Forums / Cravings / Anger, frustration, irritable urges to smoke

Anger, frustration, irritable urges to smoke

4 posts, 0 answered
  1. ocean
    ocean avatar
    286 posts
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    29 Nov 2017
    28 Feb 2018
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    Dealing with low frustration tolerance and urges to self sbotage again today.  It started with a virus in my ears and throat and just getting by a day at work which went downhill 'angry wise' because it was so loud and hurt my ears and throat more (65 Kindergarten students).  I just wanted to leave and go home, but I couldn't.  I hadn't anticipated it would be so hard.

    Today I stayed home, and will see the Doctor but I know she's going to say it's viral so there's not much I can do to relieve the symptoms.  No pain meds work, but opening the windows and breathing cool air helped last night.  I think I drank too much caffeine this morning so I'm still agitated and looking to self sabotage because I'm uncomfortble and would up.

    What is not helping is feeling in knots of anger, feeling rash, and feeling that I can't hold on another day.  It's these darn emotions I can't seem to control.  Im 7 weeks in, still early days, and this is the first time I've had such a strong negative mood.

    If I get through today resisting my urge to smoke just because I want to take this anger out, I will have lost the battle.  There's sure to be other days when I;ll feel this way, so I just have to cope with it and wait it out.  Im hoping it just goes away, or I'll just wear myself out and it will pass.  So I'm holding on very tight to let go of this in a productive manner.
    I hate these negtive feelings, so sending out an s.o.s. to anyone who has overcome them???
    Thanks from a cranky Ocean


  2. marianne, quit coach
    marianne, quit coach avatar
    278 posts
    Registered:
    30 Nov 2017
    28 Feb 2018 in reply to ocean
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    Hello Ocean,

    Hope your feeling better with respect to that virus.  This weakened immune system can bring such frustration.  Glad to hear fresh cool air made a difference for you.  Emotions that go up and down can play havoc for sure.  Do you have more skills you can utilize in these pressing moment?

    Turning the negative feelings into positive will come over time.  To add to the skills, are there any key words/statements that will enable you to let go of the emotions you don't want to harbor?  

    S.O.S. is on it's way!

    Marianne
    Last modified on 28 Feb 2018 23:39 by marianne, quit coach
  3. treepeo
    treepeo avatar
    832 posts
    Registered:
    29 Nov 2017
    01 Mar 2018
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    Hi Ocean,

    Sorry it has taken me a while to respond.  I am just getting back into my routine and haven't been on our site too much lately.

    It is rotten when you feel so low.  So many negative emotions tugging at you.  Sometimes you feel like you're just going to burst.  But holy cow, Ocean, forget about trying to smoke to ease the tension.  You probably realize by now that that is such a crock.  Why did we ever think that was a good idea and a solution to our problems?  Man, this addiction had made us a bit delusional.

    You are probably feeling a lot better already.  As you know, life has its ups and downs.  Smoking won't affect that either way.  It was something we used to do to cope, but what the hell.  All that did was cause us huge health problems.  And where did that get us?  It just gave us more to worry about.  It just made it harder to breathe.  It just made us feel bad about ourselves for subjecting other people to our smoke, to our addiction.  It was a big waste of our hard earned money.  What the heck was the appeal?

    The truth is that this addiction is very good at making sure we keep feeding it fuel.  And when we start withholding the gas, it starts to squeeze us and hurt us physically.  Our lungs throb and ache, we start to sweat, we can't sleep, we get irritable, or other bad things come to pass.  I am still amazed at how hard this addiction has gripped me.  I really didn't understand that until I seriously tried to quit.  I shudder to think of all the crap I went through that first month I tried to quit.  Holy cow, it's not a joke.  Quitting isn't easy.  It really tough.  It hurts.  It makes you long for the good ole days.  But if you can make it through all of that, ultimately, it is worth everything.

    Hang in there, Ocean.  You have come so far, don't blow it.  Keep taking it one step at a time, one moment at a time.  It will get easier day by day, as you have discovered.  And smoking won't solve any problems that arise in your life.  And you will have to learn other ways to make yourself feel better when life gets tough.  But that will get easier for you, too, as time goes on.  Just keep plugging away, Ocean, because you deserve the best. And that means living a smoke free life.  It truly does. 
  4. ocean
    ocean avatar
    286 posts
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    29 Nov 2017
    03 Mar 2018
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    Your words mean so much, treepeo.  It’s been a rough several days but I didn’t slip.  I started to feel a little better this evening.  But man, I felt like the Tasmanian devil for a few days there, just holding in the urge to self destruct by smoking.
4 posts, 0 answered