1. Craves typically last a few minutes.
With that in mind, DO NOT TAKE THAT TIME TO GET A CIGARETTE READY TO SMOKE. Instead, say "I don't smoke anymore" out loud until they pass. Positive talk is one of the best ways to stay on track. You have to do it out loud because we tend to remember our thoughts when we hear them out loud
Make the cigarettes hard to get. Do not keep any around for an emergency. THERE IS NO EMERGENCY THAT REQUIRES SMOKING.
2. People quitting smoking tend to give up too early. They don't know what's coming so they build up negative emotions feeling there is no end in sight and then they talk themselves into smoking
Quitting isn't over in a week or a month. Please allow approximately 130 days from your last puff as a solid start. That will get you through no mans land and you will have enough unlearning of the hand to mouth and inhale motion you should not be thinking of smoking but rarely.
3. The first 2-3 weeks are the most difficult. Yes, you may be uncomfortable not smoking. That's all you knew to do but, it isn't painful. No one has ever died from quitting. In all honesty, it's no more miserable than having one of those three week colds we've all had. You can make it seem insurmountable with your thinking but that will lead you back to smoking.
4. If you are going to use an aid, do it with the idea that you don't want to be strapped to it for the rest of your life. When you get past a certain point the dependence becomes psychological as well as physical. You will fear getting off of it and you will drag it out at the expense of moving forward to real freedom.
Learn how to get past the urges and triggers while using it and then, when you feel comfortable, see how you do without it. Believe in yourself instead of the aid. That's why it's called an aid. It's not, a cure all.
5. Once you've quit, come here when you have questions or fear you are going to smoke.
Post the word HELP in the title of your blog BEFORE you go to buy cigarettes or smoke.It doesn't do much good after the horse is out of the barn.
6. There are many steps before you actually inhale that smoke. YOU CAN STOP AT ANY ONE OF THEM.
Smoking has become automatic. You must unlearn it to successfully keep a quit. That is the purpose of the 130 days. you can't white knuckle a quit and expect to keep it.
Drinking alcohol is the number two quit breaker. We all have a tipping point beyond which all self control goes out the window. Don't go looking for it.
AND Number one quit breaker is saying stuff like, "I really want a smoke" If you say it enough times, you're going to smoke. Talk yourself out of smoking NOT into it.
Most of all, get and keep a positive attitude. We can help you with that if you come here and participate.
