Habit, or addiction, or both.

[Augustus44]

I am in my 159th day, and I am feeling really good. That being said, however, I have a big obstacle to overcome. In a few days, I am headed for Hilton Head SC for some significant "rest and recuperation." 

I'm sort of in no man's land in my quit. The excitement that comes in the early part of the quit, is now dissipated. One of the reasons is the distance I have come, but there is another more pervasive thought I am having. Smoking is a bad habit, but it is still a habit. The habit and ritual of smoking is, for me, much stronger than the nicotine addiction. I had certain triggers to smoke--not Nic fits, just places where an automatic response was to light one up ie, after golf, the back deck, coming downstairs for morning coffee, home from grocery shopping, and a million other beckoning thoughts to light up. In short, the habit outweighs the addiction as the problem.

When I get to South Carolina, there will be "old" triggers to overcome. I used to ride my bike around town, stop and buy a pack of cigarettes, and smoke a few. After golf, and sometimes while I was playing, I smoked. Taking the garbage to the dumpster was still another temptation to smoke. The habit is the overriding "addiction." and not the nicotine. Inside my home, or inside the place I am renting was not a problem, because I was a closet smoker--I hid my smoking for everyone, including my sister who is with me in SC. --but you can't stay inside forever. So I've come to the conclusion that it's the habit, more than the nicotine that remains. Wish me luck. 

[YoungAtHeart]

It may help if you avoid the things you can, and change up the things you can't.  Maybe walk or cart the course, depending what you did before.  If you smoked when you finished lunch there, get right up after and watch the folks on the putting green or driving range.  Have someone else take out the trash.  

The better you get at this, the easier it is going to be.  Find something ELSE to replace the break/reward smoke.  I now allow myself a small, cold Pepsi over crushed ice as my break/reward.   Be prepared, not surprised.  

Take slow/deep breaths when you encounter the habit portion of the addiction, or count the white things you see, or think of cities/states for each letter of the alphabet.

I dreaded sunrise on the ocean beach the first couple of times I went.  Then, instead of sitting, I walked at surf's edge.  It worked!

Have a great time!

Nancy

[Cbefree]

As it seems to happen when I login & start reading it's as if someone were reading my mind, that happened when I read your post @Augustus44. I had a strong one day before yesterday, after finishing & mailing a hair-raising work project I deserved a reward!! There were many urges during the days of stress completing the project but this one after it was finished wow took my breath away. Wondering during the lengthy craving, do I have to go through this with every aspect of my living experience so my mind doesn't go into immediate painful craving because I've never experienced whatever it is without cigs? Will these cravings color the fun of time off with struggle? That most recent intense one did pass, for myself I do know NOPE has to be the word it's just not an option to have just one, if I have just one the impulse will be easier next time. BTW I'm at 19 days finished & super happy to hear of your 159 days! Just thought; what if I laughed at the craving when arising..hmm going to play with that one 🙂

Good wishes for your peaceful holiday

[McMoney]

Let new memories and new associations replace those old triggers. Have a secret [WERTHERS ORIGINAL CANDY]  instead.   

[CommunityAdmin]

First off, congrats on 159 days quit @Augustus44! This resource might help you understand what's happening on this part of your quit journey:

https://www.becomeanex.org/ex-resources/quitting-and-your-health/how-nicotine-addiction-works/

I know you'll be on vacation so Internet use might be limited, but if you can, please feel free to reach out to us if you encounter any potential triggers. And like @YoungAtHeart suggested, maybe create a plan for what you will do or how you will keep yourself occupied before you head out. You got this

- Danielle, EX team

[Augustus44]

McMoney, 

You are in the throes of the first days, and they are tough I know. This site is a great place to get the help you might need. As the days get further away it will get easier to fight the damned Nic fits. If you realize that most Nic fits end in about ten minutes at the most, that will help. I would also recommend that you change whatever it is you are doing to get away from the situation that is presenting itself--I take a walk, brush my teeth, play my guitar,  turn on the tv, etc. Changing your "habit" will get you through a crisis that lasts only for a short time. You may have more than one fit in a day, and some days, they will be frequent.That being said, you will also have days where you escape any serious fits. Hang in there. We are all rooting for you

[Giulia]

Habit and addiction as far as I'm concerned.  Sounds like you know all your potential up-coming triggers, now all you have to do is not focus on them.  Prepare for them by coming up with new substitutes for those times when you used to smoke.  But don't set yourself up for a trigger that may no longer be there.  If any of this makes sense to you.  If it were me, I think I'd come up with something to do each time I got a craving.  Could be the same thing or different things.  Whatever works.  Like just turning my body 180 degrees as a reminder to turn my thoughts away from the craving and not dwell there.  Use the tools you've used that have been successful thus far in overcoming your cravings.  If they've worked through 159 days there no reason why they can't work on vacation.  And the excitement to look forward to will be returning home smoke free.  That's a great milestone to head toward.  Each day free makes us stronger.  I think you'll do just fine because you're already on guard.  Enjoy the heck out of your R&R!  A cigarette won't make you're golf game any better.  

[Augustus44]

Thank you for the encouragement. It is much appreciated.

[maryfreecig]

Great responses have already been giving, I'll throw in a few pennies worth though:

At this point in your journey smoking or staying quit is a choice. The degree of discomfort is a reality, but it does not determine whether you smoke. You have full power no matter the associations, triggers, connections, we all do and knowing that we have a choice can be uncomfortable in and of itself at times. Another aspect of quitting is about romancing what it was like, the lure and comfort of what seemed to be. I do remember being nervous about situations early on, and now being over 10 years into my quit one day at a time, I never want to underestimate the cunning that my mind might try to employ to get me to do exactly what I know better than to do. It hurt sometimes to stick with my decision--I felt a little cheated that my reward for quitting was not immediately great happiness. It's not that quitting has to be too, too difficult, but it works out that way for a lot of us as we cut every tie we had with nicotine--IMO anyway.

You keep succeeding in sticking with your quit and you keep voicing your concerns when something tricky is on the horizon. Looks like you are doing all the hard work that will get you to where you want to be. 

[Augustus44]

Your two cents is much appreciated. I am hoping that my strategies are going to get me through any kind of Nic fit. Your encouragement and willingness to help is very important to all of us newbies --I'm not out of the woods, but I'm on the right path thanks to people like you.