Your Quit Is Not Here

[SimplySheri]

~~You will see me struggle but you will never see me quit.~~  Unknown

You aren't going to find your quit here.  You will find suggestions, advice, encouragement, tips, hints, and information.  But you won't find your quit here.

You aren't going to find your quit in an NRT.  No patch has the answer for you.  No gum takes the challenge from you.

Your quit is within you.  Seriously.  Take time away from the internet, away from well-intentioned friends, away from all the information on why quitting is necessary and good and do-able.

Take time to look within.  Are you willing to stop believing you will fail?  Do you know that quitting is entirely possible AND that you can do it?  Can you acknowledge that it is time to stop setting yourself up to fail and just do it, come hell or high water?  Most importantly, are you willing to undergo anything....absolutely anything....rather than pick up another cigarette?

Because those who are serious about quitting no matter what, will quit.  Those who give themselves an out by doubting themselves, by being worried about failing, by wondering if they are ready, usually don't.

You see, the quit isn't in the NRTs, although they can certainly help the craves.  The quit isn't in the support, although support while quitting can inspire and motivate.  The quit isn't even in this site, although this site is the absolute BEST for information, knowledge, support, and wisdom.

The quit, my friend, is in you.  Only you.  And if you succeed, it's because you wanted to.  And if you return to smoking, it's because you wanted to.  Not something you want to hear, I know.  It's not the stress and it's not the pain and it's not the loss you suffered that returns you to cigarettes, it's you.

So take smoking off the table.  Once you quit, KNOW in your heart that you will never....no matter what....ever pick up another one.  It's there in you where you'll find your quit.  It's through your strength, your commitment, your courage that you will keep your quit.

The NRTs, the EX site, the friendships.....are all for maintaining what you already have inside you.  You are the foundation of your quit.  Know that.  Because once you do, you will find your quit and you will delight in it.  I'm sure of it 🙂 

[Drella13]

You can do it!!!  My doctors have also told me that although the goal is to get off NRTs as well, smoking is so much worse for me.  One step at a time.  There's nothing wrong, or shameful, with using the patch, gum, etc, if it helps ease the struggle of your quit, especially in the beginning, which is the most intense.  Stay strong!

[elvan]

Joykitchen‌ and Drella13‌ Of COURSE, you can do this...stay close to the site, reach out and help will be there.

Welcome to EX.

Ellen

[Kschipani]

Today is my first day of quitting. I’ve tried many times but this time it feels reachable. I want this for myself so bad. My husband is still smoking and I know that’s an obstacle I’ll need to conquer. I just needed to put it out there that I’m doing this quit. One day down. I hope everyone doing this quit will be successful.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

Congratulations.

We're all here to hold your hand.

[elvan]

Welcome to EX...read everything you can about nicotine addiction, reach out for the support that is readily available here, and COMMIT. Ask your husband to support your quit by not smoking in your home...it might help him cut back as well.  YoungAtHeart‌ welcomes people and I am going to paste her welcome here for you.  I am Ellen, am coming up on five years of freedom, best gift I have ever given myself.

Here is Nancy's welcome:

Youngatheart.7.4.12

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 highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. You can search for it  or at your local library. Here's a link to a video here on the site which describes nicotine addiction:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.
 
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-exhas lots of blogs written by members of this site with their experiences and guidance.  You should also do the tracking and separation exercises recommended here on the site.
 
 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 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

I also strongly recommend reading this blog by JonesCarpeDiem‌ /blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2011/06/26/what-to-expect-in-the-first-four-months 

You CAN do this.

Welcome to EX,

Ellen

[Kschipani]

Today I really struggled. I messed up and had 1 cigarette  tonight. I’m not starting over again. I’m getting back on my quit plan immediately. I’m so bummed because I hadn’t been having strong withdrawal. Today is day 3. It hit me hard today. I will do better tomorrow. Thank you for your support.

[elvan]

That third day can be a rough one.  I am so proud of you for getting right back to your quit, that is the best thing ever.  We cannot be complacent about our quits...we have to be on guard all the time.  The beginning is not easy, this is a journey and many of us had to start it more than once.  You CAN do this.

Ellen

[tracy.29]

I want to

[JonesCarpeDiem]

welcome.

you can get started anytime but it's best to decide to quit before you get started.

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/thread/6040-my-welcome-to-new-members-10-years-of-wisdom- 

[Redhead101]

My quit days tommarow for me,,so how long have you been quit?