New Quitters Check In!

[Roller831]

Hi!  I noticed there are several new quitters this week so I thought we could support you all in one place and you could each get to know your fellow quitters and support one another.

Are you new in your quit?  Did you choose to quit just before the holidays or did you quit on 1/1/2018?  Are you less than 30 days into your quit?

Let everyone know how you are doing!  You can check in here to support each other and get support from the /blogs/Giulia-blog/2017/06/18/elders-list-ao-december-7-2016?sr=search&searchId=37122da5-d471-4574-9...‌ or those who have some DOF (days of freedom) behind them!

Share the victories and the struggles.  You never know how it may touch someone.

[epchicago]

Hello! First time writing on here. Lots of groups and subgroups and blogs. Here is my first entry in the blog section. https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/people/epchicago/blog/2018/01/13/first-entry-day-14-on-chantix 

Have Good day!

[AnnetteMM]

Hello epchicago! Wanted to say hello before checking out your blog entry. Never tried Chantix, was afraid I'd be nauseous.  I look forward to hearing more about how it goes!

Keep coming back.

Annette  19 days of freedom

[B-La]

Hi All,

     I have been smoke-free for 2 full Days and this morning. I feel really stable, which is amazing to me. Probably mainly the result of the replacement medicines; Patch as well as Zyban. This is what my Dr. recommended. I'm not discrediting my own resolve because I'm the one who wakes up each morning and reaffirms my commitment and then follows through throughout the Day, as do each of us.

    Thanks for sharing your stories! Each one is valuable. ❤️ 

[Roller831]

So proud of all of our new quitters!  Keep up the great work! As you stack your DOF, you will have (hopefully) more good days and you may find yourself getting more acclimated to being an EX-smoker.  You all have got this!

Roller 210 DOF

[critterk]

I’m getting through my 9th day cigarette free. The urge and cravings are really bad today. I almost lit up a couple of times but white knuckled through it. The only thing that stopped me was not wanting to go back to day 1. I’ve smoked for 37 years. I still cannot connect with being a non smoker. This is really hard and uncomfortable.

[MichelleDiane]

Hang in there critterk.  I know it's hard to believe, but it does get easier.  Keep remembering not wanting to start at day one.  One thing that worked for me as a reminder was remembering my cough and almost seeing myself choke if I took that first puff.  It helps me to redirect my thoughts because I can actually feel how uncomfortable it is.  Keep coming here.  The Elders and so many others will give you the encouragement as well as techniques you will find so valuable.  Congratulations on your days WON.

-Michelle

[elvan]

Welcome to EX and if you are at 9 days, this is the eve of reaching double digits!  I hope you have done some reading so you are aware of what a powerful addiction this is and how recovery is one day at a time...sometimes, one hour.  I hope you will read these blogs that I am linking here for you, the first is by YoungAtHeart‌ and it includes the blog and some powerful comments from the community

For Our New Years' Quitters (and community members, too)  The second one is from JonesCarpeDiem‌ and I read and re-read that blog for a long time.../blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2011/06/26/what-to-expect-in-the-first-four-months   I, personally, never did well with the white knuckle approach, I found that if I identified what the trigger was that was making it so hard for me that I was able to let the crave sort of wash over me...I knew it would not last and I also knew that no crave ever killed anyone, that is NOT something that can be said of smoking. I hope you come here often, I came twice a day when I first quit, I blogged, I commented, I asked for support and I got LOTS of it, I took advice very seriously and I took my quit one step at a time and recognized that even baby steps count.  I celebrated every day that ended smoke free.  You CAN do this, please reach out and remember that it DOES get easier.  There will come a time when you realize that you went through something challenging or annoying and never thought of smoking.  That's an a-HA moment and we all get stronger with every day that we are free.

Again, welcome.

Ellen

[Jamesjb]

Checking in, I on day four, and holding steady, so thankful for this ex community!

[MichelleDiane]

Great job Jamesjb.  Keep coming.  It works!

-Michelle

[Barb102]

Hi I’m on day 2. Trying to be strong, keep busy, and take it hour by hour when I have to. All advice is very helpful to me

thanks Barb

Barb102