quit smoking 35 days ago, after 7 long years of smoking. First few days after i quit smoking was miserable (i can not concentrate, eat lot of junk food, cold, flu ...).After 3 weeks i still feel fatigue, confused etc...

did anyone experienced this?

I just quit smoking after smoking 2-3 packs a day for 33 years. Yes it was hard, the first 72 hours and especially the second day were awful. Dizzy, foggy, couldn't sleep, and now the fatigue even after two weeks is still there. I have gained some weight also. It's totally worth it though.

I started smoking when I was 12 years old and smoked for 20 years. I smoked 20+ a day for 17 of those years. When I seriously thought about giving up I used to cry. It TERRIFIED me that much. I saw 3 close relatives die of cancer, but just carried on. I believed the addition was too strong for me to break. I used to shake slightly if I went for more than 3 hours without a cigarette. In the last year I began to think more about smoking, not just my about my addiction: it's very expensive, I really do smell horrible, I will die a painful death, everyone looks at me with pity (why not, I'm a drug addict)and many more reasons. So one day I said enough. I put out my last cigarette and haven't smoked since (6 months ago). I've had no cravings, no lose of sleep, I'm not eating more, I'm not irritable or anything else. Giving up smoking has been totally fine and the reason that I think this is, is because I REALLY don't want to smoke anymore. I'm having no 'arguments in my head' with the nicotine demon. I killed him! So I'm not driving myself crazy. I truly believe everyone can do this: you just have to want to never smoke again. If you don't really know / believe that then don't give up smoking just yet. You'll just upset yourself and make yourself think that giving up is horrible and so be less likely to do it next time if you fall off the wagon.

To the recent post "it is total nonsensical rubbish", that's just your point of view. People shouldn't be scared to give up. It can be easy.

"I would contend, as would millions of people who have easily quit smoking, that practically all physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are manifest as a result of the psychological dependence on nicotine. The actual physical symptoms of withdrawal are very minor, like feeling a bit empty, hungry or a bit insecure or nervous."

What utter and complete rubbish. Thanks for nothing.

Most likely, anyone who quits without much trouble over the first several days did not smoke much at all or for a long time. Thus the physical withdrawal effects will not be significant. But rest assured,( or not at all, like us suffering through this nightmare!) nicotine withdrawal is a very real physical/biological readjustment of the body and mind, which can, to be sure, cause all of the severely unpleasant effects listed above. The first comment posted here should be deleted, as it is total nonsensical rubbish. It is amusing to think all quitting smokers experience the same psychologically induced physical effects. Science has demonstrated, without a doubt, that nicotine is a very physically addictive drug, with very real and intense withdrawal symptoms. It is a bit of a stretch to compare it to heroin, but it is close. I am at about 72 hours right now, and I, like the others who have commented have gone through hell the last 3 days. Very little sleep, high irritability, flu-like symptoms, tight chest, depression, etc... I am currently drinking myself into a stupor so that i may sleep more than 2 hours tonight, with the hope that the worst is over and tomorrow will be the beginning of a new beginning. I suppose my point is, nicotine withdrawal is very real and very intense, and the first few days are not "just in your head" as was suggested above several times. So, be prepared for a battle!! It will pass after a few days! Don't give in! look at more online info, it helped me greatly!! good luck!!

I have been a smoker for 3 years. I am 20 years old and I recently quit about 3 weeks ago. The really strange thing is that the first 72 hours weren't that hard at all. But as the first week ended I started getting really dizzy and my limbs would get very tingly and my chest would get tight. Just about 10 min. ago I had this sensation and it was so intense I thought I was having a heart attack. But I don't know If this is my mind playing tricks on me or not. I do get anxious still and I sleep way to much. I just don't understand why I am getting physical symptoms 3 weeks after I quit. Is it cause I am so young still? Or should i see a Doctor

The most important thing you can do to ease the distress of quitting is your mindset. You must decide 100% that you do not want to smoke and are not going to smoke. This is different than deciding you want to quit. Withdrawal symptoms are minimized this way, as you don't have an internal conflict where you want to quit but part of you also wants to smoke. Don't give up, no matter what, even if you have setbacks. The proper attitude is everything.

I'm on day three and as of this hour I've reached 72 hours. It's been hell and very uncomfortable. I slept two hours Sunday night, not a minute Monday night, and finally got a sleeping pill for last night.

I felt like a zombie yesterday and like I was having this awful out of body experience. Weird thing is, I haven't wanted a cigarette. What I want is to never forget how awful and real withdrawal is. It is a huge physical jolt to the system, but well worth it.

the first few days are absolute hell, i screamed and swore at my little sister because she made one rude comment the first day. The second day i yelled at my girlfriend for being late for a date. Throughout the first week i was constantly hungry, followed by nausea and diarrhea. On top of all that even with ten hours of sleep i still feel exhausted. I've been using nicorette but still experience all of these symptoms, it is in no way minor.

Quitting smoking is like an exorcism. The first 72 hours are a nightmare. The worst is the first night trying to sleep. It is so hard to describe what I felt. Let's just say I felt all the symptoms all at once. After that I would generally experience symptoms individually. Like dry mouth, or tight chest. It really is a powerful addiction. I wanted to scream at my coworkers the minute I got to work. My sister told me it is all in my head. People just don't know the nicotine withdrawal horror!!!

I take it you aren't/weren't a smoker. What you wrote sounds real nice. It's just not accurate. Nicotine is a very physical substance, and it can generate very physical withdrawals. It is true that withdrawal is also a mental/emotional process, and for me personally, that's the hardest part because it's the longest lasting; but to say the physical withdrawal is very minor is ridiculous.

I would contend, as would millions of people who have easily quit smoking, that practically all physical symptoms of nicotine withdrawal are manifest as a result of the psychological dependence on nicotine. The actual physical symptoms of withdrawal are very minor, like feeling a bit empty, hungry or a bit insecure or nervous. It's when this feeling is coupled with the belief that the smoker needs a cigarette for that feeling to go away that the smoker begins to crave a cigarette. Using will power to try to prevent themselves having a cigarette combined with the belief that there really is some kind of benefit to smoking/chewing, is why many smokers have cravings many years after quitting. This is because they feel they make a genuine sacrifice when they quit.