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Give and get support around quitting

tristykay
Member

Day 1

Someone tell me how this works lol 

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6 Replies
CommunityAdmin
Community Manager
Community Manager

Have you read through the Getting Started Guide and other things in Community Help

EX Community Admin Team
YoungAtHeart
Member

Welcome to the community!

Congratulations on your decision to quit and your first day!  Not sure if you are asking about using the site, or quitting smoking.  Here is a primer on the site:  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/community/community-help/blog/2017/02/14/ex-to-ex-instructions. You can also use the magnifying glass (top right) to look for specific tips.  I will give you lots of ideas for educating yourself on this addiction, tips to help you be successful. 

 

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.

 

I don't know if you are using quit aid, so I will give you my thoughts on them.  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.

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.   You might visit “Games”: https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/groups/games. The active ones are at the top of the list going down the left side of the homepage.   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

Giulia
Member

"You put your right foot in, you put your right foot out....."

The Hokey Pokey - YouTube 

You talkin' about how to get around the site or how this quitting thing works?  You've already learned how to post a discussion.  And you've already taken the first step.  And that's how we all figured it out.  I just went around clicking on different things.  There are different ways to get around this house, many doors.  How you maneuver also depends on whether you're on a cell phone or a computer while viewing.  The site is about to move to a new platform and it's quite likely much will alter when that happens.  The links given above should you 'til then.

As far as how to quit:  /blogs/Giulia-blog/2018/03/01/quitting-is-a-skill-that-can-be-learned?sr=search&searchId=ffd030a3-39...

sweetplt
Member

Hi and Welcome to Ex’s tristykay 

Glad your friend told you about us...Congratulations on Day 1 of Freedom...might I suggest you read at My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX , also read the post/blogs, etc., they will you to become knowledgable in quitting and addiction, plus keep you busy.  Keep close to the support site for help and to encourage others on this journey.  We are here to help.  It takes hard work, but it is doable...Happy Friday ~ Colleen 718 DOF

 

100 Things to do instead of smoking! 

tyndallgw
Member

This site is pretty simple.  Don't smoke, and come here often for support, laughs, and love.

Barbscloud
Member

Welcome and congrats on day 2.  You've already gotten the most important part figured out--posting to the site.  Reach out anytime you want  to share your journey or need support.  If you're not doing so, taking the Daily Pledge is a great way to stay on track for the day.  

We're here for you!

Barb

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