Increased unwanted thoughts

[MichelleDiane]

Hello All.

I'm into my fourth day and am very glad, but I am unsettled by increased thoughts of smoking.  I'm using everything I can think of including staying close to this site.  I redirect my thoughts to good memories as well as envisioning my body healing and saying "thank you Michelle".  Any words of wisdom and suggestions are appreciated at this time.  I know I sound insane, but I'm glad we are having a snow storm.  It will help me to stay quit as I do not want to venture out in this, but I think that is not good thinking.  Thanks in advance for the help.

Regards,

Michelle

[MichelleDiane]

Thanks Nancy.  Your last comment was 100% correct.  I'm jumping from cleaning the house back to this site.  Still some thoughts, but I am working through them.

[YoungAtHeart]

You GOT this!  Carry on!

Nancy

[Roller831]

Brilliant!!!

A thought of smoking never killed anyone - you can't say that about smoking!

[crazymama_Lori]

also check out Best of EX‌, Newbie Quitters‌ for some EXcellent reading material !!!!  Also https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex/blog/2013/08/12/understanding-excuses?sr=search...‌, These were and still are my go-to bookmarks 600 days later, which contain my most influential articles written by the great people on this site

[elvan]

Time...it takes TIME.  No crave ever killed anyone and thoughts have no power...YOU have the power to act or not act on them...YOU. I said NOPE over and over and over again, Not One Puff Ever.  I remember thinking that I would never stop thinking about smoking, it consumed my every thought.  It was my addiction yelling at me, calling me back...trying to convince me that I could not go on without it. I don't think you are crazy for being happy that there is a snow storm.  I quit during a polar vortex, never heard of it until then but I KNEW I was not going out in that, no matter what.  I does get easier and eventually the thoughts and craves become memories and once you make new associations with everyday activities and even things that are hard to plan for...you will find that you are becoming stronger and stronger and stronger.  This is a journey and it is filled with ups and downs, good days and bad days...life is like that and we do not need to anesthetize ourselves to all feelings.

Ellen

[desiree465]

I'm right there with you. Thinking about smoking comes in these waves it's awful but being on this site and reading everyone else's thoughts really really helps. I've been keeping my laptop close to me the last couple of days and I will read through some posts or reply to others when those thoughts hit. 

[elvan]

desiree465‌ We have all been where you are, there are no shortcuts to being free and the only way out is through...one step at a time and baby steps count...one day at a time and when a day is too long, make it an hour.  Staying close to the site and reading, commenting, blogging, connecting...will save your quit.  If you do the reading and get the education you need to have about nicotine addiction...all you have to bring to the site is your commitment and it will give you support, advice, and people who know EXACTLY what you are going through.  I don't think any of us forgot that and that's a GOOD thing...it keeps us going forward and not going back, it is worth every minute of discomfort...somehow that seems like an understatement in terms of describing the beginning of a quit.  I used the mantra NOPE, Not One Puff Ever and I said it over and over again.  You CAN do this, we all want very much for you to be successful.

Welcome to EX.

Ellen

[desiree465]

I made it through day 3! Working on day 4 today. Being on here really does help.

[MichelleDiane]

Congratulations on day 3 WON.

[YoungAtHeart]

And we are glad you are here!  You are one of the reasons those of us who have been successful hang around.  Your success brings us such happiness!

Nancy