Here we go again.....

[amymoore41673]

Well day one was not a success....so here comes day two that is not a success either. it's time to restart, refocus and study and prep some more. I still find myself not ready to give up the safety net for those urges I can't resist. I think I'm scared of not getting through them. Time to reset the Quit Date. 

[Barbscloud]

So this is day one, twice?    Have you done the preparation suggested.  Educate yourself about nicotine addiction and have a quit plan.   Part of that plan is what you'll do instead of smoking when you have an urge.  What tools have you identified?   Have you gotten rid of the cigarettes?    Not good to keep them around. Reach out to the Ex before you smoke.

Make the committment.  It's not easy, but you can do it.

Barb

[Maki]

You can't smoke what you don't have . Don't keep any for back up , resist going to buy them , refuse to borrow or bum thrm . You can make day one day won . Do something different . Smoking is not the solution . I believe strongly that the strongest word against addiction is no . "No " I will not smoke . "No" matter what . 

Welcome to the best day of your life . Day 1 smoke free . The day that changes your life for good , not for bad . 

You can live just fine without them them I promise you . 

[maryfreecig]

How to quit smoking.

Do I wish I could tell you exactly how. But quitting is an inside job, even with this great community that is so supportive and has so much solid quit info. First and foremost you are the only one who can give yourself permission to quit. You probably already know this anyway. Your   'yes, I will do this'   is not so far away as you fear--please keep looking.

One thing is absolutely true: you are capable of quitting. There are no exceptions. Even with yours craves you can learn to tell yourself no, no matter how mixed up you feel. It passes. Once you get over the weird part of quitting, you will feel so much better. Weird doesn't last--just feels like it will. 

When you feel very uncomfortable, whittle your day down to one hour, 15 minutes, stay occupied, visit Ex.

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to the community!

Glad you wrote a blog so I can provide the preparation work that is important to your success.  If you do it ALL, you will greatly enhance your chances of a successful Day WON!

The important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This easy and entertaining read provided a world of good information about nicotine addiction, most of which I was not aware.  I credit it in large part with my success at quitting.   You can search for it online or at your local library.

 You should also read the posts here and perhaps go to the pages of folks who you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com, quitsmoking.com and livewell.com for the good information contained there. @https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/best-of-ex has lots of blogs written by members of this site with their experiences and guidance. Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.

After you have completed the recommended reading, it will be time to make an informed choice of the quit aid, if any, you will use. If you go that route, I personally recommend the aids that don't let the addict control the dose such as the available prescription drugs or the patch. If used properly, gum, lozenges and inhalers are fine, but they need to be used only as a last resort after you have tried to delay and distract.   I have seen folks become addicted to them if they substitute them for every cigarette they used to smoke - just trading one addiction for another.  You need to start out with a plan to reduce use of them over time - which the patch does by decreasing the dose contained in them..  For the gum, you can start by cutting each piece in half, then in quarters, then sub regular gum of the same flavor in between, adding more and more regular gum.  For the lozenge, you need to start subbing a mint in between to begin, increasing the number of them over time. I do not recommend the e-cigarette for obvious reasons.

It will be informative if you do the tracking and separation exercises recommended here on the site. As you track each cigarette smoked, note its importance, and what you might do instead. Put each one off just a little to prove that you don't NEED a cigarette just because you think you do.
 

The idea is to 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 tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different. Buy your gas at a different station. Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.
 
You need to distract yourself through any craves.  You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, 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 from which to sip. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time.  You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits.    Get busy!  Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:
 https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...

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.

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

[sweetplt]

Imagine hon if we didn’t have HOPE...amymoore41673 ... you keep hoping because YOU Can do this...you have read some great advice above me...do the work...prepare and educate yourself...and Don’t beat yourself up, you are an addict...We are here to help...remember no one ever died from quitting for one day...try it...you might actually find you like it...keep close to us...we will hold your hand...Happy Thursday ~ Colleen 647 DOF 

[Cousin-Itt]

We are all stronger than what we believe we are We all have that inner strength to over come adversity Prepare as suggested.  Stay Close Stay Strong      You Can do This   Believe 

I use to have the following on my refrig for years for my children and I put it back up when I started my quit. Since it was

on the refrig I read it often

“I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain.”

― Frank Herbert, Dune

Carl

[amymoore41673]

you are all so awesome and full of helpful information. I will continue to work my way up to the DAY ONE, DAY WON....each day is a new beginning and with a community and support like this I've never had before, I CAN do THIS!

Thank each and every one of you so much! 

[Giulia]

"I still find myself not ready to give up the safety net for those urges I can't resist."  Until you get rid of the safety net you will never experience true freedom.  We never know if we can fly until we leave the nest.  You can do this.  I found it helped to think of it as a period of discomfort that I just had to go through.  A discomfort that would pass eventually.  Kind of like having to wear a cast for 12 weeks.  Not fun, but doable.  You want to heal, you obey the doctor's orders.  /blogs/Giulia-blog/2018/03/01/quitting-is-a-skill-that-can-be-learned?sr=search&searchId=8cf12b07-1f...‌  You have to find the psychological hook that works for you.  One that I used was to give myself a specif period of time to not smoke.  Once I had fulfilled that time I allowed myself to smoke if I wanted to.  Of course I knew full well that if I managed to quit for my specified time I would not then revert.  The cost was too great to go back to another Day One.  Thinking in terms of "forever" can be daunting.  But thinking in terms of "just one day" seems doable.  Once you get through one day, it becomes the cornerstone of your quit house.  Quitting is all about getting our heads in the right place.  When that happens - nothing can stop us.

[Mike.n.Atlanta]

You have an army of successful quitters willing to stand toe to toe in your battle against this addiction Amy. We can't do it for you but never hesitate to call on any or all of us at any time for help. We all feared that maybe we wouldn't be able to resist the urges that were sure to come. When they come, & you know they will, just say bring it on & let that urge wash over you. It's gone in a second. Do this & you're resistance will increase each time you do. Pretty soon it will become second nature to say no. You only need a willingness to change to become the person you didn't know you wanted to be.

[beazel]

I have nothing new to add to the words of wisdom above me.

We will support you through this journey.

One day at a time..................

[elvan]

I can’t possibly offer any better advice than what you have already been offered. I quit & started over & over again, it wasn’t until l found EX that l got the support & education that l so needed to quit & STAY that way. I came  to this site every morning & every evening when l first quit. I read everything that was recommended & l got rid of all of the cigarettes, the ashtrays, the butt can, the lighters & even all of the coupons l had. I talked nonstop about my quit & this & l committed not to smoke, no matter what. I will not tell you that it was easy because that was not my experience, l certainly had craves but l did not smoke. It has been over 6 1/2 years since l smoked. I used the mantra NOPE, Not One Puff Ever! I did not have any cigarettes to reach for during my most vulnerable times. I DID have a plan for what to do if l was craving, l had to tweak it more than once but it was a GREAT help!

Welcome to EX, quitting is not an event, it is a one day at a time journey.

Ellen

[LeftysLady]

Yes, read Allen Carr's book. If you are not a reader it's available on DVD and webcast. It will greatly open your eyes and mind to the power we give cigarettes.

I will be reaching out for your hand to support you all I can.  But all the advice given above and before my post is the best place to start. We have to reeducate our selves that we may break the change.

[MarilynH]

I can't add anything that has not already been said amymoore41673, please don't beat yourself up anymore deep breaths and do the reading that was suggested and keep reading everything you can because there's a wealth of information right here on this site to strengthen your resolve to kick the nicotine poison to the curb permanently it's not easy by any stretch of the imagination BUT thankfully with commitment and perseverance you will succeed in living a life of Freedom but first you must go through the roller coaster ups and downs of withdrawals and moodswings and lack of sleep to get to that good place in your quit where you realize how much better life is as an EX Smoker Non Smoker or EXer it doesn't matter what you call it as long as you keep moving forward in your precious quit do the reading so when you do start your day ONE at the end of the day you'll be able to say YAY for Day WON you can and will be successful believe it and know that we're all here to help you in any way we can.....

[SMILINACCOUNTNT]

Hi amymoore41673‌. It's hard to get through the first few days, but you can and like someone said above, no one has died from quitting . Have you identified your biggest triggers? Make a plan to deal with those, and you can push through. Keep reaching out for support, we want you to succeed. 

[Barbscloud]

Good morning amymoore41673   How are you doing today?   Hope you got started again on your quit.  You can do this one day at a time.

Barb

[amymoore41673]

Thank you for checking in Barb! I appreciate it. today isn't much better than the last two but hey, 3 a day is better than 30 and soon I will be at zero! I just need to be willing to let go of that stash. AND not ask my husband or son for any when I am at home. I will get there, I promise myself I will do this! 

[YoungAtHeart]

GET RID OF THAT STASH when you quit.  Put any under running water and squish them into the trash!!!!! Keeping any around is giving yourself permission to fail.  Make the decision not to smoke another cigarette NO MATTER WHAT and honor it each day, each and every hour of each day.  Ask your husband and son to hide their cigarettes and support your efforts by promising not to give you any if you ask.. 

This is an all or nothing proposition.  And always keep in mind that quitting never killed anybody.  The same cannot be said about smoking!

Get it on!

[Barbscloud]

Take the next step.  We're here cheering you on. Remember you only have to not smoke for one day!

Barb

[LeftysLady]

amymoore41673‌ Have you asked your husband and son not to smoke around you or even have them in you line of sight.  That might help you stop asking them for smokes.  Also, I know that this is your quit, but did you think about asking them to support you in it, and make a point of saying you want their support in your quit, not their cigarettes or their quit.

But remember you've got this and we've got you back.

Pam