Day has been awful.

[lee76]

Woke up today in a sweat from a bad dream. The dream was about something specific that has really been haunting me lately so needless to say, I woke up in sort of a panic and IMMEDIATELY wanted a cigarette. I got up, tried to brush it off, eat and chew some gum, and then went outside for some deep breaths. The breathing didnt work so well and I ended up sitting there for 10 minutes sort of lost in my own chaotic chain of thoughts and ended up being late for what I was supposed to be doing. The cravings have been extremely bad all day too. The worst I've experienced yet BY FAR. I even texted my friend at one point, as if to reach out for support, and said "Im THIS close to just lighting up." Im doing a little better now, but Im sure within the next thirty minutes or so Ill want to smoke. Im trying to stick with chewing my gum as much as I can to take the oral fixation edge off a bit and Ive decided Im going to go out to see a friend tonight and try to get my mind off of it. I dont know though. Today has really sucked unfortunately. Hopefully going out will get my mind off of it.

[lois13]

you are doing great, we all have these days, i have been like that for 3 days, don't know why go read Dale no mans land, that may help, we can do this

[Julia_Amy]

You may feel it but you have done VERY well today.  You were challenged over and over and you employed many tactics and distractions and MADE IT THROUGH!  Think about it Lee...you just proved you could out think it!  Stay strong!!!!  WRITE to us if you feel at risk!

[lisa11209]

Hey there, thanks for writing.  Julia is right, you have done very well today.  Protect your quit and know that smoking will NOT make anything better!  You can absolutely keep up your very good quit.

[lee76]

Thanks guys. Im trying to keep strong and just NOT smoke, whatever I do.

[Ex_Nancy]

Maybe this will help...TELL those smoking thoughts to GET OUT!!!....Take CONTROL and KICK THEM TO THE CURB....

This may be the most deeply ingrained rationalization of all as it has a solid basis in the following flawed denial logic. "I don't do things that I don't like to do." "I smoke lots and lots of cigarettes." "Therefore, I must really enjoy smoking," instead of the correct conclusion, "therefore, I must really be chemically addicted to smoking nicotine." Did you enjoy being the unaddicted "you" or have you forgotten what it was like to live comfortably inside a mind that does not crave for nicotine? If you cannot remember what it was like being "you" then what basis do you have for honest comparison? If you truly enjoyed being addicted to nicotine then why are you here reading these words? Is it that you liked smoking or that you liked not having to experience what occurred when you didn't smoke - withdrawal?

Studies have long ranked nicotine as a more addictive substance than either heroin or cocaine. In fact, cocaine's generally recognized addiction rate among regular users is 15% while nicotine's addiction rate of over 70% is at least five times as great. Imagine convincing your mind that it " likes " being addicted to the drug that addiction scientists now rank as the most addictive substance on all of planet earth. We are nicotine addicts . A pack a day smoker smokes 7,300 cigarettes each and every year. How many of your last 7,300 nicotine fixes did you really enjoy ? How many of the next 7,300 will bring tremendous joy to your life? Isn't it time to be honest?

[family-first]

[SarahP]

Nice job coping today, you're doing great! Be sure you're not fixating -- dismiss the smoking thought, don't try to argue with it. It's a 2 year old having a temper tantrum, that's all. Annoying, hard to ignore, but not worth stressing over. Keep up the good work!! 

[becks]

I hear you loud in clear Lee and that is what is so awesome...you are not alone and don't ever have to be.  You are doing so well! Remember this is a process and your body and mind have to adjust to the new you.   

[maggie_8-1-2010]

Hi Lee!  I hate that you had the day you had BUT...you should stand tall and be proud that you protected your quit in spite of all of it. This is the way to a forever quit. 

Something that Dale often suggests is to laugh at the urges. It really does work. I used to use that all the time. Sarah's words about fixating may ring true for you. If they do there are many things to do to get outside of your mind. Then laugh and it will be done. Repeat of necessary!

I have watched your progress from the beginning. each evening I look forward to reading about your day. For the most part you've been having an easy time of it. Stay positive and this too will pass in time. go Lee!

[lee76]

Thanks everyone 🙂 I just got back and Im feeling a tad bit better now. All of your comments cheered me up a lot though 🙂 Thanks for the unconditional support. I wish everyone who was trying to quit knew about this site- it'd be just what they needed.

[steve161]

Smokers light up.

You're not a smoker.

Apparently you're mistaking yourself for someone else.

Tell this person you can't afford to  hang around with people like that any more.

Your life depends on it. 🙂

[sherrydenise]

Hang in there Lee, 20 days!!!  We are making it and we will make it.  🙂