Small intro of my current Struggle

[Janiece34]

15 years ago I woke up and said goodbye to the Newport 100's that were sitting on my nightstand. I didn't crave it. Fast forward in August 2018 a very traumatic event happened so instead of going through the morgue or jail I smoked again 3 weeks later I trychantix again. Nope it only made me feel like I was dealing with morning sickness.

Needless to say I have not had a cigarette in 6 days and vuse alto I did not use today. No nasty cravings no mood swongs.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

So did you ever vape before this time? I assume you are using nicotine juice? What's your plan? Vape forever?

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking and your first successful six days!

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 is an easy and entertaining read. You can search for it online or at your local library. Here's a link to a video here on the site which describes nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.
 
 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.

 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. If used properly, gum, lozenges and inhalers are fine, but they need to be used only as a last resort.  I have seen folks become addicted to them if they substitute them for every cigarette they used to smoke - just trading one addiction for another.  I do not recommend the e-cigarette for three reasons: 1) the vapor has been compared to the polluted air in Bejing on a bad day, 2) they just provide another nicotine delivery system while continuing the hand to mouth smoking motion (you are really still smoking but with a battery!)  and 3) the batteries can spontaneously catch on fire. . 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 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

[elvan]

Welcome to EX, you are in the right place for support and education...stick with your quit, you CAN do this.  We all want you to succeed, please remember that and continue to be a part of the community.

You  have gotten great advice from YoungAtHeart‌, please take it.

Ellen

[Janiece34]

I have never Vaped before I bought it on Tuesday I found it to not be helpful because although it is still tobacco each hit I argued with myself "your still smoking so you might as  fire it up."

No I plan to continue to find things to do with my fingers during cravings.

[Janiece34]

Thank you?

[elvan]

You will do GREAT here...education and support are your best friends and they are here...your commitment has to come from you but it sounds like it IS.  You have had experience if I am reading this right...you were quit for 15 years?  That's amazing.  Just remember that this is a journey and not an event.  Also, PLEASE remember that smoking does nothing FOR you, only TO you.  Smoking just satisfies your addiction and then whatever the reason was that you smoked is still there.  I smoked for many years and I had many failed quits, the difference between all of those quits and THIS one is that I had EX this time and I got the support and education that were lacking in my previous quits.  

Congratulations on six days.

Ellen

[indingrl]

Cool- way to go! CONGRATS AND GOOD JOB!