My 6 month quit is coming up on August 12th. I still give thanks and feel so grateful for this quit. I have been thankful and grateful for how easy this quit has been.
A day or two before my quit date I found this site, set up a couple of goals for myself to help me along then went and checked out the blogs and the first one I clicked on had the link to Allen Carr's book “ Easy Way to Stop Smoking” I read the book, re-read sections until I understood what I believed he was trying to tell me. When I finished the book my anxiety of quitting was gone. I felt a calmness. I was ready. And to make sure I was really really ready I bought one of his other books and read that too, I read the second one after I all ready quit, you know just to make sure. The cigarette is not your friend, it is the enemy.
It was me and the Nicotine Monster (and yes I know they are both me). Having the separation of “me” and the “Nicotine Monster” is what I “me” needed. To me the Nicotine Monster could be entertaining, at times would come up with the silliest reasons to have a cigarette and sometimes I would just have to laugh. There was never any arguing with the Nicotine Monster I would briefly listen, acknowledge it and go on about my business. The Nicotine Monster had one problem it needed “me” in order to have that cigarette and I didn't do that anymore. The Nicotine Monster visited less and less until he no longer came back, it has been very peaceful. If it decides to come back for a visit I will be ready, need to be ready at all times.
After the Nicotine Monster stopped visiting I still had the automatic responses to the cigarettes. I would go to sit outside with my husband and not thinking pick up his pack of cigarettes and take one out then look at it and whoops. These automatic responses just happen you have no urge to smoke you just do it. (the habit part of smoking) I haven't done this for a while but I also know this could happen at any time too. I think this might be part of the reason some go back to smoking when drinking, not that they had the urge to smoke but it is what they did in the past. You don't think you just do.
Life has been so peaceful without the cigarettes. I love running now. I remember the days I could barely walk. With some good nutrition and no more cigarettes my life is darn good. Still waiting for husband to improve, he just had a heart attack a couple of weeks ago and he is just a young 58 year old. He has cut down on his cigarettes and he is still slowly adjusting to eating the good healthy foods. I have been slowly working on him for the past year and even the smallest littlest progress makes me happy. I want him to feel the peacefulness, the joy of life as I do. Doctor says he is just going to be fine just keep going forward, continue to work on quitting and eat those healthy foods.
Let's go for a walk today! Just keep moving! Save your heart- no cigarettes and eat some greens today!
