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Give and get support around quitting

Auschl77
Member

Hello?

Any new closet smoker quitters?   Is anyone active in this group??

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12 Replies
anaussiemom
Member

I am not a closet smoker. But, I have had some friends who were.

Auschl77    Hello and welcome to Ex.

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YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to our community!

You have actually landed on the place here where we write blogs, and it really is the most active place on the site.  If you are interested in a group, (see "Groups" upper left under the banner headline).  I would suggest, though, that  before you get involved, check to see the most recent post.  A lot of them aren't very active.

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

P.S.  After you have been quit for a bit, you will understand that you really could not have been a closet smoker unless you showered, washed your hair and changed your clothes after every smoke.  Sorry to be the bearer of bad tidings - but it's true! 

TW517
Member

Not new.  I quit almost 2 years ago now.  But I can sure empathize.  Was a closet smoker for years.  Or so I thought anyway.  Quite a few people told me after I quit that I really wasn't fooling anyone .  Welcome to EX!

I’ve been quit 3.5 years but was a closet smoker.  No one knew except my friends but like TW517 said, I probably wasn’t fooling anyone.  My life is so much less stressful being a non smoker.  Welcome aboard!

indingrl
Member

WELCOME!

Auschl77
Member

Thank you!! Glad to be here!!

Giulia
Member

If I may correct Ms. Nancy YoungAtHeart‌  you have posted a question within the "Closet Smokers" group. 

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One doesn't need to "join" a group here, however.   You can, from your home page, simply select the pencil icon and put up a personal blog from there.

Most of the groups are public these day so no joining is required.  You can start a new discussion in a group or join one already in progress.  Please note the start date of the post before you comment and if all the avatars are gray silhouettes. Some of the older discussions might have aged and you might be less likely to get comments. The groups were not very active on the last community platform except for a couple of them, but things have gotten more lively since we moved. There are a few groups that are private or require you to join before seeing or commenting but that list is very small.

 

You can "follow" a group so you'll receive all notifications from that group. It's unnecessary with the new site as you're automatically subscribed to any post you create or participate in so you can stay in the know. You can also participate via email to keep connected even while on the go.

 

Mark
EX Community Manager 

(Mark‌ might I suggest that you add this information to the How to Join a Group  document or something similar, as a lot of new members have had this same question.)

You might just type "closet smoker" in the community search bar (magnifying glass, upper right).  There's a strong search engine here and you will be present with a host of related topics and blogs on that subject.

Welcome.  Many of us here were/are closet smokers.  You're not alone.

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CommunityAdmin
Community Manager
Community Manager

Giulia

Thanks I'll look at how I can best incorporate this type of information.!

Mark
EX Community Manager

EX Community Admin Team
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elvan
Member

I was not a closet smoker...I refused to hide the fact that I smoked...EXCEPT when my rheumatologist thought I had quit smoking and I had started again.  My husband was driving me to an appointment at her office and I told him that I did not want her to know that I had started smoking again.  My husband said, "Are you kidding, Ellen?  She KNOWS you smoke, you SMELL."  The rest of the ride was in silence.

I agree with YoungAtHeart‌ that it is impossible to hide the smell.  

Welcome to EX, you have found a very supportive and caring group to help you quit and stay quit.  I have been quit for over five years after smoking for 47 years...with many failed quits.  The biggest difference this time was education, support, and commitment to my quit...THIS SITE saved my quit.

Ellen