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Give and get support around quitting

kodylee
Member

Any suggestions

Today is my first day of trying to stop smoking, I've been smoking science age of 16  I'm now 59.I need some suggestions what to do when I really need a cigarette like now

22 Replies
elvan
Member

This is a journey, remember that.  Do all of the abundant reading that is available on this site...you will get all of the education and support you could possibly ask for right here...they only things you have to bring are your commitment and your willingness to learn and grow.  One step at a time and baby steps count...read, read, read, stay close to the site.  All of the answers are here and inside of you. Drink lots of water, read blogs, comment, ask for advice and listen to it. You can start here with this blog by YoungAtHeart

For Our New Years' Quitters (and community members, too)  and move on to this one by JonesCarpeDiem‌ /blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2011/06/26/what-to-expect-in-the-first-four-months and this little list of things to do, also YoungAtHeart‌ /blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoke Don't expect it to be easy, expect it to be a journey that will keep on going and you will get stronger and stronger and you will get to know yourself...you will get to know the person who was hiding behind that smoke screen.  Welcome to EX.

Ellen

Roller831
Member

Hi and welcome!  Thanks to TW517‌ for giving me a heads up!  Both Nancy and Ellen provided you with some of the links I tend to share.  You may also want to check out Alan Carr's Easy Way to Quit Smoking.  Search the web and you may be able to find the free PDF of it.  I posted what helped me so much in the https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/message/109313-for-our-new-years-quitters-and-community-members-t...‌ blog post as well and be sure to take the https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/message/109908-the-daily-pledge-january-2018?sr=search&searchId=a...‌!  Take the hand of the person in front of you and pledge not to smoke today.  Make sure to extend your hand to the next person who chooses to pledge to stay smoke free for today!

Giulia
Member

Very odd that none of us saw this yesterday.  But we're all on your band wagon now, so watch out!  (grin)  If you haven't yet checked out the other side of the site, do.  Even if you've already quit, reading the material there and going through the different plan modules, watching the videos,  will help to give you an education.  And education is perhaps the greatest tool we can have as quitters.  Those of us with long-term quits never stop educating ourselves about the nature of this addiction.  

The search engine on this Jive platform in the community is a strong one.  You you can type something like 'crave buster techniques' (click on the hour glass, upper right), and you'll be offered a bunch of different material.  Here's one, for example:  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/message/30736-craving-buster-techniques   The https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex?sr=search&searchId=2d451ba9-b510-42e5-a667-2f75...‌ area is chock full of informative blogs.  Not everything you will read here will appeal, so we say "take what works and leave the rest."  

We're all on this journey together and continually learn from one another.  Keep talking to us.  That's what we're for.  Chin up and have heart.  Doesn't matter how long you've smoked - you CAN quit.  I smoked a pack and a half for 35+ years and there are many others on here who smoked at least that long and managed to quit too!  You're not alone.  Cheers!

shashort
Member

Hello Kodylee! You have gotten lots of responses from above. For me I was very nervous about the thought of even quitting and for starters this community helped ease my mind by educating me about my addiction. Welcome to the community as this site was my saving grace in my quit. The great thing about this site is you don't feel like you are quitting alone. We all know how difficult it is to quit but know it is doable. I did lots of reading and was attached to this site daily.  Some things that got me through my rough days was one I carried (and still do) a water bottle with a straw filled with ice cold water, one sucking one the straw was soothing, kind of of like sucking on cig and plus lots of water in the beginning helps flush those toxins out of your body. I used mints and cinnomon disc to help with my craves. Also one thing I found helpful in the beginning is stay busy, change up your routine, and I started walking for as long as the crave lasted, now my walking has taken place od the nasty smoking.  Things to tell yourself is positive input like I CAN do this, I will do this (not try), when you crave tell yourself you don't do that anymore.All things are possible just be willing to put the work in and belive you can. That is a few ideas for now as you explore you will start finding things that help you get past those craves.  We are here for you. 

kodylee
Member

Thanks for the kind and encouraging words, day 3 still hanging in there when I'm at work it's not hard I don't think about it ,just when i go home why is that? Maybe because at work you can't smock at home I have no one to stop me from smoking 

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you have more time to think at home.  🙂

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susan_m
Member

Oh, I had the very same issue!!!  I even asked about it on here. It's because during that time at home I was the most relaxed and my guard was down.....I had major cravings at home in the evening.  They pass, just like the others. Ride them out, you're doing great!!!!

Sandy-9-17-17
Member

Wow....Day 3, you're doing great, and you will like seeing that number grow!  Congrats!  

Still not sure what was happening but now I see there are some posts ahead of mine,  perhaps there was a glitch of some sort!  I know it's pretty cold outside, here anyway!  Hope you are reading a ton, and learning all the ways you can help yourself!  Stay in touch here, and post us your progress, concerns, and chime in on others if you are ready to support!  It will make you feel pretty good supporting others!  

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elvan
Member

I was more worried about work...at that point, I was working three days a week and I felt more secure at home where I could reach out and read blogs on EX...when I was at work, I had one coworker who is a good friend, trying to get me to go outside and just "keep me company" while I smoke.  I had to tell her more than once that my quit was my number one priority and I was not going outside until I felt much more secure.  I can't remember how long it took but I quit in January and I KNOW that the first time I went outside with her, it was warm weather and I really just wanted to get outdoors.  This IS one day at a time, one step at a time...one SUCCESS at a time.  Every experience we have smoke free, we have built some confidence.  You are doing great!

Ellen

pamelaine123
Member

Hi kodylee,

 I also quit as a new years resolution after smoking for over 20 years. It has been five years now of being Free.. I would visit this site almost every day in the beginning along with the patch and that helped me. I also told people at work and that helped to keep me on track. The advice I received from members here was so supportive that when people ask me how i quit I always tell  them about this site. Hang in there! You can do this!

pamelaine123

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