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Give and get support around quitting

12 Years! Really?

I quit a 10 plus year habit of smoking in 2008.  So why did I start again about a year ago?  I wish I knew.  I am a new Christian too.  Started again at about the time I accepted Jesus.  At 42 I should know better.  Things are good but I don’t have it together.  I am lost.

5 Replies
YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to the community!

 

It doesn't really matter why you started to smoke again; what matters is that you commit to stopping.  It may have been that you began to romance smoking, wanting to find the peace of the time when you smoked. Smoking is not a habit; it is an addiction to nicotine, and it is believed to be more addictive than cocaine or opioids.  Read on to better understand why.

 

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 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.

 

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 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.

It will be informative if you do the tracking and separation exercises recommended here on the site. As you track each cigarette smoked, note its importance, and what you might do instead. Put each one off just a little to prove that you don't NEED a cigarette just because you think you do.
 

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

Maki
Member

You áre not the first to give away a quit , nor I'm sure the last .

Welcome back . It's worth it to keep it . 

You know what to do . 

The Ex is a wonderful community .

Glad you are here but of course wish with you had never taken the first puff. 

Barbscloud
Member

Welcome to the Ex.  As already said, you're certainly not the first person to lose a quit.  It has to be disappointing, but the important thing is you're ready to begin your journey again.  Create a plan and get back on track.  There's a wealth of information on this site that you will help lead you to success.  There's great support here, so all you have to do is reach out.   We're here for you.

Barb

sweetplt
Member

Hi and Welcome to Ex’s Greenmonster77 

It happens...I lost two long quits and now this last one I will never go back to smoking.  I am 543 days Free and never want day 1 again...Don’t beat yourself up...you came here so you know the addiction got you again...God knows we aren’t perfect, but he will help you when the urges come, if only you ask...May I suggest, you read at My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX where you will plan a quit date (usually it is in 2 weeks)...then plan for that day like no other...the night before throw away all smoking paraphernalia.  Also, read about quitting with the many blogs we have here at Ex’s.  The most important thing is coming here and getting support and to help encourage others through your journey.  We are here to help you...and glad to welcome you to our community...now get working...~ Colleen 543 DOF 

AnnetteMM
Member

I wonder if the same life situation that prompted your conversion also prompted the relapse with smoking.

Just an idea to ponder.