Slipping and Sliding - Tales of Trouble Part II

[Giulia]

Sue Permalink Reply by Sue on May 9, 2008 at 1:51pm
         Once upon a time I had a 20 day quit....then fell into the missing smoking trap.So, I had one and here we are how many years later and still smoking.Looking back on it I think that maybe if I'de turned to a friends and talked about it instead of convincing myself that a smoke would fill the void, I'de have realized that I was really looking for emotional comfort, not a nic fix. It's strange how I can confuse the two being a cigarette doesn't offer any comfort whatsoever in any way shape or form .....it just drags you back into a vicious cycle again...
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Dian Permalink Reply by Dian on May 9, 2008 at 3:04pm
       Yep, quit and started quit and started, got pregnant twice, quit and stayed quit for a year or two then my dad crossed......... but I did quit again in 2003 and started again in 2004 now it's 2008 and it's my 3rd day quitting..... I really want it to be my last.
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ManOfSteele Permalink Reply by ManOfSteele on May 9, 2008 at 6:35pm
      Dian .... you quit to give life and it worked .......
    Now just give yourself LIFE ..... and be free forever from this crap !!
    I got your back !!
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Pete Gustin Permalink Reply by Pete Gustin on June 2, 2008 at 5:59pm
         That is So me. I keep thinking one won't hurt.
    Oh but it will and it does.
    At least we're still in there trying....
    peteg
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polly Permalink Reply by polly on July 5, 2008 at 9:30am
      Hiya Pete! To counteract the thoughts that you can have just one you can think any of these thoughts to put your mind to rest.:
    NOPE = Not one puff EVER!
    Smoking is not an option <-----------this is the thought that I use and it really works well!
    NO = not one
    There is no such thing as trying -- NIKE -- JUST DO IT!!
    Stopping smoking won't kill me
    There are more, but I think that the top 3 are the most powerful!! This is definitely a mental addiction. Our minds have been so entrenched with our daily habit that our subconscious gives us thoughts signaling us that we can't live without cigarettes and just one won't hurt, etc. Once you establish a firm thought in your mind, then you other thoughts can interfere. If you tell your mind "smoking is not an option," then you are eliminating all excuses, justifcations and rationalizations! It really works!!! Hope this helps you!!! Have an awesome day Pete!! 🙂
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Keith Permalink Reply by Keith on June 7, 2008 at 4:29pm
       The first time I quit was like 6 years ago after about ten years of smoking. It lasted like 6 months and I started getting cravings out of the blue--or at least which seemed out of the blue which--and I was able to ignore them for a couple of weeks until one day, while driving home from somewhere, I stopped at the old gas station I had bought cigarettes at every day for the past few years and bought a pack. There probably was a trigger in there somewhere, but I don't remember what it was.
    Between then and now, I quit for scattered weeks here and there, but looking back, those efforts weren't really sincere.
    This time, I made it another 6 months, when I slipped up from the stress during exam week. I only had one cigarette that week, but then at the department's end of the semester party, I had a few cigarettes under the guise of "just celebrating." I made it another week, but the seed was planted. I bought a pack about a week ago, and I've been smoking about a third of a pack a day. It's two-thirds less than I was smoking before, but still. My new quit date is tomorrow. I think I'm going to have to avoid going out with my friends for the next few months, unfortunately; at least where alcohol is involved.
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Giulia Permalink Reply by Giulia on June 9, 2008 at 8:11am
         Thanks for posting your tale here, Keith.
    Uh, yeah, I'd have to agree with you that you're gonna have to avoid hanging with your friends for a bit until you get back in control of the Monster. It's such a powerful force. A third of a pack leads to two-thirds of a pack, leads to a pack.... Been there. I know.
    Hoping for a strong quit sincerity from you. Post in the Daily Pledge Group. That can help firm up your commitment.
    Cheers!
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Dian Permalink Reply by Dian on June 10, 2008 at 5:52am
         started when I was a teenager. Quit for pregnancy and that would last a few years. Quit 4 years ago for about a year. This time around I quit with never smoking again in mind. I slipped about 2 weeks ago and smoked and you know what I learned. I really really don't like the smell of smoke on me or my hands or my hair and I really really don't like people seeing me smoke period so I decided there and then never ever will a cigarette touch my lips again. It's been over 1 month for me and I feel pretty dang good. I come here for support and to support others like me.
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Brenda Permalink Reply by Brenda on June 12, 2008 at 7:45pm
      My story sounds pretty stupid but it is real..I had decided to quit 1-1/2 years ago and my husband agreed to quit too.we were smoking roll you owns(very stinky and smelly,and I had to roll them all for both of us) I used nic gum for help and he used the patch. he quit for about 3 months...and started smoking again .he had to roll his own.....eventually he started buying "the good ciggarettes" .as soon as he did my cravings got big and real. we were not getting along very well either..and I got angy ..angry that for all those years I had to roll both of our cigs and smoke the nasty ones, but as soon as I quit he got the good ones (boy was I so stupid!!!)so I got in his truck and took one out and smoked it.. I had made it 10 months smoke free and I was so proud of myself and I felt good and my self confidence was up and I threw it all away for a "good ciggarette"needless to say my self confidence dropped I didnt feel proud anymore. and when my husband saw me smoking that "good one" he smiled.....what a screwed up situation....well here I am now smoke free for 82 hrs (my husband is also smoke free for about the same time.).however___no matter what happens___ I am not going to let anything screw this up for me this time no-one not even myself! not one puff ever...
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Giulia Permalink Reply by Giulia on June 13, 2008 at 10:05am
      Good post. I am now gonna start a new discussion under Relapse Traps and called it The Anger Trap. And we have YOU to thank for it. So THANKS.
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Giulia Permalink Reply by Giulia on June 13, 2008 at 8:20pm
        This post has been moved to "The Anger Trap" on this group.