I keep quitting for a couple of months, then i go back. I'm going to set a date again but it gets frustrating.
I keep quitting for a couple of months, then i go back. I'm going to set a date again but it gets frustrating.
Two months is not long enough for a quit to take hold for most.
Still a great blog!
Education is the key to a successful quit.
Start First, by educating yourself about nicotine addiction.
Understand the law of addiction."
Administration of a drug to an addict will cause re-establishment of chemical dependence upon the addictive substance."
Read: Freedom from Nicotine My Journey Home and Nicotine Addiction 101 Here are the links http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksAAddiction.html and http://whyquit.com/ffn/
Also Read Allen Carr’s book, “Easy Easier Way to Quit Smoking”. Which can be purchased of found pdf format on the internet. You can start here My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX Help Community to learn how to navigate around the site.
WELCOME TO A NEW WAY OF THINKING- it is said-If you always do what you always done you will always get what you always got-USING DRUG NICOTINE-that is what addicts do-they USE-there is NO such thing as a relapse-you planned to USE at those TIMES -and you USED-i did that to MANY MANY MANY TIMES! Your NOT alone-you need to admit you are powerless over nicotine-you gotta WANT to quit MORE than you WANT to use-this was all said to ME-make your decision-set your MIND SET-prepare yourself-lemons-bubble gum-exercise plan-celery to CRUNCH on when emotional days or throughout your day-drink lots of water-keep hands busy-knit-fix puzzle-what you ENJOY-thanks for asking-read and study for YOURSELF-free book at whyquit.com by Joel-the title is-NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF EVER-Please i hope you keep blogging BEFORE you use and please give us time to answer-thank you.
Welcome to our community!
You are succumbing during the period in your quit we have named "No Mans Land." This is a time when friends and family think you should be over it, the initial excitement has waned a bit, and a random crave can hit, seemingly out of nowhere - and sometimes it feels as though it lasts forever! Here is a description you might find helpful:No Mans Land Days 30 to 130 (approximate) If you expect it and aren't surprised, you can pull out the tools you used early in your quit and it will have no power over you. These will end just as suddenly as they came. You will have smoking memories for about two years during holidays,change in seasons, and other times/emotions you have not been through enough to relearn, but these are easy to dismiss.
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.
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.
Here is what will help you get past this part of your journey to freedom. 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 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
I think you've come to the right place! There's a wealth of knowledge here for those who want to quit and also the one thing that might have been missing for you in your last quit attempts. Support. The first thing you need to do is learn about addiction and how you interact with your addiction. Then you can create a plan for your quit and decide what makes you relapse every time you try to quit, and then deciding what you'll do differently this time.
Others will be along to offer you valuable links to help you get started. You haven't failed unless you give up completely! Please do all the reading you can and when you're ready, go for it!! We'll be right here to help if you need us! Good job on keeping that desire strong to quit.
ONWARD TO FREEDOM!!!
Chuck