triggers

[Amanda930]

Does everyone have a trigger when they smoke....like I know alot of people smoke after they eat...thats one of mine...another trigger is if I'm really bored...or if I get a phone call and I know I'm going to talk for a while I'll lit one up....I need to stop my triggers. I'm thinking of setting some rules in my girlfriend and my apartment such as we can only smoke outside, and throwing all of our astrays away..I'm going to talk to her once she gets off work. I'm 20 years old and have been smoking since I was 17. I dont really want to take a mediation to stop smoking such as chanixs. I'm thinking of the patch but I dont know bout that one....I'm thinking of doing it cold turkey has anyone done that and it worked? I smoke alot because I've been out of work for four months. I sit at home all day and I'll clean the apartment but if the apartments clean I'll just watch tv or go on line for hours and I'll get bored and need to lit one up. Does anyone know what else I can do? Reading is out I love to read but also I'll smoke while I read...I think the going outside to smoke is a good one....

[Scottso]

Take a walk, Drink water, chew gum, candies, any sort of exercise, have sex, eat something.

[Jane63]

"Have sex....." Lmao!! Common male response!! {hehe! J/K!} That seems to be my hubbys cure for anything/everything! LOL!

My triggers were just about anything considering I was a "lay it in the ashtray and let it burn while I do stuff" type smoker. I am now thinking that is one of the worst types!
Being on the computer is a huge trigger also so I have had to limit my time or have water and dum-dum suckers handy.

I do know that it just won't work if one of you quits and the other continues to smoke around you. At least that is the way it is with hubby and I because I relapsed a week or so ago and he was thinking of throwing in the towel too. {thankfully I jumped back on the wagon! LOL!}
Getting rid of ashtrays, lighters, or anything that reminds you of smoking is a good idea. Also, you must stay busy and I found refuge in walking and cleaning the ciggy smell out of my house!

I used the Chantix {still am} and you smoke the first week you are on it. I know people who have had luck going cold turkey and also those who have used the patch. Keep in mind though that with the patch you are just putting more nicotine in your body and will eventually have to wean off that too. Chantix contains no nicotine and works on the receptors in your brain that crave it.

Good luck to you and keep posting!
Jane

[Amanda930]

those are all good things. Thanks for the good thoughts.

[historyteach]

The purpose of the patch IS to wean off.

But, it keeps a sustainable level of nicotine in the body while you practice new behavioral skills to defeat those triggers. And, this nicotine has none of the nasty chemicals found in cigarettes, you know, like cyanide. So there is great harm reduction.

Finally, we step down on this level of nicotine. So it's a slow, more comfortable way to wean off. Our brains receptors have lots of connectors for nicotine. The weaning helps prevent the shock to the system that happens with an abrupt quit.

I used the patch. The benefit is honestly learning new behavioral patters and responses to environmental triggers such as the computer, the phone, being bored... I know it helped me with my quit.

Use anything that will help free you from the nicodemon!

Shalom!