I've quit after 50 years and have tried to quit using NRT patches dozens of time more times than I can remember. I always ended up smoking again within 2 - 3 weeks. This is the first time I've ever gone without smoking. I smoked 30 cigarettes for 40 years then switched to a pipe. Both ways of smoking disgusted me in the end. The stench, the ashtrays and most of all the intense craving as soon as I was awake. One day is a big kick for me and it hasn't been any where as bad as I thought. I know day 2 and 3 are supposed to get worse and peak but I've already had a couple of intense cravings and got through them by breathing then taking in some juice. Cold Turkey Works.
Hey Joel, Fancy Ray McCloney here. Your information has been my bedrock to quitting and I've shared you videos with other attempting to quit smoking. I discovered you 15+ years ago. I'm on day 4 of my freedom. Thank you for ALL the videos and info. Good Bless you ++++
Thank you!!! I'm on day 4 now. It's easier than I thought it would be... And I smoked close to 2 packs a day. Still so hard tho lol. Support seems to be key. I randomly start talking about why I've quit to random ppl at random times haha. It helps. Sending everyone love. U have stepped into your power! U are awesome! U got this. I got this with u. 😘
Hello Real life W Adam and winny: Thats great that you are on day four--as getting through the third day is really a pivotal point in a quit. The page whyquit.com/joels-videos/the-importance-of-the-first-three-days-of-your-quit/ addresses the reason I say this. Also, check out the pages whyquit.com/joels-videos/telling-others-that-you-have-quit-smoking/ and whyquit.com/joels-videos/talking-to-others-about-not-smoking/ since you mentioned you are talking to random people about your quit. As far as for support being key--understanding nicotine addiction is actually more important than support from others. The following pages address this issue: whyquit.com/joels-videos/my-support-group-is-responsible/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/please-hold-me-accountable-so-i-can-quit-smoking/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/no-one-understands/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/quitting-smoking-can-be-a-very-lonely-experience/ If you ever have any questions or concerns regarding any smoking or quitting issue please don't hesitate to get in touch. Joel
I'm doing it people. and it's easy than what I thought. out of sight of mind. 2 months strong now. it all starts with my pledge to never take another puff again.
58 Hours so far and the nice part is that the next 7 hours i will spend sleeping :))) Head start ! Thank you for the videos. This is awesome of you Joel arranging every video in days etc. :)
thank you so much. im on a family trip and i was really close to smoke today because yesterday was a nightmare. i really tried to be fine but i couldnt help it. i was grumpy and crying and anxious. i didnt wanted to ruin this trip for my family or for myself. but somehow i found this video, this is my fourth day and hearing you say that the ive been through the physical part allready makes me really, really happy. hugs!
Hi Joel, After 9 years off cigarettes, I went back to smoking. I've smoked for about a year and a half. Now, I'm starting day 4. It kicked my ass this time. When I quit before, it was no big deal. So I really didn't think a lot about it. This time has been HELL..... Starting day 4. God I hope I make it!
3 hours to complete day 4 and today was the worst day in terms of cravings. Much worse! I'm not going to give in but I want a cigarette so bad. Feels like the whole day has been one constant crave. I feel spaced out as well like I'm disconnected from reality. Big thumbs down on day 4.
I’m halfway through day 4 and today’s the worst for me. I’m tense, angry, foggy headed, and I can’t stop eating. I can feel the crave in my forearms in the form of tense tingling. Ugh
Here are a few resource pages addressing different issues you raised here. Hope you find them helpful:whyquit.com/joels-videos/blood-sugar-issues-when-quitting-smoking/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/disorientation-that-may-occur-when-first-quitting-smoking/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/going-back-to-normal-after-quitting/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/understanding-the-emotional-loss-experienced-when-quitting-smoking/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/new-reactions-to-anger-after-quitting-smoking/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/weight-related-videos/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/is-anyone-else-experiencing-the-symptom-of/
I am glad to of been able to help Awan Kutab Shahi. Check out the page whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-couldnt-have-done-it-without-you/. As I said, I am glad to of been able to help but don’t want you to ever minimize the fact that you really should take full credit for your having successfully quit.
On day 4 as we speak. Day 1 was not too bad, since I was at home all day relaxing...but day 2, when I had to go back to work, was rough. I was used to having one or two on the ride in, one or two on break, 3 on lunch, also throughout the day whenever I felt like having one and had nothing to do. I tell you, being smoke-free at home isn't too difficult so far, but being smoke-free at work is a freakin nightmare!! I keep getting these thoughts like "just one cig will be alright", like my mind is having a battle with itself.
Hello Sandro: Congratulations on making it through to day four. It's actually a little hard to know if the reason it was so hard on day two was because you had to go to work or if it may have been because it was day two and your nicotine level was lower than it was on day one. Day two may have been the day you peaked. Or maybe it was strong associations you had at work.Here are a few resource pages that will hopefully help: whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-want-one/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/fixating-on-a-cigarette/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/just-one-little-puff/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/videos-related-to-facing-or-avoiding-triggers/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/smoking-triggers/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/how-quitting-smoking-is-like-learning-to-ride-a-bicycle/ Also, not sure what videos or materials you have gone through already. If you had not seen many, consider going through the resources on the page whyquit.com/joels-videos/can-you-spare-about-an-hour-and-a-half-to-help-to-save-your-life/ They can help you to solidify your resolve that may very well make things go much easier in the short and long run. Hope you find these resources helpful. Joel
Day 1 and 2 weren't so bad for me. Things started to get bad last night and today was hell but now its like it all magically went away. Of course I'm still getting triggers but they go away in a few seconds and I'm not twisting my controller and yelling at my game lol. Thank you for getting me passed these 3 days. Everything you say makes so much sense. Of course I'll continue to watch the videos and.. never take another puff :)
thank you for these videos Mr Spitzer, i am almost on day 4 and i feel so much better :) i am a 27 year old male who has been smoking for about 10 years, and the health i can feel returning to me so rapidly is more than enough motivation to keep going, and im hoping to stay off this poison
You are welcome Mia. The following pages touch on the concept of people thinking that smoking was tied into being able to enjoy life. whyquit.com/joels-videos/quitting-smoking-a-fate-worse-than-death/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/using-cigarettes-as-rewards/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/you-smoke-because-youre-a-smokeaholic/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/boy-do-i-miss-smoking/ Also, I am thinking that you are in the early days of your quit now considering you are watching the day four video. I don't know if you followed the recommended day by day videos up to this point. If not, try to go through the resources on the page whyquit.com/joels-videos/can-you-spare-about-an-hour-and-a-half-to-help-to-save-your-life/ They will give you a better perspective of why you smoked when you did and the importance of having quit. Over time you may want to go through the resources on the pages whyquit.com/joels-videos/relapse-prevention-resources/ and whyquit.com/joels-videos/videos-related-to-the-implications-of-a-puff-once-you-have-quit/. Those materials can help you to secure your quit over the long term. Hope you find all of these resources helpful. Joel
This is my second attempt to quit, I found myself really motivated after watching your videos and I do believe I find it way easier than the last time. Ending day four and I'm really fine, the only times I get triggers is when I watch TV, playing on my Phone, generally when I'm bored but I just drink a sip of nice cold water and it goes away. Going outside, working and doing things that require concetration takes my mind of cigarettes and I don't even feel like smoking, even around other smokers. I even drink coffee and I am fine honestly which is quite odd. Nothing like the first attempt though when I constantly wanted to smash my head on the wall or something. I just hope I make it to the end.
Joel you have saved many lives god bless. I'm on day 4 today (I've quit multiple times throughout my life) of quitting poppers (smoking marijuana and tobacco simultaneously out of a bong).running on the treadmill helps a lot - it gives you a high and the coughing from it clears the lungs! but I ran even as a smoker. hopefully I never start back up again!
Congratulations on 90 days Katherine. I am glad that you found the videos helpful. I want to make sure you know of two pages that I have set up for people who are off smoking with information to help secure their quits over the long term. If you have not already, check out the pages whyquit.com/joels-videos/videos-related-to-the-implications-of-a-puff-once-you-have-quit/ and whyquit.com/joels-videos/relapse-prevention-resources/. Slowly over time go through the articles and videos. If you ever have any specific questions or concerns please feel free to get back in touch. Joel
Congratulations on 4 days Katherine. Be careful though writing off being dizzy and sick to your stomach all day as from being a normal reaction to not smoking for four days. Symptoms happening in the first 72 hours are often direct effects of withdrawal but beyond that mark there may be other factors at play. The following pages address this issue: whyquit.com/joels-videos/is-this-a-symptom-of-quitting-smoking-part-2/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/going-back-to-normal-after-quitting/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/will-this-get-better/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/when-you-may-really-need-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-quitting-smoking/ Also, I need to note that the 72 hour period is quite specific to people who are going cold turkey off of all forms of nicotine as well as for not using any prescribed quitting aids. The page whyquit.com/joels-videos/comparing-quitting-smoking-experiences-with-others-on-youtube-blogs/ explains how people who are using quitting aids may very well have withdrawal issue or side effects from their medications that can go on for extended time periods.
Mine is actually crazy. During the week I work so now today it is Saturday and my trigger is that I always sit outside and read papers online, drink coffee, and smoke 4-5 cigarettes. EVERY weekend. That is my trigger- I associate smoking with relaxing on a weekend morning. The truth is that I used to waste HOURS outside smoking instead of being with my kids or taking a drive with them ( I would take them out after I had smoked my 4-6 cigarettes, if I was out after 2 cigs I would run to the store and buy more then go home and smoke them. Then we could leave). All of this is in my head.
joel I appreciate your videos. and im happy and impressed by your understanding of a smoker and what there thoughts are regarding smoking but... your videos are reminding me of my love for smoking hahaha... I could use a cigarette. but I am going to make it the rest of day three and will be proud of making it to day four.
13 hours into day 4. Yesterday I had a lot of irritability and out of control anger. Felt like a child having a temper tantrum. I did this alone in my house, I'd never behave like that in public. But I honestly felt I could have ripped someone's head off. I had cravings but the anger seemed independent of them. My stomach has been crazy as well. But I'm going to hang in there, one day at a time. Hoping by the weekend, today is Tuesday, I'll be feeling better. I have noticed that my generalized anxiety disorder is not quite as intense as it was when I was smoking.
Congratulations on getting through day three.Here are some resources related to topics you have raised here: New reactions to anger after quitting smoking whyquit.com/wordpress/new-reactions-to-anger-after-quitting-smoking/ whyquit.com/wordpress/will-this-get-better/ whyquit.com/wordpress/understanding-the-emotional-loss-experienced-when-quitting-smoking/ Quitting smoking can make you calmer, happier and healthier ua-cam.com/video/7K038NtxO6o/v-deo.html
Same!!! My panic/ anxiety is much more calm now. So I tell myself 'yes I will gladly trade my ciggs to get rid of my anxiety' it's a fair trade. Sending u love!
@@winnie2222 Check out these resources regarding this issue: whyquit.com/joels-videos/quitting-smoking-can-make-you-calmer-happier-and-healthier/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/smoking-does-not-help-you-overcome-stress/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/resources-regarding-interaction-between-nicotine-and-stress/ Just as a side note, be careful replying to existing replies on my channel. I often don't see them. The video ua-cam.com/video/hpQz627wlks/v-deo.html explains the issue. I only caught this one because you had started a new reply on this video and I was then saw this comment.
Check out the page whyquit.com/joels-videos/videos-related-to-the-implications-of-a-puff-once-you-have-quit/ You don't want to have to quit over and over again. This quit will be the last quit you will ever have to do if you stick to a personal commitment to never take another puff. Joel
Yes many smokers avoiding quitting because they overestimate how bad the quitting experience is going to be, or even how bad the rest of their lives will be if actually were to quit. Here are a few pages addressing this aspect as well as two other issues you touched on here: whyquit.com/joels-videos/quitting-smoking-a-fate-worse-than-death/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/the-fear-of-success/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/what-is-nicotine-withdrawal-really-like/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/every-quit-is-different/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-feel-100-better-since-i-quit-smoking/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/do-you-really-need-to-want-to-quit-more-than-you-want-to-smoke/
Congratulations for making it through your third day Awan Kutab Shahi. I recently created another page addressing the importance of getting through this specific time period. Check out this page: whyquit.com/joels-videos/the-importance-of-the-first-three-days-of-your-quit/
I am on day 4 today. Yesterday I was not able to work at all,but today it got better as I was able to focus on my work better than yesterday. Today the weird part is that my nose is running all the time and my troat is dry. I drink so much water but the dryness does not seems to go away. I used to vape but I might just be catching a cold since it is the cold season but in general I am very confused. Not sure what is happening....
Congratulations on four days Andra. It is not uncommon to have focusing problems anytime in the first three days that do ease up by day four. The following pages address this issue: whyquit.com/joels-videos/disorientation-that-may-occur-when-first-quitting-smoking/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/blood-sugar-issues-when-quitting-smoking/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/why-i-recommend-cranberry-juice-when-first-quitting-smoking/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/ill-never-be-as-productive-again-if-i-quit-smoking/ Resources related to feeling cold like kind of symptoms early on in your quit are here: whyquit.com/joels-videos/feeling-like-you-are-getting-sick-after-quitting-smoking/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/after-quitting-smoking-is-there-such-a-thing-as-the-quitters-flu/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/life-goes-on-without-smoking/ Yes being in a cold and flu season can make it complicated to determine the actual cause. If symptoms of an actual infection become bad enough that if you were ever to experience similar symptoms in the past it would have caused you to go to your doctor it is best to follow the same route now. The page whyquit.com/joels-videos/when-you-may-really-need-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-quitting-smoking/ touches on this issue.
@@joelspitz thank you a lot for your support!!! I am now on day 5 and I am sure I have the flu. At the moment it is dificult to tell if I still have withdral simptoms because of the flu. I will go to the doctor monday morning if things don't get better but I am convinced everything will be fine. I will continue watching your videos to keep me motivated and to remind myself this is the right path. My colleagues at work are already jelous of my accomplishment. If they ever decide to quit as well, I will guide them to your channel and to whyquit.com :)
You are likely going to help your colleagues just by setting the example that quitting is possible and that life actually gets better after quitting. They likely won't see that now considering that if you do have a cold or flu they will just erroneously think quitting made you sick, but over time when you are just not smoking and back to normal, or more likely, better than normal, it may help to influence them down the road. The page whyquit.com/joels-videos/showing-others-that-there-is-life-without-smoking/ addresses this issue as well as gives you other resources on how you can and cannot help others to quit. One other page to check out for your benefit is whyquit.com/joels-videos/general-warning-about-getting-colds-or-flu-after-quitting/. It can help prepare you for thoughts that may occur when your cold or flu symptoms starts to go away.
@@joelspitz today, one of my colleagues decided to quit as well. I am so happy for her. She is on her first day and she seems to be doing well. I will tell her about your channel so she can watch in the days to come.
Let her know that if she has any questions or concerns she can get in touch via the comment section on my videos. I also set up one video for general questions at ua-cam.com/video/SAdqNs6UBoU/v-deo.html
thanks for all the great advice! im on day 4 now and doin good. even when im not doing good, its worth it. and those moments are passing more quickly now. each new thing i do now instead of avoiding like i did last time im kindof just being like nope this is a new thing i do now without smoking and then its a new thing under my belt. kindof like a "NEXT!" attitude.
This concept is covered in the following videos: Avoiding situations where you used to smoke ua-cam.com/video/M681p2B-8kA/v-deo.html How quitting smoking is like learning to ride a bicycle ua-cam.com/video/4sgDjF6BZl4/v-deo.html Everything you did as a smoker you can do as an ex-smoker ua-cam.com/video/lqlyAdvafio/v-deo.html Being locked up to quit smoking ua-cam.com/video/jBHsHzvRip8/v-deo.html
Check out the first article on the resource page whyquit.com/joels-videos/going-back-to-normal-after-quitting/ Also check out the caffeine section on that page.
Joel Spitzer thanks!!! Indeed I feel less tired even with less sleep now, and that's the reason why I wanted to quit so badly. I suffer from chronic fatigue, and I suspect smoking could be one of the major causes, as I felt faint and disgusted for hours almost everytime after smoking..I have been smoking for over 10 years..I hope this time I can quit, I don't want to go back to that life..
Check out the video Does smoking cause my headaches? ua-cam.com/video/1nBiLQmCZSw/v-deo.html Video discusses that while smoking does not cause all problems that a person may experience while being a smoker, it causes lots of them, and many problems that it does not cause it may aggravate. On the same note, quitting is not responsible for all symptoms a person may encounter after quitting. It is important to be able to understand what symptoms are related to smoking and quitting, and which are not.
Hello Antonette: Here are a couple of links to WhyQuit.com resources addressing your point here: whyquit.com/pr/041210.html whyquit.com/ffn/01b-slavery.html While there are indeed brain changes that occur and are measurable over time, don't get bogged down into thinking that it means that your withdrawal is going to be impossible to overcome, or automatically hard or especially last the whole time that your brain is in it's recovery. See the page whyquit.com/joels-videos/does-nicotine-withdrawal-really-last-for-months-or-years/ . I discuss this issue on that page's video. Also related would be the pages whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-cant-quit-because-i-am-addicted/ , whyquit.com/joels-videos/nicotine-tolerance/ , whyquit.com/joels-videos/can-taking-a-break-from-smoking-help-you-get-rid-of-nicotine-tolerance/ and whyquit.com/joels-videos/what-should-i-call-myself/ The last two there talk about brain changes that are really important to understand in order to sustain your quit over the long-term. I hope you find all of these resources helpful. Joel
Its pretty common for people to start to feel much better by the fourth day. Some people actually start to feel better sooner, having peak withdrawal on the first or second day instead of the third day. Some people never feel bad to start with after quitting, which is amazing when you realize that one of the things preventing them from having quit sooner was the fear about how bad quitting was going to be. The page whyquit.com/joels-videos/every-quit-is-different/ discusses these different kind of reactions. As far as for hardly thinking about smoking now--this too can happen. I have seen this kind of reaction from people who were really heavy smokers. Actually, one such person who comes to mind is the man I talked about on this page: whyquit.com/joels-videos/a-thirty-year-success-story/ I remember his whole group was watching him day by day thinking he was going to have some horrible reaction, yet he came in each day saying he felt fine. The one thing you do want to stay cautious about though is ever thinking that because it was so easy so fast, that maybe somehow you must not have been that addicted to start with. The page whyquit.com/joels-videos/were-you-addicted/ discusses this concept.
This may sound stupid but here goes. I am 4 days into my quit I was just riding in the car with my husband who still vapes and I got a couple big nose fulls of his vapor. It made me instantly feel sick at my stomach. I am now in a panic that this has put nicotine back into my body is this possible or is It all in my head. Will I have to go through 72 hours of withdrawal again?
I actually have not seen nor or am I aware of if exposure to second hand exposure to vapor is different than exposure to second hand combustable smoke. I would suspect that they are similar but cannot be 100% sure until the issue is studied. If they are similar it shouldn't pose much of a risk. The page whyquit.com/joels-videos/can-second-hand-smoke-cause-relapse/ discusses the issue with general exposure to second hand smoke and how it does not pose a real relapse risk. I'll look and see if I can find anything discussing possible differences.
Did a little digging. From what I can see on quick searches the second smoke exposure level from electronic cigarettes is not higher than exposure from regular cigarettes. If this is the case it really should not pose a relapse risk. Here is how it is summarized in one paper linked below. “Airborne nicotine exposure through secondhand aerosol from e cigarettes has been observed, as has salivary cotinine concentrations of nonsmokers in the homes of e cigarette users (Ballbe et al. 2014; Czogala et al. 2014). Ballbe and colleagues (2014)reported the geometric means of airborne nicotine were 0.74 μg/m3 in the homes of smokers, 0.13 μg/m3 in the homes of e cigarette users, and 0.02 μg/m3 in the homes ofnonsmoking controls. While airborne nicotine exposure from combustible cigarette smoke was 5.7 (Ballbe et al. 2014) to 10 times higher (Czogala et al. 2014) than e cigarette aerosol, one study reported only a twofold increase in salivary cotinine (0.38 ng/ml in the homes of smokers versus 0.19 ng/ml in the homes of e cigarette users) (Ballbe et al. 2014), and another study found that exposure to cigarette smoke and exposure to e cigarette aerosol had similar effects on the serum cotinine levels of bystanders (Flouris et al. 2013). Thus, the passive exposure to nicotine from e cigarette smoking has been reported to be just as large (Flouris et al. 2013; Grana et al. 2013) or lower than (Czogala et al. 2014) conventional cigarettes, but exposure to nicotine from e cigarette smoking is not negligible and is higherthan in nonsmoking environments. This evidence suggests the importance of avoiding secondhand exposure of e cigarette vapor and secondhand smoke during pregnancy(Flouris et al. 2013; Grana et al. 2013; Czogala et al. 2014).” (p. 108)www.urmc.rochester.edu/MediaLibraries/URMCMedia/public-health-sciences/srp/documents/Summary-of-Information-about-Second-Hand-Exposure-to-Vapor-from-ENDS.pdf Note here, Cotinine is a metabolite of nicotine that is often used to calculate how much nicotine a smoker or a person who is exposed to second hand smoke have in their systems.
Thank you so much for this and all your hard work! You have helped me more than you know. I’m hoping it was just my anxiety that caused me to panic. I just know I’m 4 days in my quit and don’t want any more nicotine in my body ever again.
You are welcome Kim. I do suspect that fear could easily have played a role in your increased anxiety from the exposure. Fear plays a pretty major role in smoking and quitting processes. Check out the page whyquit.com/joels-videos/fears-regarding-smoking-and-quitting/, it delves into the different issues involved. It is probably still best to try to avoid exposure to the aerosol produced by these devices, not from nicotine risk as much as other constituents that may have consequences that we are not recognizing at this point in time. Also, being that your husband is vaping, I am going to attach several pages that I think would be prudent to go through to help secure your quit from any influences he may have on you. Hope you find these resources helpful. Joel whyquit.com/joels-videos/how-can-i-quit-if-i-live-with-a-smoker/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/hey-im-talking-to-you/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/comparing-quits-with-others/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/offers-for-cigarettes/ whyquit.com/joels-videos/nicotine-is-nicotine-is-nicotine/
I've quit after 50 years and have tried to quit using NRT patches dozens of time more times than I can remember. I always ended up smoking again within 2 - 3 weeks. This is the first time I've ever gone without smoking. I smoked 30 cigarettes for 40 years then switched to a pipe. Both ways of smoking disgusted me in the end. The stench, the ashtrays and most of all the intense craving as soon as I was awake. One day is a big kick for me and it hasn't been any where as bad as I thought. I know day 2 and 3 are supposed to get worse and peak but I've already had a couple of intense cravings and got through them by breathing then taking in some juice. Cold Turkey Works.
Hey Joel,
Fancy Ray McCloney here.
Your information has been my bedrock to quitting and I've shared you videos with other attempting to quit smoking.
I discovered you 15+ years ago.
I'm on day 4 of my freedom.
Thank you for ALL the videos and info.
Good Bless you ++++
Thank you!!! I'm on day 4 now. It's easier than I thought it would be... And I smoked close to 2 packs a day. Still so hard tho lol. Support seems to be key. I randomly start talking about why I've quit to random ppl at random times haha. It helps. Sending everyone love. U have stepped into your power! U are awesome! U got this. I got this with u. 😘
Hello Real life W Adam and winny:
Thats great that you are on day four--as getting through the third day is really a pivotal point in a quit. The page whyquit.com/joels-videos/the-importance-of-the-first-three-days-of-your-quit/ addresses the reason I say this. Also, check out the pages whyquit.com/joels-videos/telling-others-that-you-have-quit-smoking/ and whyquit.com/joels-videos/talking-to-others-about-not-smoking/ since you mentioned you are talking to random people about your quit. As far as for support being key--understanding nicotine addiction is actually more important than support from others. The following pages address this issue:
whyquit.com/joels-videos/my-support-group-is-responsible/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/please-hold-me-accountable-so-i-can-quit-smoking/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/no-one-understands/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/quitting-smoking-can-be-a-very-lonely-experience/
If you ever have any questions or concerns regarding any smoking or quitting issue please don't hesitate to get in touch.
Joel
thank you Joel. Day 4 and I am feeling much better than yesterday.
I'm doing it people. and it's easy than what I thought. out of sight of mind. 2 months strong now. it all starts with my pledge to never take another puff again.
58 Hours so far and the nice part is that the next 7 hours i will spend sleeping :))) Head start !
Thank you for the videos. This is awesome of you Joel arranging every video in days etc. :)
thank you so much. im on a family trip and i was really close to smoke today because yesterday was a nightmare. i really tried to be fine but i couldnt help it. i was grumpy and crying and anxious. i didnt wanted to ruin this trip for my family or for myself. but somehow i found this video, this is my fourth day and hearing you say that the ive been through the physical part allready makes me really, really happy. hugs!
Hi Joel, After 9 years off cigarettes, I went back to smoking. I've smoked for about a year and a half. Now, I'm starting day 4. It kicked my ass this time. When I quit before, it was no big deal. So I really didn't think a lot about it. This time has been HELL..... Starting day 4. God I hope I make it!
3 hours to complete day 4 and today was the worst day in terms of cravings. Much worse! I'm not going to give in but I want a cigarette so bad. Feels like the whole day has been one constant crave. I feel spaced out as well like I'm disconnected from reality. Big thumbs down on day 4.
Check out these resources: whyquit.com/wordpress/i-want-one/
Joel Spitzer Thank you.
You are welcome srg914
I’m halfway through day 4 and today’s the worst for me. I’m tense, angry, foggy headed, and I can’t stop eating. I can feel the crave in my forearms in the form of tense tingling. Ugh
Here are a few resource pages addressing different issues you raised here. Hope you find them helpful:whyquit.com/joels-videos/blood-sugar-issues-when-quitting-smoking/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/disorientation-that-may-occur-when-first-quitting-smoking/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/going-back-to-normal-after-quitting/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/understanding-the-emotional-loss-experienced-when-quitting-smoking/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/new-reactions-to-anger-after-quitting-smoking/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/weight-related-videos/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/is-anyone-else-experiencing-the-symptom-of/
These videos have really saved me. Thank you Joel so much for all your help. I never could have done this without you!
I am glad to of been able to help Awan Kutab Shahi. Check out the page whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-couldnt-have-done-it-without-you/. As I said, I am glad to of been able to help but don’t want you to ever minimize the fact that you really should take full credit for your having successfully quit.
On day 4 as we speak. Day 1 was not too bad, since I was at home all day relaxing...but day 2, when I had to go back to work, was rough. I was used to having one or two on the ride in, one or two on break, 3 on lunch, also throughout the day whenever I felt like having one and had nothing to do. I tell you, being smoke-free at home isn't too difficult so far, but being smoke-free at work is a freakin nightmare!! I keep getting these thoughts like "just one cig will be alright", like my mind is having a battle with itself.
Hello Sandro:
Congratulations on making it through to day four. It's actually a little hard to know if the reason it was so hard on day two was because you had to go to work or if it may have been because it was day two and your nicotine level was lower than it was on day one. Day two may have been the day you peaked. Or maybe it was strong associations you had at work.Here are a few resource pages that will hopefully help:
whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-want-one/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/fixating-on-a-cigarette/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/just-one-little-puff/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/videos-related-to-facing-or-avoiding-triggers/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/smoking-triggers/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/how-quitting-smoking-is-like-learning-to-ride-a-bicycle/
Also, not sure what videos or materials you have gone through already. If you had not seen many, consider going through the resources on the page whyquit.com/joels-videos/can-you-spare-about-an-hour-and-a-half-to-help-to-save-your-life/
They can help you to solidify your resolve that may very well make things go much easier in the short and long run. Hope you find these resources helpful.
Joel
Day 1 and 2 weren't so bad for me. Things started to get bad last night and today was hell but now its like it all magically went away. Of course I'm still getting triggers but they go away in a few seconds and I'm not twisting my controller and yelling at my game lol.
Thank you for getting me passed these 3 days. Everything you say makes so much sense.
Of course I'll continue to watch the videos and.. never take another puff :)
thank you for these videos Mr Spitzer, i am almost on day 4 and i feel so much better :) i am a 27 year old male who has been smoking for about 10 years, and the health i can feel returning to me so rapidly is more than enough motivation to keep going, and im hoping to stay off this poison
Thanks for the video. I don’t feel like I need to smoke but I can’t help the thought ‘I would enjoy this more with a smoke’.
You are welcome Mia. The following pages touch on the concept of people thinking that smoking was tied into being able to enjoy life.
whyquit.com/joels-videos/quitting-smoking-a-fate-worse-than-death/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/using-cigarettes-as-rewards/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/you-smoke-because-youre-a-smokeaholic/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/boy-do-i-miss-smoking/
Also, I am thinking that you are in the early days of your quit now considering you are watching the day four video. I don't know if you followed the recommended day by day videos up to this point. If not, try to go through the resources on the page whyquit.com/joels-videos/can-you-spare-about-an-hour-and-a-half-to-help-to-save-your-life/
They will give you a better perspective of why you smoked when you did and the importance of having quit.
Over time you may want to go through the resources on the pages whyquit.com/joels-videos/relapse-prevention-resources/ and whyquit.com/joels-videos/videos-related-to-the-implications-of-a-puff-once-you-have-quit/. Those materials can help you to secure your quit over the long term. Hope you find all of these resources helpful.
Joel
This is my second attempt to quit, I found myself really motivated after watching your videos and I do believe I find it way easier than the last time. Ending day four and I'm really fine, the only times I get triggers is when I watch TV, playing on my Phone, generally when I'm bored but I just drink a sip of nice cold water and it goes away. Going outside, working and doing things that require concetration takes my mind of cigarettes and I don't even feel like smoking, even around other smokers. I even drink coffee and I am fine honestly which is quite odd. Nothing like the first attempt though when I constantly wanted to smash my head on the wall or something. I just hope I make it to the end.
Joel you have saved many lives god bless. I'm on day 4 today (I've quit multiple times throughout my life) of quitting poppers (smoking marijuana and tobacco simultaneously out of a bong).running on the treadmill helps a lot - it gives you a high and the coughing from it clears the lungs! but I ran even as a smoker. hopefully I never start back up again!
Today is my day 90. I couldn't have done it without a whole boat load of support. So I thank you for these videos!!
Congratulations on 90 days Katherine. I am glad that you found the videos helpful. I want to make sure you know of two pages that I have set up for people who are off smoking with information to help secure their quits over the long term. If you have not already, check out the pages whyquit.com/joels-videos/videos-related-to-the-implications-of-a-puff-once-you-have-quit/ and whyquit.com/joels-videos/relapse-prevention-resources/. Slowly over time go through the articles and videos. If you ever have any specific questions or concerns please feel free to get back in touch.
Joel
Thanks Joel.
Definitely over the worst. For me was first 50 hours....intense burning inside!!!
Thank you, you are a saint.
Day 4 and I've been dizzy all day . Sick to my stomach all day. Today sucks .
Congratulations on 4 days Katherine. Be careful though writing off being dizzy and sick to your stomach all day as from being a normal reaction to not smoking for four days. Symptoms happening in the first 72 hours are often direct effects of withdrawal but beyond that mark there may be other factors at play. The following pages address this issue:
whyquit.com/joels-videos/is-this-a-symptom-of-quitting-smoking-part-2/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/going-back-to-normal-after-quitting/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/will-this-get-better/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/when-you-may-really-need-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-quitting-smoking/
Also, I need to note that the 72 hour period is quite specific to people who are going cold turkey off of all forms of nicotine as well as for not using any prescribed quitting aids. The page whyquit.com/joels-videos/comparing-quitting-smoking-experiences-with-others-on-youtube-blogs/ explains how people who are using quitting aids may very well have withdrawal issue or side effects from their medications that can go on for extended time periods.
Starting on day 4. Thank you for the information needed to meet this day head on!!
Mine is actually crazy. During the week I work so now today it is Saturday and my trigger is that I always sit outside and read papers online, drink coffee, and smoke 4-5 cigarettes. EVERY weekend. That is my trigger- I associate smoking with relaxing on a weekend morning. The truth is that I used to waste HOURS outside smoking instead of being with my kids or taking a drive with them ( I would take them out after I had smoked my 4-6 cigarettes, if I was out after 2 cigs I would run to the store and buy more then go home and smoke them. Then we could leave). All of this is in my head.
joel I appreciate your videos. and im happy and impressed by your understanding of a smoker and what there thoughts are regarding smoking but... your videos are reminding me of my love for smoking hahaha... I could use a cigarette. but I am going to make it the rest of day three and will be proud of making it to day four.
you are a life saver. your videos help me so so much.
13 hours into day 4. Yesterday I had a lot of irritability and out of control anger. Felt like a child having a temper tantrum. I did this alone in my house, I'd never behave like that in public. But I honestly felt I could have ripped someone's head off. I had cravings but the anger seemed independent of them. My stomach has been crazy as well. But I'm going to hang in there, one day at a time. Hoping by the weekend, today is Tuesday, I'll be feeling better. I have noticed that my generalized anxiety disorder is not quite as intense as it was when I was smoking.
Congratulations on getting through day three.Here are some resources related to topics you have raised here:
New reactions to anger after quitting smoking whyquit.com/wordpress/new-reactions-to-anger-after-quitting-smoking/
whyquit.com/wordpress/will-this-get-better/
whyquit.com/wordpress/understanding-the-emotional-loss-experienced-when-quitting-smoking/
Quitting smoking can make you calmer, happier and healthier ua-cam.com/video/7K038NtxO6o/v-deo.html
Same!!! My panic/ anxiety is much more calm now. So I tell myself 'yes I will gladly trade my ciggs to get rid of my anxiety' it's a fair trade. Sending u love!
@@winnie2222 Check out these resources regarding this issue:
whyquit.com/joels-videos/quitting-smoking-can-make-you-calmer-happier-and-healthier/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/smoking-does-not-help-you-overcome-stress/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/resources-regarding-interaction-between-nicotine-and-stress/
Just as a side note, be careful replying to existing replies on my channel. I often don't see them. The video ua-cam.com/video/hpQz627wlks/v-deo.html explains the issue. I only caught this one because you had started a new reply on this video and I was then saw this comment.
Hi Joel day back to the drawing board am on Day 4 now it's gradually getting easier...
Thanks for your perspective
Check out the page whyquit.com/joels-videos/videos-related-to-the-implications-of-a-puff-once-you-have-quit/
You don't want to have to quit over and over again. This quit will be the last quit you will ever have to do if you stick to a personal commitment to never take another puff.
Joel
I needed to hear this today 😅
4 days in. Remind me in 5 years please
14 years of smoking, I thought I'd be a mess. But, I feel amazing since day 1. Guess my mind was just set and my brain is with it.
Yes many smokers avoiding quitting because they overestimate how bad the quitting experience is going to be, or even how bad the rest of their lives will be if actually were to quit. Here are a few pages addressing this aspect as well as two other issues you touched on here:
whyquit.com/joels-videos/quitting-smoking-a-fate-worse-than-death/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/the-fear-of-success/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/what-is-nicotine-withdrawal-really-like/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/every-quit-is-different/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-feel-100-better-since-i-quit-smoking/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/do-you-really-need-to-want-to-quit-more-than-you-want-to-smoke/
thanks for caring thanks for sharing 4th day today
Im on day 4 nicotine free i am thinking about all of the stuff that you have just said in this video :)
I'm on the last 3 hours of day 3.
Congratulations for making it through your third day Awan Kutab Shahi. I recently created another page addressing the importance of getting through this specific time period. Check out this page: whyquit.com/joels-videos/the-importance-of-the-first-three-days-of-your-quit/
I am on day 4 today. Yesterday I was not able to work at all,but today it got better as I was able to focus on my work better than yesterday.
Today the weird part is that my nose is running all the time and my troat is dry. I drink so much water but the dryness does not seems to go away. I used to vape but I might just be catching a cold since it is the cold season but in general I am very confused. Not sure what is happening....
Congratulations on four days Andra. It is not uncommon to have focusing problems anytime in the first three days that do ease up by day four. The following pages address this issue:
whyquit.com/joels-videos/disorientation-that-may-occur-when-first-quitting-smoking/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/blood-sugar-issues-when-quitting-smoking/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/why-i-recommend-cranberry-juice-when-first-quitting-smoking/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/ill-never-be-as-productive-again-if-i-quit-smoking/
Resources related to feeling cold like kind of symptoms early on in your quit are here:
whyquit.com/joels-videos/feeling-like-you-are-getting-sick-after-quitting-smoking/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/after-quitting-smoking-is-there-such-a-thing-as-the-quitters-flu/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/life-goes-on-without-smoking/
Yes being in a cold and flu season can make it complicated to determine the actual cause. If symptoms of an actual infection become bad enough that if you were ever to experience similar symptoms in the past it would have caused you to go to your doctor it is best to follow the same route now. The page whyquit.com/joels-videos/when-you-may-really-need-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-quitting-smoking/ touches on this issue.
@@joelspitz thank you a lot for your support!!! I am now on day 5 and I am sure I have the flu. At the moment it is dificult to tell if I still have withdral simptoms because of the flu. I will go to the doctor monday morning if things don't get better but I am convinced everything will be fine.
I will continue watching your videos to keep me motivated and to remind myself this is the right path.
My colleagues at work are already jelous of my accomplishment. If they ever decide to quit as well, I will guide them to your channel and to whyquit.com :)
You are likely going to help your colleagues just by setting the example that quitting is possible and that life actually gets better after quitting. They likely won't see that now considering that if you do have a cold or flu they will just erroneously think quitting made you sick, but over time when you are just not smoking and back to normal, or more likely, better than normal, it may help to influence them down the road. The page whyquit.com/joels-videos/showing-others-that-there-is-life-without-smoking/ addresses this issue as well as gives you other resources on how you can and cannot help others to quit. One other page to check out for your benefit is whyquit.com/joels-videos/general-warning-about-getting-colds-or-flu-after-quitting/. It can help prepare you for thoughts that may occur when your cold or flu symptoms starts to go away.
@@joelspitz today, one of my colleagues decided to quit as well. I am so happy for her. She is on her first day and she seems to be doing well. I will tell her about your channel so she can watch in the days to come.
Let her know that if she has any questions or concerns she can get in touch via the comment section on my videos. I also set up one video for general questions at ua-cam.com/video/SAdqNs6UBoU/v-deo.html
thanks for all the great advice! im on day 4 now and doin good. even when im not doing good, its worth it. and those moments are passing more quickly now. each new thing i do now instead of avoiding like i did last time im kindof just being like nope this is a new thing i do now without smoking and then its a new thing under my belt. kindof like a "NEXT!" attitude.
This concept is covered in the following videos:
Avoiding situations where you used to smoke ua-cam.com/video/M681p2B-8kA/v-deo.html
How quitting smoking is like learning to ride a bicycle ua-cam.com/video/4sgDjF6BZl4/v-deo.html
Everything you did as a smoker you can do as an ex-smoker ua-cam.com/video/lqlyAdvafio/v-deo.html
Being locked up to quit smoking ua-cam.com/video/jBHsHzvRip8/v-deo.html
Day 4..disturbed sleeping cycle, I woke up at the middle of night just after sleeping for 3 hours.
Check out the first article on the resource page whyquit.com/joels-videos/going-back-to-normal-after-quitting/
Also check out the caffeine section on that page.
Joel Spitzer thanks!!! Indeed I feel less tired even with less sleep now, and that's the reason why I wanted to quit so badly.
I suffer from chronic fatigue, and I suspect smoking could be one of the major causes, as I felt faint and disgusted for hours almost everytime after smoking..I have been smoking for over 10 years..I hope this time I can quit, I don't want to go back to that life..
Check out the video Does smoking cause my headaches? ua-cam.com/video/1nBiLQmCZSw/v-deo.html
Video discusses that while smoking does not cause all problems that a person may experience while being a smoker, it causes lots of them, and many problems that it does not cause it may aggravate. On the same note, quitting is not responsible for all symptoms a person may encounter after quitting. It is important to be able to understand what symptoms are related to smoking and quitting, and which are not.
thank you friend
You are welcome Gerald
thanks man
thanks man. :)
Hey Joel you have not talked about the brain changed. That’s addiction
Hello Antonette:
Here are a couple of links to WhyQuit.com resources addressing your point here:
whyquit.com/pr/041210.html
whyquit.com/ffn/01b-slavery.html
While there are indeed brain changes that occur and are measurable over time, don't get bogged down into thinking that it means that your withdrawal is going to be impossible to overcome, or automatically hard or especially last the whole time that your brain is in it's recovery. See the page whyquit.com/joels-videos/does-nicotine-withdrawal-really-last-for-months-or-years/ . I discuss this issue on that page's video.
Also related would be the pages whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-cant-quit-because-i-am-addicted/ , whyquit.com/joels-videos/nicotine-tolerance/ , whyquit.com/joels-videos/can-taking-a-break-from-smoking-help-you-get-rid-of-nicotine-tolerance/ and whyquit.com/joels-videos/what-should-i-call-myself/
The last two there talk about brain changes that are really important to understand in order to sustain your quit over the long-term.
I hope you find all of these resources helpful.
Joel
day 4 i feel way better im not even thinking about smoking hmm
Its pretty common for people to start to feel much better by the fourth day. Some people actually start to feel better sooner, having peak withdrawal on the first or second day instead of the third day. Some people never feel bad to start with after quitting, which is amazing when you realize that one of the things preventing them from having quit sooner was the fear about how bad quitting was going to be. The page whyquit.com/joels-videos/every-quit-is-different/ discusses these different kind of reactions. As far as for hardly thinking about smoking now--this too can happen. I have seen this kind of reaction from people who were really heavy smokers. Actually, one such person who comes to mind is the man I talked about on this page: whyquit.com/joels-videos/a-thirty-year-success-story/
I remember his whole group was watching him day by day thinking he was going to have some horrible reaction, yet he came in each day saying he felt fine.
The one thing you do want to stay cautious about though is ever thinking that because it was so easy so fast, that maybe somehow you must not have been that addicted to start with. The page whyquit.com/joels-videos/were-you-addicted/ discusses this concept.
This may sound stupid but here goes. I am 4 days into my quit I was just riding in the car with my husband who still vapes and I got a couple big nose fulls of his vapor. It made me instantly feel sick at my stomach. I am now in a panic that this has put nicotine back into my body is this possible or is It all in my head. Will I have to go through 72 hours of withdrawal again?
I actually have not seen nor or am I aware of if exposure to second hand exposure to vapor is different than exposure to second hand combustable smoke. I would suspect that they are similar but cannot be 100% sure until the issue is studied. If they are similar it shouldn't pose much of a risk. The page whyquit.com/joels-videos/can-second-hand-smoke-cause-relapse/ discusses the issue with general exposure to second hand smoke and how it does not pose a real relapse risk. I'll look and see if I can find anything discussing possible differences.
Did a little digging. From what I can see on quick searches the second smoke exposure level from electronic cigarettes is not higher than exposure from regular cigarettes. If this is the case it really should not pose a relapse risk.
Here is how it is summarized in one paper linked below.
“Airborne nicotine exposure through secondhand aerosol from e cigarettes has been observed, as has salivary cotinine concentrations of nonsmokers in the homes of e cigarette users (Ballbe et al. 2014; Czogala et al. 2014). Ballbe and colleagues (2014)reported the geometric means of airborne nicotine were 0.74 μg/m3 in the homes of smokers, 0.13 μg/m3 in the homes of e cigarette users, and 0.02 μg/m3 in the homes ofnonsmoking controls. While airborne nicotine exposure from combustible cigarette smoke was 5.7 (Ballbe et al. 2014) to 10 times higher (Czogala et al. 2014) than e cigarette aerosol, one study reported only a twofold increase in salivary cotinine (0.38 ng/ml in the homes of smokers versus 0.19 ng/ml in the homes of e cigarette users) (Ballbe et al. 2014), and another study found that exposure to cigarette smoke and exposure to e cigarette aerosol had similar effects on the serum cotinine levels of bystanders (Flouris et al. 2013). Thus, the passive exposure to nicotine from e cigarette smoking has been reported to be just as large (Flouris et al. 2013; Grana et al. 2013) or lower than (Czogala et al. 2014) conventional cigarettes, but exposure to nicotine from e cigarette smoking is not negligible and is higherthan in nonsmoking environments. This evidence suggests the importance of avoiding secondhand exposure of e cigarette vapor and secondhand smoke during pregnancy(Flouris et al. 2013; Grana et al. 2013; Czogala et al. 2014).” (p. 108)www.urmc.rochester.edu/MediaLibraries/URMCMedia/public-health-sciences/srp/documents/Summary-of-Information-about-Second-Hand-Exposure-to-Vapor-from-ENDS.pdf
Note here, Cotinine is a metabolite of nicotine that is often used to calculate how much nicotine a smoker or a person who is exposed to second hand smoke have in their systems.
Thank you so much for this and all your hard work! You have helped me more than you know. I’m hoping it was just my anxiety that caused me to panic. I just know I’m 4 days in my quit and don’t want any more nicotine in my body ever again.
You are welcome Kim. I do suspect that fear could easily have played a role in your increased anxiety from the exposure. Fear plays a pretty major role in smoking and quitting processes. Check out the page whyquit.com/joels-videos/fears-regarding-smoking-and-quitting/, it delves into the different issues involved. It is probably still best to try to avoid exposure to the aerosol produced by these devices, not from nicotine risk as much as other constituents that may have consequences that we are not recognizing at this point in time. Also, being that your husband is vaping, I am going to attach several pages that I think would be prudent to go through to help secure your quit from any influences he may have on you. Hope you find these resources helpful.
Joel
whyquit.com/joels-videos/how-can-i-quit-if-i-live-with-a-smoker/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/hey-im-talking-to-you/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/comparing-quits-with-others/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/offers-for-cigarettes/
whyquit.com/joels-videos/nicotine-is-nicotine-is-nicotine/
Thank you, you are a saint.