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Coping with being around other smokers


18 years ago 0 1521 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
hardroadahead, Stay strong, make good use of your coping mechanisms. You can do this. Take Care, Melanie ______________________ The SSC Support Team
18 years ago 0 2 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi! Im just a newbie, but Im dreding my first day out of the house. Im going to my boyfriends house where their is smoke everywhere and no escaping it. I know neither him nor his sister living there will stop smoking wiht me there, but Im worried I will cave in. We are smoking buddies. ANy tips?
  • Quit Meter

    $198,127.30

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 4100 Hours: 2

    Minutes: 35 Seconds: 25

    Life Gained

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    45416

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

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    Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 506 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Shadow- This shames me so. I went to Europe a couple of years ago and stayed with my brother and family in Sweden for a while. Everywhere we went, I smoked ad lib, since I couldn't smoke in their house. I could tell they were irritated every time the lighter was lit, since it meant cloud of stink until I was done. Your story about your trip as an ex-smoker (and your new perspective on smoke) really hit me. That's what people used to think of me. yuck Thanks for the insight! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 41 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,675 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $369 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 7 [B]Seconds:[/B] 23
18 years ago 0 506 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Of course, having said that, I avoided a party tonight where my old smoking buds were. I'm not sure I'm ready for a couple of rum and cokes and then the smell of multiple cigarettes. My only drinking has been with non-smokers. I think you did great. When you read some of the "oldies'" posts, it seems this does in fact end. But we're not there yet and you are heroic, as far as I'm concerned! Bob [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/18/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 41 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,675 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $369 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 9 [B]Seconds:[/B] 16
18 years ago 0 52 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hardroadahead........Let me warn you about smoking buddies. They can try to make your quit hell. I don't know why but I think it may be quilt? If this is the case don't worry....they will come around! M [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/6/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 31 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 847 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $186 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 46 [B]Seconds:[/B] 58
18 years ago 0 60 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi, boy could I relate. I feel the same way you do. I have great days and bad days. I thought the same thing as you as far as everywhere I go there seems to be more and more smokers and I could smell it from a mile away. There are times I long for a cigarette and get scared if I will be able to fight this urge forever. I still cannot believe after 80 days those desires are still so strong. I guess when u got the urge or desire since u were in a place with alot to do you could have jumped in the pool or danced did whatever to take it out of your mind. The more I ready the scarier it gets. This addiction is one that stays with you forever. I just keep telling my self what about heroin addicts how I say how could they not quit and do that to there families. but then I realize I am no better. Mine maybe legal and it may not hurt my family directly like a drug addict but it does hurt them just the same. It doesnt make u steal but u spend a decent amount of money, u put ur family at the risk of second hand smoke, you risk getting cancer,or one of many diseases, or we may have to one day live with any oxygen tank and those things do hurt our family. So why do we make is so hard. every addiction is hard and we just have to keep fighting. It makes me sad how hard it is but they say the you have to fight if you really want something.Good luck to you, me, and everyone hells fighting this horrible, destructive addiction. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/1/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 32 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 970 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $160 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 30 [B]Seconds:[/B] 53
18 years ago 0 38 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Groovekitty, Thanks for the nice post. Guess we can't get too much encouragement, huh? Its very much appreciated. I guess my triggers mainly are in my car, and when I get on the phone, and after dinner. That was my main one. After I'd get done eating, first thing I'd want would be my cigarettes. It just made it seem like the meal wasn't complete unless I had that. I guess thats been the hard one for me. When I get in the car, I automatically start to reach for one and put my windows down. LOL. Then remember I'm not smoking now. Once I get past that, I'm usually ok. I rely heavily now on my Tootsie Pops and I end up reaching for one of those. This trip was a dream come true for me, but it really was hard, in the sense that I was around so many smokers. I never realized there were so many still around and I noticed them more this time, than ever before. I'm just taking it one day at a time now, but at least I can breathe more freely than I ever did before. One thing I did notice on this trip, was the fact that it was so hard for me to do stairs where there wasn't an elevator, like outside stairs or steps. And Sandals has lots of those. I was huffing and puffing like crazy but not as bad as I would have been 3 months ago. Guess its going to take a while to get things back to where I'm more comfortable. Many thanks for all the support from everyone here on the board. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/11/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 80 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,454 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $280 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 11 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 28 [B]Seconds:[/B] 6
18 years ago 0 38 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Bob, Thanks so much for that nice post, but heroic I'm not, or at least don't think I am. I'm struggling along like so many others are doing. And as Rusty said, I have been guilty of looking at other smokers with longing. I just don't want to have to live my life like this every time I go out, or am around other smokers. I could handle the drinking situation I think because it was my husband with me, and he's never been a smoker. But if it was with my friends or my daughter even, then I don't know how brave I could be. I did have a party for my daughter to attend a couple weeks ago, and they were all outside around the pool smoking. And I walked away from that too. It wasn't as hard on me then, as it was on this trip. I guess because I was exposed to so much of it on my trip. I noticed smokers now more than I ever have before. I had thought that smoking had declined more than what I saw. It seemed everywhere I turned they were there. It was a once in a lifetime vacation and I'll always treasure it. I just hope I can fend off the other everyday temptations that I know will be coming my way again. Thanks once again. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/11/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 80 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,454 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $280 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 11 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 26 [B]Seconds:[/B] 54
18 years ago 0 38 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi everyone. I promised myself the great treat of a cruise when I finally accomplished stopping smoking. I waited for over 70 days and we finally took our trip. Not on a cruise, but to the beautiful island resort of Sandals at Ocho Rios Jamaica! What a fabulous time we had. Only trouble is that Sandals is an all-inclusive resort and all your food and drinks, even premium drinks are included. So you can drink all day long if you want. At every bar, or everywhere I turned, it seemed were people smoking and I could smell it and it was driving me nuts for a bit. In the airports, same thing. On the tours of the island we went, the smell drove me nuts. I could walk away from it, but boy was the urge strong right then. I guess it could be said that I was strong enough to walk away from it, but at the same time it can be safely said that boy oh boy did I ever want a smoke! How to handle situations like this? Does it ever get any better when you can smell it at 40 paces? Need a clothepin to stop up my nose I guess. What to do? [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/11/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 79 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,437 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $276.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 11 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 8 [B]Seconds:[/B] 43
18 years ago 0 254 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Each time you encounter a situation like this one, it gets easier. For example, how are you now with your daily triggers? Mine use to be the car. I couldn't smoke in the house, so when I went out to the store (or just out) I smoked like a fiend. Now, I don't have [b]ANY[/b] urge to light up in the car.... I read that it takes only one instance of a situation for your brain to re-program itself......so now your brain knows you won't be smoking while on holiday, while drinking, or while others around you smoke. If you do go again, you still may have a faint urge, but it should be much weaker than it was this time... You are doing it!!! You are living life regardless of what others around you are doing. Don't look at smokers with longing of wanting one yourself, look at them with pity that they are damaging their health with every puff. You did a fantastic job. Cograts.........and nice reward, BTW :8|: [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/19/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 103 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,551 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $695.25 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 9 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 0 [B]Seconds:[/B] 16

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