2 weeks until the big Q

[BlazinReapr666]

Hey everyone. I’m happy to say that I’m finally taking the steps to quit vaping and smoking cigarettes. This has been a long time coming and I’m proud to be able to admit that I am an addict. Its something I’ve always known and tried to fight but just couldn’t. I have to say that I’m scared. What’s set me on this path is a deep spiritual need for change. I can’t keep doing this. Otherwise I’ll smoke myself to death. I have a heavy dependency on nicotine and this is the first time I’m reaching out to quit. What scares me is that explosive tendencies and agitation throughout the days of trying to quit. Already feeling like I need to smoke even if I already have just because I’m stressed out. It’s safe to say that no edge gets taken away. I simply sustain myself. Or get temporary nicotine poisoning. I’m quoting on December 13th I was going to do the 5th because I need to stop now but 13 is my lucky number and it just so happens that this program recommended 2 weeks preparation which makes my quit date fall right on the 13th.this is my time to quit. Ive never cried such a light and happy cry until today. Typing this up even brings tears to my eyes. I’ve already been going through a lot and being sick all the time only makes things harder. So this is necessary. The best part of today is that I took one huge weight off my back. Yes I have a problem. And that’s okay because I’m out to beat it. The worst part of quitting anything is the fact that you have to our smart your smartest self. I know I can do it I just hope my family can bare with me long enough to get over the worst part... Withdrawing... I plan to try to write one of these everyday for myself and anyone who thinks they can’t quit. We can we just have to want  enough. I want to be able to come back to this first blog in 10 years from now just to read through how hard of a war I fought. It’s war because I’ll have to battle each and everyday. In war you don’t win every battle but it’s how you take that defeat that makes your success worth it. I look forward to making new friends and overall just taking this journey with all of you other brave souls trying to better yourselves. I look forward to laughing and crying with all who are touched by this message.  I know I’ll be able to do this as long as I make sure to write. So please help inspire me by telling me your stories. Why’d you start? What made you need to quit? And in time as I write these blogs you’ll get to know me and my story. Let’s keep each other inspired to stay true to our goals even in our darkest minutes of of the hour and the days. I’m at that point where I’ll be taking my fight by the seconds, up until the minutes can pass and eventually hours. Then days, weeks, months and then from that point years. So if I’m ready to do this anyone of your are too. Have some faith in you and love yourself a little. It wasn’t until I hated myself the most in these recent times that I knew I could quit. 
so I hope I can inspire those to have a different tomorrow. I’ll have my own tomorrow soon.

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to the community!

I thought I was going to be the last smoker standing!  I thought it was just going to be too difficult to quit.  And then a vascular surgeon gave me bad news, and quitting seemed much easier than the possibility of maybe losing a leg to poor circulation.  I quit on my first and only attempt at it, I think because I decided  the option to smoke was not ever going to be available to me.

The important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind.   I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.”  You can search for it online or at your local library.  Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.

If you decide to use a quit aid, let me know and I will give you my thoughts on them.  It will be informative if you do the tracking and separation exercises recommended here on the site. As you track each cigarette smoked, note its importance, and what you might do instead. Put each one off just a little to prove that you don't NEED a cigarette just because you think you do.
 

The idea is to change up your routines and distract yourself through any craves.  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 for a  different view. Buy your gas at a different station and take a different route to work.

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.   You might visit “Games”: https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/games.   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

[sweetplt]

Hi and Welcome to Ex’s BlazinReapr666 

Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking...be sure to check out the https:// offered to you by Nancy YoungAtHeart above me.  Also, rid all smoking and vaping paraphernalia before you quit.  Please come to the support site to get help and/or encourage others on this journey.  Two things that helped me a lot early in my quit, was taking lots of walks, jigsaw puzzle, knitting and breathing exercises...(see below for exercise). You can do this ... we are here to help...Now get working...~ Colleen 727 DOF

[maryfreecig]

Welcome to Ex. You have found a community of quitters that will support you 24/7. Many have found that they can quit no matter how they feel--scared, confused, upside down and so on. You are not alone. Congratulations on your decision to quit. You will not regret.

Below are a few good reads and a link to my own story which I started in 2014 about 7 months after quitting (it's an offsite google blog FYI)

Getting Better  by Thomas

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/community/expert-advice/blog/2020/10/07/rationalizing-smoking NDC Team

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/community/expert-advice/blog/2020/11/12/the-willpower-paradox-usi... NDC Team

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/newbie-quitters/blog/2019/01/27/one-of-the-greatest-tools-...  by Jackie

Quitting Cigarettes Journal 

[Thesegoto11]

You've made an important first step. Here's wishing you a successful Quit. Some answers to your questions:

Q. Why’d you start?
A. Started after being drafted into the military in the '70s. After my discharge, quit for two years then started up again when I roomed with a guy at college who I really admired and who smoked. Smoked for another 30 years.

Q. What made you need to quit?
A. A lot of people quit in their 50s. You get tired of having this stupid little habit exert such control over you. Seriously, do you want to get dressed and go out in 20-degree weather in the middle of the night just to buy a pack of cigarettes? Plus, a lot of people in that age bracket think, "I've been lucky not to come down with a serious health problem so far, but do I really want to push it?"

Although I'm new to this site, can attest to the fact there are some really knowledgeable and caring folks on it as evidenced by the preceding comments.  If you follow even a smattering of their advice, you should succeed. Best of luck.

[elvan]

Welcome to EX, do the reading and preparation and remember that quitting is a journey and not an event, it WILL get easier. You have come to the right place.

Ellen