Day 1

[Madmabel21]

My mind is racing wanting that fix. I will fight that all day and I will win today.

It's crazy how a very very small portion of our brain controls addiction. 

[Barbara145]

Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking. Stay close to this site. A short walk when I came to the end of my rope always helped.    Take good care of yourself.

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome!

An important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. I was amazed when I learned that the stress reduction you feel when you ingest nicotine is caused by the brain receptors calming that have gradually built in volume jonesing for their next fix!  I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking”  that brings light two other things you might not know.  You can purchase a digital version online or borrow it at your local library.  Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: Nicotine and Your Brain.

I quit many years ago , and I base my overall recommendations on my experience and that of others here over the years. If you decide to use a quit aid, I recommend those that don't let the addict control the dose such as Rx drugs and the patch. Lozenges and gum are fine, but don't sub them for every cigarette you used to smoke.  That will simply be substituting one addiction for another.  Have a plan to reduce use over time. Each cigarette you smoked contained about 1 mg of nicotine. If you use more than one form of NRT, be sure you aren't getting more than when you smoked.

To better deal with the habit part of the addiction, change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit.  If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your walking shoes on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! .  Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.

After you have eliminated as many associations as you can, you need to distract yourself through any craves.  You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game.  Keep a cold bottle of water with you. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. You might visit Games: The active ones are at the top of the list going down the left side of the page.

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.

You might want to join other site members by taking the daily pledge when you quit. It helps to hold yourself accountable and also accountable to others here. Find it at Home (top left), then first box titled Take the Daily Pledge.

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

[Barbscloud]

@Madmabel21 Congrats on your first day.  I hope you read some of the material suggested earlier.  Knowledge and preparation are keys to success.

Stay busy today and stay close to the site. Reach out anytime you're tempted, not after.  It works.

You got this.

Barb

[Madmabel21]

@Barbscloud thank you. I'm very tempted to stop at the store,  I'm out running errands.  

I'm doing deep breath and I keep repeating I am a quitter of smoking. 

[Barbscloud]

@Madmabel21 Don't stop.   Take a different route, listen to music, sign, etc.  You don't really need them -- it's the addiction talking.  You'll be so proud of your first day won, so don't look back.

I always kept Sour Patch Kids and straws to chew on in my car!

Glad you posted. You got this.  

Barb

[Madmabel21]

@Barbscloud you are so right, it's the addiction talking.  

I have life savers in my pocket and gum in the console.

I drove right past the 2 stores I would normally stop at and now taking a different route I will pass the other 2 stores.

Shannon

[Barbscloud]

@Madmabel21 Shannon.  So proud of you.  This will get easier.

(that was supposed to say SING!)

Barb

[CommunityAdmin]

Welcome @Madmabel21! My name is Quiana, and I am a part of the EX Team. Congratulations on your decision to quit! I wanted to reach out and personally welcome you to the EX Community! We are so excited you have joined us. This is a very supportive community so feel free to keep us all posted on your quit journey reach out and let us know if you need anything.

Here are some articles that might be helpful as you prepare for your quit date: 

https://www.becomeanex.org/ex-resources/about-quitting/get-ready-to-quit/right-before-you-quit/

https://www.becomeanex.org/ex-resources/about-quitting/get-ready-to-quit/3-ways-to-get-your-support-...

Quiana, EX Team

[Thyme]

Congrats on your first day and on posting here instead of going to the store. It really does get easier with time.

[Madmabel21]

@Thyme thank you. 

I just have to create a new mind set. 

[Madmabel21]

I made it home without stopping at the store. Its a very small victory. 

[Barbscloud]

@Madmabel21  No.    It's HUGE victory.  Be proud.  Every day is a success.

Barb

[Patrick1234]

you're staying strong!  keep fighting it is worth it. you are almost through with the hardest part. once you have 2 weeks it will get easier and the worst is the first 3 days.  think of yourself as a nonsmoker and resist the temptation.   remember you are addicted to nicotine so having even just 1 cigarette and you'll have to go through this all over again. 

[Barbscloud]

@Madmabel21 How are things going today?  I hope better.

Barb

[Madmabel21]

I failed.

But I am here today to start over.

[Barbscloud]

@Madmabel21 You didn't fail.  It's a learning process.  What did you learn that you could do differently?  Have you tried walking when you have a crave?  I would just take intermittent walks throughout the day.  It's a great way to refocus your thoughts and get that added boost of dopamine. Reaching out worked, so why not try that again.  

Happy to see you're taking advantage the Daily Pledge.  It's a great way to stay accountable to yourself and support your fellow quitters.   

And don't forget to use your Deep Breathing exercises.  

Stay busy and stay close.

Hugs, Barb

[Madmabel21]

I learned a lesson. Don't listen to the inside voice telling you that you need it. It's not worth it. 

Deep breaths, short walks, and anything else to keep me busy.

I will stay close to the site.

[Madmabel21]

Daughters took me out to keep me from sitting around all morning. 

We just got back and I'm going to clean out my car.

[Barbscloud]

@Madmabel21 That's great that your  daughters are part of your quit team.  We can use all the support we can get.

Happy Mother's day!

Stay busy and stay close.

Barb

[JonesCarpeDiem]

Willingness not Willpower will bring you success.

Who or what are we really fighting?

A drug.

A ritual

A routine

Acceptance

[Madmabel21]

@Barbscloud thank you.

Happy Mother's Day  to you.

I'm staying close and checking in often.  Staying very busy

[Madmabel21]

Now that I have retired to the couch for the night,the craving  hits and hits hard. 

I have my water,gum, and life savers in an arms reach. 

[Madmabel21]

Day 1 May 12, 2024 is in the books.

I did it!!!

[Barbscloud]

@Madmabel21 Congrats on first day won!  Even sleeping is a way not to smoke. 

Reminder yourself "I don't do that anymore".   There are some times I still remind myself of that.

Keep up the good work.  These first days are difficult, but  it will get easier.  

Stay in touch.

Barb

[Madmabel21]

@Barbscloud . Thank you. 

I quiet many years ago for about 7 years. Then one day I picked it back up, worse decision I made.

I'm gonna stay busy and strong. 

Shannon 

[Barbscloud]

@Madmabel21 That's more than I can say.  I attempted to quit many times.  The longest was a month and it was usually a week.   That's lots of years without the negative effects from smoking.  

Barb

[Madmabel21]

It was a long time ago. 

Now I have a problem my husband is coming home and he is a heavy smoker. 

I'm gonna stay away from him 😆 

I will ask him to not smoke around me

[Barbscloud]

@Madmabel21 That's tough.  But always remember, it's your quit, no ne else's.  Ask him to help by not smoking around you.  I didn't smoke in my house for years FOR ME, no one else.

I just feel like you can do this.

Barb

[Barbscloud]

Posted twice???

[Madmabel21]

@Barbscloud , yes its my quit and no one else's. I will ask him and he usually does what I ask. But this one might be hard one for him and who knows he may stop as well, we will see.

I'll keep busy and stay strong.