I am very new to this. I have never written a blog and am not really sure how it works or what it is. My quit date is 6/27/16. Any help or advice would be wonderful.
You have an abundance of support here. We were all smokers at one point or another and know exactly what you are going through and will be going through. Just remember that no question is a dumb question. No feeling is a silly feeling. Here's a short video to watch to get you started on discovering why https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyIJo7VCdPE
Be sure to blog your cravings or your blues away. You'd be amazed how similar we all are here ................
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:
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. I do not recommend the e-cigarette for three reasons: 1) the vapor has been compared to the polluted air in Bejing on a bad day, 2) they just provide another nicotine delivery system while continuing the hand to mouth smoking motion, and 3) the batteries can spontaneously catch on fire. . 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:
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!
the more you come here, the sooner you will figure out how it works,keep blogging, and blogging, and then blog some more.....this is an awesome site, its our little safe haven, and it works wonders.....stop in often
Hello, and Welcome to EX! We are so glad you are here! This is a great place to quit smoking. You have been given links to great information and good advice above. Please do the readings and listen to the Elder's (folks with 1 year + quit) They know a lot about this addiction. Education, willingness to do whatever it takes not to smoke, determination and commitment are the keys to a successful quit!
I would like to recommend a group called The Daily Pledge Group. It's fun and will help reinforce your commitment not to smoke!
Just click on the link below and scroll down and take the person's hand before you and promise not to smoke! You can state your # of days, post a picture or whatever you want! This is your quit be proud of it! Please join us!
A blog here on EX is simply a communication with the community at large. There are multiple purposes for blogging. It can be used for personal venting, it's also a means of passing on articles and information related to smoking/quitting. It's a place to help you work through the quitting process by gathering and giving information, asking questions and expressing your own personal journey so that others may learn from it. It is one of the main support tools here.
Welcome to the community. congratulations on your decision to quit. Make sure you do the homework above as I beleive education and support helps prepare you for the journey your are about to embark on. Also like Plug said blog, blog and blog. Read other peoples blogs as it relly helps seeing how other people managed to stay quit and so can you.
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