I messed up....so disappointed in myself

[jenn82209]

I hope this is a forgiving group! After all the great advice I was given, I had a weak moment and re-started. I went back and re-set my quit date to start over, but I don't know if that is the right thing to do. Should I keep the quit date that I set for next week or do I just start fresh tomorrow. I feel so bad, i can't berleive I did that. I know it happened partially because I was very stressed out and partly becauseI just freaked. I know these sound like excuses, but that is the truth. I am nit sure where to go from here. I am so disappointed in myself. After all the preparing, how did I let this happen?

[tinkerbell23]

Sty to hear that Jenny don't start all over again 

just throw out the cigs u have  left. And don't give 

in when you get stressed . Don't be hard on your

self . Nicotine is a powerful addiction . 

[kathlein1]

I would not be so down on yourself. No one said this would be easy no matter what plan you laid out. We all stumble and sometimes even fall. What is important is that you do not give up, no matter how many times you have to dust yourself off and try again. I would not start all over, I would keep going as planned. YOU CAN DO THIS :))

[Legend]

Ask yourself these questions.

When you get stressed out what can you do instead of smoke?

What can you do when you get mad?

What can you do when you want to smoke?

Make a list of things to do instead of smoking and one of the things on the list is to come here that will give you support you need when you need it.  When I got mad I punched the hell out of my recliner chair I know it is something most would not do but I did it and it made me feel better. When I get stressed I meditate. When I get sad I try and talk to someone. Crying is ok it helps to relieve the built up stress.  We all had to relearn how to live without our cigarettes and it was not easy for me but I keep hanging in there when times are not so great. You can do this just don’t give up.  In time you will see things will get better but each time you have a bad moment face it and take control back. Learn from your mistakes and go on. It is up to you to set your quit date but if it was me I would reset your quit date and make it when you are ready to quit. It is your choice to quit and I know it is hard to give up those cigarettes but think of what will happen if you don’t.  I had a heart attack and that was my wake up call to stop or die.  I hope this did not sound like a lecture I was just trying to give you some advice that helped me out. Best wishes to ya.

Christine - Free and Healing for Four Years, Four Months, Fifteen Days and 41 Minutes

[brian123]

I'll soon be quitting again as in a few days.  I learned much from a ten month quit four years ago.  Quit again! don't give up.  You learned what triggered you and you can learn how to handle it without lighting up.  So you are learning just as I learned and we all have our own unique stressors and hot spot triggers.

Have mental things to do or physical things to do when you get stressed and triggered.  Have books, tapes, CD already available for you.  Have some breath mints or chewing gum already set out for you in kitchen and living room.  Vanilla tic tacs helped me when I quit before. I actually chomped on them! 

As long as your things to do are not other addictive things such as drinking alcohol you do what you need to do for you.

Everyone is different.  About a month after I quit the last time which was my first serious quit and lasted ten months, I went to a good aquarium shop and bought a 20 gallon tank and planned it for guppies.  I enjoyed breeding guppies and watching the guppies grow and then taking them back to the shop as they multiply fast.

Point is to get yourself things you already know you like such as books, movies, exercise, mints and chewing gum and have it already put out in all of your rooms.  Then find NEW things to do; if you normally read novels and biographies try a sci fi or mystery, if you normally don't eat peaches try a peach and make a peach cobbler.

This can be an exciting time for you to try new things in addition to the tried and true.

Get a new shampoo or soap.  Try a new brand of mayo or a new kind of bread.

I spent hours in walmart and target sometimes when cravings hit me just looking but not buying.  I learned alot about products and had fun and it took my mind off things.

If you pray start praying - outloud if need be.  This isn't easy the first few weeks.  You have to divert yourself.  You can do this.  You will do this.

Everyone learns things that are universal for all of us and unique to them.  I found that a bottle of store brand peppermint extract (no alcohol) and a box of cotton swabs was a big help in the morning when those cravings hit me so hard.  I took a swab, dipped it in the bottle and swabbed my mouth and kinda made it a lolly pop.  The harsh strong peppermint really did help.  It didn't wipe out the frantic urge but it did keep me from making a dash into the car and to the gas station a half mile away to buy a pack.

Get creative, get silly!, get goofy.  Learn things to get you through those lightening bolt cravings and urges.  Buy a hoola hoop if you want!  and use it!  Take a shower, wash your hair at the sink, go check the oil in the car, search past scores online and bet against yourself about what team won a football game last year, go to the beauty shop and get your hair styled in a new way, just get a little crazy! 

I wish you the best.

[nursemama23]

You can do this! Dont be so hard on yourself. Yes you had a slip up - but get back on that horse! Get ready for a new day and take it one day at a time.. One breath at a time...

Next time you get a trigger or craving COME BLOG FOR HELP!!!! 

As someone who recently called out for help from the ex-ers I can say - they helped protect my quit and I made it through.

You can do this! You are strong! You are brilliant! You are worth it!

[Denise28]

Keep going, you can do it! Today is my 4 year anniversary! It's your decision.  

[Thomas3.20.2010]

It's a new day! Make better choices! What will you do differently?

[jenn82209]

Thank you so much everyone. You all are right today is a new day. I am not going to reset the clock. I am going to look at it as a mistake and yes, I did learn what triggered me, so now I know when to walk away. I am ready to quit. I think I was just thinking about it too much and gave in to the craving. After work I am going to the store to find something to do with my hands. I am going to try the tic tacs and peppermints. I want to be successful. I need to come here more for support, I know that now. I also need to make sure there are things for me to do so when I have a craving I can have something to turn to.

[Jenny78]

Jenn, you will need to reset your clock every time you have a relapse.  Never quit quitting.  It is so worth it.  The fear of quitting is much worse than the quit itself.  You can do this.

[YoungAtHeart]

If you run out of ideas for things to do instead of smoke, there are lists of 114 things to do on my page!  With that many, there are probably some you haven't thought of that might interest you.

So much of this is your mindset.  Think you CAN be successful!

Nancy

Quit 7/4/12

[Nyima_1.6.13]

So you get back on the horse! If you're going to use the next week to get more preparations in line, then take the week! If the week is just a reason to continue smoking for another week, you might not be ready to make the commitment. Think about how you can stop a relapse in the future. Make lists, not in your head, actually write them down! You can do this!

[jim_ohio]

WALKING DOWN THE FREEDOM TRAIL............I SEE JENN.......SHE ALMOST RAN OFF THE TRAIL.............. SLID  A LITTLE BIT,   ON THE ROCKY PART OF THE FREEDOM TRAIL..............I PICK JENN UP   ................... BRUSH HER OFF AND WALK WITH HER FOR AWHILE.....................I WILL CIRCLE BACK AROUND LATER ON THE FREEDOM TRAIL JUST AS OTHERS HAVE DONE FOR ME AND CHECK ON HER................JIM OHIO

[jenn82209]

Thanks Jim!!

[KatherineF]

When you decide to quit again start your clock over.  First decide that no matter what you are not going to smoke.  Have you read Allen Carr's book?  It helped me a lot!  There is a link on my page.  

[grandmashell]

I understand your dissapointment.  We r human. We make mistakes. This nicotine is very powerful.  I didnt take a zyban yesturday and I noticed I have had a lot of thoughts about cigs this morning even though I am doing the samething I have done for the last 18 mornings.  Its scary, I say get right back to the quit, not sure about the clock. 

Lets have a smoke free day today!

Shelley

[jenn82209]

Since I messed up the other day. I restarted my clock for tomorrow being my quit day. I have no intentions of smoking today, but I need to get more prepared so tomorrow is my official quit day.

Katherine- yes I have been reading it and i am less than halfway through. I do find it helpful, I just had a very bad weak moment.

[joyeuxencore]

Hi there!

It takes the mindset that we aren't giving up anything...we are doing it because we want to and not signing up for a lifetime of deprivation but a lifetime of freedom...that is the personal journey no one can take for us...xo

"YOU are worth SO MUCH MORE than a cigarette" xo

http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_03_21_blood_sugar.html

http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_03_21_blood_sugar.html

http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_03_04_not_smoke_today.html