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Give and get support around quitting

lillyn55
Member

Help

It’s been 9 long days and I really want to smoke a cigarette! I don’t know if I’m posting this on the right spots I don’t know how to use this site, apparently I’m not that smart and my stupid smart phone is no help! I’m  at work at a convenience store and all I really want to do is go outside and smoke a cigarette! 

16 Replies
Barbara145
Member

DON'T DO IT.  Nine 9 days is huge.  Don't waste it.  You are doing this!

Jennifer-Quit
Member

Well get busy doing something else - have a drink of some ice cold water, have a snack, do anything to get your mind off of smoking.  Not always easy, but it is doable!  9 days is a wonderful start to a lifetime of freedom - so please do not throw it away!

I am not much help using this site with my phone - but if time permits start learning more about this site and how to navigate it - might be a good distraction for you.

Best wishes!

YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to our community!

Congratulations on your decision to quit smoking!  Nine days is HUGE!  You are DOING this!!!!

RIGHT NOW!  STOP thinking about smoking!  Take slow/deep breaths, count the red/blue/green things in the store.  Come up with a quick story about each customer...are they on their way to work, on a trip - where?,  do they have kids/how many?  If you smoked outside, take a walk around the parking lot on your break instead.  Change things up!  You have decided you aren't going to smoke anymore - so don't argue with yourself about it. 

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 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, 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 don't say if you re using a quit aid.  If you are going that route, I hope you are using one that doesn't allow you to  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 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

lillyn55
Member

Thank you so much for all  the resources you gave me the advice and helping me get through these cravings the right way. It’s such a big help having people to go through this with you.  I’m going to put in the work stay strong and definitely stay close to this site to get through this  thank you so much again for all your help !

Barbscloud
Member

Welcome.  Ditto--DON'T SMOKE.  Nine days is quite a triumph.   You've successfully passed Hell Week.     I know how difficult this must be working somewhere looking at cigarettes.  Stay close to the site today.  We're here for you.   

(I find it hard to do this on cell phone.)

119 DOF

AnnetteMM
Member

You do NOT want to smoke!  You want to NOT WANT TO smoke.  Totally different.  The constant cravings will go away.  COPD will never go away.  You see others smoking outside and you want to join in.  It's a fond memory, but it won't be the same as before.  Think about it.  Think how it would really feel.

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SimplySheri
Member

Do you really want to smoke or is it more that you want to ease those uncomfortable feelings we experience when we quit?  Find something else that will ease that feeling.  Can you chew gum or have a piece of hard candy?  Do some deep breathing maybe?  Remember all the good you are doing for yourself and remind yourself that the uncomfortable feelings will ease with time   You really can do this!! 

Sheri

elvan
Member

Congratulations on your nine days...you are going to reach DOUBLE digits tomorrow, you are DOING this.  It's not easy but it GETS EASIER, wish I could tell you exactly when but it varies from person to person.  So glad that YoungAtHeart‌ gave you those links.  I have to tell you that I think working at a convenience store likely poses all kinds of challenges, none that you can't get past.  Stay close to the site...even if it's frustrating, there is so much support here.  I can tell you that after smoking for 47 years, this site made all the difference for me and I have been free for over four years.  

Every person on this site who has a quit has been where you are...there is no way to speed up this recovery and there are no short cuts but I can tell you that it is worth every minute and every step!

Ellen

maryfreecig
Member

Yes, you have come to the right place for quit support. Keep working your quit. 

Congratulations on 9!

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