Never posted here....

[Slowbriety]

I was wondering what methods some of you used to stop smoking, i have been thinking about stopping for a few weeks. Honestly, im scared to death. what worked for y'all?

[shockozulu]

For me, using the tools I learned in my recovery program also applied to smoking. I work SMART Recovery, so I have been at their bulletin boards, online meetings and of course I have been using their toolchest. I love their tools. You can find more here at http://www.smartrecovery.org/resources/toolchest.htm

Good luck and welcome!

[jlo34]

Welcome Slowbriety to our smoke-free boards!!!

Hard for me to believe I've been smoke free for just a bit over a year now! Never thought it was possible.

I quit by starting with Wellbutrin for 2-4 weeks (can't remember) prior to my quit. I did not set a date...just started taking it because I knew I wanted to quit, but was afraid to quit.

The day came when I knew it was time. Planned out which day of the week I thought would be best. Figured since I smoked the most on Fridays, that Saturday would be a good day. Day 1 for me I usually sleep most of the day (which I did). I did receive paperwork from Friend of the Court telling me that I had yet another custody battle....which surprisingly, didn't upset me. I was really at peace. Sunday went fine...until that night, when I remembered I had 4 cigarettes I hid. Climbed up to where I "hid" them, smoked 2. Decided that Monday would be my official "quit" day. That night, I remembered there were still 2 cigarettes left. Now mind you, I didn't really have a desire to smoke those last 2...I didn't want to be wasteful. Dumb, huh? Well, they were my last 2 cigarettes. I extinguished my last cigarette at 2330 on Monday, March 20, 2006.

I'm also a grateful recovering alcoholic (almost 16 years sober). I used the steps of AA. Mostly, steps 1, 2, and 3 (mainly 3!!!). I never realized the full power of step 3 until my "smobriety"!!!!

I also practice positive self talk. I did a "first step", making sure I realized and understood how powerless I am over nicotine. How it has controlled my life. How I allowed it to control my life. I remembered my daughter's face and how upset she was every time she saw me light up. The disappointment. That stabbed me (that was actually when I really realized how much my smoking impacted her life) right where it counts.

I've done a whole lot of prayer....mostly with turning my will and life over to my HP. Asking Him to take away my thoughts, urges and desires. Amazingly, he has lifted the worst of it.

I should've bought stock in Icebreaker Sours. They are sugarfree and calorie free. Anytime I got an urge or thought I really wanted to smoke. I'd shove some of those in my mouth. Went through 1-2 cans/day. A whole lot cheaper than smoking though!!!

I was unable to use patches due to a latex allergy. I had tried lozenges before and ended up "justifying" eating them like candy and eventually returning to smoking (only lasted a month). Especially when I found I could still get the nicotine high while working (as a paramedic) on patients!!!

The toughest time was the first 2 weeks. It keeps getting easier and easier. I try to remember it's not "the rest of my life". It's only today. It's only this hour. It's only this minute. It's only this second.

I am SOOOO grateful I do not smoke today. I feel so much better. My daughter cries from gratitude that I have been quit. She threatened to cancel her "school camp trip" to help me celebrate my 1 year smoke-free!!! The very best thing though....is watching someone else smoke, remembering how "incarcerated" I felt when I smoked and knowing and feeling the freedom I have from this addiction today!!! It's so amazing.

You're right. Change is scary. It's so much better than you can possibly imagine though. If you can just hold on through the first few weeks. Every urge made without smoking is a huge victory!!!

Hope some of this was helpful for you. We're all here to help you with your quit and support you. We work together. Again, it's a "we" thing here too!!!

Blessings and good luck,
Jen

[shockozulu]

Originally Posted by jlo34

The very best thing though....is watching someone else smoke, remembering how "incarcerated" I felt when I smoked and knowing and feeling the freedom I have from this addiction today!!! It's so amazing.

I know that feeling. It is one of the things I do to 'reward' myself actually. I'll sit where I can see the smokers bench at school and enjoy the fact I'm not tied there any longer, that I can get up and go wherever I want whenever I want.

[historyteach]

hi, slowbriety!

Welcome to the non-smoking section!
Here's some tips from my quit. I hope any of it is helpful for you.
http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/...s-my-quit.html (Tips from my Quit)
Today, I am now One year, four months, five days, 19 hours, 40 minutes and 38 seconds nicotine free. That's 19632 cigarettes not smoked, saving $5,398.56. Life saved: 9 weeks, 5 days, 4 hours, 0 minutes.

Hope you will join us. The air is nice and clean down here!

Keep the quit and post before you puff!

Shalom!

[Slowbriety]

Thank you all...