Here to support & for support!

[kickit_cricket]

Hi.  I am on day 7.  I stumbled across this site while 'googling' ex smoker's blogs.  It seems reading these help more than anything.  Just to know someone else is going through it as well.  I will do anything to keep from relapsing.  I know I can find some inspiration here.  Thank  you!

[JonesCarpeDiem]

Welcome. Good For You. 

The blogs are probably the most helpful thing here for learning and feedback.

If you want to learn about the process of quitting, my page may be of help to you. You can click on my cat to take you there.

[Barbara145]

Congratulations on Day 7.  Around here we call that Hell Week.  Alot of people find the second week not as difficult.  You are doing this!  Keep up the good work!

[lois2]

congrats on day n7 , this is a good support site   welcome.

[YoungAtHeart]

Welcome to our community!

Congratulations on your decision to quit!  I wish you had found us sooner, but the reading is just as relevant after you have already quit, and it makes for a GREAT crave buster!

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.

Are you using a quit aid?  Let us know so we can better support 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

[Strudel]

You are in the right place - congrats on your quit! Be sure to stick around! Oh - and do the reading Nancy gave you! 

[djmurray]

So glad you found us, Cricket!!  Yes, this is an awesome place to be when you're quitting because some of us have been there done that, others are being there doing that and still others are thinking they might be there and do that.  It's the whole spectrum, and all the experiences you can imagine in a diverse group like this.  We have people from all over the country and all over the world with one objective -- to get support and give support to others.  

Please do the reading Nancy suggested -- education is the most solid foundation for gaining freedom from this addiction.

[pir8fan]

We have been where you are! And, we will help you get where we are! It is easier than you think and better than you can imagine!             Tommy

[pir8fan]

Remember that if you smoke just one, you are back where you started! Where you started was wishing you were where you are now!           Tommy

[kickit_cricket]

Thank you all! I appreciate every reply.  Nancy, thank you for the link to the free pdf.  I am reading it now.  I have experienced such a range of emotions this last week.  I feel as though I am losing my mind!  Reading these blogs have helped so much.  Thank you all again!

[sparky26]

Hi kickit , congratulations you made it through hell week . And now you found us ! Great 

Information and support here . You can do it !