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Stages of change

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What have you learned?

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Questions to challenge negativity

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Goin down that road


17 years ago 0 813 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Pam: Thanks for the response. Your right about the breaks, I am fortunate that my job enables me to do just that when I need to. I am finding that deep breathing and meditation are very helpful. I also have taken to altoids and anything wintergreen or peppermint. Actually I have never made it past 24 hours in previous quits. This time I am determined to break its back...Looking forward to 30 days with only a mild sense of trepidation...The interesting thing about this is that I have no problem being around smokers...The urge to smoke is not present then. It seems that the times that are the most difficult are when I am alone and thinking...Perhaps I should stop being alone and some people would say I rarely think in any case...Thanks again...
17 years ago 0 813 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I am realizing each day how many painful thoughts and difficult things I have used smoking to cover. Its almost as if in some way the habit has dulled my normal sensitiviity to grief and loss. The ironic thing is that none of those events was altered one bit by lighting another butt. That which was changed was my personal perception of the events. And it is this effect that I have to fight on a daily basis. Somehow I doubt that I am alone in the realization. Perhaps for some it is the physical addiction that is the most difficult hurdle and for others it is the enjoyment of smoking. For me, however, it seems that I am giving up the thing that has kept a mutitude of ghosts at bay for a long long time. Don't get me wrong I will defeat this thing, of that I am certain. However, I never expected to have to go to the desert for 40 days and 40 nights to make it happen. However, having said all of that I strong in my resolve to become a non-smoker, ghosts or no ghosts, I will not smoke again. Good luck to you all, you can do this, minute by minute and day by day this to shall pass. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/25/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 16 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 402 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $112 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 45 [B]Seconds:[/B] 34
17 years ago 0 813 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Once again thank you all for replying to my observations. I am sure that for those of you who are way down this road these are probably old news, but they are new to me. I remember once writing a song lyric that went "No matter where you go, you gotta take yourself". By golly I am doing just that through this experience. And I don't mind saying I am quite a conumdrum with which to deal. Today was a good day, someone told me that they could see color in my face that wasn't there before...I assume that is the blood vessels reawakening after playing Rip Van Winkle for a lot of my trips around the sun. I also am feeling tingling sensations in legs and arms that are a bit of a surprise. Good stuff that. I would assume this means that I am still existing within the confines of the human form. I can see that nicotene is a lot like a magician doing slight of hand. The addict sits in the audience enchanted by the chance to be distracted from the strains of human existance for a bit of time. Those that suffer this addiction have been fooled into thinking that the magician can indeed make the card materialize that will eliviate whatever emotional pain or anxiety is present. But the real trick is not go up on stage when a volunteer is required. Unfortunately, for all of us here we bought a ticket to the show years ago and I guess they don't give refunds. However, if we can resist the call to volunteer for just 1 more minute we may yet put that old boy out of business. Healer, thank you so much for your comments, I sense a great deal of sinserity in your words...
17 years ago 0 175 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hey Nonic - I think we're both at the same times in our quits. I also think about smoking most when I'm alone. In the past two weeks, I've found ways to fill my days and I'm slowly but surely forgetting about smoking. Even though I'm still a bit edgy, I think the 2 to 3 week mark is when you realize that you have finally changed your life and it's time to start dealing with it. For me, the glamour of quitting has worn off, I'm tired of talking about it, I'm REALLY tired of thinking about it and I'm just coming to terms with the fact that this is it. You're just a non-smoker now. Just think of it as 'learning how to live again'... -- 2tone [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/26/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 15 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 443 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $82.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 2 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 35 [B]Seconds:[/B] 6
  • Quit Meter

    $358,052.63

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 9160 Hours: 22

    Minutes: 19 Seconds: 16

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45467

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    682,005

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 983 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Nonic, Excellent post!! You have come so far in your quit. Your realization is yet another step toward complete freedom from the addiction. Dealing with stress differently where we don't require a smoke to get is through is HUGE!!! Keep up the great quit, and keep sharing...your insight helps others more than you realize. [IMG]http://i136.photobucket.com/albums/q185/kaitilina/Sun.gif[/IMG] Kaiti [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 11/7/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 65 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,444 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $357.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 5 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 14 [B]Seconds:[/B] 0
17 years ago 0 1150 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I know what you mean nonic, but, I'm too scared to go there yet. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/29/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 13 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 136 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $65 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 7 [B]Mins:[/B] 6 [B]Seconds:[/B] 10
17 years ago 0 2830 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Nonic, Good realization! Sounds like you understand this addiction and what we used it for very well. You're right. Many of us used smoking as an escape - an escape from doing work ("I'll do it in just a minute - as soon as I finish this cigarette.") or an escape from feelings (i.e. what you were referring to.) or an escape from situations (whenever things get rough, just go outside to smoke to get over the stressful event). We used smoking to escape from many things that we now have to deal with. The thing to remember is that we still sometimes need to escape - we just have to now do it without the cigarette. Taking breaks is still very important - it's a valuable coping method that we did automatically when we smoked and is easy to forget to do now that we don't smoke. You're right that smoking the cigarettes didn't make anything go away. It only made us not have to think about it for a while. But just because you've given up one coping mechanism doesn't mean that you should give up ALL of your coping mechanisms for dealing with the ghosts or skeletons in your closet. Make new ones. Come up with new coping mechanisms to help you deal with those things you have tried to hide from - healthy ways! You're doing a great job! Keep up the awesome work! Crave the Quit! Pam [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/28/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 439 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 10,994 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1813.07 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 31 [B]Hrs:[/B] 7 [B]Mins:[/B] 17 [B]Seconds:[/B] 12
17 years ago 0 2436 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hello nonic - Amazing... As I read your post, I realized deep down that I could have written it myself - word for word. I know exactly where you are, and friend- it's about being willing to be vulnerable and be who you are - There is amazing support here. Come here and vent if you need to, open your heart and let us in, if you need to ~ and just reach out when you need to. I found the love and care here that I needed along the way, and you will too. Stay close and be kind and gentle w/yourself, dear one. You are about to experience an amzing and profound Awakening. Some of those ghosts may have some amazing lessons for you, friend. Blessings, Love and Light- Healer [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/5/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 312 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 10,940 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1450.8 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 40 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 8 [B]Seconds:[/B] 57
17 years ago 0 12049 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
nonic, Thank you for the insight and please continue to share with us. You are doing an amazing job and we congratulate you on 16 days! Josie _____________________ The SSC Support Team.

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