Welcome

[susan_m]

Hey, muchangi‌!  Welcome to EX!  Saw that you took the daily pledge last night... that is an excellent start.  The next positive step you can take on here is to post a blog or discussion.  Look near the top right and click the pencil and start posting.  Tell members of this community hello, let them know you're new to this site and just starting your quit journey.  You'll be amazed at the support you receive.

Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for yourself, and this site is is really, really good about helping you through it.

Have a great day, and again, welcome!

Susan

[TerrieQuit]

Very helpful post! susan_m 

Welcome! muchangi 

[elvan]

Welcome @muchang and kudos @susan_m!

[aqilahcampbell]

Hello my name is Aqilah I have smoked since I was 12 years old off and on. I began smoking to relieve stressful situations, depression and anxiety. I want to quit to be a role model for my grandchildren and great grandchildren. I have a lot of health problems and I know smoking is not helping me at all. So, I’m turning towards this group to help me with this addiction. Stressful environment like work makes me smoke. When I am irritated I smoke. 

[elvan]

Welcome to EX aqilahcampbell‌ we are all here to support you & l am sure you will be surprised to hear that smoking actually increases stress. It is an addiction & it lies to addicts to keep them addicted. I am going to ask YoungAtHeart‌ to give you her very good welcome.  Quitting is a journey & not an event, it is one day at a time. My mantra was NOPE, Not One Puff Ever. If you click on the little pencil at the top of the page, you can select write a blog post & introduce yourself to the community, you will get MANY responses that way.

Ellen

[indingrl]

Hi Aqilah CONGRATS on NICOTINE FREEDOM

[Barbscloud]

Welcome to Ex aqilahcampbell  Educate yourself about nicotine addiction, create a quit plan, and pick a date.  My EX Plan | BecomeAnEX The quitters on this site are proof it can be done.  The reasons you gave to smoke, are reasons we all smoked.  It's important to have the tools in place when faced with those emotions.   We're here to support you, so just reach out if our need encouragement or want to share your journey.

Barb

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome!

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.”    You can search for it online or at your local library.  Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpWMgPHn0Lo&feature=youtu.be.

Let me know if you decide to use a quit aid and I will give you my thoughts on them.

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! .  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), 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. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. 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

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Congratulations on one of the greatest journeys of your life, the nonsmoking one.   You have come to the right place if you are willing to do what is necessary to be smoke-free. Foremost NOPE (not one puff ever.)   Education is the key to a successful quit. Read the suggested material it is an important step of the journey.  Here we dispel the myths and brainwashing we have learned about smoking.  You will gain tools and skills to unlearn some of the behavior smoking has created  There are Daily Pledge groups, affirmation groups you can join to help strengthen your quit.  The action is in the blogs, front and center so introduce yourself and let all of us get to know you.  If you have a question, please feel free to ask.  Someone will help.  If you have a problem with your quit type help in the blog and let us know how we can help. I suggest that you stay as close as possible until your quit grows.  Be mindful of what is going on with your quit. Know HALT Hungry Angry Lonely Tired can be confused with triggers.  Don’t give up.  We are here to support you.

Below is a little info to help you get started

Read: Freedom from Nicotine My Journey Home and Nicotine Addiction 101  was very helpful to me.            http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksAAddiction.html   and  http://whyquit.com/ffn/