Which type of quitter will you be?

[SarahP]

Quitting smoking is a process. It can be learned and practiced, just like anything else. Did you learn how to drive by getting in a car by yourself and winging it? Probably not. And if you did, you probably weren’t very successful.

Let’s look at two different types of quitters. Quitter A did not prepare themselves, they just stopped smoking because they think that’s how it’s done. Quitter B educated themselves and made a plan. Let’s see how they do…

Day 1

Quitter A: I haven’t had a cigarette in 2 hours and I’m freaking out! I want one so bad it’s driving me crazy, it’s all I can think about. I knew this would be hard but this is so much harder than I thought. Last time I quit it was the same thing, after a few hours I just couldn’t take it anymore and now it’s happening again. Why can’t I quit?

Quitter B: It’s my quit day and while I’m nervous, I’m also excited!  I’ve read the materials you all gave me, I’ve got my plan, I know what to expect, and I know this will be soooo worth it a few months from now. I’m 2 hours into my quit and feeling okay so far; I had tea instead of coffee this morning and that helped a bit. Thanks everyone for your support, I know I’ll be GLUED to this site for the next couple of weeks!

Day 3

Quitter A: The last 3 days have been the worst days of my life, I’m crying uncontrollably and I’m so miserable I just want to smoke, I can’t cope, I NEVER felt this bad when I smoked!  Why is this so hard? I can’t work, I can’t sleep, all I can think about is a cigarette. I screamed at my dog this morning and my husband is telling me if I’m going to be such a lunatic b*tch I should just start smoking again. Maybe he’s right. Help!

Quitter B: It’s been a tough few days but I’m doing okay. I’m drinking lots of water and riding out the cravings with deep breathing. It’s true, the craving only lasts a minute or two if you don’t focus on it. The toughest part is not knowing what to do with myself, feeling so restless. But I’ve got my list of distractions and I’m looking forward to cleaning out my Tupperware cabinet to pass the time tonight – that’s a chore that’s long overdue! I haven’t been sleeping very well but I know that’s part of the process. So I’m a little edgy but managing it as best I can. I know this will be worth it!

Day 7

Quitter A: I made it a week, and I haven’t slipped once! Guess I’ve finally got this under control. It’s too bad I can’t smoke anymore, I don’t know what I’ll do when I get stressed over something, that’s when I want to smoke the most. I walk by the smokers outside the office and it smells so good, I almost grabbed one out of their hands yesterday, haha! Well at least I made it this far, maybe I’m finally over this addiction thing!

Quitter B: One week, wahoo!  Thank you all so much for your encouragement, I’m feeling pretty good!  My sleep is starting to get back to normal, and I’m going for long walks with the dog every day, without getting out of breath! I had a really bad craving out of nowhere yesterday, but I just closed my eyes and visualized the craving as a cloud floating away. Then I came here and blogged. It’s so helpful writing about it, and reading everyone else’s blogs. Part of me still wants to smoke but there are other things I want in my life more, like my health, so I just have to keep telling myself that smoking isn’t an option.

Day 14

Quitter A: It’s been two weeks, wow! I slipped last night and had a couple while at a bar with my friends but I’m back on track today. They tasted pretty bad, but it was just too hard to resist. I guess smoking only when I drink is better than smoking every day, right?

Quitter B: Two weeks! This is usually where I would give in and smoke in my past quits but not this time, I know better!  I’m feeling good, this has been so much easier than my past attempts. I’ve already got more energy, I can smell things again. I know there will be some bumpy times ahead, like the first time I’m at a bar, but I’m not even going to try that until I know I’m in a stronger position. Still having to distract myself from some odd cravings here and there, but it’s getting easier and easier to do. And I hope this isn’t TMI but I’m really constipated too… I read that can be part of quitting, how odd. Oh well, at least I know it’s normal.

Day 30

Quitter A: (no longer on the site because their resumed their pack-a-day routine on Day 16)

Quitter B: Well I’m officially entering No Man’s Land, thanks to all of you who told me about it and what to expect. It’s good to know the support doesn’t end after a month, and I still have some changes to go through. Some rough days here and there, but I’m feeling really good overall. I’m a little worried about an upcoming vacation but with everything I’ve learned I think I’ll be ready. Can I swap phone numbers with one of you in case I need to talk to someone while I’m there?

(We could keep going, but I think you get the idea… and if you think I’m making this up, read through the blogs on any given day… you will see these two types of quitters, clear as day…)

So, which type of quitter do you want to be?

EDUCATE YOURSELF
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WhyQuit: Nicotine Dependency Recovery 

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Become An EX Smoker, Learn to Quit Smoking, Stop Smoking Cigarettes     click on “Get Your Plan”
/blogs/Maggie_quit_8-1-2010-blog/2011/05/06/things-to-do-instead-of-smoking 

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[Sjackson9]

I'm definitely going to be the B EXSMOKER. I'm prepared for the hard times and will celebrate every hour and lean on my network of family and friends.  However I will be BLOGGING like a nut this time next week. Y'all know what I'm going through.  I'm lean on ALL of YOU and y'all can lean right back against me.  

Great BLOG. I NEED some suggestions for my quit kit. All I have is lemons LOL.  I'm a VERY crafty person so since it's winter and I can't build anything,  I'll be knitting and crocheting like a mad woman. I may need to give some away. I've already knitted 14 infinity scarves, 18 hats, 26 pr of socks and now I'm almost done with a queen size afghan. LOL Seriously I think I need to give some away. 

Shannon 

[Giulia]

Sjackson9 Check out this link for quit kit suggestions:

  https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/message/68576-re-quit-kit?commentID=68576#comment-68576    You can also type 'quit kit' in the search community box.  There will be many offerings from which to peruse.   Quitter B is definitely the one to be!  Have you added embroidery to the list yet?  Maybe design a quit patch for yourself.  Or for anybody here who wants one.  A quit kit is, after all, only limited by our imaginations.  Make a patch for yourself for every important milestone.  Or just getting through Day 1.  Then quilt it together in a throw you can cover yourself with it on your one year celebration.  Ain't nothin' so warming as a secure quit reinforced with commitment.  Each patch will represent another craving gotten through successfully. 

[Sjackson9]

I would REALLY like to swap phone numbers with a few people.  Prefer females who are over 45yr old. I only ask that because they will understand me better than a 20+yr old male. My oldest child is 28, so I'm not spring chick. I will need more than my immediate family to get through this. My son has just been diagnosed with an incurable disease,  not lethal,  but EXTREMELY ugly and painful. I'm an RN and worked in the operating room for 30yrs. I know too much about too much. Sometimes ignorance IS BLISS. 

I'm going through a lot right now, but I'm not going to let LIFE get in the way of MY QUIT.

Sincerely, 

Shannon 

[elvan]

Sjackson9‌ I am a retired RN, worked ER, ICU, and some OR for a while in a children's hospital in Arizona.  I will direct message you and give you contact information.  I am 68 and my oldest daughter just turned 47, my youngest just turned 28.

Ellen

[Sjackson9]

Thanks Ellen, I will DEFINITELY want to talk, text, email you during my

upcoming days. My # is 615-681-3092

If I don't answer text me or leave a message, I WILL get back to you.

Shannon

[elvan]

I have your number in my phone.  You might want to take it off the public board here...that's why I sent you a direct message with my phone number and email...just cautionary.

Ellen

[sweetplt]

Just read this and found it to be not only an excellent post but the truth....Giulia Thanks for sharing... ~ Colleen 140 DOF 

[Giulia]

Glad Sarah's words hit the spot with you.

[PrimeNumberJD]

Except unplanned quit attempts are at least equally successful, if not more. It seems that mentality would be a better determining factor. 

 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/19509277/

https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/14/6/425 

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-01/bmj-uqa012506.php 

[Giulia]

Interesting.  And surprising, actually!  I wonder if there are any newer studies that have been done.  Those are at least 10 years old or more.  

I noted (in blue) that these were not the type of smoker who opened their eyes and went immediately for their first cigarette of the day, like many of us here.

"RESULTS: In all, 39.7% of subjects reported that their most recent quit attempt involved no preplanning (smokers: 29.5%; ex-smokers: 52.4%). Subjects who made an unplanned quit attempt were more likely to be non-white, have no college education, report smoking their first cigarette of the day more than 30 min after waking, and report no use of pharmacotherapy during their quit attempt. Controlling for these variables, the odds of a "spontaneous" quit attempt lasting for 6 months or longer were twice that of preplanned attempts (71.7% vs. 45.6%; adjusted odds ratio = 2.62, 95% CI = 1.99-3.45)."  Unplanned quit attempts--results from a U.S. sample of smokers and ex-smokers. - PubMed - NCBI    

Definitely agree with the necessity for motivation:

"Conclusions: The finding that so many quit attempts are unprepared suggests that models of smoking cessation should place greater emphasis on the dynamic nature of motivation to quit. This is an area that requires further investigation."  https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/14/6/425 

"These findings do not necessarily imply that planning quit attempts is counterproductive, say the authors. Indeed, use of behavioural support and nicotine replacement therapy are known to improve the chances of success even though they generally require planning ahead.  

More likely, whether a quit attempt is planned or unplanned reveals something about the state of mind of the smoker at the time, which has importance for whether the attempt will last.

They propose a theory in which smokers have varying levels of motivational "tension" to stop and then "triggers" in the environment lead to a sudden renunciation of smoking. This concept has been incorporated in a general theory of motivation and its application to addictive behaviours."  https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-01/bmj-uqa012506.php 

Thanks for those links, Jon.