Count down to quit date

[jaysjenn]

My quit date is 10 days from now. I have wanted to quit for years, but being a delivery driver seems to be my biggest worry.  After dropping off a persons food, I get in my car and light up, as I have done for the past 30 years in the resturant business. The other MAJOR problem is the closer my date gets, the more I want to smoke, like having one last trist with lover. Is this a normal reaction or is there such a thing as normal when it comes to this? I am having trouble wrapping my brain around this, I have giving up every vice that I have been addicted to just by waking up one day and decided that was my last day of using whatever.  (There have been quite a few of the whatevers.)  Why are smokes so blasted different ?  I am thinking cold turkey, but my husband fears for his life if thats the case. Help in Tennessee please.... I am open to any and all suggestions

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

I was terrified, too, as I approached my quit date, and pretty much chain smoked up to that day. However, I had not found this site or done the readings which we will link for you.  DO the readings.  I promise they will make all the difference in the world.  It will also be helpful in determining what quit aid might work best for you (or cold turkey).  We will also provide distraction tools that you will use to help with the crankiness and cravings.

The most important thing you can do to start is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your mind and body. 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, do the tracking and separation exercises, and read the blogs, responses and pages of folks you think might be helpful. You might also want to visit quitsmokingonline.com, and whyquit.com.

After you have completed the readings, it will be time to make your quit plan, including what quit aid , if any, you will use, and the crave busters you think will work for you. Then you can approach your quit day with a plan in place.  

We want to help you be sucessful, so ask questions as you have them and for support when you need it!

Nancy

[Strudel]

Hi - welcome to the site and congrats on deciding to quit! I smoked for 40 years and I did it - so, you can too! I found that if I kept a bottle of cold water (in small cooler) in my car - when I returned to the car - I could look forward to that cool, refreshing drink! 

Be sure to check out the reading Nancy gave you - Carr's book and the free course at - http://quitsmokingonline.com/ 

[joyeuxencore]

HI there!!!

The fear of quitting is worse than the actual quitting. It is a DECISION and you honor that decision every minute of every day. Honestly my EXperience is that with focus, determination and commitment it was not that hard. It takes walking through some uncomfortable days and the actual withdrawal is no worse than having a cold. When I finally got through those first few days I was mad at myself for waiting so long...We will help you every step of the way.

Have you seen these 'prepare to quit' videos on www.whyquit.com ? There are videos for the first week of your quit...It is a tremendous help...Also are you doing the prep to quit exercises on the EX homepage???

Preparing to quit          http://whyquit.com/joel/dayzero.htm  

The first week     http://ffn.yuku.com/forums/170           

http://www.becomeanex.org/docs/nicotine_withdrawal.pdf

Prepare a 'quit kit' composed of a list of distraction techniques and things to help you through like cinnamon sticks, crunchy things (carrots, celery, chips some hard candy, lots of water), lemons…biting into a lemon or sticking your head in the freezer and taking a deep breath gets you through.

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/aztec-blog/2012/10/16/things-to-do-instead-of-smoke

Make a list of all the reasons you want to quit and keep it with you to read at all times.

And here is what you have to look forward to…my favorite post from one of our beloved members:

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Thomas3.20.2010-blog/2013/03/10/gifts-for-body-mind-and-spi...  

Being educated and prepared is the way to freedom! xo

[moody_9-18-13]

jaysjenn, I sat here and thought, what the heck, the THREE most knowledgeable women I know about quitting, came together all on one blog and you have been given the very best of the best advice a person could have.

You're one lucky person. Young at Heart, Strudel and TeddyJoy are the women of quitting! Listen to every word they say to you.

Welcome aboard, these are the three women that helped me reach 128 smokefree days after 40 years of smoking a pack a day. They're my 3 favorite ladies in the whole world.

[jaysjenn]

Thanks so much for the links and information to help me make what is the 3rd best day of my life (wedding and our sons birth). Time to follow some links and educate myself to find what my plan of action will be.  9 days till quit date. With such a strong support system already I have no intention of failing. Thanks to all...