Some good and bad moments

[jenn82209]

I haven't had access to in the internet for a bit and for some reason I can't blog from my iphone. I have reset my clock, even though I am really not smoking that much. I talked to my doctor and explained that cold turkey just doesn't work for me and unfortuanley, the meds that are out there I can't take. His advise to me was to cut down and decrese what I smoke every couple days. I am going to give that a try. i know I am on my way because, even having access to them, I am barely touching them. All I can do is take one day at a time. I know for some, you maybe thinking that I am weak and why can't I jus stop like everyone else?? But I have to do what works for me to get this done.

Just wanted to keep in touch

[SarahP]

Hi Jenn,

Have you done the readings? It seems like you're locked in a pattern -- quit for a few days, give in to a craving, smoke for a few days, quit again. You and only you can break this pattern. 

There is a point where you have decided to give in and smoke -- when you reach that point, choose to do something different. Do something that makes it impossible to leave the house to buy cigs, like take a bubble bath. My first week, every day when I got home from work I immediately changed in to pajamas and slippers, because it made me feel like I couldn't leave the house. 

Also, next time you feel like giving in, come here and blog FIRST. Give us a chance to talk you down.

You can do this Jenn, commit to it! We're here for you! 

[brwneyedgurl58]

I am worried about this too.  My quit day is 1 whole day away & I'm just stopping.  I can't continue this awful journey.  You can do it.  If you have to kick the brain washing first then so be it & deal with the nicotine addiction in a few weeks once you are comfortable not smoking. 

[YoungAtHeart]

You need to be careful not to reduce the number of cigarettes you are smoking too drastically , and then smoke one.  Going about it this way makes it more uncomfortable for you, since you are keeping your body in constant withdrawal.  The best thing to do leading up to an official "quit date" is to delay each cigarette for a bit to prove to yourself that the decision to smoke it or not lies within you. 

You really DO need to do the reading so you understand what nicotine does to your mind and body ----- kinda' like "know your enemy/"  The most important thing you need to have to quit is your 100% commitment to it.  You must commit to not giving in and smoking a cigarette - no matter WHAT!

You CAN do this!

Nancy

Quit 7/4/12

[jenn82209]

I did do the reading and I understand what I need to do. For me, and I am sure I am not the only one who has been where I am right now, I am struggling hard with the addiction process. It is not as easy as I tohught it was going to be. I am doing the best I can. I hear what you are all saying about being committed and I really am. I am reading comments on here and I thank you for them, but I guess I have to do this my way. I feel like from what I am reading that I am doing this "wrong", but I think everyone has there own way of dealing with addiction.

[SarahP]

Jenn, you're not doing anything wrong. But you are giving in to cravings rather than seeing this process through. We're just trying to help you see that you have another choice. Yes quitting is hard but it's not impossible, far from it. Withdrawal is unpleasant but it is temporary. The only way through it is THROUGH it. Choose to accept being uncomfortable and irritable for a little while. Choose to accept that you will feel cravings, but they are just a chemical process that will end. 

So many of us were in your shoes, thinking it was harder for us, that we couldn't quit the way other people do. It's not true.  Do this your way, by all means, but do it!  We are on your side and we want you to succeed! 

[jenn82209]

Thank you Sarah. I know that this is something that I have to deal with and I am going to work very hard ao that when the quit date comes I am no longer doing this battle back and forth stuff. It doesn't make me feel good about myself, When this happens, I feel like a failure. I can't let that get me.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

there are good and bad addictions

step into the circle of good addictions.

its amazing. you'll find you get more life from doing something you enjoy than from anything smoking ever gave you.

but you have to turn your thinking. It's not hard but you have to do it.

[pia3]

Hi Jenn, I can't take the medications either, have you tried the patch or the gum or any NRT? My quit date is April 1st and I have the gum and patch ready although I may call my doctor before then to find out about the nicotine inhaler, I know I cannot quit cold turkey. I quit cold turkey a long time ago but only because I had some horrible cough that I could not shake. Good luck and just keep trying, don't ever give up!!

[luckysenior]

Hey Jenn, that is what i did, I wasn't a heavy smoker to begin with, but I had a few times a day that I would smoke on schedule. On my way to work, 9:30am break, Lunch break, 2:30pm Break, and on my way home from work. I started with the easy ones. and did things instead of smoking. like taking a 10 minute walk instead of smoking on my breaks. I would make coffee in the morning and i would drink that instead of smoking on my way to work. and the hardest one to break me of was after work. because no matter what kind of day i was having, I looked forward to that cigarette! It took some calling my friends, to calling my quit coach, to chewing breathe mints, and to taking a different route home. but i got through it. and i've had slip ups, but i'm still quit. start with cutting one out of your daily routine and replace it with something productive.

[siciliana]

       yesterday was a ROUGH day--- almost ready to give it all up- but I thought of the pain I've been through- the disappointment of friends and familyso I had a little glass of wine but it actually got worse  long story short I went to bed early and did not smoke I was so tired of fighting the" devil" I actually slept----Today is another day I am calm and resigned or rejoyced that I am still an EX SMOKER you will be one too,Jenn

[jenn82209]

Lucky-sounds just like what I do-the scheduled smoking. I have been doing different things around the times I would smoke. For instance today during lunch I could have gone out but insread I stayed in and rearranged my desk. it is taking me longer that I though, but I am working on it.

Sicilana- congrats on the willpower-----send some my way!!!

[lois2]

you can do this hang in there.

[Sootie]

Jenn----there's no wrong way to quit smoking...just as long as you quit : )

I think Sarah and Nancy were just trying to tell you that sometimes....continuing to not smoke and then  suddenly smoking is even more difficult on you than just quitting. Like pulling off a bandaid or jumping into cold water....sometimes easier just to do it.  Quitting is hard...you are right. But it is doable....how else would so many of us have accomplished it? We are hear for you and just want to share some of what we've all learned along the way.

If you read our blogs you will see that we all quit in different ways too. Just don't give up and don't get upset with us. You can make your quit whatever works for you. But support will always come with advice and we give it because we want you to succeed!

Keep in touch and stay strong.

[jenn82209]

I am sorry if I came across that I was upset with anyone here. That is not the case by any means. I am more upset with myself. I more than appreciate the comments and suggestions.