Okay, I�ve only been here at this site for about a week, but already I�ve learned SO much. Here�s the most important thing I learned so far:
[center][color=blue][size=4]Know and understand your addiction! [/size][/color][/center]
I quit smoking at midnight on January 1st, and though I managed to stay quit for the next seven days (until I found this site), it would have been a whole lot easier for me if I had understood my addiction from the beginning. I [i]thought[/i] that I understood what was going on with my body, but guess what, I had a bunch of facts ALL WRONG.
I didn�t know about dopamine or pleasure receptors or carbon monoxide, and I sure didn�t know what specifically was causing me to feel loopy and stupid (my least favorite withdrawal side-effect). All this time I thought that smoking brought me pleasure, but it made total sense to learn that in fact smoking doesn�t bring pleasure, just a temporary end to discomfort � what a total difference that perspective made!
There is so much to learn on this site!
Even though I haven�t been here long, I have a brilliant piece of advice for newbies who are just starting out.
[b]Scroll through the topic threads in this area and open EACH thread you find that has more than, say, 250 views. If you have time for nothing else, READ THE VERY FIRST POST IN EACH OF THESE THREADS.[/b]
There�s a reason for so many views� those posts have been bumped repeatedly because they contain some really, really good information and/or advice!
[color=red][size=4]Read. Learn. Listen. Internalize. [/color][/size]
[color=orange][size=4]Smile. Celebrate. Breathe.[/color][/size]
I wish everyone success in their quit!
SammiJo
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/1/2007
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 14
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 446
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $42
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 43 [B]Seconds:[/B] 36