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When Does It Feel "Real"?


Manny
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Manny
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18 years ago 0 8 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi, So I've been quit for a few days now, a second try after a failed five-day quit. Here's something I've come up against, and I think it's what sunk my quit last time: None of this feels quite as real as smoking did. It feels more like I'm taking a break from smoking instead of having quit. Like I am not smoking right now, but I will be again some day... even though I know intellectually that I am done. Is this common? This feeling that this whole thing is a big a play of the mind as the cravings are? [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 4 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 95 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $26 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 46 [B]Seconds:[/B] 6

  • Quit Meter

    $813,248.16

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 7460 Hours: 22

    Minutes: 4 Seconds: 47

    Life Gained

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    45791

    Smoke Free Days

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    1,694,267

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Manny
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Manny
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18 years ago 0 8 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Faith, Thanks... incidentally, I also read Carr's book, and found his whole approach to be pretty powerful. But I still feel like the smoker was the real me, and this is some... shadow. Odd... the truth is the other way 'round, isn't it? [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 4 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 95 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $26 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 49 [B]Seconds:[/B] 10

  • Quit Meter

    $813,248.16

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 7460 Hours: 22

    Minutes: 4 Seconds: 47

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45791

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    1,694,267

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

Aunt Deb
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Aunt Deb
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18 years ago 0 591 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hi Manny, It will take longer than a few days for the idea to sink in, especially while the craves are going on and triggers popping up. Just a minute ago, reading a post...even though I wasn't actually experiencing a crave (the fat tongue through the roof of the mouth thing)...the trigger of wanting to give an idea to someone HAPPENED.....stupid trigger hugh? In fact, the urge was so strong...I seriously was thinking where did my husband put his cigarettes last night, and then a better thought followed as I took that deep breath (THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU ARE FEELING DEB).... Do you really want to screw up your very real status of being smoke free for over a month? Do you really want to take the chance of having that god awful craving like in the beginning that you have to fight every 10 to 20 minutes? yesterday I was out with my other daughter (she is still smoking)...in my car and looked at me patheically..."Can I smoke?" "sure, I said. Just blow your smoke out the cracked window " "I'm so proud of you MOM for quitting" as she smiled and looked sheepishly guilty while she sucked those cheeks in and inhaled a blue streak of smoke. "Maybe one day Hon, you'll quit too" I said knowing that everyone has to find THEIR TIME TO QUIT Manny...to each his own...but I'm choosing not to smoke for the rest of my life. If you don't think smoking is all that bad, perhaps you will become a smoker again. The first few days are...like you have stepped out of your person...but another week with confidence behind you should be pretty secure in the decision of which way you will go. If you get a week down...smoke free...you don't even want to light up for fear of the withdrawal and more cravings coming. :quest: [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 36 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,813 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $171 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 44 [B]Seconds:[/B] 18
faithfreedom
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faithfreedom
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18 years ago 0 613 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Manny: Welcome back. I know what you're saying about not feeling real, at least I think I do. For me, having quit on more than occasion over the 35 years I smoked, whenever I did quit, I never felt "real" as a nonsmoker. In fact, I felt like a big faker. I would actually say to myself, "Who are you kidding trying to act like a nonsmoker? You're a smoker, always have been, always will be". Wow, so what a surprise that I would alway cave. Listen to how I talked to myself! After I read Allen Carr's book and after I truly understood that I was a drug addict and got ANGRY about it, only THEN could I really believe in myself as a nonsmoker. I think it's because I finally understood that I was making a CHOICE to be a nonsmoker. I hope that makes some sense and relates in some way to what you wrote. But I believe it's your state of mind, your attitude and the things you say to yourself that can be so huge in making it all "real" again. Even with all the changes -- it will become real because that's what you've chosen. (Very smart choice, by the way!) Keep the faith [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 120 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,830 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $960 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 15 [B]Hrs:[/B] 19 [B]Mins:[/B] 1 [B]Seconds:[/B] 8
Phil
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Phil
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18 years ago 0 3908 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Manny be patient it starts to become real as you start to forget smoking! Phil [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 182 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,824 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �955.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 36 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 8 [B]Seconds:[/B] 10
butterfly swimmer
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butterfly swimmer
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18 years ago 0 2830 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Boy, do I know that feeling all too well!!! For me, it came from quitting and then going back after a few days, weeks or even months. I "trained" my brain that I would eventually smoke again, so this was just merely a little break from smoking... something that was not uncommon, since I could easily go several days and on one occasion 2 weeks without smoking or even wanting to smoke when I was visiting my parents... but as soon as I got in the car to go home, I just HAD to have a smoke!!! I wasn't trying to quit... I didn't even have any desire to quit... I just didn't have any desire to smoke until I left my parents' house and then I was a nervous wreck! So for me, it wasn't uncommon for me to go a few days without a smoke, so I had trained my brain that this is completely normal. You know the saying, "fake it till ya make it"? Well, it's kinda like that. Just keep doing what you're doing and eventually, it will feel normal to not smoke. Just hang in there. You're doing great! Crave the Quit! Pam [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/28/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 465 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 11,644 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1920.45 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 33 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 43 [B]Seconds:[/B] 24
susie144
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susie144
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18 years ago 0 95 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hello everyone. I agree with everything that's been said here. It proves to me that I am an addict and just have to get on with breaking the addiction. This is day 8 for me and this is my 4th(hopefully last quit). Last time I made 8 months.....I know....how could I give that up? That's the problem with cigarettes. You think you are in control. Well not now. It's worth the feeling of "this is not real" because I KNOW that one day soon it will be real. I will be a non smoker. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/31/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 7 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 218 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �52.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 49 [B]Seconds:[/B] 29
tryagain
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tryagain
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18 years ago 0 519 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
My husband, who quit with me said that he just cannot face the prospect of never having another cigarette. To him it's just a break. I'm hoping that as time goes on being smoke free will become more important than smoking again. There are a few reasons for that. One is, we live in California where you cannot smoke ANYWHERE. Entire cities are going smoke free and it's illegal to smoke on the sidewalk. It's illegal to smoke on almost ALL beaches and in ALL parks. The cost of cigarettes is also very high. CA narrowly missed raising taxes per pack of $2.50. That might pass next time. There is no smoking in any store, bar, restaurant, mall or sporting arenas. There is no smoking in any of the amusement centers. I'm think that going back to smoking and all of its restrictions (which must get worse) will be harder than staying a non-smoker. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/27/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 10 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 313 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $100 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 59 [B]Seconds:[/B] 9
lauren
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lauren
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18 years ago 0 610 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Manny, You are at the VERY BEGINNING of your journey to freedom from nicotine addiction. You have been successful for 5 days; just take it one day at a time..stay smoke free for today, then handle tomorrow. Eventually, you will look at people inhaling poisonous gases into their lungs and think "I can't believe that I used to do that to my body!" Hang in there. If you do not light that next cigarette, you will stay a non smoker. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/20/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 139 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,768 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $521.25 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 18 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 31 [B]Seconds:[/B] 28

  • Quit Meter

    $91,582.00

    Amount Saved

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    Days: 6058 Hours: 2

    Minutes: 1 Seconds: 27

    Life Gained

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    45791

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    457,910

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

Luna
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Luna
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18 years ago 0 989 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I totally get it. It took me a Looooooooooong time before I finally realized that I had broken the addiction. Smoking was so much a part of my life and I had so much doubt that I really ever be able to kick the habit. I think it really takes a year, going through each season and each old experience in a new way. Travel without smoking. Holidays without smoking. Sex without smoking. Gardening without smoking. Parties without smoking. Traditions without smoking. Then it sorta sneaks up on you. HEY I AM A NON SMOKER!! That was something I once did. Never again! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/15/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 662 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 16,552 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2317 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 93 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 6 [B]Seconds:[/B] 22

  • Quit Meter

    $801,342.50

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 6339 Hours: 14

    Minutes: 35 Seconds: 42

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45791

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    1,144,775

    Cigarettes Not Smoked


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