Psyching up to Quit

[MamaCanuck]

I have as many strategies in place as excuses for pushing back my quit date. I'm going to be 50 in a few months & I want to be on the better side of statistics. I really WANT to quit, problem is my partner smokes & isn't ready to. Nicotine withdrawal, I've got products for that, but the pyschological hurdle of stopping procrastinating and just doing it on my own seems so huge. If anyone can direct me to a discussion group and/or suggested reading, I'd greatly appreciate it.

[singletary13]

what would u do if u couldn't sleep because you were craving a cigarette

[MichelleDiane]

Good morning singletary13.  You will always have support here.  I speak for myself, but I know I am not alone that staying in the thought of wanting to smoke is not good.  It doesn't make it easier when you want to go to sleep.  Perhaps you could read until you are sleepy.  That way you are taking your mind off of cigarettes.  Or maybe go get a cold drink of water.  The idea is to move a muscle to change a thought.  Don't sit in that thought.  Redirect it.  You can do this.

-Michelle

[Giulia]

Have you quit yet?  Or are you cutting down?  The most intense cravings usually happen the first week.  After three days the majority of nicotine is out of our bodies.  After that it's all about mind games and behavior adjustments.  Here's one technique that can help focus your brain on something OTHER than a craving:  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/thread/1846-craving-buster-techniques 

And a good blog by Thomas:  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex/blog/2014/09/07/defuse-your-addictive-thoughts  

[MamaCanuck]

Thank you all so much for the warm welcome & homework advice! Wow! I've set my quit date for Feb 10. Long story short after picking up this terrible habit in my late teens, I did quit once for 10 years, took it up again after my mom passed away, she was a non-smoker and not much of a drinker, but all my grandparents were smokers & my Dad though to his credit he quit 25 years before my mom took ill. Quit again for a couple of years through pregnancy & nursing, but picked it up again later. I've done it before, it just seems so much more difficult now. I'm starting to "cut back" although that's just another one for the excuse column.

[indingrl]

Dear MamaCanuck you will do ok and please keep blogging get day to quit ! Keep on keeping on

[maryfreecig]

Welcome to Ex. Keep learning about the addiction, keep reading and blogging. You can find your smobriety one day at a time.