Easing back into driving

[JustinHoot99]

Start of Day 19.  So I decided I'm going to start easing back into driving, rather than just fully taking my keys back on the 21st.  I'm still not comfortable having access during the week while my wife is away at work so I'll have her keep keys hidden then.  But I do have to start relearning how to drive w/o smoking.  So starting today, I'm going to take my keys back Fri evening through Sun evening.  I'm still going to have my wife smell check me each time I return home, and I don't have much need for driving on weekends anyway.  But a movie on Fri, trip to the woods for my HIIH w/o Sat/Sun, and trip to hardware store occasionally should be about it.
Incredibly, I paused in typing this and started thinking about which exercises I would do during my HIIH w/o.  Decided to make it a lot of overall strength conditioning which triggered a smoking craving and romanticizations of smoking while on the trail. After working out, I also need to go to the hardware store which will involve 10mi drive each way (2 cigarettes each way in the past).  But I have to confront life alone and away from home sometime, so here we go.

[Barbscloud]

@JustinHoot99 Congrats on day 19.  You got this.   As I said before, it took me time to sit on my deck again. That was a strong trigger for me.   Have your tools in place and plan on checking in when you get back.  

Barb

[Barbara145]

Congratulations on quitting smoking. I smoked like crazy when I was driving for many years. I got some suckers to keep in the car when I quit. You will get over it.  "It just takes time, give it time." 

[daverson828]

Do you like sunflower seeds? That's been my go-to when in the car/in the woods. We're rooting for you!

[MarilynH]

You've got this quit firmly in your grasp Justin @JustinHoot99, driving and talking on the phone were the two hardest hurdles for me to get over BUT I made it through although it sure wasn't easy! Congratulations on 19 splendiferous Smokefree days and counting WTG YAY for each and every Day WON with many more to come. 🎉🎈🎉🎈�

[YoungAtHeart]

I think I already gave you some tips for driving, but I will reiterate them for you so they are front and center.

Keep a cold bottle of water with you from which to sip.  Get some gum or hard candies or lollipops or anything a bit long lasting to keep your mouth busy.  

Take a different route to your usual places to change up the scenery.    Sing out loud to your favorite music.  Count the lights you hit or miss; or the blue trucks you see.  Make up stories about the passengers in the other vehicles you see.  Are the people related?  Where are they going?  Do they want to go there?  Why or why not?  Be creative and keep your mind on that and there will be less room for the smoking thoughts.

It might also be a good idea to take some of the money you are saving not buying smokes to get your ride detailed.  A clean smelling vehicle is a reminder that you don't DO that anymore.

Eventually you are going to have to take control of your quit, and that will include making the decision that even if you CAN drive to buy a pack of cigarettes, you have decided not to do that anymore.  You CAN get to this place in your thinking, and you will cherish that!

Have a fun weekend!

Nancy

[AnnetteMM]

Here's what worries me about your wife being in control of your keys: if at some point you have serious trouble keeping that quit going, it would be SO easy to blame her instead of looking at yourself and your own behavior. Making her take any responsibility for your own smobriety is a terrible risk. My own very humble opinion is for you to step up and own your vulnerability and learn to deal with it.

[JustinHoot99]

@AnnetteMM Thanks for the concern, but the keys are still accessible to me.  In case of emergency, there is an envelope w/ the spot she hides them.  Envelope is sealed, but I could rip it open and get keys.  Shes only doing as I requested so no concern w/ my blaming her.  I simply not that kind of guy (ie, I'm not a jerk).  And I'm learning to deal w/ it slowly.  I see it as any other tool, like nicotine gum, taking walks, coming here, etc.  I've chosen a way to make it inconvenient for me to access cigarettes.  I could still ride my bike to get them, etc.  Just the tool I chose to use.  I'm slowly going to introduce driving back into my life because that was my number one place to smoke.

[Barbscloud]

@JustinHoot99  You're way of quitting, is just that.  We can offer opinions (a view or judgment formed about something, not necessarily based on fact or knowledge)  or things that worked for us, but what works for you is what's important.  

So, don't keep me in suspense.  Did you drive today?

Barb

[Snowdoggie]

@YoungAtHeart Thank you for reposting this. I know it will help me as well as others when driving.😃🐕

[JustinHoot99]

@Barbscloud    Oh yes.  I drove to the park to do my HIIH w/o around 6:30am, then to the hardware store.  Both local so not too far away.  The local drives aren't that big a deal, especially since I have my wife smell me as soon as I get home.  I was going to join an indoor climbing gym after I got through 30days of not smoking, but I'm going to put that off until 60days because the gym is a 20min drive from my house.  I plan on protecting this quit and introducing driving very very slowly this time.  Kind of like using nicotine gum except I start w/ 0 driving and work my way up over time whereas w/ gum you start w/ a high dose and work your way down.

[Barbscloud]

@JustinHoot99  You  know what your triggers are and have found a way to deal with them.   Kudos.

Woohoo  on driving today.

Barb