That's excellent X-Smoker. :) It's true. You made me remember an old adage. It went something like this: [b]Watch your thoughts they become words. Watch your words they become actions. Watch your actions they become habits Watch your habits they become character Watch your character it becomes your destiny[/b] Thank U for sharing that info with me (Us) :) I'm starting to think you and I might be alot alike. -- Good 2CU Cuddles. I know I keep saying this but I am [i]so proud of you![/i] Keep being patient with the hubster. It will pay off one day. -- Koala, Good to see you back at the SSC. :) Hang tough girl! Hi too Casey ;) [color=blue][font=Tahoma]All the best~[/color] [img]http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6922/n3us.gif[/img][size=3][color=blue]2[/color][/size][img]http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2344/k6ob.gif[/img][/color] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/20/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 272 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 6,005 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1360 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 25 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 45 [B]Seconds:[/B] 49

Hi Stephen~ [img]http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/2240/catfish2hc.jpg[/img] I see what you mean! Watching fish swim DOES take ones mind off other things ;) I also see you are at 83 days. That's great man! Maybe your stress is related to where you are in your quit. There has been a bit of a trend in here. Nothing scientific, but it seems some struggle with staying quit around the 100 day mark. It varies from person to person but often happens somewhere within the 80-120 days time frame. I'm not sure why. 'Nico's last hoo-rah' or the [i]'is this it?'[/i] mind-set. Shevie could probably explain it.~lol Whatever it is, just push through it. Count your blessings and count your guppies :) and yes!~KTQ -- A talisman! Hey that is another 'keep positive thoughts' technique. I hadn't thought of that Phillip! That's good. Come to think of it. Cheryl gave Bfs the idea of wearing a NOPE bracelet. She says it helps her too. Thank you Phillip! [b]A note to add to this thread:[/b] A friend reminded me by email that spiritual practices such as prayer and meditation have been used very successfully with other addictions and are an integral part of 12-step recovery programs. These same principles can be applied to quitting smoking and can help with stress reduction. [color=blue][font=Tahoma]All the best~[/color] [img]http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6922/n3us.gif[/img][size=3][color=blue]2[/color][/size][img]http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2344/k6ob.gif[/img][/color] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/20/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 273 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 6,020 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1365 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 25 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 16 [B]Seconds:[/B] 41

lol@Mc Eu estou aqui matar demons. Voc� v� alguns? (excuse my Portuguese) [color=white]translation: I am here to kill demons. Do you see any? [/color] :p --- [b]A note to add to this thread:[/b] As mentioned above, physical activity is a good stress-reducer. It can also help with the temporary sense of depression that some smokers experience when they quit. -- t/y Casey [color=blue]~[font=Arial]all the best[/font][/color] [img]http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6922/n3us.gif[/img][size=3][color=blue]2[/color][/size][img]http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2344/k6ob.gif[/img] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/20/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 200 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,416 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1000 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 19 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 13 [B]Seconds:[/B] 11

Bump for Lily

[i]And I learn something NEW all the time.[/i] [b]Mantras can help with stress reduction, new research shows.[/b] Mantras, or mantrams, are a word or phrase with spiritual meaning, write Jill Bormann, PhD, RN, and colleagues in the Journal of Advanced Nursing. The researchers studied 30 veterans and 36 hospital workers at the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System, where Bormann is a research nurse scientist. In a five-week class, participants chose a mantra and learned to use it to manage stress. The study shows that the majority of participants used their mantras to help them cope with a wide range of problems, including anxiety, stress from traffic and work, insomnia, and unwanted thoughts. [b]Researcher's Comments[/b] "We found this to be a very valuable tool for people that they can use," Bormann tells WebMD. "It's like a pause button for the mind." Bormann stresses that while the technique "is actually a very ancient tradition that's been used in every spiritual practice," it's not just for religious people. "It's nonsectarian," Bormann says. "It's personal, portable, and invisible. It's immediately available, inexpensive, nonpharmacological, and nontoxic," she continues. Using mantras can be a "stress-reduction technique for our modern day and age, when people say they don't have time for stress-management techniques," Bormann says. [b]Choosing a Mantra[/b] Bormann's team gave participants a list of suggested mantras that included major faith traditions. Participants were also free to choose a mantra without religious underpinnings. Here are some of the mantras that were on the list: � Buddhism: Om mani padme hum � Hinduism: Rama rama (Mahatma Gandhi's mantra, Bormann says) � Judaism: Shalom (peace) � Islam: Allah � Native American tradition: O waken tanka (o great spirit) � Christianity: "Lord Jesus, have mercy on me," or "Hail Mary," or "maranatha" (a word from the ancient Aramaic language meaning "Lord of the heart") "Sweet harmony" and "take it easy" were examples of mantras not tied to any particular tradition. Ex-smokers use mantras like NOPE (not one puff ever), a puff away from a pack a day, smoking is not an option, etc. Golferman has an entire post dedicated to mantras so if you don't have

p.s. And those times when you [i]do doubt it[/i] come here :)

Kitty, your 'chewing' situation is very unique. (So you needed a unique solution.) One thing that is common is the fact that ex-smokers often mention stress as one of the reasons for going back to smoking. We must remember that stress is a part of all of our lives, smokers and nonsmokers alike. The difference is that smokers have come to use nicotine to supposedly 'help cope' with stress. However, nicotine DOES NOT reduce stress. It actually increases our heart rate. The act of smoking (taking a break, getting away and slowly breathing in and exhaling) does help reduce stress. So we should still do those things. (minus the poison in smoke~just take the break and learn how to breathe slowly while repeating a mantra in your head) When quit, we have to learn some of these new ways of handling stress. If we quit without utilizing new ways to cope with stress our brain's first option when confronted with difficulty will always be 'I need to smoke. I need to smoke' In other words, the nic monster knows our weaknesses and that's where he wants our minds to go and stay. Refuse to entertain his ideas. He lies and smoking kills. That's the truth. Use what has been proven to work and practice it until it DOES work for you. You are a successful ex-smoker and you are in control kitty. Never doubt it. :) [color=blue]~[font=Arial]all the best[/font][/color] [img]http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6922/n3us.gif[/img][size=3][color=blue]2[/color][/size][img]http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2344/k6ob.gif[/img] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/20/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 199 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,399 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $995 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 18 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 28 [B]Seconds:[/B] 53

Kitty, First, hi :) Way2go for narrowing down your issues! You are at 172 days so you know "the stress crave" is in your head. It's the 'mind game' thing. So, you need to figure out how to outsmart yourself (or outsmart your addiction) [i]Anything[/i] can replace your 'oral' habit(s) if you TRUELY BELIEVE they work for you. For example, coffee stir sticks (or straws) can be used to draw air through and remind you to use 'slow breathing' instead of chewing. But you have to practice it and use 'self-talk' and [u]'believe.'[/u] Blotting your lips (like when you put on lipstick) might be another 'little thing' you do. Just remember to be consistant and couple it with positive self talk because it's more mental than physical. One other thing. Try not to say "I will not smoke" Say "I choose not to smoke." [b]Never ever let yourself feel deprived.[/b] You choose to LIVE longer with your CHOICE to be forever quit. Besides, you 'can' smoke if you WANT to but you 'don't want to' because [u](insert reasons for quitting here)[/u] ;) Hang in there girl! :) [color=blue]~[font=Arial]all the best[/font][/color] [img]http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6922/n3us.gif[/img][size=3][color=blue]2[/color][/size][img]http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2344/k6ob.gif[/img] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/20/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 199 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,396 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $995 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 18 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 11 [B]Seconds:[/B] 29

[b]Should we worry about all these �me�s�?[/b] Now that is a great question! I have spent a lot of time thinking about that very thing since I quit smoking Lady. Naturally, we don't like to uncover bad things about ourselves. Yet, awareness, insight, and introspection are generally valued concepts. (according to Duffis anyway *grin*) One could argue that it is better to be aware and have a chance to cope with some "problematic" personal characteristic than to have this undesirable trait operating inside of us and be ignorant of it. Let�s face it, If we don�t know it�s there we are helpless to change it right? But, I have read (at the library) that some people (experts) think psychological-minded people are emotionally detached and painfully self-conscious. :mad: ;) I don�t think that is true. (I know, I'm NOT an expert but I AM the rat in the maze, right Shevie? ;)) I think �more aware people� are more emotional, but they may not express a greater proportion of their emotions (and, therefore, look like they are withholding their feelings). I suspect it�s sort of a catch twenty-two. Being introspective means you see your faults. (failed opportunities, self-serving self-deceptions, selfish or mean impulses, etc.) This can be humbling and scarey! (which could lead to sadness and low self-esteem if you focus on what you don�t like rather than except it and resolve to change) Many people (myself included prior to quitting) are reluctant to go too deep because of the fear of what they might find. On the other hand I [i]have found[/i] that facing one�s true nature to be more of an asset than a liability. (goodbye killer smoke cravings) Mc (who is very wise for those who don't know) explains it pretty well! It�s easier to stay in control when you know what�s going on inside of you. (HEY! She also explains [i]weight gain[/i]! Brilliant!) :p I suppose the [u]end goal[/u] would be to get to where my guru Shevie is. :) *lol* [color=blue]~[font=Arial]all the best[/font][/color] [img]http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6922/n3us.gif[/img][size=3][color=blue]2[/color][/size][img]http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2344/k6ob.gif[/img] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/20/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 203 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked

I just laughed out loud at both of you~ Mc, Ouyay avehay othingnay otay earfay utbay earfay tselfiay (excuse my pig latin) [color=white]I never dreamed being quit would lead us 2learn sexy, exotic languages[/color] ;p Lady, You are absolutely right! *grin* P.S. I found a quote that you and I can relate to. [b]The more I attempted to "be me" the more "me's" I found there were. I now see that "being me" means acknowledging all that I feel at the moment, and then taking responsibility for my actions by consciously choosing which level of my feelings I am going to respond to.[/b] By: Hugh Prather From: Notes to Myself : My Struggle to Become a Person [color=blue]~[font=Arial]all the best[/font][/color] [img]http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/6922/n3us.gif[/img][size=3][color=blue]2[/color][/size][img]http://img133.imageshack.us/img133/2344/k6ob.gif[/img] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/20/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 202 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,444 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1010 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 19 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 9 [B]Seconds:[/B] 22