I have to quit

[marijean]

I am 55 and smoked for over 30 years.I need surgerye and without it I will never take another step and my bowls can shut down.I am disabled and in a wheelchair now so moving and doing things to distract the smoking is impossible.I feel like I am loosing my best friend to stop smoking.I don't have friends here as I have moved.Why is this so hard to give up?One good thing my husand is a non smoker.I am at my quit date but keep putting it iff just a few more hours.Can anyone give me any imput on the patches and the best way to make them efficent?Thank you so much.The surgeon won't see me until I quit to tell me if he can even operate.I am stressed as the operation is dangerous and the outcome could be just as bad as not having the surgery.I have gone out of state to one of the best.As I say when the sun comes up it will b a bew day.

[Thomas3.20.2010]

It's so hard because you are an Addict to Nicotine (just like the rest of us!) You can find your own distractions - Adult coloring books, knitting, crafts, drawing, music, maybe....The list of what to do has to be yours. 

"I am at my quit date but keep putting it iff just a few more hours." Try putting off smoking the same way! Just give it 15 minutes and when the time is up see if you can go 15 minutes more! That's what we mean by taking it a minute at a time! 

Use the patches according to instructions and READ READ READ about Nicotine Addiction and Recovery. Stay here with us today. Read the Blogs - follow somebody's blogs. You can click on their name or picture - go to their page - and look at all of their blogs from day one until now! 

Will you struggle? Yes! Will it be worth it? Yes! Not just for the surgery but for every aspect of your Life!

Quitting smoking never killed anybody but smoking surely will!

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

The most 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 is an easy and entertaining read. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

As well, read the sections on this site, and read the blogs, responses and pages of folks you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com and quitsmokingonline.com for the good information contained there. You should also do the tracking and separation exercises suggested on this site

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. But – any method that you think will work well for you will be best for you.

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand.  Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different.  Change up the order in which you do things.  Change up the rooms in which you do them.  Come to the computer and read instead of lighting up!

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,  play a computer game, do a crossword or jigsaw puzzle, get some adult coloring books and pencils, learn to knit or crochet on YouTube, sing out loud to your favorite music.   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.  Don't let that smoking thought rattle around your head alone.  Get busy!  Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas (if you can't do some, they may give you an idea of something ELSE you might do):

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

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Quit smoking requires willingness to let go of the cigarette. Here are six easy steps to help you get your journey started

1. You have come to the right place but you have to commit to quit smoking. 

2. At EX our resolve is to never smoke again.  NOPE “Not one puff ever.” 

3. I suggest that you follow the steps on the web site pages along with reading, writing, studying, researching and blogging if you like.

4. Check out www.whyquit.com.  There is a lot of additional beneficial information to read and study.  Look for Freedom From Nicotine My Journey Home and Nicotine Addiction 101.  

http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksAAddiction.html

http://whyquit.com/ffn/

Both were extremely helpful for me to have 411 days smoke free.

5. Stay close to the site and learn, ask questions.

6. Education is the key to success even in quitting smoking. Read the blogs and most of all enjoy your commitment to quit smoking.

If you should need something to do here are two links that will help

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...

 https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/JACKIE1-25-15-blog/2015/07/09/what-is-your-crave-buster

[Strudel]

Welcome to the site! You are in the right place. Be sure to read the Carr book that Nancy gave you. It helped me understand my addiction. I smoked for 40 years and I quit - so, I know you can! Read, stay close - keep blogging!