Re-Quitting

[jdquits2020]

I have not been logging in or checking my notifications... and I did not succeed at quitting with my first quit date February 13, 2020. So I've reset it to August 13, 2020. And going to give another go at it.

Reflections:
1. I use smoking to escape from stress. And I have a very stressful job. So that's part of it.
2. Summer in Michigan has been hot! So I've been making sure to hydrate with a goal of 120 oz water daily. I've noticed that when I consistently hydrate, my cravings for smoking as often decrease.

3. I switched from Camel Filter 99's in spring of 2019 due to having a bad cold and I could tolerate the menthols better. Switching back to Camel Filter 99's, I smoke less often. Albeit there's more nicotine in them, but also the menthol flavor is like candy and I just want to smoke more of them during a single smoking break.

4. July 1st, 2020, the taxes on cigarettes went up significantly. Packs are between $7.11 and in some places $8.00. At a pack a day, that's $56'wk. The patch costs about $24/wk, so even if I do not quit completely right away, I plan on using the patch to cut down significantly. 

5. Gonna try the One Day at a time challenge.
6. Been looking for a different job. Jobs can be stressful no matter where, but mine as an essential worker in behavioral/mental health is significantly stressful. I've been looking for work in a different field (where I have my education), and will continue. Landing a less stressful job may help with my effort to quit.

[Barbscloud]

Welcome back.  August 13th sounds like your forever quit date.   Don't forget to continue to educate yourself about this addiction and have a quit plan.  These two steps lead to success.   I wish I could say they're won't be more stress to deal with in life, but that's just the way it is.  We have learn to cope with stress without smoking.  It's not easy, so it's important to plan what you'll do instead of smoking.  Learning new associations and behaviors are key. So be prepared with new behaviors.  We're here to support you.  Just reach out anytime you need encouragement. 

You can do this, one day at a time.

Barb  

[sweetplt]

Hi and Glad you are back and requiring...keep working the program for your new quit date...Don’t let anything, and/or anybody get in the way of you Choosing Life on August 13th...You can do it...keep close to us and post often...

Have a beautiful Thursday and Good luck on the job hunt...Colleen 591 DOF 

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome back to the community!

Einstein told us, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result."  What else will you do differently during this quit?  Changing flavors is a good beginning, as is using the patch. Seems like you might be planning to smoke with the patch on which is not really a great idea.  Make a date, get rid of any cigarettes still in your possession, and cut those ties!   You may not realize it until you do the recommended reading, but smoking actually INCREASES your stress level.  Read about it to better understand.  You ALSO need to make a plan what you can do when the inevitable stress happens - no matter your job, life is sometimes stressful.  You might go for a walk, march in place, take some slow, deep breaths, going slower and deeper with each, or call a friend, maybe take a break from the stress-causing person/occasion.  However you choose to deal, smoking will never be the answer....so have another plan ready.

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.

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

[Barbara145]

I love your term "Requitting."  I requit many times until I found this site.  That was almost 7 years ago.  You can do this.  Stay close to this site.

[jdquits2020]

I actually read about nicotine before I started smoking. Turns out, it replaces a neurotransmitter having to do with motivation. So that when we quit, our brain is demotivated to quit until it gets back to making that neurotransmitter itself. Such an evil chemical nicotine is. 

[Barbscloud]

Yes, it is an evil chemical.  It was designed to be that way to keep us addicted.  Sad.

Barb