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

Read a member curated list of EX Community content over 10+ years

The Two Sets Of Seasons

      Many of you are going through No Mans Land Right Now (Days 30-130)

This is the second hurdle of a longtime/forever quit. The first hurdle is getting through the first 30 days.

      When I quit, I was constantly researching information for when you were through the worst of quitting. One medical study I read during that time, said it you made it through 4 months without smoking you had the best chance of a forever quit.

      Along with that study, I noticed there were so many people losing their quit and dropping off the site I was on before reaching four months.

      I had my personal breakthrough at 128 days when I was driving up a hill to a job I had still been a smoker on.

      I reached for a ghost pack and realized I was no longer a smoker. I laughed.

      The term No Mans Land came from the person (Ron Maxey) who wrote a powerful post and gave it that title on the site I quit on.

      No Mans Land Will Be Over For Many around 130 days. For some it's longer/For some slightly less.

      We smoked for a long time and we can't expect to have experienced every trigger in the first 130 days.

      We have many memories that are connected to smoking that we must  unlearn by making new ones without smoking.

Let's talk about two sets of seasons.

      I suggest to you that you have to go through two sets of holidays and seasons. During these two years you will likely experience a family blowup, the infidelity of a spouse/partner, a car accident, and the death of a pet or someone close to you that would normally set you off.  In other words, the hard parts of life.

Example: You have a relative that ticks you off and they are missing from your first annual get together. Well, they may be at the second years so, that's the implication of what getting through 2 years means. 

      The one thing to remember is, smoking is not required. You know if you smoke, you will be a smoker again.

      After your first year, your quit should not be such a fight anymore

unless you've fought quitting all along. There may still be some fleeting thoughts of smoking but they are now easily dismissed.

You smoked a long time. It will fade away. Be patient.

Nothing and no one can make you smoke! You are in charge.

STATISTICS: While roughly 94% of uneducated smokers who attempt to stop smoking relapse within a year, the relapse rate declines to just 2 to 4% per year from years 2 to 10, and then falls to less than 1% after 10 years. Wow! Chance of relapse goes from 94% to 2-4% after two years.

http://whyquit.com/FFN/chapters/FFN_14_Relapse_P.pdf

Tags (1)
47 Replies
renee95
Member

Hard stuff but easy to Remember SMOKING IS NOT REQUIRED. Thank you for imparting your wisdom. I set my quit date for a period in my life where I was heartbroken and felt there was nothing to look forward to. When I am triggered or have a craving, I do always keep in mind, this quit is for me, and only me. I get to choose my happiness and it includes fresh air, fresh smells and the ability to breath. My Freedom. 

promise_judy
Member

good post.

Smoking is not required hits home for me. I copied that and put it on my bathroom mirror.

Thanks

Judy

newlife5
Member

this is a good post dale..you are so right  some things only happen occasionaly and it does take more than the 130 days that people expect to take ...each quit is as individual.. as the person.. some take under 100 days and others take as long as 1 year....the important thing here is to focus on your own quit while we can seek out the advice and guidance of others we have to look inwards as to what is best for us...

Absolutely Dale. I appreciate that you remind me not to get complacent in my quit. 82 days isn't that long, especially after smoking for 22+ years!

I blew a 6 month quit once. THought the stress was too much a a smoke would help. It didn't but I did become a full time smoker again after just one!

smorgy8513
Member

Dale...you just broke my heart!    I thought the answer to your blog question was "Never having craves again"!       Now you say that it means I will have to get used to living life free of smoking no matter what happens in my life?????      

Ok, if you say it....I believe it!    You've taught me so much already and I know that I can do the "life after NML" too as long as I'm prepared.

Thanks!         Glad you shared this now....only 8 more days and I am out of NML!!  Boy, would I have been surprised!

Sharon

moody_9-18-13
Member

I was reading some blogs of people who are approaching their one year quit and they're reporting they're getting urges to smoke. It made me think, you know how people renew their vows after so many years of marriage?

Maybe we could use a renewal of our vows to our Quit, so I googled marriage vows and came up with my Quit Vows....

"Through the pressures of the present and the uncertainties of the future, I promise to be faithful to my Quit. I promise to love, honor and protect my Quit for as long as I am alive."

Have a great day and thank you for keeping us on our toes!

Nyima_1.6.13
Member

😉 thanks.....

0 Kudos

Great post!

For someome who is barely approaching their 5 day quit.. I love your input and your wisdom. I, and I bet everyone else, appreciates your support and insight!

mustangsally3
Member

I'm on 131 DOF today!!! Does this mean I'm out of NML???

0 Kudos