And here I am, 1 year later...

[lindal2]

Thinking about quiting again. I messed up after not very long being quit.

Got married in June, changed my name and e-mail if anyone had it.

I have been on disability for a year now. My back is a mess and I can't sit or stand or lay for very long at a time. I've been through all kinds of fu***** up treatments and nothing helps so far. Going in to try nerve-burning soon.

I'm aware that my smoking may be making it worse. And I'm aware that I need to quit smoking. I'm SO aware! I need to change my thinking, I need to remember why I wanted to quit in the first place. I need to start preparing myself to quit. But every time I do that, something happens to shoot me down again.

Ugh....

My name is Linda and I'm a stupid idiot nicotine addict.

[Thomas3.20.2010]

Hi, Linda! 

It's good to see you here! I see that you have been through a lot and I also see that you are down on yourself! We need to build ou back up!

I won't tell you the obvious because you probably already know that! I'll just say that you are not being very kind to yourself! Perhaps you can start there! No more name calling, eh! 

Come join us at Positive Affirmations for Success:

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/positive-affirmations-and-support

Once you join you can share in the discussion called Love Yourself. Meanwhile review the reading and ake your lists. 

We're right here 24/7!

[plug66]

hi linda, glad you are here...we have all called ourselves names, and i myself have screwed up many quits, so ease up on yourself...when we quit trying to quit is when we would need to call ourselves names...being in pain is really hard to live with, i hope you find some relief and i'm sure things will get better try to stay on the positive side

[Deena-A-Yenni]

So am I BUT we shall prevail!!

[JonesCarpeDiem]

then something happens?

[SimplySheri]

Ouch....kinda hard on yourself, aren't you?  Smoking is an addiction.  You have not yet broken that addiction.  It doesn't matter what is going on in your life, as smoking doesn't do a thing to make it better. 

Gain some information and knowledge here.  So many people can help!!  Once you understand addiction, you will be better able to cope with your recovery.

One more thing.  Learn to like yourself...learn to love yourself.  You are about to become your own hero 🙂

[ShawnP]

welcome back!

Do the reading and prepare yourself. LIfe is going to happen but you have the power to say NO! Make that committment to yourself to Never take another puff again, regardless.

[shashort]

Hi welcome to the community. Wow don't be to hard on yourself.  Lots of support here to get you through.

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome back to our community!

Please don't be so down on yourself.  This is an addiction from which you need to recover - and it takes planning, preparation, commitment and support.  We can help with all but the commitment.  Most folks here had many attempts at quitting before they were successful.

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. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

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. You should also do the tracking and separation exercises suggested on this 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. 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:

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

[constanceclum]

Welcome back! I am newly back too. My quit date is 8/8 but maybe earlier. We can continue to support and encourage each other.

Connie

[elvan]

Welcome back, it is good to hear from you.  We have all been where you are...try to treat yourself the way you would treat others.  I doubt that you would call someone else a "stupid idiot addict"...I think that you would show more compassion to anyone other than yourself.  I agree with Thomas that you need to start there.  I am scheduled to have nerves in my back blocked in September, not sure it will do any good but it is worth a shot.

Start with taking care of yourself and valuing yourself...you DESERVE to be smoke free.

[TerrieQuit]

Hello, Lynda and Welcome back to EX! We are so glad you are here! This is a great place to quit smoking. You have been given links to great information and good advice above. 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!

Please, You are  not stupid, many people (most) have a rough time! Stop beating yourself up! I made my quit, my top priority, and nothing, I mean NOTING, came before my quit! I was very committed to it. That is what made it so successful, along with the other things mentioned above. The support here at EX also plays a very important role! We are here for you!

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 and take the person's hand before you and promise not to smoke!  You can state your # of days, post a picture or whatever you want! This is your quit be proud of it! Please join us!

http://community.becomeanex.org/pg/forum/topic/8480285/stay-active-in-august-it-may-just-save-your-q...

This link is also on my page and is also a featured group on our home page!

Hope to see you there!    Terrie

I Won't Quit on my Quit!

If you would like to join the group, use the link below, and look to the left, there is a place that says join group, just click it!

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/daily-pledge

If you have any trouble getting into the group, just let me know and I'll try to help!

[Giulia]

Welcome back Linda.

You don't need to remember why you want to quit.  Why you want to quit is the same reason all of us want/wanted to quit.  Because smoking harms us.  We can come up with lists of many more specific reasons (I'll save money, I'll smell better, etc. etc.), but the bottom line is - Smoking HARMS us.  It kills us s.l.o.w.l.y. 

You say every time you start preparing yourself to quit, something happens to shoot you down.  May I suggest rather than accusing something ELSE of causing the fact that you can't get started or relapse, that perhaps it is the excuses you are allowing.  We've all made excuses to not follow through with our quits or to not get started.  Welcome to the club.

Part of what we learn on this site is to come to grips with the fact that addictive thinking is excuse ridden.  Here's a blog that might help you get your head together:  Junkie Thinking

Think back on each of  those "happenings" that you believe shot down your attempts.  I can pretty much assure you that not ONE is anything but an excuse.  There are people here who have gone through hell and back and STILL managed to do it.

It's just a matter of commitment and realizing and releasing the excuses.  Any reason to smoke, is an excuse to do so once you've made the decision not to.  The more you read on here, the more you'll understand that.  So read much!  Learn, absorb, and try to think of quitting as a wonderful challenge that will empower you and change your life in most remarkable ways!  Because it DOES!