Trying to convince myself

[ShellyDabrio]

I have smoked since I'm 15 years old, that's 36 years.. if I don't stop I'm not going to have the privilege of growing old. I will spend my years in fear of Cancer and going to doctors, I just can't seem to do it alone which is quite frustrating,,, double minded

[Den1745]

It is possible!  I started smoking when I was 16 and smoked for the next 39 years.  I wasn't an occasional smoker, I smoked every day at least 1 pack a day.  I am happy to say I have been free of tobacco for 140 days!  I won't say it was easy, but it was the best thing I have ever done! 

[JonesCarpeDiem]

Congratulations. Tell us what helped you and how you did it.

[JonesCarpeDiem]

/blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2011/06/26/what-to-expect-in-the-first-four-months 

I hope this help explain the process.to the author of the post.

[ShellyDabrio]

Hopefully I can say that soon, thank you for the hope!

[JonesCarpeDiem]

/blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2011/06/26/what-to-expect-in-the-first-four-months 

[Den1745]

I'm sure you can!  I just kept telling myself to get through this one day, each day.  Whenever I thought about up coming events where I would typically smoke, I would just tell myself I would deal with that day when it came.  One event that I was nervous about was a get a way weekend with a friend who smoked.  I would start to think about it and I would start to think about smoking again and worry about how I would get through the weekend.  Just before the weekend, I was happy to learn that my friend had also just recently quit smoking!  So we were both Newbie Non-Smokers and it was great!  So basically don't worry about smoking tomorrow or next week you never know what's up ahead.

[elvan]

ShellyDabrio‌ PLEASE do the reading that JonesCarpeDiem‌ recommended to you, make a quit kit, stay close to the site and read blogs, comment, write blogs, ask for help and advice and KNOW that the people here will do everything we can to help you.  We have ALL been where you are and many of us smoked much longer than you have and some of us are suffering the consequences of our actions.  READ, PREPARE for your quit, lean on the people on this site.

There are lots of people here who regularly write welcome blogs, I am going to link a couple here...I read JonesCarpeDiem‌'s What to Expect in the First Four Months over and over again.  I set up a quit kit just like they advise on the first page.  Here are some welcomes that I did not write but that I believe are very helpful.

Written by YoungAtHeart‌ whose name is Nancy:

Welcome to our community!

Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking and your Day Won.  To answer your question, the first couple of weeks are difficult - but doable.  You will have good and bad days (mornings, afternoons, evenings, moments!).   Just get through them however you can.  Following is some advice on how to do that!

The most 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. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:

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

 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, quitsmokingonline.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. You should also do the tracking and separation exercises suggested in My Quit Plan http://www.becomeanex.org/my-quit-plan.php

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, 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. 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.  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

Next is a link to a welcome from JACKIE1-25-15‌  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/newbie-quitters/blog/2017/07/20/are-you-new-here 

You CAN do this, it really IS a matter of life and death or life and breath.

Welcome to EX,

Ellen

[Tabbiekat]

You are here, you are not alone. I had my first puff when I was only 10yrs old. My husband of 10 yrs has been smoking for almost 50 years and he is on his way to becoming an EX. I tried quitting a couple times in the last 10 years and I finally resigned myself to quitting when he did or 30 days after he dies. A couple months ago he was told by his cardiologist that the ablation procedure for his A-fib can be done, but if he continued to smoke it would either not go away or come back shortly. My husband decided the day of the procedure Oct 30th he is done. He is using his knowledge from AA to tackle his Nicotine addiction. I wanted more, I talked to my doctor. My quit date set for Oct 30th too. I joined this site and have been reading like crazy. Thinking about why and what do I get from it. What could I be doing differently. I started posting and getting feedback. I started Chantix 6 days ago and quit smoking 41 hours ago.

When I had my last I did not know that would be my last, I went to bed, got up the next morning (yesterday) and still did not know I was not going to smoke. My routine was changed a bit so by the time I went out to have my first smoke and take my dog out I chose not to take a cigarette out with me. A couple hours later I decided, I cried about the loss and had Ol' Nic whispering to me "Do not to tell anyone, I will be back". Finally a few hours later I did tell someone and at that moment I knew I was a non smoker. I came here and changed my quit date to yesterday.

You can do this and you will get tons of support from here.

[maryfreecig]

Welp loads of support and helpful links already.  Check it out!

The pre-quit time is an important time...it's your time to think about why quit and why not quit each day. Doing this will help you to look at how you are thinking about cigs. I'm a big believer in and biased toward saving every cigarette you smoke in a clear glass jar. Let 'em add up. Keep writing down why you personally wish to quit, why you don't want to. Keep reading about addiction and keep coming into 24/7 Ex fellowship. 

Try to confront your smoking and your thinking about your smoking,  rather than rush to set a quit date. One day at a time, in your pre-quit days, you can find your strength and optimism. You don't have to be crazy happy to quit, but you can find your own yes.

[JACKIE1-25-15]

The best thing about EX is you never have to do it alone. 

Welcome to EX.  You have come to the right place for a new day and a rebirth.The idea is to start at the beginning by making a commitment that no matter what happens or goes on in your life that you will not use it as an EXcuse to smoke.  With that philosophy you will have success on this journey.  No it is not easy but it is doable by using that principle and educating yourself about nicotine addiction.   If you hang around you will see that quitting is doable, because many of us have.  Look forward to a new day and a new way of life.  It is all up to you.  This is all about you and what you are willing to do to be smoke free. Quitting smoking requires hard work and determination not to give up.   It can be challenging at times but you will learn that it is doable if you adhere to NOPE not one puff ever no matter what. Start first, by educating yourself about nicotine addiction.  Education is the key to a successful quit.  Read: Freedom from Nicotine My Journey Home and Nicotine Addiction 101         

Here are the links: http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksAAddiction.html   and http://whyquit.com/ffn/

I also encourage you to read. Allen Carr’s book, “Easy Easier Way to Quit Smoking”.       

The link is here:  http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

 Go to http://www.becomeanex.org/how-to-quit-smoking.php#thl and get started. 

[Giulia]

So have you convinced yourself yet?  Have WE convinced you?  Looks like you last logged in a couple of weeks ago.  If you want some help in the convincing department you have to hang out here and do some reading.  Knowledge will help convince you of the necessity and the methods will also be provided.  Come on back.

[OldBones-Larry]

You can quit. I myself smoked 42 years and have been smober for 4 years now. 

We are all here to help you if you will let us.

Larry