Quit-relapse cycle.

[Nymous]

Fourth quit this year. Each quit has lasted from 1 month to 45 days. Time between quits has been two weeks. 

On the positive side - I think that I have not smoked much this year. 

On the downside, I am giving up easily every #$%ing time. This one has been so far 3 weeks, i think. but totally disappointed in me. I was embarrassed to come here and admit my weakness but I guess I did it today. 

Each time that  I slipped up, no one to blame except me...

[crazymama_Lori]

as our brains rejuvenate and slowly go back to their normal state, we have mood swings.  Some days are awesome we're on top of the world and the other days we're giving up, but they're up and down.  You have to trust that tomorrow will be a better day.  I never made it past 7 days in all the mini quits I had.  I was amazed when I finally stepped over the line.  If you were to do a poll here on how many members have started and stopped their quits, I'd guess that at least 96 percent will raise their hands.  Instead of fixating on the days, do some soul searching to see why at that point you seem to go back.  I know in my case very early on when I was struggling big time, I never filled out the section where you identify your triggers, Beat Your Tobacco Triggers | Guides & Tools | BecomeAnEX .  Here is where you train yourself to do something else instead of reaching for a cigarette.  Pick a different one for each of your triggers.  I was always a after meals smoker, so now I stick a piece of gum in my mouth.  I get frustrated/stress, I roll something in my fingers.  I think you get what I mean.  At first you have to really concentrate on those, but after awhile it becomes second nature.  for me also in No Man's Land (https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex/blog/2017/02/19/no-mans-land-weekly-blogs ) the clouds finally cleared when I got to around 195 days.  This is no exact science.  some have an easier time.  Some have a terrible time quitting.  Also so a lot of reading in Relapse Prevention‌, I lived in that section for quite some time.  The more you know about what's going on inside your body and your head, the more success you'll have.  Think back on those lost quits you had, what brought you back?  What was it that had you running for those cigarettes to solve or sooth something for you?  I know I always stopped myself and thought, do I really want to do this and make it stick?  Well, I'll have to figure out new ways to deal with life because smoking is never the answer like I taught myself for years that it would be ........

[maryfreecig]

      Sometimes, I think we quitters want to sprint past craves as if ignoring them will make them go away for good--as if we can outgun an internal cue to slip back into the old familiar. Keeping it in today, working smobriety is one way to focus on growing your quit. Craves or delusions that smoking was just easier can be beaten one day at a time. Then it gets easier. It's your quit to keep, but please try to keep it just in today. Thanks for sharing your story.