I can't fail again!

[Darlene0313]

I am  22 hours into my 6 day of quitting; 2 more hour to go to make it to 7 days.  I quit back in 2014 for only 8 months.  I swore I would never go back to smoking and go through this nightmare again, yet here I am starting all over again.  The trigger that happened last time is nearly impossible for it to happen again, so no worries on trying to avoid that.   About an hour ago, I was trying my hardest to convince myself I could just have one, what the heck I'm on Chantix I'll just up the dose to help me make it through this again.  I went and grabbed a smoke from a family member. I then went back to my office and put it in my desk drawer.  Thought about giving it back to him but then the fear of it not being there freaked me out.  I don't know why cuz I wont smoke it, there are cigs and ashtrays out on the deck and easily accessible. Not sure what my issue is here.  My anxiety is through the roof at times and i feel like I'm going to have a heart attack from it.  Who said 3-5 minutes is crazy cuz my anxiety lasts for quite some time and then I go to feeling calm which doesn't last long for me.  Maybe the knowing I have the cig right there may be the in Control I need cuz the more i write the calmer I'm feeling and having felt calm all day.  OR am i just nuts and the little nicotine demon is whispering in my ear again. 

[biscuit9]

You are not nuts, and the addiction is calling you back.  Please be diligent, take a walk around the block if needed, to refocus.  You have chosen to quit this addiction, because smoking is NOT working for you.  Remind yourself, "I DON'T DO THAT ANYMORE!", to reroute your thinking.  Those nicotine receptors want satisfaction and you cannot smoke, not one, not 1/2 of one.  You are 7 days nicotine free, nearly.  The end of Hell Week!  You have some experience, so you know how strong this addiction is, it has no mercy.  I watched alot of smoking videos, the nasty ones to keep me on track during that week.  I needed fuel to keep me strong and to remind myself WHY I hate smoking.  Every day you do not smoke, you win.  We all want you to find the freedom that you seek.  You have been a slave to nicotine long enough and it has taken and never given back.  Stay strong.  Be kind to yourself, you have not smoked for 7 days and you should celebrate that.  Quit day 221.

[Barbscloud]

@Darlene0313 Welcome back.  Congrats on day 7 of your quit.  Have you gone back to review the material about quitting, tools, cravings, etc.  

It's normal to be anxious about quitting.  We've smoked our way through every emotion and activity in our lives.  If you approach your quit one day at a time, it will help to alleviate the fear.  Don't think about forever right now.  Your goal for now is one day.

A big part of quitting is creating new associations to replace smoking.  There's where you plan comes into play.  This link is a great place to learn about tools, cravings and creating those associations.  It's also educating yourself about nicotine addiction plays a big role in a successful quit.

https://www.becomeanex.org/guides/

Get the thoughts of failure out of your mind. You have almost a week of success, so that's not a failure, but a major achievement.   You know you can't have just one.  It's the addiction talking so don't give in to those thoughts.   It's not acting on them that's important.

As for keeping the cigarette, we usually say get rid of all the smokes.  But there are successful quitters here that did feel that they needed to keep one around.  Like you said ,there are other smokes available near by.   If that's what works for you, that's what important.  Our quits are different. What we say may work for many, but we each have our own journey.

We're here to support you, so reach out anytime we can help.  Also, consider taking the Daily Pledge.  It's a great way to stay on track one day at a time.

Remind yourself "I don't do that anymore".

Stay busy and stay close.

Barb

[Darlene0313]

Congratulations on 221 days of quitting Bisquit9!

Thank you both for the encouragement and good advise.  Your Right BarbsCloud,  One Day at a time is something I need to focus on and not the future.  I've been wanting to be smoke free for so long now and wanting it to happen overnight (Not happening)  and it feels so out of reach right now.  I just need to make it through today and I'm almost half way there.

"Hell week",  Couldn't have described it better. 

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome!

Almost through H#ll Week!  YAHOO!

The important thing you can still do 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.”    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

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! .  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), 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.

Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:

101 Things to Do Instead of Smoke - EX Community

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 blue box.

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

[kenbe57]

Darlene I'm on day 8 and wishing you the will and confidence  to make it to day 8 also. I understand what you did and why. I've been smoking for decadesa nd tried before and thought just having one around I would be okay. I was wrong.

This time I knew I would lose if I played the same game. I'm using the patch 21 mg, I tried cold turkey the other day and bam I wanted a cig from a strange trigger, I put a patch on real quick and I saved myself. I don't know if you use anything but the patch was a saver for me.

David

[TBDDAJ]

Having the same problem. Keep postponing my quit date with hope that some miracle will happen and it will kick in.

[Livebetter2023]

Congrats on 7 days @Darlene0313 .  You are not nuts.  All of us have fought with the voice of addiction in our heads - the little nicomonster who lies to us.   Keep fighting.  It is worth it and you CAN do it.  

[Livebetter2023]

@TBDDAJ - I'm afraid to tell you that a miracle won't happen but a plan can.   The great news is that you are here reading.   That's a great step towards learning more about nicotine addiction and preparing for a quit.   Keep reading, keep learning, start dreaming about a life not controlled by cigarettes.   You will get there.  This journey is one step a time and today, responding here and reading blogs is a great step forward.

[TBDDAJ]

Thanks for the encouragement!

[kenbe57]

@TBDDAJ your here and we support you. Its tuff but I've found so far on my day 8 its a lot easier with the support from people here, who really makes it easier.

[kenbe57]

@TBDDAJ  are you going cold turkey or using some  pathes or gum 

[green1611]

welcome on the path of smoke free life @Darlene0313 

Congratulations on Day 7!

May be good to find out some ways to deal with anxiety. Try to apply your mind somewhere where you have keen interest other than smoking.

Wishing you all the best.

[maryfreecig]

There is no doubt in my mind that you have the power to quit and stick with it. And you have the power to achieve the kind of quit you want. One step, one day keep grabbing on to what works for you. This is your quit, your call.

[TBDDAJ]

Thanks so much for the encouragement!

[Barbscloud]

@Darlene0313 How is it going?

Barb

[hummels1]

I am also on day 6, I have 2 smokers that live with me.  They know I have quit but they continue to leave their smokes on the endtable, I see them when I wake up, I pick them up and the lighters and ashtrays and put them in a drawer till they wake up.  Out of sight out of mind!!!!   I am an early riser at least 3 to 4 hours before them.  When they starting smoking I have a long list of things to do.  I keep my bedroom door shut and leave window open a couple of inches for fresh air, so I tend to spend a lot of my time in there away from them, reading , watching tv, talk on the phone, I have a small table to do jigsaw puzzles on.  Good luck to you!!!  WE CAN DO THIS!!!!  NOT ONE MORE PUFF!!!

[Barbscloud]

@hummels1 Welcome and congrats on 6 days of success.  Glad your stopped by to support your fellow new quitters.  All of us are in this together.  It took me 50 years and many attempts to get it right.  When I found the Ex, for first time I learned how to do this and how valuable support is to quitting. 

Consider posting to My Journal/Blog to introduce yourself to the community and receive some well deserved support.  

Can you ask the smokers that live with you to smoke outside and not leave their paraphernalia out to tempt you.   I commend you for you perserverance.  Others have done it but it must to be hard.  

Have you been reading material on the site?  This link has some good information to help keep your quit doing.  It's important to understand nicotine addiction and be prepared for cravings, have tools in place and create new association instead of smoking.     

https://www.becomeanex.org/guides/?cid=footer_community_linktobex

Reach out anytime you want to share your journey or need some support.

Join some of us on the Daily Pledge to stay on track one day at a time.

Stay busy and stay close.

Barb

[Darlene0313]

WOW.... I posted this when I was only 6 days into my quit.  Thank you all for your kind words and support, unfortunately I failed and smoked on May 8th. Since starting over I'm now 15 days into my quit and having major mental cravings.   I have way to much invested this time and I'm not giving up that easily like I did last time.  

[Barbscloud]

@Darlene0313 Glad you got right back on track.  Quitting is a process.  As long as you learned something about how to quit, it's a lesson well learned.

Remember to reach out before your smoke, not after.   It can be just enough time to refocus your thoughts.   It save my quit several times early on. It work!

Spend more time on the site reading, posting, whatever you choose.   Staying close early on can get you off to solid start.

Consider taking the Daily Pledge to help you stay on track one day at a time.

Congrats on 15 days.  Keep up the good work.  

Barb