3rd week on patch

[justin-t]

This is my 3rd week on the patch. This week seems a little easier than the first two. I slipped a few times the days that I forgot my patch at home or was in a situation where my triggers went off ex. work,bars. This week I've made sure to wear my patch everyday and am trying my best not to let my triggers get the best of me. This websites advice, reading others blogs, staying busy and chewing gum is helping me get through this third week easier. Also not going out drinking is helping considering that's when I want to smoke the most. This is tougher than I thought but it's something that I want for myself so I'm going to do it. Wish me luck. 

[JACKIE1-25-15]

Welcome to EX   

You have come to the right place if you are making the decision to commit to quit smoking.  If you are sill smoking you have not quit. At EX our resolve is to never smoke again.  NOPE “Not one puff ever.”  I suggest that you follow the steps on the web site pages along with reading, writing, studying, researching and blogging if you like.

This is all about you and what you are willing to do to be a nonsmoker.  If you haven’t read it or have not been informed here is a link to Allen Carr’s book, “Easy Way to Quit Smoking”.  It is an easy read suggested by the “elders” (those with 1+ yrs. quit).

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

Also check out www.whyquit.com.  There is a lot of additional beneficial information to read and study.  Look for Freedom From Nicotine My Journey Home and Nicotine Addiction 101. Both were extremely helpful for me.  Stay close to the site and learn, ask questions. Read the blogs and most of all enjoy your commitment to quit smoking.

If you should need something to do here is a link that will help

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...).

 If you take the time to do the work you will have success.

[kristen-9-7-15]

Definitley stay away from the alchol for awhile.  And I cannot emphasize enough to read the Allen Carr book that Jackie gave you the link to.

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

There is no luck involved in quitting smoking.  There is just the decision you make and then sticking to that decision NO MATTER WHAT.  I'm glad you figured out that drinking is a major trigger - it is for most.  It lowers your self control and allows you to make bad decisions like, "just one won't hurt" and "who will know" or "I deserve just one!."

The most important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. To that end, I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking.” This is an easy and entertaining read. Here is a link to a free PDF version of it:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

As well, read the sections on this site, and read the blogs, responses and pages of folks you think might be helpful. You might visit whyquit.com and quitsmokingonline.com for the good information contained there. You should also do the tracking and separation exercises suggested on this site

After you have completed the recommended reading, it will be time to make an informed choice of the quit aid, if any, you will use. If you go that route, I personally recommend the aids that don't let the addict control the dose such as the available prescription drugs or the patch. But – any method that you think will work well for you will be best for you.

The idea is to change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced.  Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand. If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your tennies on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! Rearrange the furniture in the areas you used to smoke so the view is different.

You need to distract yourself through any craves.  You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), put your head in the freezer and take a deep breath of cold air, do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game.  Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. Sometimes you need to quit a minute or an hour at a time.  You will need to be disciplined in the early days to distract yourself when a crave hits.  Don't let that smoking thought rattle around your head alone.  Get busy!  Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:

https://excommunity.becomeanex.org/blogs/Youngatheart.7.4.12-blog/2013/02/25/100-things-to-do-instea...

The conversation in your head in response to the "I want a cigarette" thought needs to be, "Well, since I have decided not to do that anymore, what shall I do instead for the three minutes this crave will last?"  Then DO it.  You will need to put some effort into this in the early days, but it gets easier and easier to do.

Stay close to us here and ask questions when you have them and for support when you need it. We will be with you every step of the way!

Nancy

[paulh]

I recently found something at my health food store. It is a homeopatic remedy called "Lobelia Inflata" and is to help with tobacco withdrawl.

[NewMe]

I also suggest you do as much reading as you can- the Allen Carr book, the information on whyquit.com, and then everything you can soak up by coming to this site and learning from the people who have come before you. There is such a wealth of both information, support, and kindness and understanding from the people here. If you keep reading here, you will find many people (myself included) who will testify that this website gets most all of the credit for keeping our quits. Finding this site made all the difference for me. I smoked for 44 years, and pretty much believed it was going to be impossible for me to quit. I got an education here, and the support I needed to stick with the program.  So, welcome to the community. Hope you decide to stick around for as long as it takes, and then maybe long enough to help out some people who come along behind you. . .

[Danno_11-10-12]

Good advice above.  Protect your quit like a newborn baby.  Educate yourself and fully commit.