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Give and get support around quitting

mykids
Member

I slipped

I want to use the patch to help with the smoking but it’s exp. last year. Can I still use them

23 Replies
indingrl
Member

CONGRATS AND GOOD JOB!!!

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YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to our community!

The 1-800-Quit-Now will give you at least a beginning set of patches for free.  You might ask them, also.,  about your expired ones.

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. You should also do the tracking and separation exercises recommended here on the site.
 
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

Thanks, lots of good stuff mentioned.

beazel
Member

Yes you can do it!!

You said you smoked 1....did you drown the rest of the pack??

Commit to the quit.

mykids
Member

It was not a whole one. I took 2 puffs

indingrl
Member

You are NOT alone and you are doing good CHOOSING to come right back! WAY TO GO!!!!

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elvan
Member

Welcome back...you can do this.  Stay close to the site and remember that smoking never did anything FOR you but it could do a lot TO you.  DO drown those cigarettes and tear them to pieces, it is very cathartic.  Remember that we all want to support you.

Ellen

sweetplt
Member

Welcome back to the Quit Journey.  First, Do Not beat yourself up, it’s ok.  Second, be proud you came here and told us, which couldn’t have been easy. Next, learn from it and ask what could you do differently next time.  Lastly, big hug from me, you are not giving up on quitting.  Sending good vibes to you ~ Colleen

mykids
Member

Thank you 

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YoungAtHeart
Member

Have you done the reading I recommended?  If not, do it NOW!  At the very least, please do the one by Allen Carr.  Understanding this addiction is an important step is winning the battle over it.  His explanation of how nicotine affects our body and mind made all the difference in my quit - and I credit it with my success on my very first attempt.  I can't emphasize its importance enough!

Nancy