Ugh

[ljguptill]

What a failure. My proposed quit has failed over and over again. I'm sure you guessed by my absence... However, I am just going to stop today, while the feeling is SO strong to quit. I have one more cigarette, and that is going to be it. 

I have tried planning, and waiting for "the day", and I swear it only makes me want to smoke more. I know it's not the recommended way, but I feel like I just need to decide that NOW is the time. 

I am seeing my doctor tomorrow on an unrelated matter, but I am curious to know if any of you recommend Chantix, I am scared of the side effects though- although I should be MORE scared of the effects of smoking. Duh. 

[ljguptill]

I have my quit kit ready to go on the kitchen counter: Nicorette gum, cinnamon sticks and tea bags (instead of my trigger),  coffee...

[breathefree]

I like the trying something different like the tea instead of coffee, I found a hot drink would be a trigger so I opt for a cold one and it doesn't have the same effect.  Good luck today, it's just one day and we can do anything for just one day, I have 10 smoke free days today and I'm grateful for everyone of them and for my support groups and this site. 

[Puff-TM-Draggin]

Nope.  You're not ready yet.  When you change your mindset to N.O.P.E., even if you have one more cigarette, then you will be ready.  I used to tough talk myself too.  As long as I had a few more, I was sick and tired of smoking.  But then within hours of having smoked my last one, I was trotting my little butt down to the gas station to get me another pack.

You just wrote a wonderful rant on being ready NOW and made an excuse to smoke again in the same blog.

Please prove me wrong and quit for good.

[ljguptill]

Thank you!

[ljguptill]

Well, it's gone, and I am going to do it. I thought I was "ready" before, but I came up with a million excuses. I am just diving in. 

[Puff-TM-Draggin]

NOW we'll see if NOW is the time!

You might want to write a blog to yourself, (and us too,) about how strong is SO strong, so as to have as a reminder later when the dopamine receptors in your brain start bawling for a hit of nicotine.  You can look back and see why you are telling them N.O.P.E.

[elvan]

ljguptill‌ I cannot give you any advice about Chantix, I never took it.  I was afraid of the side effects too.  I smoked until the "side effects" from smoking nearly killed me.  I had both upper lobes of my lungs removed because of the emphysema in them.  I smoked for a long, long time and even though I smoked very little the last few years, I continued to do the damage to my lungs...even one puff did more damage.  When I got sick, I quit, really, really sick.  I gave away 8 packs of cigarettes that were left in a carton, all of my lighters, all of my coupons, I discarded all ashtrays, and I soaked down more than half a pack of cigarettes in water and discarded them.  THEN, I came here, I had been here before, planning, lurking, watching...this time it worked.  I have been smoke free for over three years and I would not give up that freedom for anything.  NOPE was my mantra for months...I went through some rough times but nothing that smoking would have changed.  Smoking does nothing FOR us...it does lots TO us.

Reach out, stay close to the site.  You CAN do this.

Welcome back,

Ellen

[JACKIE1-25-15]

/blogs/JACKIE1-25-15-blog/2015/02/19/just-one-more  I wrote this blog 832 days ago.  I thought of it when I read your post.   It is up to you.  We can help to educate support and motivate, but it is all up to you to end the vicious cycle of just one more.  The journey continues. 

[ljguptill]

Thank you Ellen! xo

[maryfreecig]

There will never be enough cigarettes to satisfy the addiction. When I turned my back on the butts, one of the things I said to myself was,'You can choose to go back to smoking, once you are no longer addicted...if you want to. But all desire, all want must be gone...nothing less than this.' Of course, the real point was to quit the addiction which meant to quit smoking. 

If you are ready to quit, congratulations. (If you are not quite ready yet, and only you can know this, I strongly urge you to save every cigarette you smoke in a clear glass jar. And add the financial cost of smoking every day. Forget the moral arguments and shame and blame about quitting, just try to get your brain to see that smoking has a price.

But if you are on your way, AWESOME. 

[YoungAtHeart]

You are only a failure if you quit trying!!!!

I took Chantix and had ZERO side effects.  I was afraid of them, too - but decided to give it a try.  I liked the idea of not continuing to put nicotine in my body.  I only took the Chantix for about two weeks, though - 'cause I landed in the hospital; they didn't continue it. and when I came home I didn't know what dose to take - so I just quit using it.  I was quit a week before the hospital stay.

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

[Thomas3.20.2010]

It's your Decision that brings your Personal Power to win over this Addiction! 

I 100% will not smoke no matter what. AND I respect my decision, i.e., myself enough to honor this decision under all circumstances!

[elvan]

ljguptill  You are most welcome, it's not easy, hang onto the hands that are being extended to help you.  Read everything being recommended, take what you like and leave the rest.  Hang in there, I promise you that if you stick with your quit and the site, it really DOES get easier.

 Big hugs,

Ellen

[bacardigirl]

The only side effect I had was crazy dreams!  They were so bizarre and so real but Chantix worked for me until I allowed myself to fail. That was about 8 years ago. I didn't fail because of Chantix, I failed because of me.

This time around I chose to go cold turkey and feel more confident because of the education I have received from the members at this site. Next week I will be at 250 days! So in a nutshell, Chantix worked for me and the dreams were not a deal breaker.. No complaints about Chantix. Hopefully it will be exactly what you need! Good luck!