Suggestions for getting back on track

[historyteach]

I found this online at the American Cancer Society.
I'm not giving up yet! :puppet
So, here's something that is useful for myself and others who have lapsed.

Special Suggestions
To Get Back on Track

Quitting smoking takes practice. It takes more practice for some than for others. Having a couple of cigarettes is different from actually going back to smoking. Don't slip. Don't go back to smoking. But if you do, here are some helpful hints to get you back on track.

IF YOU HAVE GONE BACK TO SMOKING

1. Keep on practicing until you quit for good.

2. Tomorrow, list your trigger situations and some plans on how you can cope with each situation without smoking.

I will list my triggers tomorrow at
TRIGGER MY PLAN
3. Decide which part of the day is the hardest to get through without smoking. Plan to practice not smoking during that time.

The hardest part of the day to stay away from cigarettes is


I will practice not smoking during this time tomorrow (day and date)


4. The next day, don't smoke during the time period you selected. Use your plan and check the handout, "What to Do When the Craving Comes."

5. Contact your buddy. Post a message on the Message Boards.

6. The third day, quit smoking for one day (24 hours).

7. At the end of the day, reward yourself for whatever progress you've
made. Forget about words like failure or lack of willpower. You just need
to keep practicing until you make it permanent. You can do it!

IF YOU HAD A SLIP OR TWO

1. Treat the slip as an emergency. Take immediate action to recover. For example, throw away the cigarettes or leave the party.

2. Remind yourself that a slip is just a mistake, not a total relapse back to smoking. You can be better prepared next time.

3. Repeat your commitment to quit and your reasons for quitting.

4. Review the actions that led to your slip.

Activity

Place

Feeling

5. Plan a specific coping plan for the next time.

I could avoid smoking next time by:

6. Ask someone for help.

I will contact to discuss my plan and make a new commitment.


YOU CAN GET RIGHT BACK ON TRACK AND OUIT FOR GOOD!
GOOD!

We can do it, friends!
Remember, this is one time where quitters are WINNERS!!!

Shalom!

[Impurrfect]

Thanks for posting this.

I was doing pretty good 'til we got robbed at work and started back on the cigarettes. I'm not back to a pack/day, but not happy that I'm smoking at all.

I don't have a problem not smoking at home on my days off. But at work, most of the people I work with not only smoke, but smoke the same brand. I work in a small restaurant, so it's not like I can not notice when they are going out to smoke.

Unfortunately (I guess) the main reason I quit is to save money. I know it's not good for my health, and after being smoke-free for most of 2 weeks, have noticed the smell of smoke is bothering me. I just keep reminding myself that I quit dope, even though I would have preferred getting high, and I eventually got to where I don't WANT to be high anymore....hoping that I will learn to not WANT to smoke, too.

I appreciate your posts, and I'm not going to give up either.

Hugs and prayers!

Amy

[barb dwyer]

Mine - is that first one of the day.

I"ve gone five days - with just that one.

it's frustrating.
my doctor says to keep going , but she's so SUPPORTIVE ... she's seen me sober up, now quitting smoking - and soon to embark on a whole weight loss thing - how EVER will she pay off her BMW without me?!?!?!?!?!

thanks teach!

[Alera]

Mine is the last one at night. I can go all day without one but its only been the last two nights I haven't had that one cig.

[cece1960]

Originally Posted by Alera

Mine is the last one at night. I can go all day without one but its only been the last two nights I haven't had that one cig.

Mine too Alera.
I can go all day if I know that I can have one at days end.

Lately it seems my trigger is waking up...period.

Is my body finally getting it that I mean business and trying an all out war to get me to give in?

Will this EVER stop? I feel like the first day...like poison ivy on the inside.

I've decided not to purchase another week of step three patches. Risky, I know, but I can't see feeling this way and still pumping nicotine into me. Might as well white knuckle it and be done with it. It would have come to it anyway in a week.

[Alera]

CeCe, I forgot but how long were you on step 2?

[cece1960]

I was two weeks on step two, where I started (I smoked about 1/2 pack a day)

As an update, my angel of a GF has two months supply of Chantix (it was too expensive for me as my insurance wouldn't cover it) I will begin taking it tomorrow.

I need to pull out all the stops to keep going.

It beats the medically induced coma I was considering earlier today lol