@CombatMedic7 Welcome to the Ex and congrats on your first day won. We're here for you, so just reach out anytime we can lend support. There are lots of great quitters here eager to support you on this journey to become an ex.
If you haven't do so already, there are lots of great resources here to help you be successful. There is information, advice, but most of all, support. When I found the Ex six years ago, I learned how to quit for the first time. But I also learned how invaluable support is for a successful quit. You have to make the commitment and do the work, but we've got your back every step of the way .
If you haven't done so already, it's not too late to learn about this addiction and put tools in place to help you be successful. This link has some great information to get you off on the right track. https://www.becomeanex.org/guides/?cid=footer_community_linktobex
Reinforce your quit by joining your fellow quitters on the Daily Pledge to stay on track one day at a time.
So reach out anytime you want to share or need some help. We're all in this together.
If you want more in-person help, you might look for a Nicotine Anonymous group in your area, or check local hospitals/health departments for help groups. This site and the information and support I gained from it was instrumental in my quit success. I hope you will avail yourself of it.
You don't say what product you have quit. If it isn't smoking/cigarettes, just sub yours as you read. Quitting any of them is about the same.
An important thing you can do right now is to educate yourself on what nicotine does to your body and mind. I was amazed when I learned that the stress reduction you feel when you ingest nicotine is caused by the brain receptors calming that have gradually built in volume jonesing for their next fix! I highly recommend Allen Carr's “The Easy Way to Stop Smoking” that brings light two other things you might not know. You can purchase a digital version online or borrow it at your local library. Here is a video to inform you further about nicotine addiction: Nicotine and Your Brain.
I quit many years ago , and I base my overall recommendations on my experience and that of others here over the years. If you decide to use a quit aid, I recommend those that don't let the addict control the dose such as Rx drugs and the patch. Lozenges and gum are fine, but don't sub them for every cigarette you used to smoke. That will simply be substituting one addiction for another. Have a plan to reduce use over time. Each cigarette you smoked contained about 1 mg of nicotine. If you use more than one form of NRT, be sure you aren't getting more than when you smoked.
To better deal with the habit part of the addiction, change up your routines so the smoking associations are reduced. Drink your coffee with your OTHER hand in a place different from when you smoked. Maybe switch to tea for a bit. If you always had that first smoke with your coffee, try putting your walking shoes on right out of bed, going for a quick walk, then taking your shower and THEN your coffee! . Take a different route to work. Take a quick walk at break time where the smokers AREN'T.
After you have eliminated as many associations as you can, you need to distract yourself through any craves. You can take a bite out of a lemon (yup - rind and all), do a few jumping jacks, go for a brisk walk or march in place, play a computer game. Keep a cold bottle of water with you. Don't let that smoking thought rattle around in your brain unchallenged. You might visit Games: The active ones are at the top of the list going down the left side of the page.
Here is a link to a list of things to do instead of smoke if you need some fresh ideas:
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.
You might want to join other site members by taking the daily pledge when you quit. It helps to hold yourself accountable and also accountable to others here. Find it at Home (top left), then first box titled Take the Daily Pledge.
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!
We're all looking for the easy way to quit. The truth is, you can learn from other quitters and absorb things that work for you but you're the only one who can do this for you. There will be lots of people here to support you and be here to lean on if you're struggling but no, this support/resource does not quite measure up to being tangible. I smoked for 27 years. I have NOT smoked for the last 242 days and that has a lot to do with the resources here and my own attitude to be honest. I'm never going back. Anyone can do it but it's not easy and you have to decide for YOU that enough is enough. No more smoking. No excuses. Find your reasons, commit to change, plan to distract and delay. Plan to perservere. Know that it won't be easy for a little while but it is doable and you are worth the effort. Reach out when you need help. Do whatever it takes to rewire your brain, starve the addiction, replace the old routines. CELEBRATE your success. I will be rooting for you. You can do this!
Dear @CombatMedic7 congratulations on your first day finished, one day at a time for me and fairly certain for many others who use this site to just keep going. I find it helpful to read others experiences, to write about mine, to receive comments/hints/guidance/ideas on just how to keep going. But ultimately it's me who continues to put one foot in front of my next step, I'm too early on to take anything for granted, I must be diligent and it helps to come here and read and type to feel like I'm not alone.
Be well, be kind to yourself and keep going it's so worth the struggles now for less struggle as each day goes by
@Cbefree That's a great recommendation for @CombatMedic7 from a new quitter. You summed it up well-- what the site can do for you and what you need to do for yourself.
Hello @CombatMedic7 , congratukations on your decision to quit nicotine. In my opinion you've come to the right place to get help with quitting, though it may be different than what you were expecting here. When I first started out I was on here on the site for long periods of time every day, reading every post I could on a variety of topics and commenting and posting a lot myself to get support, to vent, to get cheers from others when I reached a milestone-- and the first couple weeks every single day was a milestone. Quitting is not easy and you yourself are the only one who can go through the hard process for yourself, of course, but there is a lot of good information on this site and a lot of compassionate people who have walked the walk and have been through the ups and downs that come with quitting nicotine. I hope you can use what is available to you in this online community and if you need more tangible support that you will find it in addition to the support that is here. Post here often to get support, vent, talk about your successes. Wishing you the very best on your quit. You have made the best possible decision for yourself, for your health, for your life.
Could you elaborate on your question? What exactly are you looking for, or hoping for in the way of help that you consider "tangible?" Professional help, or NRT assistance?
Welcome @CombatMedic7! My name is Quiana, and I am a part of the EX Team. Congratulations on your decision to quit! I wanted to reach out and personally welcome you to the EX Community! We are so excited you have joined us. This is a very supportive community so feel free to keep us all posted on your quit journey reach out and let us know if you need anything.
Here are some articles that might be helpful as you prepare for your quit date:
@CombatMedic7 ~ Wondering, by the "user name" you have chosen, if you have a military background? If so, does Veterans Affairs offer a support group for those quitting smoking that might be a good add-on to your participation here at the EX? If so, they might be a good resource for handling any baggage you might possibly be carrying from your time of service? Such "baggage" could be a huge trigger to your addiction to nicotine, I would think? Mainly, I just want you to know I am hearing what you are saying about being in a very tough space and I am pulling for you!
