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Give and get support around quitting

imthequitter
Member

use worry stones

I have 10 "worry stones" I'll use for quitting.  It was suggested to me some time ago.  They are small oval shaped smooth flat stones that have a groove for your thumb.  I have 10 because a) I'll lose or misplace from time to time and

b) They came in a 10 pack from amazon.  Just a suggestion.  I'm promised it works.  I just haven't wanted to quit badly enough to try any suggestions- till now!  Good luck to all.  Smoking bites.

Tags (1)
17 Replies
anaussiemom
Member

That is awesome.

I have an old rosary I use. 


Many blessings
Kim

YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to our community!

The worry stones sound like a great tool to help in your journey to freedom from addiction.  I will give you some preparation, planning and tips to help you further get ready!

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. If you do nothing else to get ready for your quit, please do give this a read.


 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. Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.

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 after you have tried to delay and distract.   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.  You need to start out with a plan to reduce use of them over time - which the patch does by decreasing the dose contained in them..  For the gum, you can start by cutting each piece in half, then in quarters, then sub regular gum of the same flavor in between, adding more and more regular gum.  For the lozenge, you need to start subbing a mint in between to begin, increasing the number of them over time.  I do not recommend the e-cigarette for four 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,  3) the batteries can spontaneously catch on fire and 4) you can become addicted to that and it has not yet been proven safe .
 

It will be informative if you do the tracking and separation exercises recommended here on the site. As you track each cigarette smoked, note its importance, and what you might do instead. Put each one off just a little to prove that you don't NEED a cigarette just because you think you do.
 

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

Mandolinrain
Member

That a nice idea! I like seeing ways folks plan to handle the craves. Great idea!!!

DonnaMarie
Member

I painted what I call my quit smoking rock some time ago. I kept it in my pocket for a very long time. It now lives with my candles and holders in my living room. It absolutely helped me to reach in a pocket and know it was there, feel it, rub it, talk to it, be comforted by its solidity. I love the worry stone idea!

rock.jpg

Donna

Day 153

imthequitter
Member

I love that! I’ll paint one and add it to my worry stone collection. That way I can switch them up. Thank you!

sweetplt
Member

Hi and Welcome to Ex’s

Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking.  Along with your stones, please read at prepare at My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX ... knowledge and preparation are the key.  Also, keep close to the support site to get help.  Also, I find it important to help encourage others in this journey.  Makes a Quit date and plan for it like no other.  Colleen 167 DOF 

indingrl
Member

Yahoooooo DO what is right for YOU and CONGRATS to YOU finding what works for YOU to STAY quit no matter what life on life's terms throws YOUR way - WAY TO GO! 

Beck37
Member

Hey I carry kyanite and amethyst.... I work in customer service I need all the protection I can get!!!

imthequitter
Member

 I’m in customer service too Beck. I scheduled my vacation the first week of my quit date. I think that will help. Don’t need to deal with any irate customers during that time...for their sake as well