Quitting again! Monday May 23,2011

[FLORIDALJT]

Hi, My name is Louise and I am new to this site----again! I joined become an ex several years ago and quit successfully for 6 mos. It seems that I can & do quit well but, need alot of help in the relapse area. I am a former substance abuse counselor, so feel as if I "Should" know all this already... I think because I have quit so many times in the past that I set myself up to relapse each time. I'm lacking the confidence in myself to honestly believe that I can quit & stay quit forever. I need to do this for medical reasons. I have been diagnosed with severe osteoporosis and have to give myself an injection daily. Smoking is a huge culprit in this disease. I have to get it this time! Any advice will be greatly appreciated.Thanks, Glad to be back on board!

[JonesCarpeDiem]

"I think because I have quit so many times in the past that I set myself up to relapse each time"

so forget about the past tries. why dredge them up if they were failures.

learn the memories that drive to to smoke daily. start saying I will wait a little longer.

thie will empower your decision to quit and reenforce you for when you actually quit

Do't torture yourself and try to get down to one a day Then youar ein withdrawal and setting yourself up to fail.

just work on the idea of cutting down and not the exact number.

Then decide its your last and go for it.

[maggie_8-1-2010]

Hi!  Congrats on your decision to quit.  Here are some links to helpful info with a positive slant!

http://digg.com/news/lifestyle/Allen_Carr_s_Easy_Way_To_Stop_Smoking_Download_free_PDF

http://quitsmokingonline.com/

Just a reminder to drink plenty of water and juice come Monday!  Stick close!

[Thomas3.20.2010]

Make up your mind that this is THE QUIT and it will FREE you to be the YOU that your Creator intends for you to be and then Stay Engaged! Don't let this journey become a burden but a JOY! And that IS what it is!!! Live LIFE Abundantly!!! You are worth it!

[EllenMT]

If you approach smoking as a nicotine addiction not unlike your previous life as an addictions counsellor you will succeed, go to Maggie's links, read, read and read some more.  Mindset and the daily promise/pledge to never ever take another puff, not one puff ever and you will have nicotine freedom!  Easy!  Yep and it gets easier as time goes by.

[FLORIDALJT]

Thank you. that is my intention and I'm even trying several other things that I didn't do before. I also joined an online nicotene addiction group and a 12 step program on Tuesday nights in my town. Never ever thought that I would be in this position, but, I sure am. I have helped countless people overcome & deal with their addictions.....Now it's time for me.Thank you so much for all your encouragement.

[debbiem2]

Hi Louise,

Congratulations on your decision to quit. I'm a registered nurse and was amazed to find out that nicotine collects in your bones, even your cells and just sits there impeding any kind of healing. Nicodemon really is a demon. It just hides out all over our body waiting to be fed. It helped me to remember and even my mantra to recall just how miserable I was smoking. I tried to quit many times before it took, but it finally did....1 1/2 yrs free now. All those smokers who nicodemon tell you are "enjoying" smoking is just the addiction talking. It really is sneaky and loves to attack when noone else is around. No one really enjoys smoking, everyone would really like to quit. If you smoke again you will just be miserable with them and continue to kick yourself. So kick some butt before it kicks you and puts u in a wheelchair with an oxygen tank attached. Good luck! You CAN do it.

[tamarale]

One second at a time. When you can handle that, you go to two seconds, etc...

If everyone here can do it, so can you.

Took me several times. Never quit quitting, and do whatever it takes. Each time you relapsed, you made the very conscious decision to smoke again. You also learned what caused those lapses. Have a plan for them and any other triggers (read: excuses) and mostly decide that you just don't smoke anymore.

6 months? You know you went through hell and back to have 6 months under your belt, and I know that you don't want to go through hell again for nothing. So make it happen once and for all.

Freedom rocks! Congrats on your decision. Believe in yourself. I, and many others here, believe in you.

[Strudel]

Welcome back! Congrats on your decision to quit! Read, read, read - the links Maggie gave you are great! Stick around.

[lynette9]

Dear Louise,

Welcome to the site! Bunch of really nice people here, very supportive and caring. So you want to stick close to the site from here on out. Even if you don't post very much, do LOTS of reading of the blogs. It's very helpful.

As Maggie pointed out and Studel and Ellen confirmed, reading up on our nicotine addiction is so paramount to our quits being successful. There are many sites onine to give you information but the links Maggie put up for you have helped many here. Also, www.whyquit.com is another site lots of us have visited.

I, too, have osteoporosis so I understand your need to quit. It's terrible how nicotine attacks the bone marrow. Please know that you have lots of support here so use us! Ask questions!

Whenever you feel like you're going to smoke, post here first. Wait ten minutes for responses. Monitor why and when you want to smoke. Know your triggers.

Since you counseled others, I'm sure you know the drill! Pay attention to your own triggers so you can write them down.

You will do this. I have no doubt about it, Louise. But you'll do it for yourself! Not for your doctor!

Best wishes and again, welcome!