So here you are. You have arrived. Somewhere around 130 DOF of your quit....or maybe a little sooner...or later. Your quit seems so much more manageable now. You have been through some very scary craves, moments. You have used your tools wisely and yet you have managed to stay quit.
AWESOME! GREAT NEWS! YOU ROCK ( really you do)! YOU HAVE DONE A TERRIFIC JOB PROTECTING YOUR QUIT! YOUR CRAVES ARE HARDLY NOTICEABLE...YOU'VE GOT THIS....RIGHT?????? Or do you........?
Don't cinch your saddle to tight just yet....perhaps maybe never. Never a good idea to cinch a horse to tight, they take off bucking...and so will you.
Keep your toolbox near you. Unexpected moments can and will still pop up. You will always need to be prepared as long as you live and breath.
You may feel so brave as to have an evening out with friends and share a cocktail or two or three and think to yourself that you could actually sneak a drag from your friends cigarette...I mean, after all...you are safe. You went through NML and surely one drag won't effect you.....Really????
NOTHING could be farther from the truth. First of all theres the shame...you had gone so far and even if you tell nobody...YOU will know.
Secondly, you just stirred the Nico~deamon. He's listening...he's waiting and now he is telling you sweet lies...." Oh come on, no one needs know but you and I and you won't get addicted with just a few more"....Sound familiar?
If you have ever tried to quit before, as most of us on here have, you know what I'm talking bout. You and I are always going to be addicts to Nicotine. There is no denying it. Once we start...there we are. Square one.
But there is some good news after NML. I feel great. I no longer have craves....thoughts on occasion, but not really craves. I remain vigilant. I continue to protect my quit. My energy is abundant, my health improving, I can stay seated at a dinner table now with friends instead of excusing myself to go outside and freeze like an idiot just to smoke a cigarette....or anywhere for that matter. My heart is not working as hard as it once had to. I don't stink anymore. My car smells like a new car yet. Who knew??? And the list just goes on and on....
So what happens after NML??? You can pat yourself on the back because you have made it through the worst of the addiction and smooth sailing should prevail for the most part now. HOWEVER.....You will always need to remain vigilant. You will always need to keep a stocked toolbox and you always need to keep the light in your lighthouse lite because storms are part of life and they will come. Only now you have the experience to ride them out. You have a community here that will always care and be here for you and you have many newbies that are watching you and need your strength now.
Now go set sail......you have a beautiful life ahead with many many blessings just waiting to be explored as a non smoker. Your doing well my friend.
Life is good.
Missy~1039 DOF
PS
I'd like to add, stick around and help others here as you were helped. It will continue to strengthen your quit and when your helping someone else, your own lives problems become more manageable. Blessings to you all
