cancel
Showing results for 
Show  only  | Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

Share your quitting journey

Sometimes it just keeps coming back

crazymama_Lori
4 8 111

This is something I wrote back in December when there were so many relapses and what they call stinkin' thinkin'.  I could have posted a link to it, but it wouldn't have the cool banner..............

There's so many good articles on this site concerning relapses, slip-ups, whatever you want to call it. I call it going back to an old friend. You see we all used smoking for different reasons. Some used it for comfort. Just to have that gray cloud envelope us as we are dealing with personal issues or a traumatic event. Some will rock back and forth for comfort or using shivering as a release of tensions, anger. The mind sometimes will go back to what it knows in times of stress if we don't teach it other ways of coping or take the time to identify what it is that draws us back in.

 

I'm not saying you have to sit on a mountain top and ponder the universe and life's meaning. But as you are struggling with the idea to smoke or not to smoke, instead of fixating on that cigarette, fixate on what it is that is drawing you to it. The answer is there. If you take a few minutes to look, you're going to find it. A very good article on this site is written by Giulia, REPLAY THE RELAPSE. There's several posts on there that one can read about how easy it is to fall back into what we know so well. Another one that I found helpful for myself is: https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/relapse-prevention. This has stories from members about their relapses and their triumphs. Another good article to read is What should I do if I start smoking again after I quit? - Quit Smoking - Sharecare . I think Dr. Oz (who personally I think looks like spock) has a very good take on a relapse, slip-up.  This article shows three opinons about the subject.

 

I'm just going to bring up my riding the bike analogy. Think back of how many times you fell off that thing until you finally got the hang of it. Banged up knees, skinned up elbows never stopped any of us. We were right back at it to get it right. Smoking is the same thing. It's something we did 30 to 60 to however many times a day over and over. Sometimes not even needing to smoke. We just did it. You find yourself in a weak moment and don't want to blog, use that search bar on the right-hand side of your screen. Type in a word or a feeling you're having. There's going to be an answer. Somewhere at some time someone on here has been through it. Stick with us. We'll get you to where you need to be.

8 Comments
About the Author
Never be afraid or embarrassed about your "smoking thoughts" while quitting, they're there to remind us how strong we truly can be. Always remember, you will always WANT to smoke, but you have to CHOOSE not to. We can't break the ties that bind us without first changing the cycle that created it.