Tail between my legs

[Mamadoo]

I'm back. I am a smoker (again), and I am humbly asking you (again) for encouragement. I have been fighting some depression (again) and my doctor and I realized that perhaps instead of me thinking I'd wait until I am less depressed to quit smoking, perhaps the smoking itself is a major contributor to the depression. It's a vicious cycle. I know, intellectually, what I need to do. Reading for a few more hours to pump myself up and then it's go time. 

So glad to log back in here and see so many people fighting the good fight! It's so encouraging!

Thanks, 

Mamadoo

[JonesCarpeDiem]

Hey. You're back. Let's make this the one.

The secret is to be able to divert those smoking thoughts.

Laugh out loud when you get a crave. It releases dopamine and you CANNOT stay in the same place if you hear YOURSELF laughing out loud. Even if you don't feel like it. Try it. The rediculousless of laughing when you don't feel like it can snap your mind out of it. Diversion. Diversion. Diversion

[momofalmost3]

I can speak to this...I am certain that smoking was a major contributor to depression issues in my past. It takes a couple weeks, at least, for your brain to start normalizing production of neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. Do some googling on smoking's effects on serotonin, in particular....we're now learning that smoking may lead to chronic low serotonin levels, in addition to the well-documented effects on dopamine. It takes me about a month to feel somewhat normal again, and this period has been getting longer with each successive quit. Might be worth talking to your doc ablut supplements like 5-htp and L-tyrosine for that in-between period....these are essentially precursors to serotonin and dopamine.  Seriously, if you commit to a period of healing for your brain, you will reach that "I feel...okay" point, and that serene calm that comes from your brain learning to support itself again. Not worth feeling bad for the rest of your life because you keep putting off that inevitable period of feeling bad after quitting, that's how I look at it. 

[Patty-cake]

Hi Mamadoo,

Smoking does feed into depression. I had this same conversation with my doctor years ago. 

I suggest you get yourself reacquainted with all the past reading materials so you can be re-educated on nicotine addiction. It makes quitting doable when logic in put into place and fear is on the back burner. 

I'm glad you are here.

🙂

[wanda4]

Do not worry baby gurl....I have quit a billion times and never gave up givin up, I hated smokin as much as I hated quitting,  I hated smokin cus my grandkids youngest 11/2 oldest 9yrs, have told me numerous times I stink...I saw myself in a death bed everytime I picked up a ciggarette, I watched my hands after every ciggarette, put smelly cream on, but never succeeded in getting the smoke out, I alwaysl stank says my grandkids.....I got tired of being scared of how long will I last hating smokin and when will I quit for good untill I actually did quit and dont ever want to go back to the agony of wondering about my future life....I enjoy the air, I enjoy taking my baths and actually smelling good, my purfumes do work, I'm hoping that this will help you in knowing that it happens, we slip many, many, many times jus as long as you dont give up givin up...LOTSA LUCK

[Mamadoo]

Thanks so much everyone! The support that you have given is humbling and appreciated. I don't want to let you down (in addition to myself), which is in itself another motivation. 

Best to you all this Sunday morning!

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome Back!

Get that tail out from between your legs.  The important thing is that you are back and are preparing to make this your FINAL quit.  Get that tail back wagging where it belongs!

I am going to give you some ideas and and a link to Allen Carr's "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" so that you can re-educate yourself on this addiction:  Here is a link to free PDF of Carr's book:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

As well, read the sections on this site, do the tracking and separation exercises, and read the blogs, responses and pages of folks you think might be helpful. You might also want to visit quitsmokingonline.com, and whyquit.com.

After you have completed the readings, it will be time to make your quit plan, including what quit aid , if any, you will use, and the crave busters you think will work for you. Then you can approach your quit day with a plan in place.

The idea is to distract yourself through the cravings.  Don't let that thought rattle around in your head alone!  A crave will last about three minutes whether you smoke or not.  Go for a brisk walk, march in place, do a few jumping jacks, clean a drawer, do a crossword puzzle, play a computer game...Here are links to lists of 114 things to do instead of smoke if you need fresh ideas:

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/03/03/additions-to-the-list-o...

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...

The conversation in your head CANNOT be:  "I want a cigarette.  No!  But - I WANT a cigarette.  NO!"  Instead, it needs to be "I want a cigarette.  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!

Stay close to us and ask for advice and support as you need it. We all here want to help you be successful!

Nancy

Quit 7/4/12

[Nyima_1.6.13]

Welcome back! Let us know when you put the last one out! I went through an extremely difficult depression associated with quitting but got help and got through it! Momofalmost3 covered it, the research is out there and you need the dopamine that the drug helped produce! I really had to force myself to do things that promote dopomine production (exercise,laugh,dancing is a good one and so is sex)! So throw on some music and dance your a@* off in between chapters!

[Strudel]

Welcome back! Let's make this your forever quit! Read and refresh! Stick around here - you can do this! 

[Thomas3.20.2010]

WELCOME HOME!