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Give and get support around quitting

Bykeroot63
Member

One cigarette

6 years ago i was 5 months into a quit. Went on vacation and told myself i could have one, then i told myself I’ll quit again when i get home. Today I’m on day 3 looking back and that one cigarette turned into roughly 43,800 one mores. Its not easy, but right now I’m stronger than i was 3 days ago.

13 Replies
RoseH
Member

Been there, done that!  You are not alone Bykeroot63‌   I thought I could have “just a few a day”... and that lasted for another 20 years and it wasn’t a few, to say the least...  We are stronger now.  We are smarter now.  We can do this!  I won’t make that same mistake again!  I am free!  And I feel complete without a cigarette!  You will too!  Just keep it simple!  Never beg buy or borrow another killer butt and we both win!

Barbscloud
Member

Welcome to the Ex and happy to hear you're getting back on track.  I have to admit, I never did that.  I never quit long enough until now to think I could just have one. I just started smoking again.  I've learned from being on this site, that has been the downfall for many.  If you haven't do so before, educate yourself about nicotine addiction and create a quit plan.  My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX This is what finally worked for me.  Being prepared makes quitting possible.

We're here to support you.  Just reach out anytime you need encouragement or to share your quit journey.

Barb

YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to the community!

Congratulations on your decision to quit and your successful four days!  As addicts, there will never, ever be such a thing as "just one."  I am sorry you had to learn this the hard way.  There is lots more you probably don't know, so I will give you some reading to do, and some tips to make this journey a bit easier.

 

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 easy and entertaining read provided a world of good information about nicotine addiction, most of which I was not aware.  I credit it in large part with my success at quitting.   You can search for it online at Amazon or at your local library.


 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. Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.

 

You didn't mention if you are using a quit aid, so I will give you my thoughts on them.  My opinions were formed from doing a lot of reading of blogs and posts here  over my eight years quit.  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 after you have tried to delay and distract.   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.  You need to start out with a plan to reduce use of them over time - which the patch does by decreasing the dose contained in them..  For the gum, you can start by cutting each piece in half, then in quarters, then sub regular gum of the same flavor in between, adding more and more regular gum.  For the lozenge, you need to start subbing a mint in between to begin, increasing the number of them over time. I do not recommend the e-cigarette for obvious reasons.

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

indingrl
Member

Yes and yes YOU are - WAY TO n.o.p.e. and n.o.p.e. just for TODAY

maryfreecig
Member

Powerful story you have told. Thank you for sharing it. Yes you are three days strong one step at a time. Welcome to Ex.  

AnnetteMM
Member

Yep, it's a hard lesson for real. Glad you're here!

Cousin-Itt
Member

  Welcome to the EX Bykeroot63

  Your stronger and smarter now than you were when you had 5 months as you know what one cigarette really is.

Thank you for sharing your story as I 'm sure it has / will help others to stay vigilant

Carl

sweetplt
Member

HI and Welcome to Ex’s Bykeroot63 

Oh my ... I did that twice on two long quits...I was out drinking and thought one won’t hurt and eventually I was back to smoking...this is my third and last quit...I know I can no longer, nor no longer want the habit...plus I never want to go back to Day 1...so NOPE is my motto...”Not one puff ever”...anyways, it happens, don’t beat yourself up...the good part...you came here and your back in the journey...Work the program...and keep close to the support site.  WE are here for you...You know you can do it...now do it...~ Colleen 701 DOF 

green1611
Member

You have experience of five months quit ! Not less. 

Brain is magic. It has been reiterated many times on this site, that one cigarette, or one puff is enough to make addiction back to square one.

Hence, NOPE !

Congratulations ...Started your quit, that is great news.  Remind every time NOPE NOPE NOPE.... 43801 times ! All the best.