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Give and get support around quitting

Carmensan
Member

Day 1

I don’t know how I got my self into this mess and I feel like crying, maybe not but this sucks. I guess since took me many years of smoking to get addicted that it will take the same Amount if time to undo it:( sucks, sucka and this just super sucks 

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7 Replies
YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to our community!

I'm glad you wrote a blog!  We all did this the same way you will do it - one day -----sometimes a minute or an hour at a time in the beginning.  It isn't easy, but it IS doable - and it WILL get easier as time passes.  The first two weeks are the most difficult, then it takes some time for your body to adjust to life without the drug.  You will get to a point where you suddenly realize you haven't thought about smoking for an entire morning....but you need to be patient. 

The important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. You can search for it online or at your local library. Here's a link to a video here on the site which describes nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.
 
 You should also read the posts here and perhaps go to the pages of folks who you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com, quitsmoking.com and livewell.com for the good information contained there. @https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex has lots of blogs written by members of this site with their experiences and guidance


 After you have completed the recommended reading, it will be time to make an informed choice of the quit aid, if any, you will use. If you go that route, I personally recommend the aids that don't let the addict control the dose such as the available prescription drugs or the patch. If used properly, gum, lozenges and inhalers are fine, but they need to be used only as a last resort.  I have seen folks become addicted to them if they substitute them for every cigarette they used to smoke - just trading one addiction for another.  I do not recommend the e-cigarette for three reasons: 1) the vapor has been compared to the polluted air in Bejing on a bad day, 2) they just provide another nicotine delivery system while continuing the hand to mouth smoking motion, and 3) the batteries can spontaneously catch on fire. . But – any method that you think will work well for you will be best for you.
 
The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit.  If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different. Buy your gas at a different station. Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.
 
You need to distract yourself through any craves.  You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game.  Keep a cold bottle of water with you from which to sip. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time.  You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits.    Get busy!  Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:
 https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...


The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?"  Then DO it.  You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.
 
Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!


 Nancy

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AnnetteMM
Member

Do all the reading Nancy says! It really does help keep our eyes on the prize. It is hard, no way around it. But stick with us and write about everything and we'll be here with you!

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maryfreecig
Member

      First day is about getting real. You are right on schedule. But don't panic about hating to quit. Breath, keep reading. The dependency is broken one day at a time, but just for today stay smober. Tomorrow is dealt with tomorrow. Next year, that isn't even on the list for discussion!!!! Yes you can.

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elvan
Member

I am SO GLAD that you wrote this blog and that YoungAtHeart‌ FOUND you and the same with maryfreecig‌ and AnnetteMM‌...you are in good hands, my friend.  This site is filled with amazing people and we all want to help you in any way that we can.  Stay close...yell if you need to...cry if you need to, nothing is off limits.  We have all been at the beginning, there are no shortcuts and there are no really easy ways out....but it's nowhere near as hard as we think it is at the beginning.  It's one day at a time...one FEELING at a time.  We are all here to help you and to celebrate your successes with you.

Ellen

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indingrl
Member

WELCOME BUDDY! WELCOME!

Giulia
Member

Say Yes Black & Purple.jpg

It sucks.  It's worth it.  Don't quit trying.

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MarilynH
Member

How are you doing Carmensan? I really hope you're still working on your precious quit journey it's definetly difficult in those early days and weeks of quitting smoking but it's also very Doable and totally worth it to be Free let us know how you are doing because we care and we're all here to help you in any way we can. 

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