I've not had a cigarette for 9 days
and I've managed not to kill anyone yet despite the most intense and vivid cravings imaginable (I was a 40 a day man...) Note I say "was" - I'm going to beat it!

I've going out to the pub for the first time since quitting tonight and in desperate need of coping strategies. What can anyone recommend other than trying to kill my brain with beer? I'd also love to know what strange sensations have manifested themselves in any other ex-smokers. My fingertips tingle at the moment and that can't be normal....
(penrose your dog's got tits, Thu 13 Aug 2009, 11:20, 13 replies, latest was 16 years ago)

Get something to occupy your hands.
And don't go outside with the other smokers.
( Cawl, Thu 13 Aug 2009, 11:22, Reply)

Cut holes in your pockets.

( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 13 Aug 2009, 11:24, Reply)

Hmm
Get something to occupy your hands have a wank.
( Davros' Granddad a voice of calm reason in a world of spastics., Thu 13 Aug 2009, 11:24, Reply)

Yeah.

( Cawl, Thu 13 Aug 2009, 11:25, Reply)

Don't overdo it on the beer.
The more you have, the harder the cravings are to deal with. For me at least.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Thu 13 Aug 2009, 11:23, Reply)

Firstly.....
Good for you. This will be the best thing you can do for yourself.

Secondly, I cannot give advice as giving up was a piece of piss for me. All I can offer is that if you do give in and have a fag then don't beat yourself up about it.
( girlinthehole, Thu 13 Aug 2009, 11:24, Reply)

don't let anyone make a big deal of it
just do it quietly and unobtrusively.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 13 Aug 2009, 11:27, Reply)

The wanking or the giving up smoking ?

( girlinthehole, Thu 13 Aug 2009, 11:28, Reply)

giving up smoking
wanking should be done loudly and proudly with as big an audience as you can muster. All whooping and clapping. Waving fists in a circular motion (front to back, not side to side) and going "Ooo Ooo Ooo"
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 13 Aug 2009, 11:31, Reply)

Pfft!
Wouldn't that put you off your stroke?
( girlinthehole, Thu 13 Aug 2009, 11:32, Reply)

naa, it'd only make it easier

( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Thu 13 Aug 2009, 11:34, Reply)

Keep a bottle of water with you at all times.
Every time you get the urge to smoke, take a sip of water. The action of doing something with your hands and then ingesting something will help (well, it did for me).

Alternatively, take up origami. Or whittling intricate things out of bits of wood.
(The Empress it seems you CAN polish a turd!, Thu 13 Aug 2009, 12:30, Reply)

If you've stopped for 9 days
then the nicotine has left your body.

So physical cravings have gone.

What you are left with are the psychological cravings...and they can be a lot worse.

Sounds like they still have a grip on you - understandably - best advice would be not to go down the pub, to be honest.

Or to go and to tell yourself you have to leave rather than have a fag. You are not allowed a cigarette. At all. Not one.

Otherwise you put the nicotine back, and the last 9 days will have been as naught.

OK, one suggestion is - you have saved around £100 since stopping. Take an "extra" £100 out with you, if you smoke, you have to give that £100 to charity there and then (there are generally some collecting boxes in pubs).

Tell all your mates about this. Get them to help you out.

Stay strong.

Good luck !
( I_Was_Mordred, Thu 13 Aug 2009, 12:50, Reply)