I desperately need some encouragement as I approach my quit day. 01/01/2018. Am I THE only one who has or had anxiety before my quit date?
I desperately need some encouragement as I approach my quit day. 01/01/2018. Am I THE only one who has or had anxiety before my quit date?
Welcome to Ex. If you are scared about your quit date, you are in the right place for support. Please talk a bit more about yourself, your smoking, what made you decide to quit. And keep blogging about how you are doing. Let us get to know you.
Well, you are not alone in anxiety about quitting, but by learning about the addiction, planning and getting the support you need, quitting does not have to be a horror show--not at all.
In pre-quit and early quit, change your routine a little and be willing to do what you need to to stay smober---but doing what you need to do has to be defined by you (gleaning ideas from everybody is good, so are your own ideas). The reason for this is that you know yourself best, so find things to do or to concentrate on that you are really willing to do. As for routines, if you have some that are strong triggers for a cig, then avoid. And keep coming around as much as you need to.
As a reminder of what smoking is, try saving all your smoked butts in a clear jar and leave in the open. Those spent butts have a story to tell and it is this: one cigarette will never be enough. Please stay tuned in to the reasons you are planning to quit, focus on the future gains and there will be many--- and they will be all yours.
Yes you can, one day at a time.
You own your quit date, it doesn't own you--quitting is somewhat difficult for a good number of quitters but that is no reason to run away from a planned quit.
I'm curious though, if you love smoking so much, then why are you planning to quit? I'd really like to know. Of course quitting is what you ought to do, but only you can convince yourself to face up to it.
Welcome to our community!
It's absolutely normal to fear the unknown. You have been an addict for awhile; your life revolved around smoking for awhile ---- this quit thing is totally new territory for you. I pretty much chain-smoked the night before my quit date - and I am now 5 1/2 years FREE!
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. You can search for a free pdf of it on the net (copyright enforcement won't allow me to post the link here).
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:
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
Hello there!
Glad you've made the most important decision of your life and all I can say is, fear can be the cornerstone of success if we treat it right. Don't get me wrong. I was terrified at the thought of quitting at first. But you know what? That fear was of failure, and I think that's what it is for you as well. And on the upside if you fear the upcoming quit, then that shows that you're committed!!
Quitting is a process and one that starts long before we actually quit. I remember the first time I thought seriously about quitting. Just the thought of it terrified me! I remember that day well. How the thought of quitting appeared quietly in my mind. How it stayed there in the background until I realized that I was serious! That's when the fear began and I can tell you it was so bad that I had cold sweats. My heart was pounding and I was shaking uncontrollably, and this was just from the THOUGHT of quitting.
I understood that this fear was both a blessing and a curse. It was a blessing because the fear actually made me realize that I was serious. It made me understand that this was a thought that I intended to make a reality. The curse was that if I thought about the fear, it made me think that I might fail.
In the end, I realized that if I was ever going to quit, I had to understand my fear. Where the fear was coming from and what I was actually afraid of. I know, it's easy to think that it was simply a fear of quitting, but it was more then that. I was actually scared of change.
To quit smoking, we have to be able to accept change. We have to be able to understand that the change is a positive one. We have to accept that it's going to be a fight, but one that's worth fighting. We have to understand that we're choosing life over an otherwise slow and agonizing death.
I spent a good part of my preparation time learning what I was actually afraid of and for me the fear boiled down to the one thing. Change! I think as humans, it's in our genes to fear change. We build scenario's in our mind about how it will be. And usually, we find the change to be an awful one when we build these scenarios, simply because of our fear of change. You might, in the end discover like I did on the day that you quit that you are more ready than you ever thought you would be! That the fear is something you can rise above.
The main thing to remember is that the fear you feel right now will lesson as you learn to live smoke free. And I can tell you that the freedom you'll feel when you get through the process is nothing short of amazing!! You're about to start an incredible journey. Don't look at it as a New Years resolution. Instead, look at this quit as the first step into your future. See it as the first day on a journey to take your life back from addiction! See your life as a non smoker as your new and wonderful reality! Go for it!! There's so much on the other side if you can just get past those first days!!
Sorry for rambling. Below are a couple of entries that I made to my blog as I approached the quit date. I did a lot of blogging in those days, and perhaps you can learn from some of them. Sorry my response is so long, but you remind me of myself during the preparation journey. If it helps, I'm approaching seven years smoke free in February. YOU CAN overcome your fear and I believe that you will!!
Two days till quit date - A day of preperation
The final day - I will smoke my last cigarette tonight!
ONWARD TO FREEDOM!!!
Chuck
Congratulations!!! I'd be worried if you weren't a little scared. Read up, educate, dig deep and don't give up.
Don't let your addiction beat you; just quit. Stay close to this site and reach out when you need help. You can do this!
Congratulations to a great and important decision you have made. I believe the anxiousness and fear is normal before you quit. It is fear of unknown and thoughts going through your mind that oh my gosh I am losing my best friend as you have spent so much time with the Nicodude. Glad to see you hear we all have been through those anxieties and survived. Do a lot od reading everyone suggested. Start formulating your plan on what you will do Jan 1 when you become an EX smoker. Plan activities to keep you busy, exercise and walking are great detours from smoking. I always carried ice water in a bottlle with straw it became my new friend. Lots of water helps flush toxins out of your body. Just some ideas to get you thinking. YOu will come up with your own ideas as well as pick up more ideas along the way in your reading. You Can do this!!
I noticed that you responded to kdrew blog post about being scared to quit, that he also really likes to smoke. I take it you read over the responses there - a lot of the same applies. Think really hard about why you like to smoke. Are you really sure? I thought I really liked it - turns out, I only enjoy maybe 1 of every 10 to 15 cigarettes I smoked. Others were just habit, others actually I didn't like how I felt after I smoked it.
Anyway, a lot of good advice above and on the blog post I mentioned above as well. I will say that I dare say hardly anyone here didn't have anxiety, fear, etc as their quit day approached! I know I certainly did - but there was also excitement. If you do some of the suggested reading, then I think you'll also feel some excitement that you CAN DO THIS!!
Doug
Sjackson9 You have gotten some amazing advice already, I cannot add anything to all that has been said...I will reinforce the importance of education...your quit will need to be your first priority and protecting it has to be your first job...we all felt anxious about quitting, there is not one person here with a successful quit who has not been where you are right now. Stay close to the site, read, comment, blog, ask questions, listen to the advice offered...it is offered with the goal of helping you to grow into the person you are supposed to be. There is nothing to like about smoking, it smells, it is seriously dangerous to your health, it ostracizes you from nonsmokers and it controls you for as long as you allow it. Quitting is a journey, not an event.
We are here to help, welcome to EX.
Ellen
Hi Sjackson9,
I am returning to this forum after a long year and many relapses. My quit date is also 1/1/2018. I think I have learned a lot and share the others comments when they say take it one day at a time. I was successful for 3 weeks at the beginning of 2017, but caved in and was on and off all year. I want to quit. I am coughing up a storm and smell to high heaven. I read Allen Carr's book. It was a wonderful motivator and plan to use it as a reinforcer along with the patch. The patch worked well...I didn't. Good luck to you and hopefully we can see each other often on this cite.
Michelle
(Hello to all that may remember me. I remember a lot of names posted here. I am happy to be coming back and congratulations for making it another year. I hope to say the same in 2019, but I won't get ahead of myself.)
Welcome back!
Thanks. It's good to be here. I'm getting ready.
follow the steps under My Quit plan, do the tracking of cigarettes, understand when and why you smoke, start cutting down now. It was easier for me when I was down to about 5 a day after smoking 2 - 3 packs a day. and I really concentrated on how it felt every time I inhaled, the burning of the throat, the dizziness, at times difficulty breathing right afterwards.
We were addicted to Nicotine. That addiction drove our addictive thoughts 24/7. But it can't own us! There is another part of the brain - Executive Control - that brought you here today. Executive Control is trying to decide that if I don't Quit - I'll die therefore - I'll quit!
That makes that addictive part of our Brains go 100% bonkers and conjure up every single excuse it can come up with as to why you shouldn't quit. When it loses that argument - and it will - the next in line is why can't I have just one right now? It will needle you in all kinds of ways - drive you up a wall - but it can't make you smoke!
The only part that can make you smoke is Executive Control - the Decision Maker. So this is the part that can make you Free as well. But it needs action. Or might I say an inaction - no smoking no matter what! Given a chance the addictive thoughts - full of lies - get straightened out - the smoke cloud lifts and the lies are revealed in the full light of Truth!
At this point it take a leap of Faith into an unknown or unrecalled time before we were addicted and our thoughts twisted with the nico-lies - you have to launch your quit even doubting that what I say is the Truth.
My guess is that your addicted mind might say - "oh, but that may be your truth, Thomas, but it isn't my truth! And yet, I assure you that it is - for it is the Truth of all Addicts. Addiction is 100% predictable, mundane no matter how unique each Addict as human is.
So I say to you, you don't have to want to quit smoking - but you do have to will to quit smoking!
ACTION at this point is all that matters. Correct thoughts and Feelings will follow just as the night follows the day!
Today is a Great Day to launch your Quit Journey! Freedom awaits and with it, a Happiness you've long forgotten.
I can't think of anything to add other than, Welcome Sjackson9 and Welcome back MichelleDiane ! Glad you are both here, and hope to see you around.
I was scared to death to quit. I smoked SO Much approaching my quit date I made my self sick. That is over 4 years ago now. I could not be happier that I quit. It is the best. You can do this.
The advise above is great! One thing to add....buy some Vick’s Vapor Rub. I kept the stuff everywhere, it’s like magic.
I would rub it under my nose and even went as far as putting a tiny bit on my tounge, I lived, lol. I also kept the Vick’s inhaler around for fast help. Dunno why, but the smell of it it took my crave away almost instantly. You still need to do the reading. Once you understand WHY your craving the nicotine so bad...you will fight it that much harder!
Get he Vick’s though...it will help , less stress
No you're not, this will be my second attempt trying to start the new year smoke free. I am extremely anxious, and a major part of my anxiety comes from trying to visualize my new life smoke-free, wondering what will replace this bad habit of mine.
Prepare well, do your homework and you'll discover you have less to fear because you'll understand more about the nature of this addiction, what's in store, and have the tools necessary to overcome it. It's just a skill to be learned. And just like any skill it simply takes study, hard work and perseverance. Will the process be unpleasant? Yes. Most new things take us out of our comfort zone and make us feel like a fish out of water. Will you survive it? Yes. Because each day you remain smoke free will be another day under your belt of experience and will give you confidence.
The Quitting Journey is all about ATTITUDE. Take it as a challenge, as something that's going to empower you in ways you've never discovered, as a growth process - and you'll move faster through the unpleasant parts with long strides. Focus on the negatives, the missing, the longing - and you'll grind your way through slowly inch by inch. Stick around. Knowledge is your friend here. And so are we.
I smoked like a chimney the night before my quit. But I had made a total commitment. Once you've said, "I WILL, no matter what," you're halfway home. The rest is all about 'time.'
Stay positive, stay motivated and bring along your sense of humor. It a great tool to have in your quit kit. Smoking isn't the end of your world - it's the beginning of it.
Remember that we are all here for you and we all want you to be successful...every one of us. We will help you in any way that we can, clearly, we cannot do this FOR you but you can have the gift of our collective experience....
Ellen
shaylrush PLAN it, identify your triggers and plan what to do INSTEAD of smoking. Drink lots of cold water, have healthy snacks available, be ready for the triggers, they will come. Go to the sign in page and follow the directions for "My Quit Plan" and set up a Quit Kit that you can go to whenever you might need it. You CAN do this, embrace the new life, the celebration of your freedom.
Welcome to EX.
Ellen
Remember that much of what you love about smoking is keeping the nicotine level up so you don't go into withdrawal. You're also taking away the habit part, like smoking when you wake up and after eating and so on. It's a leap of faith but you'll get past "loving smoking" and move on to a better life smoke-free.
@Hi Jackson ,Welcome to Ex you are in the right place ! So many comments and helpful suggestions above ,so short and sweet ......You would be amazed at how powerful positive thinking can be ! Every time you feel fear or anxiety about quitting ,combat it with a positive thought, do not allow fearful thoughts to remain ...they will return but diligently push them out of your mind . Know that your addiction is talking . I call it the nicodemon ! Kick him out every time and tell yourself you are quitting whether he likes it or not ! Be excited about your quit date and as someone above said you own the date ....you can change it if you need more time to prepare !
Merry Christmas to you !
I'm quitting because, I want to improve my health, I'm sick of our money
literally going up in smoke, I want to set an example to my children who
smoke and I don't want to be THAT grandma who smokes, I'm sick of always
having to step away from my family to feed MY ADDICTION!!!!! I'M SICK OF
NICOTINE CONTROLLING ME & MY LIFE.
On Dec 25, 2017 2:32 PM, "BonnieBee.quit.2.8.15" <
I desperately need some encouragement for my quit date. It' quickly approaching and I am scared to death. I LOVE TO SMOKE TOO MUCH! I love ttaste, smell and most of all the feeling that I get when I light up. I'e found myself smoking more as my quit dat quickl approaches. HELP ME PLEASE!