7 days until the big day =)

[stephanie123]

Hello everyone!

So I have 7 days until my quit date and even though I'm a little scared, I'm more determined than ever. Every time I go to the store, I grab gum (sugar free) so I have a collection at this point. I also have tons of cranberry juice. Thanks Joel for that. I bought a Christian based board game to play with the family and a couple of puzzles so that I have some activities to do with the family instead of isolating myself. My quit date is my birthday which some people have said that it's a bad idea, but I think it's quite the opposite. My husband has the day off and apparently he's already arranged for a babysitter for our three kids so he can take me on a date. That's the only information he has let me in on at this time. Regardless, it being a day out of the ordinary will actually help me because it will bring me out of routine. Anyway, any suggestions would still be appretiated. I'm doing this cold turkey so I'm not using anything with nicotene to help me. I've used several different types in the past and they only made things worse for me. The definition of insanity is trying things over and over again expecting different results. So no patch, nicorete gum, e-cig, pills, etc... Even family activities that I haven't thought about yet, please any suggestions?

[kristen-9-7-15]

Lucky you you get to go on a date! Have you read the Allen Carr book? That is my suggestion.

[Puff-TM-Draggin]

I'm with Kristen, if you haven't already.  Staying busy is key.  Don't give yourself time to dwell on the nagging discomfort.  It will pass.  Lot's of deep breaths, cold water, emergency crave buster like space in your freezer to stick your head or a fat, juicy lemon ... and then stay close to this site.  If you need a distraction to pass a crave, log on, Blog on, and wait for HELP to come.

I'm so glad your husband supports your quit.  Make it worth his while by being successful.  I know you can do it.  You know you can too.  It's not you that's nervous.  That's your addiction talking.  Your addiction is nervous because it knows you can quit too.  Your addiction should be nervous.  Very nervous.

Be successful.  Be well.

[stephanie123]

Yeah I've read the book. I read it during the summer. It made me so on edge. A friend had let me borrow it and at the time, I considered it an x-factor. I would chain smoke while reading because I was so stressed by what I was reading. I'm not sure why it had that effect on me, but it did. 

[stephanie123]

Last winter, we bought our first home and I'm still trying to get that settled in feel and the right rhythm with cleaning so I have a list a mile long of things to do around the house especially with winter and Thanksgiving/Christmas right around the corner. Staying busy isn't going to be an issue. 

My husband quit smoking last spring because our 3 year old daughter questioned him about smoking. He had one of those awesome moments when the second he heard her talk about cigarette, he put the cigarette out and hasn't had one since. He knows it's been more difficult for me so he's trying to be there for me as much as possible.

Thanks!

[YoungAtHeart]

Are you able to do the tracking and putting each cigarette off for a bit now?  I found that didn't work for me - but I know it did for others.  The ideas are to KNOW your triggers so you can plan what you will differently to get past them - and to understand that YOU can control if you smoke or not.  Even delaying for five minutes while you get busy is the idea. 

Maybe the whole family can join you in a circle of slow, deep breathing?   If you don't know the technique, check out "yoga breathing" on the 'net.  You know they want you to quit - so involve them.  You might even try putting some music on and everybody dance and sing out loud to it!  Do you have games to play with them - like checkers?  Maybe buy a Wii with the money you are saving by not buying cigarettes and everybody can join in?

Just some thoughts.....................

Nancy

[TerrieQuit]

I t sounds like you are planning and have a stratedgy Go for it! You can do this!

Terrie  117  DOF

[Legend]

Keeping busy helps so when people tell you that they know what they are talking about. Make a list of things you like to do so when a hard moment comes you have your list to fall back on to do something. 

[Giulia]

The less you build up your quit day in your mind as far as the negatives, and the more you build up the positives,  the better off you'll be.  It's only as big as the moutain you perceive it.  When I quit, I spent a month getting my head in the right place, understood what I might be in for but didn't ASSUME it would be as awful as I imagined. And I accepted the journey - however it came.  Jut keep spending as much time as you can on here reading.  Strong preparation makes for a strong quit.  You also need to take what works and let go of what doesn't.  Obviously the Carr book made you smoke more than less.  So that's not a good tool for you as it is for others.  Sometimes we need to discover and create our OWN tools.  I wrote positive notes to myself, like "you CAN!" do this!"  "Don't be  whimp!"  "When nothing is certain everything is possible" etc. and put them on stickies arond the house.  And for a family activity - what about  "Tell Mommy why your want her to quit."  Put them all in a quit notebook, or a jar and revisit them often..  Of course if your children are 3, 2 and 1 that might be a bit difficult but use you're imagination.  You're a writer, after all, right!  So you must have lots of imagination. USE it!