Need some encouragement please

[frankie_b]

Okay I have marked my quit date on my calendar and have been preparing
mentally for that day. I've been keeping a journal which I find so very helpful.
I start to worry, I Know I know worrying is not healthy.
I want to quit. I am commited. I have quit in the past and gone back to demon nicotine. I do not dwell on this fact however it comes up......may be demon nicotine talking ?....I tell nicotine STOP THAT GARBAGE.
I want to believe I can do this. How have you banished negative worry feelings
that sometimes lurk UGH in a nicky addicts mind????

Happy Smobriety to all one day at a time.

Frankie

[grumpy_b05]

Good Morning Frankie!
Your going to do great! I heard this trick from a friend, when you get the urge to smoke, distract yourself for fifteen mintues. Then you should feel better, they say the average smokers urge lasts fifteen minutes. It worked for my firend and I am going to be trying to use it this weekend as that is when I am quitting! Good Luck!

[roa]

You can do it Frankie...you really can.

Roa

[Moontime]

You can do it!! Look at my post, I did it and so glad I did!! You can do it!

[historyteach]

Hiya, Frankie!!! :>)
So glad you are going for the gold again. Ya know, every winner has had a fall or two. At each juncture, we learn something from our past. What have you learned? What is your biggest trigger? Why did you fall last time?
And, most importantly, what will you do different this time?

Make a plan for those times you KNOW you will be tempted. Then, try to consider other times. For example, Bikewench helped me to think of times of loss that I will have to deal with. My mom is old and not doing well. Smoking will not prevent nor change the inevitible when it happens. So, I've made a plan for that event.

Have you called the American Cancer Society yet? They will send helpful information and workbooks to get you through the planning and the beginning of your quit. They also sent me to a group counseling with free patches, gum....all free from the tobacco settlement money the states got. See if your state is doing the right thing with that money, and if not, call your reps and give em hell!!! But, call the ACS and get that stuff. It really helped me!

One thing that REALLY helped me alot too was a slogan that I could repeat when that nicodemon comes calling. And it IS that demon sneaking up when we least expect it. My slogan is Nais gadol haya po, meaning, a great miracle is happening here. It works for me!

Waiting it out is good. Knowing it will pass is helpful. And it DOES pass.

But, my smoke cessation counselor said if we replace the negative addiction with a positive one, that's the surest way to prevent a relapse. I started going to the gym about 5 weeks ago. It takes @ six weeks to incorporate a new behavior into our routine. While I'm away in FL, I'm doing power walks and going to the pool. Oh, and don't forget shopping!!! Lots of walking while shopping!!!

Counselor said if it is something that would be negatively effected by returning to smoking, that's even better. So, going to the gym would definatley be negatively effected -- as would shopping! No more money to shop with, lol!

What positive addiction can you replace smoking with? Stick with it for six weeks minimum, ok?

Finally, read all these posts. They're filled with good information. And don't forget to post daily on the morning check in. It is helpful to remain accountable.

We're here for you, Frankie. You CAN do this. Beat that nicodemon to death! It's in our power to do so. To take control of OUR lives. :>)

Shalom!

[frankie_b]

Thanks so much all.
The BIG TRIGGER lives with me...he SMOKES. Yep, my hub.
Okay so we only smoke outside, so I won't be smelling it in the house on quit day.
Good!
So I'm going to set my mind on these words.... Not smoking is worth the effort. It's a
goal I can achieve. I DESERVE to achieve my goal.

[historyteach]

Yes, you DO deserve to reach your goal.
I answered you on the other thread, but, wanted to add something here too. Last time I seriously quit smoking, I was still married and my ex smoked too. Same brand, but, he smoked the 100s. Marlboro Light.
I was quit for 3 1/2 months. I woke up and found my son unconscious. He had tried to commit suicide. He is a heroin addict. And he left a note.
I actually had to fight with my ex to call 911. He didn't want the neighbors to know. He was on the volunteer fire department, and the folks who were coming all belonged to the same station. Nonetheless, I called.
Needless to say, I was under much stress. I picked up one of his cigarettes and I was right back to smoking again. Like I never stopped. I didn't cough or anything, like the first smoke I ever had. My body is a smoker's body. It "remembers" how to smoke all too well. If I pick one up, I am right back to the two-three packs a day that I left off with.
My point is this. You live with a smoker. It will be easy at times to just pick one up. I made the mistake of doing so while under tremendous stress. But, you do not have to make the same mistake. You can learn from mine.
There will be stressors and losses in your life. What will you do during those times to prevent yourself from falling back into the old comfort routines? Making a plan for those inevitable times will help stop you from relapsing.

Keep the quit and post before you puff!

Shalom!

[bikewench]

Great message there Teach...

I also have picked up soooo many times...

But.. there comes the day..

Velvet..
I'm saying a prayer for strength and clarity of purpose for you.

I'm with Teach.. post before you puff...



Mornin Teach.. ;o)

[historyteach]

Hiya, Bike!
And thanks! I'm just sharing my own ESH here, in the hopes it will help someone else stay off those coffin nails.

Both my smoke cessation counselor and the American Cancer Society counselor really showed me the absolute value in making a plan. Then, we are not caught off guard when a situation hits us. We can rationally decide to do what we've planned to do in order to reach OUR goal! Cuz we are worth it!

Have a great day! And post before you puff!

Shalom!

[frankie_b]

Oh(( teach)) I'm so sorry you faced that terrible time with AD son.

I have a thread at Naranon....the Recovery garden. I'm using creative imagery re my upcoming quit and look in my mind for beautiful peaceful gardens.
By the way the Recovery garden is strictly a NO SMOKING zone. LOL.
Hope you will look at the thread and be in the garden too. All are welcome and it's FUN!

The truth about stress, and you guys are right, It happens and smoking up poisins does NOT help. Stress is a part of being alive ....so is peace, goodness, happiness and living smoke free and HEALTHY ...thank heaven.
Thanks and hugs...the support here is the BEST

[historyteach]

....so is peace, goodness, happiness and living smoke free and HEALTHY ...thank heaven.

I just love this message...
And what good reasons to stay quit, huh?

Shalom!

[CAPTAINZING2000]

I'm takin the money I'm saving and takin a trip

[mizeeyore]

...that you may just succeed. Give yourself permission to beat this thing. Really. Everybody says it is soooo hard. Everybody says they failed. Well, guess what. It is MORE likely that you will succeed. You want to do this. Give yourself permission to get what you want this time. You and your HP (secret weapon) have the power over this addiction.

[historyteach]

Oh, mizeeyore....
I REALLY like your message here!!!!

I give myself permission to succeed; to get what *I* want. To quit smoking. To be smoke free.
My HP, whom I call G*D, *is* my secret weapon. I will hand over to G*D the power of my addiction. I will allow myself the right to succeed!

Thank you for this message... It's right on!

Shalom!

[frankie_b]

Go for it CAP...where will you be going on your trip?
Hey, got a real CRAZY idea...Maybe I can send smoker hub to the MOON for awhile? Any peeps, places, things you all would like to send to the moon? DO TELL! This is a safe place to just kick butt for the fun of it.

Hey, I'm getting ahead of myself
I'm still in the preparing to quit stage.......Good grief. LMAO.