Should I start all over again?

[Texadonia]

I'm a newbie here, trying to get through Day 14 after 50 years of smoking. Yesterday, I ran across a half-inch long cigarette butt on my front deck. It was mine, the remnant of the last cigarette I smoked before I left for a quit smoking retreat in Florida. It was tucked in a plant saucer that I sometimes used as an ashtray. 

There was no hesitation. I ran in the house to grab the one lighter I had kept on hand for lighting candles. Then I ran outside and fired up the butt. I took three quick hits before my rational self took over and destroyed the butt. 

My question to the community is this: Did I just relapse? Do I have the "right" to say today that I've been quit for 14 days or do I have to start all over again? 

Thanks

[JonesCarpeDiem]

[Texadonia]

That's a powerful graphic, Jones. And so ironic that it shows the effects of exactly three puffs, which is exactly what I took! Thanks for sharing.  

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

I vote with the other two.  If there is no down side, what is to make you think twice the next time your addiction starts in on you?  You reawakened the nicotine receptors in your brain that were starting to die off, too.   Read on to better understand this.

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 , 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.
 

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 or your usual shopping spots.

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

[Texadonia]

Thanks, Nancy. I realize I probably awakened some receptors with those three quick puffs yesterday, because I had a hard a time sleeping last night. But I still think I'll call this a slip, since I didn't relapse or buy a pack and start smoking all over again. Also, I quit with a group of people at a smoking cessation retreat two weeks ago, and I want to continue to have our quit date in common. Yes, that's a little dishonest, I know, but I am cutting myself some slack because this has been so hard, even though I've done everything and read everything to prepare myself. 

This site has some great information, as do you. I'm glad I came in and appreciate the welcome!

Melinda

[Giulia]

Here are a couple of blogs on that very topic:  Slip or relapse? (especially read the comments on this one)   and /blogs/Storm.3.1.14-blog/2015/08/03/the-question-to-reset-or-not-to-reset 

Personally I feel that in order to hold ourselves accountable we need to reset and begin anew on our quit counter.  There are those who do not agree.  Each to their own.  Whatever gets you back on the horse, in the saddle, and keeps you there is what you need to do.  

[Texadonia]

I'm back on that horse, Giulia. Thanks for the links and advice. Appreciate it!!

Melinda

[Giulia]

Glad to hear it!  

Some more reading material: /blogs/Giulia-blog/2015/04/09/it-s-not-the-puff-it-s-the-permission 

[marciem]

Those are good links, Giulia‌   .  I just got done reading them.

To me, just the word "slip" minimizes or trivializes the act of deliberately putting a cigarette in your mouth, seeking out incendiary device and lighting up, be it one puff, one cigarette, one pack.  Smoking is smoking and IMO is a huge, not trivial, deal when quitting smoking.

I myself had a two-puff... smoke ... this quit, and immediately changed my quit date.  My ticker is so shiney it glows in the dark, pure as pure can be, and honest as honest can be.

p.s. I don't like the use of the word "slip" in relation to quitting smoking.  A slip is accidental, something that happens beyond your control.  You are always in control of whether you smoke or not.

And yes, if there are no consequences to those puffs or three (i.e. reset ticker/quit date), then it is that much easier the next time "something" comes up.  Which it almost always will (I know there will be anecdotes of "it happened to me and I'm still quit 100 years later" but for the most part we know I'm right.)

[Giulia]

To me, just the word "slip" minimizes or trivializes the act of deliberately putting a cigarette in your mouth,

I am in total agreement with you, Marcie!

[maryfreecig]

You found something out about yourself by taking three puffs and realizing you couldn't continue. Resetting your quit date does not erase your experience and what you've gone through. It's more  a record of the absolute truth, not a punishment. I'm so glad you found something in you that said NO. And that you came here to talk about it--act of courage. Ex gets this kind of thing--I hope you realize that.