Day 1 again

[cat39]

Zowie.  Lots of drama going on in my head today.  Be over, be gone, leave me now, you stupid cravings! 

Taking lots of deep breaths and making home-made V-8 juice.  Tell me it's all gonna (someday) be okay.  Boy, did I mess up.  This, so far, is the hardest time I've had and I don't know why.  It should get easier to leave the thoughts behind, but, oh--not so, my friends.

Soldiering on--

[wishingstar]

You going to do this and you will do this, this hell. will not last for ever.

[YoungAtHeart]

It might help you to write down both how awful you felt when you relapsed, and how difficult starting over is.  Keep it handy so if you are ever tempted again, you can remind yourself why it isn't worth it!!!

Remember, the first week is probably the worst, and it gets a smidge easier each week after that.  I found that it was much easier after a month.

Do remember to distract yourself.  There are lists of things to do instead of smoke on my page if you need a refresher.  Being physically active can stop a crave, and it has the double bonus of providing you with some dopamine.

You CAN do this!  Good that you blogged - whines are welcome; it's what we do when we quit smoking1

Nancy

Quit 7/4/12

[SmokedOut041412]

Oh my, does this bring back (not so fond) memories. I found the more times I had to "start over" the harder it became.

Please stop the self torture---make this your FOREVER QUIT. You CAN---I know it.

♥

My names is Teresa & I have been quit for 1 Year, 4 Months, 2 Weeks, 11 hours, 30 minutes and 7 seconds (501 days). I have saved $2,053.55 by not smoking 7,020 cigarettes. I have saved 3 Weeks, 3 Days and 9 hours of my life. My Quit Date: 4/14/2012 12:00 AM

[SRMezler]

We have to listen to the ones that have quit for awhile now. You can do this. Read the blogs and send them, no matter how you feel it helps. Love Nonna

[cat39]

http://youtu.be/ZTKu-L1b--o

[Connie55]

So, did you do all the reading recommended by this site at tegh start of your quit? It  may be helpful to go back again and re-read? You say above "boy, did I mess up", analyze what you did and why. That will help you make a plan to avoid pitfalls.

[joyeuxencore]

How many day ones are you going to suffer through friend?! Do some reading!

PLAN for what you will do instead of smoke when you get cravings...my favorite has been jumping jacks and biting a lemon (instant crave buster) also telling myself each time how exciting!!! I GET TO RE-LEARN HOW TO...DRIVE TO WORK...LEAVE THE GROCERY STORE...HAVE A BREAK...CLEAN MY HOUSE.. without a cigarette...eventually I actually believed it was exciting and GOT EXCITED about re-learning how to live without the nasty things...I'm still excited...be excited...you've made a choice...You can do what it takes to honor that decision no matter what happens! Your NEW NORMAL is an exciting adventure land where beauty, peace and coping skills are a way of life...I kept visualizing my new normal and watching me in it smiling, joyful, able to handle the life stuff as it comes with grace, dignity, integrity...I feel like I am living that now…truly in it and loving life again…DO it Cat...

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

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/pir8fan-blog/2013/01/15/key-to-freedom-remember-your-lifeli...

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/SkyGirl-blog/2013/03/07/skygirl-broken-record      

http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksAAddiction.html         

[whognu_1-2007]

first, you have to believe there's an end to the worst of the quitting process.

for many it can be 4 1/2 months. it's called no mans land.

you have to commit to getting through no mans land.

[Leeza]

Just as every snowflake is different so are our quits and yes the relapses too.  I found the quotation below extremely useful in handling my "recovery symptoms"... aka craves and urges.  Let's try putting a different more positive head spin on what you are experiencing and perhaps that will help you in your new non-smoking life.  You are recovering.  Your are working on getting healthier.  Don't give that whole new future up to satisfy an urge.  And rest assured that it will get less and less intense the longer you remain smoke-free.

“The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want most for what you want right now”. ― Zig Ziglar