Explain how long to delay.

[Ronwv]

Since my quit day is Nov 5 and I been doing the delay method of holding off as long as possible till next dip.

My question is how long Should I hold off? When I delay I go as long as I can till I go into like a panic mode 

I do practice at breathing slowly and just feeling the wave of cravings from slight to pretty intense. 

I also try to understand why I am feeling this way and how to control my cravings and how to avoid the triggers.

I also catch my mind/body trying to go into slippery excuses.

Am I going in the right track and use this as a practice run till quit day or should I try another way.

I want this quit and I am beginning to understand it's going to be a tough fight.but,I been reading the posts here on this site and looking up whatever I can find to answer a quick question I think of.

I do want to thank all of you that have answered my question and giving me pointers.

[YoungAtHeart]

It seems to me that you are trying to quit BEFORE you quit.  Putting each hit off as long as possible is making you unnecessarily uncomfortable, imho.  You are keeping yourself in almost constant withdrawal doing it this way.  When you actually quit, you will go through withdrawal, but then it ends.  Your body then has to adjust to life without the drug, and then you must deal with the associations and triggers.

I would recommend that you put each use off just a bit while you get busy doing something.  You will just naturally cut back

Good that you are planning and preparing.  I hope you are also doing a bit of the recommended reading?

Nancy

[elvan]

YoungAtHeart‌ has given you some good advice.  Just put it off for a few minutes at a time, JonesCarpeDiem‌ can probably explain it better since it is what he did.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

/blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2019/10/25/get-a-psychological-advantage-by-proving-you-dont... 

[Giulia]

Ron, this is my opinion only.  So please take if it helps and just chuck it if it doesn't.  I believe you're driving yourself crazy by your thought process.  "How long should I hold off...should I do it this way or that way or.... "  just DO  it.  Do it in the most natural way for you.  You, after all, know yourself better than any of us.  Most of the advice we give is based on our own experiences. But I am not you.  And my experience may not work for you.

My point is, YOU know what's best for you.  What do YOU think?  Trust what YOU think.  We have lots of good advice, but as I said, you know yourself better than any of us can.  Trust yourself in this endeavor.  You don't need us to tell you the best approach.  We're giving you suggestions is all.  YOU have to come up with what YOU think is best for you.  And I believe that inner self, that BEST of us, knows instinctively what's best and what will work.  And if you try an approach and it doesn't work - it's not the end of the world.  You say, "OK well THAT didn't work - let me a find a way that will."  

The glory of existence is that we can figure things out.  Because we failed once or twice, doesn't mean we can't continue to try and grow and learn how to get it right.  

So I'm not going to begin to tell you how long to delay.  For one, that method never worked for me.  For two - how long do YOU think you need to delay?  You have the answer within yourself.  I suspect that if you ask the question of yourself, you will find the answer.  Quitting takes deep inner delving.  Don't be afraid of doing so. You'll discover realms of understanding yourself in new ways that will just take you to a whole new amazing level of I CAN ACCOMPLISH ANYTHING!  

You CAN.  I didn't know I could.  I learned I CAN. And I did.  You can too.  Trust yourself.  Trust you instincts.  We're all here on your team.

[sweetplt]

Ronwv I agree with Giulia ... try hon not to over think this ... everyone’s quit is different... You are working it and planning it...now you just have to do it....I have faith in you ... have faith in you too...Happy Saturday...~ Colleen 327 DOF 

[maryfreecig]

Great work on planning for your quit--because you are testing the waters and that is a positive effort.  Some of us do it that way before the plane takes off, the train leaves the station...

It's not right or wrong to delay, but I would say that you don't want to practice delaying for days on end--in my opinion, delaying for 11 days seems a bit long--partly because you have already been doing that for some days. It doesn't get easier to smoke less, it's just a way to get used to the reality of your decision to quit. 

Keep bolstering your decision to quit and please keep sharing here at Ex. We're here for you 365. It's a good thing to have quit friends.

[Ronwv]

Thanks for the input and I realize now that this delay won't work for me. The way I thought it would.

I now know what true withdrawals are going to feel like and the waves of the craves and how the brain wants to make those slippery excuses.

I have my nrt mints bought already. Candy bought.and been reading the blogs and questions I find on this site.

You all have been very helpful in making my decisions..

I have one can of snuff left and once it's gone then I am going to start using my nrt mints..

[maryfreecig]

One hour, one day at a time, you can do this Ronwv!!!  You've been planning, so keep those plans close and keep believing in what works, toss what doesn't. Blog any time you wish.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

First, I didn't realize you were using snuff and not cigarettes.

Regardless, the theory is the sane.

There are two ways to delay.

One way is trying to delay. Trying to force yourself to go beyond each time.

The other is to remind yourself, not deny yourself, each time you think of smoking.

Reminding and denying are two different animals.

Which one is going to get you the most uptight before you quit?

Which one will cause less pre-quit stress.