EX Community

DonnaMarie · ‎01-29-2019

I have been the one. The one who quit for a week, a few days, whatever, and then picked up one cigarette and fell into the relapse game. I came here and talked about the relapse and then I fell off the face of the planet.

I was reading replies to a person who relapsed and one of them said "thank you for posting!" I thought that was so profound in a weird way. The relapser screwed up their courage and posted. They didn't disappear from EX. And they were thanked for that.

I want to add my thanks to relapsers who try again and again and again, and come here and talk about it. It is so brave to not internalize it all, to share with us, and to, believe it or not, strengthen my/our quits. By starting again, you're showing signs that you're gonna make it. You have not given up. You want to quit. You're flirting with smoking, but you'll show it to the curb before you know it. I believe in you!

I'm 44 days in and have quit numerous times before. I know what a relapse is and how tempting the urge to smoke can be. I also know that if I take even one puff, I'm a smoker again. And to tell the truth, I'm not sure I would have the wherewithal to come here and admit the relapse and ask for help.

So, yes, thank you for posting. You are doing both yourself and me a favor by doing so. And keep quitting!

Donna

Day 44

KMC56 · ‎01-30-2019

My 2nd time...15 years after my 1st quit was successful. MOSTLY because of this site!!!

My mindset was and still is, if I cave...I don't think I could go for round 3.

And YES to those who were courageous and strong enough to share their relapse, I place them at a higher level to succeed. I would read the blogs of those who relapsed early in their quit...and 5-10 years of being smoke free. That truly told me how additive it is, and would terrify me that my reality always needs to be in check...for the rest of my smoke free life!

~Kathy 112 DOF

Mandolinrain · ‎02-01-2019

I was one. it wasn't until I understood the brain receptor bring awakened every time i 'lite up' that it made sense to me..

Karine · ‎04-08-2019

Same for me . I quit and failed numerous times. I get it now that I am aware of the brain receptors.

DonnaMarie · ‎02-06-2019

I have not yet made it to elder status, but it is a goal...but I have disappeared from EX and returned, a few times now.

I learn from people who slip, relapse, bust a quit, whatever you want to call it just as I have learned from my broken quits. I keep telling myself "smoking is not an option" and "not one puff ever." Having said that, though, I have to come here. I do it for me and for any person who might gain even one glimmer of hope, information, or inspiration for their own quit from me.

I walk the walk of a quitter. When I hopped off the trail in the past, I hopped into a pool of shame and feeling pretty damned crappy about myself. I know why people don't come back, but I totally hope they would. Maybe we can all learn from someone's broken quit. What was the one thing that turned the tide for them?

In other words, they could be and often are me. I am 52 days in, and each day is a precious gem. I want the remainder of my life to be gem-filled. My hope and determination tell me it will be.

Donna

elvan · ‎02-06-2019

Beautiful DonnaMarie‌, we want the remainder of your life to be gem filled too.

Ellen

McCarron · ‎03-24-2019

You sound like me. quit...………..relapse...…….quit......relapse Over and over again. I'm So sick of it. Relapsing. I'm more afraid of that than going through the physical withdrawal. My quit date is set for April 1st. You sound like the kind of person who can help me. I need all the help I can get......Nancy

elvan · ‎03-24-2019

McCarron‌ I have been there, I hated it too, I hated what I knew it was doing to me, I hated failing, over and over again. I have not smoked in over five years now thanks to this site and to listening to the advice I was given here, the support I was given, the education that I was given, and my own commitment. I came here every morning and every evening when I first quit and I read blogs, I commented, I paid attention to what was working for others. You CAN do this...it is a one day at a time journey and when a day is too long, make it an hour or a MOMENT. Break it down into small pieces...

Ellen

McCarron · ‎03-26-2019

Thank you for your encouragement. I have 5 days until my forever quit date. April 1st, 2019. I have been moody for the past 4 or5 days. Part of it is cabin fever but part of

it is knowing that my quit date is coming up pretty fast. I'm just going to do the things that I know I need to do, one day at a time

On Mon, Mar 25, 2019 at 03:41 PM, maryfreecig wrote:

BecomeAnEX (https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/?et=watches.email.outcome)

To people who relapse

maryfreecig (https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/people/maryfreecig?et=watches.email.outcome) marked elvan (https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/people/elvan?et=watches.email.outcome)'s reply on To people who relapse (https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/thread/19912-to-people-who-relapse?et=watches.email.outcome) as helpful. View the full reply (https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/message/192210-re-to-people-who-relapse?commentID=192210&et=watches.email.outcome#comment-192210)

McCarron · ‎04-02-2019

You must be so happy about having over five years without a cigarette. thank you for your support.

On Mon, Mar 25, 2019 at 03:41 PM, maryfreecig wrote:

BecomeAnEX (https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/?et=watches.email.outcome)

To people who relapse

maryfreecig (https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/people/maryfreecig?et=watches.email.outcome) marked elvan (https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/people/elvan?et=watches.email.outcome)'s reply on To people who relapse (https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/thread/19912-to-people-who-relapse?et=watches.email.outcome) as helpful. View the full reply (https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/message/192210-re-to-people-who-relapse?commentID=192210&et=watches.email.outcome#comment-192210)

elvan · ‎04-02-2019

McCarron‌ It is, without a doubt, the best thing I ever did for myself. I am very happy being an ex smoker. You can be too.

Ellen