Crazy thoughts at 6 weeks

[Mamadoo]

In a few hours, my clock on my phone will hit six weeks. It also says I have not smoked over 1000 cigarettes, I have saved nearly $300, and a whole host of positive health consequences have been achieved. So why I am I obsessing over a smoke this morning? I know I am in what you all refer to as "No Man's Land" and I will get through it. Trying to laugh at that crazy little voice telling me that I can go to 7-11 and buy a pack to "just have one." I will not do it. But I look forward to these thoughts passing. Good vibes welcome today:)

[Ex_Nancy]

CONGRATS on 6 WEEKS!!!  You are not on an NRT so you are having smoking 'memories' and DWELLING on them...to weaken the thoughts distract yourself....here's an article from whyquit.com that helps....

What happens to some people is that when they are off smoking for a certain time period they start fixating on a cigarette. By that I mean they forget all the bad cigarettes they ever smoked, they forget the ones they smoked without ever really thinking about them even at the time they were being smoked, and they start to remember and focus on one good cigarette. It may be one they smoked 20 years earlier but it was a good one and they now want one again.

It's a common tactic for the ex-smokers to try and tell themselves that they do not really want that "good" cigarette. Well, the problem is, at that moment they really do want it. An internal debate erupts, "I want one, no I don't, one sounds great, no it doesn't, oh just one, not just one!" The problem is that if the ex-smoker's focus is on just "one" cigarette then there is no clear-cut winning side to the debate. The ex-smoker needs to change the internal discussion.

Don't say that you don't want one when you do, rather acknowledge the desire but ask yourself, "Do I want all the other cigarettes that go with it." Then, "do I want the package deal that goes with the others? The expense, social stigma, smell, health effects, possible loss of life. Do I want to go back to smoking, full-fledged, until it cripples and kills me?"

Stated like this it normally is not a back and forth debate. The answer will normally be, "No, I don't want to smoke under these terms," and those are the only terms that a cigarette comes with.

Normally if viewed like this the debate is over almost immediately after being pulled into focus. Again, if the focus is only one, you can drive yourself nuts throughout the entire day. If you focus on the whole package deal, you will walk away from the moment relieved to still be smoke free and sufficiently reinforced to NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!

[maxsmiles]

I've been jolted by those strong thoughts about wanting to smoke myself.  The Vets. tell me they are just thoughts.  So far I have been able to move ahead and stay smoke free.  They tell me each time I successfully resist a strong urge to smoke that I am stronger.  They tell me to do whatever the situation calls fo to protect my quit.  Today I promise not to smoke right along with you.  Prosper,

[Mamadoo]

Thanks Nancy and Max! I appreciate your kindness and encouragment. Not planning a trip to the gas station but ready to stop these thoughts:)

[lisa11209]

Hey there, Nancy and Max have given you great advice.  I can add nothing except - Stick with it!  It does get easier and the freedom is worth the journey.