Community
Hi everyone,
I messed up yesterday and smoked. I was on day 8 and I messed up. I got into a huge fight with my son, my car broke down so went to my neighbor for a cigarette. All day I was fine, I thought, but now these horrible cravings are bothering me now. Someone mentioned that there a cravings button to push when your having cravings but I don’t know where to find it.
julie
Sorry to hear that you had a smoke, but I hope you continue with your quit and don't decide to go back. I'm not sure about a craving button, I've never seen one.
You messed up. Yup. You allowed excuses (well, the addiction) to dictate your next cigarette. Got into a huge fight, car broke down.... whatever happened that caused you to head to your neighbors to "get a fix," you are now back to day one. And that's no fun. I've been there more than once so I know. Of course the cravings are back full force. As Nancy said above me.
So - what did you learn from it all? I can tell you from my own experience that every time I gave up my quit, I smoked just as much for a longer period of time. So I hope you don't do that. Sounds like you jumped right back into the saddle and that's good. But you're suffering because of it. That's understandable too.
I don't know about a "craving button" but I do know that if you write a blog with HELP in the title, that's an alert for us when we get on here and read blogs. Oh, I see Nancy mentioned that too. So that's what you need to do. Come here, get on this website BEFORE you trot off to your neighbor's or to your local cigarette shop. UNDERSTANDING EXCUSES.
You kept the THE POSSIBILITY DOOR open. Until you close it, you will always have the hope and opportunity in your head to go back to what you are trying to rid yourself of.
So - how to overcome all that? I think you need to really sit down with yourself and ask and answer serious questions. Is there anything that will make me give up my quit? If so - what? Why can't I fully commit to my quit? Actually a blog I wrote for serial quitters may help: For the Serial Quitters Out There There are, of course, craving buster techniques: Craving Buster Technique and 100+ Things to do instead of smoking / vaping / chewing
We learn and grow as we go. Keep at it. It's worth the effort.
Nicotine is v e r y addictive Juliejules2456
Stopping and starting will just make your life miserable... The addiction to the drug Nicotine is just that! When you have “just one” there is N E V E R that... And it does N O T become easier when you stop and start again... It is literally “starting all over again” and just as hard!
If you want to win, there is only one way... Do not buy, beg or borrow another butt, and you will be successful!
Quitting smoking is a challenge. The definition of a challenge is to confront or deny boldly.
To be prepared for that challenge and to win a life of better health and well being, click on the link below to learn about the challenges to become smoke free:
As they say "get back on the horse." You deserve to be a nonsmoker. Start with day one again and ask for help if a situation arises that you think a cigarette will help solve it. We want you here with us.
Terry
Keep up the good quit
Hi Julie Juliejules2456
First, don’t beat yourself up...you made a choice and now you must start over...it’s ok...the important part is not to give up on this journey. Also, learn from it ... next time you feel defeated by life and want to go to your neighbors to smoke, come here and tell us what is going on and that you want to smoke...let us try and talk you out of it...if you still want to smoke, well ok, but just maybe coming here will stop you from going to your neighbor. Anyways, trust me, we have all been there, redo the work and restart your journey...Hugs hon out to you ....~ Colleen 667 DOF
Hi there!! I'm so sorry you smoked , I know you are disappointed with yourself. I always remember the saying "If I smoke one cigarette I'll be back where I started. Where I started was desperately wishing I were where I am right now". Eight days was an awesome start, and I know you wish you were back there. And you WILL be back there, and further, one step and one craving at a time.
Great job getting back to it. You can't undo it, but you can learn from it. You've gotten great advice above, make a plan for when something similar arises (as it will... life doesn't stop throwing crap at us because we quit smoking ).
huge fight with my son, my car broke down
Realize that these are not reasons to smoke, only excuses caused by the addiction. Also completely absorb the fact that smoking did not settle the fight with your son nor did it fix your car. It only added to your problems, instead of two you have three. Internalize that thought so that next time you have the thought that just one cigarette will make it all better, you'll know that it won't.
Best to you!
and p.s. stress/anger is one of the biggest triggers out there. I remember distinctly being so happy after my first tiffaroo with hubs where the thought of a cigarette did NOT enter my mind! It was a breakthrough for me. But it didn't happen that early in my quit.
Don't look back. Get right back on track and move forward with your quit. The important thing is to learn where you went wrong. Reach out before you smoke. That's what we're here for. Is this what you mean?
Emergency Help (The Panic Button)
Barb
Yes, I guess that is what someone was saying. I thought it was a button lol but no, it’s just asking for HELP in a emergency situation.
Hi Juliejules. If only life could be easy 24/7. Never is, but you must know that already. One thing you can do is imagine the things that upset you the most are happening--and imagine what you will do instead. I did that before I quit. I heard a lot about preparing for stress or negative stuff. I did a few trial runs, managed to not light up right away (pre-quit). Practicing this did help me face unpleasant moments or events. I still hated the stress, but I learned to see the urge to smoke over bad stuff as the more important problem.
Welcome back. Don't quit on your quit.
Yes you can, one day at a time.
You are back & that matters. You are better equipped for the next round of craziness...it WILL get easier.
Ellen
I think you would type mood in your text messages
Hey Juliejules,
I'm sure that you are going through guilt, and beating yourself up for having succumbed to a craving. You've got to let that go and concentrate on something more productive, like the fact that you are a good person who has been in the clutches of an addiction for many years. It ain't easy, but you can and will succeed.
I don't know if you read Dr. Carr's ( sp) book that is always recommended here, but you might want to get yourself a copy. That book was as straightforward and simple as you can make any addiction. There were many strategies to quit, but the one I found was the rational explanation as to why we smoke cigarette after cigarette. Here it is: After you smoke ( and I'll admit that one or two cigs used to feel o.k.--but not the other ones) it takes about 20 minutes for the nicotine to leave your body, at which point you get a cig fit and have to fill up with some more nicotine, and on it goes, until you go to sleep.
When I realized that my mind was simply trying to keep up with the nicotine crave, and that the cigarette companies were banking on that, I just said--"what the hell am I doing?" I then realized that none of my friends smoke, and most people I see don't smoke, because there is no place to smoke but at the outside of a Walmart. And what a site that is--every poor, or lower income person you've ever seen is being victimized by the tobacco companies.
Eventually, you will walk near people who are smoking and you will smell the smoke and it won't be pleasant--today, I was at a Home Depot and the woman who was taking care of the perennials outside was smoking the longest cigarette I've ever seen. She was sucking away on that thing and I felt badly for her. She has no idea what she's in for. Since I have quit, I have saved my cig money and had a ball buying "stuff." I only spend it on things that are frivolous. My check-up (I'm 76 big ones, went like a top--all is well and I'm a lifetime smoker).No more high blood pressure, lung scans for cancer, worries the cigarettes effect every organ in your body. In short, those damned things will ( notice the word) kill you, or make you suffer with something that you wouldn't have had if you'd quit.
Finally, Juliejules, after almost a year ( October 20th is the big day), I still have some urge--very seldom now--to light up, but it passes quickly. Here's what I do: I watch someone smoke--it's the most ridiculous image you've ever seen.
I'm around if you want to talk, or get some help. I don't make any judgments because I'm very aware that guilt does no good for anyone. Hang in there--hope the above helps you.
GK
Accidents happen, stand firm stick with what you believe in your heart. Time and work will help you to get where you want to go. Never give up. It’s worth it.
The cravings are back because you fed those brain receptors nicotine and now they want their next fix.
They were starting to die off - and now you are back to Day One.
Make a plan NOW how else to handle a difficult situation without smoking - maybe you could have called a friend, or blogged "HELP" here, or gone for a walk, or taken slow/deep breaths, or.............................
After your plan is in place, stick to it!
You can do this; don't let one bad decision derail your ultimate success at this!
You CAN do this! Let us help!
Nancy