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Give and get support around quitting

rrrich7
Member

Cutting back tomorrow

I know this pretty much goes against what people recommend here - a total quit.  But I don't feel ready for that.  Mostly what I want to get over is smoking first thing in the morning before coffee and after.  And spending the morning around the house, smoking. 

So I've set a goal for tomorrow to not smoke before 12 noon.  I know people will respond saying "you need to just quit permanently" but, after a lot of consideration, don't feel ready for that yet, and so, i ask respectfully to not get a lot of "you're doing it wrong, you need to quit permanently tomorrow" messages.

Thank you.

Tags (1)
22 Replies
TW517
Member

Well OK, since you asked nicely   Seriously, even if you hadn't asked, I don't think anyone here would have criticized your plan.  Lots of people quit this way.  If it makes sense to you, then I say go for it!  Do you have a quit date planned for total abstinence?

YoungAtHeart
Member

 I might ask that you not set a hard and fast deadline for that first cigarette.     My guess is that you will find yourself watching the clock all morning.  Have you checked out the guidelines for cutting back here on the site? Perhaps putting each one off all day will help you reach your goal?   Have you tracked the cigarettes you smoke as they recommend? I was never able to cut back before my quit date.  If you can, good for you!!  It just kept me thinking about them, and bargaining with myself, "if I smoke an extra now - maybe I will just go to bed early so I won't have to go too long this evening."  HUH?????  Not cutting back didn't make a difference in my successful quit of 5+ years.

All that being said, whatever you believe will work for you should work for you. Don't be panic stricken if it doesn't though.  Just try something else!!!

Let us know how it goes.

Nancy

elvan
Member

Do you have a quit date in mind for when you WILL be finished smoking altogether?  I was so happy to be able to get through my first day without that morning cigarette.  I did track cigarettes and knew my triggers but I had a really challenging time just quitting until the decision was made FOR me...by illness.  Unfortunately, I still suffer the effects of procrastinating and I was smoking very little the last several months before I quit.  I never smoked half a pack during those months and I never smoked more than half a cigarette.  I didn't know until I read Allen Carr that my COPD was stopping me from smoking.  However you choose to quit, it's just important that you keep your eye on that end game and make the commitment.

Ellen

Sootie
Member

Everyone on this site quit in a different way. So, no one is going to criticize your method. Keep in touch and let us know how it's going. We are all here for you.

Stay Strong

JACKIE1-25-15
Member

As everyone has stated, each person has their own way of doing things.  Some work and some don't  I didn't do the cut back thing.  I just set a date and smoked until that day or two days later.  But you can start here on the site to start tracking your cigs and then you may want to cut back. http://www.becomeanex.org/how-to-quit-smoking.php#thl .  Sometimes our addiction does not want to hear the truth. The truth will set you free. 

pir8fan
Member

I am not sure there is a wrong way to approach your quit!  If cutting back seems more doable right now go for it! 

My question would be "What are you going to do in the time that you would normally smoke?"! It would be awkward to just do nothing. So I would suggest you spend that time educating yourself about our addiction! That will help you be prepared for the things you will have to face when you are ready to quit! Education is a big key to success here!

Live Free! Live Smoke Free!   You can do this! We will help!

Giulia
Member

I'm not sure why you say "this goes against what people recommend here - a total quit"  unless you actually believe you can cut back but still smoke on occasion.  Cutting back works as a method for quitting.  For those it works for.  And that's all well and good.  But at some point you have to set a quit date.  You know?  You have to agree to quit "permanently" at some point.  Otherwise - what have you got?  A cutting back time - forever?  Nobody is saying you're doing it wrong.  But - a total quit?  YES.  At some point you either quit totally, or you're playing with quitting.  If you want to be able to get around smoking first thing in the morning, before and after coffee - that's step one.  And then not smoking before noon - that's the next stage of the journey of the "cutting back process.  Nobody here is saying working your way up behaviorally and psychologically isn't right or goes against what we're trying to teach.  But at some point you have to say "now's the time.  This is IT. " Unless - you think you can be a part-time smoker.  And if that's your aim, you're right - most of us won't support you in that endeavor because through our years and years of experience - THAT is not possible.  Because this is an addiction.  And we can't have - just one.

The methods you're employing are all  - right.  Setting short-term goals, etc.  My point is that telling ourselves we're "not ready yet" can be the addictive part of us speaking.  And that's a thought process that can defeat us in the early stages of this attempt.  Your quit day was set for tomorrow - 12/1.  Perhaps you're NOT ready to make that commitment for tomorrow.  Or perhaps it's just fear.   Perhaps you still need to "cut back."  But perhaps you're fear is creating  that excuse   Then the question becomes - when WILL you be willing to make that commitment?  When WILL you be ready? Because at some point - you have to own it.  Or you'll never have a quit of length, let alone a quit at all.

You joined this site for a reason.  Think upon that reason.  That's the "best of you" speaking to the addicted part of you.  Just as a point of reference:  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/thread/16852-cutting-back   read your own blog from a couple of week's back.  

ARE you down to less than half a pack? 

indingrl
Member

Progress not perfection 

MePlus3
Member

Everyone quit differently but at some point we had to quit. Vaping is not recommended on this site but I wasn't stepped on for using it to quit. Yes eventually I have to let that go too but I'm definately not rushing the process. After many many MANY failed quits I chose to vape it help for the most part but I still have to work on the psychological, mental part the ups and downs of the holidays. Missing my husband but trying to remain joyful for my kids is a struggle in itself now let's take away my "friend" that used to help me through it all (smokes) and we've really got a battle but I'm facing it. I allow myself to feel now whether it sadness, anger, joy whatever I'm not suppressing my emotions in smoke anymore. When cutting back quiting is recommended when you're down to 2 a day. So set that date. Find things to do to replace those times when you would usually smoke and track them. Write down why you smoked and what you could have done instead. Replace that bad habit/addiction with a good things!