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Give and get support around quitting

Kschipani
Member

Is a slip a sign of not being able to succeed?

I fell and smoked 1 yesterday. I’m back on the journey today. Yesterday was day 3. The cravings were so bad yesterday. Does it mean I won’t be successful by having that one yesterday?

13 Replies
anaussiemom
Member

its all up to you, in my honest opinion!  You decide, choose, vow, by mindful thinking to yourself.

Lots of stuff to read on here. Mindful things,  and how it enhances our brain to break the addiction.

You can do this!! NOPE not one puff ever.

0 Kudos
YoungAtHeart
Member

To directly answer your question directly:  absolutely NOT!  The fact that you are right back at this after only one speaks volumes.  It could easily have led you back to smoking more - it's how addiction works.

Do take a few moments to think about what was going on when you smoked it - and make a plan NOW for what you will do differently in the future.  You need to distract through the craves.  Don't let that thought rattle around in your head, and don't argue with yourself about it.  you cannot win that one - so don't have it.

Hang in there!  It DOES get easier.  If it didn't, I wouldn't have 6 1/2 years free!

Nancy

elvan
Member

It absolutely does NOT mean you cannot succeed.  I had many failed quits before this one but I have been able to maintain this one because of this site and because of all that I have learned and put into practice.  I strongly agree with YoungAtHeart‌ that the best thing you can do is to figure out what happened so you will be prepared for another "test"...you cannot defeat the craves but you CAN acknowledge them and take away their power.  No crave ever killed anyone...NO ONE can say that about smoking.  The fact that you jumped right back up and did not go on to smoke and smoke and smoke or reset your date for weeks from now is a very positive thing.  You are DOING this, congratulate yourself.

Ellen

elvan
Member

Think about it...if you trip, does that mean you cannot learn to walk?  Giulia‌ wrote a blog a while ago that was really useful, /blogs/Giulia-blog/2018/03/01/quitting-is-a-skill-that-can-be-learned?sr=search&searchId=21cb8a08-52...   We can ALL learn to do things.

SimplySheri
Member

Don't let them get that big to where you smoke.  Distract yourself by doing something fun!!  Get involved in something that takes your mind off it.  Or even remind yourself that your cravings are a sign that you are NOT smoking!!  That's really a positive in a way, although they are definitely uncomfortable   Of course you can succeed!!  

TW517
Member

SimplySheri‌ I love this "remind yourself that your cravings are a sign that you are NOT smoking!!"  What great advice!  Where were you in the early days of my quit?

Giulia
Member

There are very few here who haven't relapsed a time or two on their journey to freedom but eventually conquered the addiction.  So, of course it doesn't mean you won't be successful.  But I want you to keep in mind the following:

 The Law of Addiction states:  "Administration of a drug to an addict will cause re-establishment of chemical dependence upon the addictive substance."

The majority of the nicotine is out of our bodies after 3 days.  By taking that one cigarette you agitated your nicotine receptors and they'll just scream all the more each time you do that.  The more we smoke, the more receptors are created.  The less we smoke, they begin to die back down to normal levels.  So essential by smoking that one, I believe you just made it more difficult for yourself.  But it doesn't mean you can't achieve success.  Just keep at it.  You'll get there.  The more you know about this addiction, the better able you are to overcome it.  

If slips were a sign of inability to succeed I'd be dead by now! I was a serial quitter. But now I have 8 years and 9 months without a single puff! Learn from your cravings and ask yourself: Since smoking is not an option, what shall I do?

elvan
Member

Thomas3.20.2010‌ I'd be dead too...great response.  I love the idea of recognizing that you are craving because you are NOT smoking.  I also love the idea of learning from your cravings...they really do say so much.

Ellen