I have one cigarette left in my pack and I am debating smoking it. I am excited to quit but a little nervous because I get pretty angry when I don't smoke. But no matter what I won't give up trying.
I have one cigarette left in my pack and I am debating smoking it. I am excited to quit but a little nervous because I get pretty angry when I don't smoke. But no matter what I won't give up trying.
I read the Easy Way by Allen Carr a couple of years ago. I was going to read it again but I wanted to quit so bad this time I decided to forgo reading it and decided to use the patches. They're working pretty good
I read the book multiple times in the beginning. It's a great refresher.
I may just have to do that. How long have you been quit?
I read his book after I had quit and while on the patches as well. I think having already been quit smoking for a month made reading the book a bit easier to take in.. had I tried to read the book first and then quit I might've gotten annoyed and irritated with some of what he said and not given it a shot to begin with. Definitely a change in mindset, how you view cigarettes, and the act of smoking itself, will make all the difference in your quit! I was surprised at how little I missed it once I began to look at it differently.
The patches are a great way to go. I wore 21mg for a month, maybe month and half and then got the 14mg and wore those for 2 weeks and then noticed that I was forgetting to put them on in the morning or on weekends. So, after I realized I was fine without one I decided to stop and not go to step 3. I'm still shocked that I was able to do that to be honest. I would not, no way no how, have made it this far without the support and encouragement from those here!! It's so worth it!
Oh, and as far as getting angry goes... just ask yourself if you are going to feel better after you smoke or will you then be angry as well as disappointed in yourself? Will smoking really calm you or make you un-angry? Just try and remember, when you are angry, that your reasons for quitting are still reasons, and the reason to smoke in that moment is only a lie!!
I liked reading Allen Carr's the Easy Way. It was kind of boring at first but the point sunk in. All the times that I have restarted smoking was because of emotions. I would get so angry and then I would have a smoke. I would still be angry even after I had the smoke. Now that I realize that I am hoping this time will be different I haven't gotten angry yet just frustrated. The patch and the lozenges help. I am currently on the 21mg patch but I didn't even put it on until 2pm today haha. I am hoping my husband quits soon so I don't have to smell the smoke on him. Even though its only day 2 I can smell it and it smells horrible. If I get angry I will try to do what you said and remember the reasons I've decided to quit. I find this site very useful.
And just remember before you smoke, if/when you get angry, come here and ask for help or a distraction until the urge passes.
Props to you for quitting while living with a smoker!! I don't know how you that have done did it!!
Thank you. I am trying to show my husband and my friend that it is not so bad and they can quit too. My husband doesn't smoke around and I don't go outside with him when he does it is too tempting.
Welcome to Ex everyone here is a little confused with the new format please don't let that intimidate you we are all learning together how to navigate in it ! You are making a very important decision and a big change in your life. If you want to smoke your last cigarette I say just do it and get it over with and gone so you will not dwell on the thought .
Did you come here and do the planning ,reading and setting a quit date or is this your first time on this site ?
Kristen 's advice above is very good I read the book it helped me a lot . Are you using an NRT ( nicotine replacement such as the gum or the patch ) I used the patch and I will be celebrating 2 years quit very soon ! I smoked for 52 years and I loved smoking and thought I would never make it This site .....the people on it helped me to get to this point in my quit and I can honestly say I do not love smoking anymore ! I love my "quit " it has been quite a journey !
This is the first time I have been on this site. I have looked up many sites prior to coming to this one. I smoked my last cigarette last night and I told my old friend good bye. I felt like I broke up with someone. I have tried 7 times in the past to quit two attempts lasting two years a piece. I am using the patches and occasionally the lozenges. Congratulations on your 2 year mark. I am glad you made it.
Quitting can feel like grieving and it is good to know about the stages of grief which are Denial ,anger ,depression and acceptance . You can read more about the stages of grief it may be helpful unless you already have that knowledge . I think it helped me not to think of the cigarettes as my "best friend" this time around I really began to see them as a "friend who was a deceiver..... a wolf in sheep's clothing anything but a true friend thinking this way and facing the truth about them got me to the fourth stage of grief Acceptance really fast !
I know that the stages of grief can be experienced out of order and I think I am in the depression stage. I feel like I am mourning a friend be it a bad one that causes a plethora of disease and costs tons of money. I felt like I had to say goodbye it was a relief. So far so good.
Hello and Welcome to EX!
We are very glad you have made the decision to quit smoking and join the group! Here are a couple of links to educational materials to get you started
https://youtu.be/zd_MTSQ6kNM this is a video
This is a free version of Allen Carr's Book "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking"
Honestly, there is no easy way but this book and video will change the way you think about smoking.
. Please do the suggested readings. Education, willingness to do whatever it takes not to smoke, determination and commitment are the keys to a successful quit!
I would like to recommend a group called The Daily Pledge Group. It's fun and will help reinforce your commitment not to smoke!
Just click on the link below and scroll down (we are on page 12) and take the person's hand before you and promise not to smoke, and then offer your free hand to the next pledge, we keep each other strong in our quits! You can state your # of days, post a picture or whatever you want! This is your quit be proud of it! Please join us!
This link is also on my page and is also a featured group on our home page! Also, if you would like to join the group use this link and as you scroll down look to the left, there is a place that says join the group.
Hope to see you there! ~Terrie~
If you have any trouble getting into the group, just let me know and I'll try to help!
Thank you very much I will be sure to check this stuff out. Thank you for the offer to join your group
I am glad you are here. Let me know if I can help! ~Terrie~
I will thanks again for the support
Welcome to our community!
The most important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I also highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read.
As well, read the sections on this site, and read the blogs, responses and pages of folks you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com and quitsmokingonline.com for the good information contained there.
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. 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.
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. 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. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around your head alone. Get busy! Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:
http://community.becomeanex.org/pg/blog/read/5711492/100-things-to-do-instead-of-smoke
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
Thank you for the tips. I really like the one about drinking coffee with the other hand. I could definitely use more exercise so I will try to do some Zumba and then have my coffee. Changing my way of thinking is definitely great advice thank you
once you decide that you do not smoke anymore it will not matter how many cigs are in the pack. You will just toss it!
Welcome.
I smoked my last one last night. I told it good bye. For some reason I felt like it needed a farewell so to speak. I didn't mind putting it out. Today hasn't been too bad either
Welcome to the site! You are in the best place for support! Please check out the reading mentioned above - it was very important for me! Congrats on your quit - stay close!
Thank you for the warm welcome. I will definitely be sure to check out the educational materials
Hello and welcome to EX! I am attaching a link to my welcome blog for new quitters! Let me know if I can help in any way!
Thank you!
Have distractions available and remember that it is okay to get angry, as smokers, we felt we had to stuff all of our feelings. Anger, sadness, physical pain...smoking doesn't really help any of those to go away but it does distract us because of our addiction. Blog if you need help, there are lots of things you can do NOT to smoke. Personally, I would suggest drowning that last cigarette, sort of a symbolic good bye. You can do this.
I smoked it but I broke up with it and said good bye. I'm on day two and finding myself kind of bored. I am not sure what to do I keep thinking about cigarettes. I need to keep busy but I am not sure how.
Whatever you do-don't save that last smoke 'just in case'. Either smoke it and then quit or destroy it and quit.
i always thought 'if I have 'em, I'll smoke 'em' but if you don't have it-you can't smoke it.
Great job in joining Ex-it's made the difference for me!!
Oh I didn't save it. I smoked it and told it goodbye. I needed a lighter today to light my wax warmer and I went outside and I found one that apparently forgotten about. I decided to run back in the house. I couldn't bring myself to touch it. I am going to ask my husband to throw it away for me.
Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking! You won't regret it. I strongly encourage you to read the Easy Way by Allen Carr. It will change the way you think about smoking. Someone will be along to send you the link.