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Give and get support around quitting

Michellesq521
Member

Slipped today

Well, started the patch 2 weeks ago while being very sick from acid reflux and the stress of meds still not working and stress of missing a cigarette causes me to slip today. Smoked 2 cigarettes and now feel such guilt   Going to start fresh tomorrow  but never realized how hard this is.  Thought after 2 weeks, desire to smoke would subside but it consumes me sometimes. A hit home bound bc of being sick and have already reorganized closets, did jigsaw puzzles, sudoku puzzles etc and bored out of my skull. Can’t go to the gym until I’m better either so missing my workouts as well   Just frustrated and hoping to find advice from others!  Thanks in advance 

13 Replies
JACKIE1-25-15
Member

/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoke?sr=search&searchId=1e87... You are not alone.  Here is some advice that I offered to someone else that slipped today. Quitting smoking is a process of relearning your thinking and behavior.  In order to do that you have to educate yourself about nicotine addiction and commit to NOPE.  If you haven’t started I suggest that you read the materials offered. Education is the key to a successful quit.   Quitting smoking is an ongoing process that has no end. Develop tools that you can use when you get stressed. (have a plan and adhere to it) one day at a time.  It cannot be rushed.  Come here as often as you can.  Bookend your days here.  Take the daily pledge. Daily Pledge Ask questions read the suggested material.  Look forward to the day that you will help someone go through what you are going through.  Never give up and never give in.  Don’t Quit on the Quit.     Find a support system at home or here. ELDER'S LIST  Reach out.  You can do this if you work at it. Know that all of the reasons you cited are only Excuses. I understand that it takes a lot to say that you slipped. A wise elder stated it very clearly in this blog  The Tragedy of Relapse  

maryfreecig
Member

OK-- two weeks trial flight. A lot of us need help thinking past the addiction once we quit. So please keep coming back so that you can get the encouragement you need, and get support and guidance from other Exers. Yes you can, one day at a time.

YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to our community!

This NEXT go-round can be your final one!  Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, set a new date and get started in on the reading and prep work.  I can see from your blog that you did some of it - so just skip any that you have done/read.

The important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. You can search for it online or at your local library. Here's a link to a video here on the site which describes nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.
 
 You should also read the posts here and perhaps go to the pages of folks who you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com, quitsmoking.com and livewell.com for the good information contained there. @https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex has lots of blogs written by members of this site with their experiences and guidance. You should also do the tracking and separation exercises recommended here on the site.
 
 After you have completed the recommended reading, it will be time to make an informed choice of the quit aid, if any, you will use. If you go that route, I personally recommend the aids that don't let the addict control the dose such as the available prescription drugs or the patch. If used properly, gum, lozenges and inhalers are fine, but they need to be used only as a last resort.  I have seen folks become addicted to them if they substitute them for every cigarette they used to smoke - just trading one addiction for another.  I do not recommend the e-cigarette for three reasons: 1) the vapor has been compared to the polluted air in Bejing on a bad day, 2) they just provide another nicotine delivery system while continuing the hand to mouth smoking motion, and 3) the batteries can spontaneously catch on fire. . But – any method that you think will work well for you will be best for you.
 
The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit.  If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different. Buy your gas at a different station. Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.
 
You need to distract yourself through any craves.  You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game.  Keep a cold bottle of water with you from which to sip. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time.  You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits.    Get busy!  Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:
 https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...


The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?"  Then DO it.  You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.
 
Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!


 Nancy

Sootie
Member

I always tell new comers that I am pretty sure you smoked for QUITE a while. I mean...we get very few quitters who have smoked for a year of two (wish we did----ALL of us on here wish we had quit after two years).

SORRY----my point is----- I would bet you smoked for 5 years or more....probably way more. So, doesn't it make sense that it would take a bit longer than 2 weeks to recover from the addiction? Give it time. Understand it is a journey and not a short one. We are so glad you are here and hope you will stick around.

Welcome to EX---we are all here for each other.

anaussiemom
Member

My best opine is this.  Be nice to you!
Feed your brain with good words,
feed your soul with prayers,
feed your brain with positive affirmations they all work. 
One step at a time my friend. Hugs Kim

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Giulia
Member

Hudson Valley girl, eh?  Anywhere near Millerton?

Every tried Origami?  Some really good videos on simple creations on the internet.  Keeps your hands and mind busy.  Here's one I tried.  Not really Origami, as Origami is strictly folding, no gluing allowed.  But it was fun and easy.  Never done it before.    Try it.  Make one for every day smoke free (put the date on each) and you'll have a garden of them.

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sweetplt
Member

Hello and Welcome,

Great Advice above from some great Quitters.  Don’t beat yourself up, however I do believe Knowledge and Preparation are the key to Quitting.  If you haven’t already, I suggest you got to My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX  and read and actively write your plan and make that quit date.  Once you have a quit date, plan for it like no other day ever.  Keep it here to get and give support.  Also, before you slip, you could come here and we can talk you out of it.

Now get ready for the journey.  Cyber hugs out to you...You are so worth this Quit.  ~ Colleen aka sweetp

clacy73
Member

You just have to push through the cravings. It is a mental thing. Stay strong and stay determined. You got this! 

indingrl
Member

Prayer helps ME- just passing on the love - the Serenity Prayer- please take what HELPS and let go of the rest- thank you.