I remeber the 2nd week into my quit there was a rash of people that had "slipped". I was a bit disillusioned at the fact that these people that had 50, 100, 200 whatever days had slipped. I thought once the nicotene left the system you were a solid non (ex)smoker. The realism set in that the nicotine is only a part of the addiction, and this was a long haul fight. Many have asked "when is the cravings going to go away". The answer has been "Tuesday", I look forward to Tuesday. This Tuesday or otherwise. Just for the record I am not going to consider myself out of the woods until after a year. It does, however, get easier every day. [IMG]http://i134.photobucket.com/albums/q114/dunedad/hippo.gif[/IMG] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 11/7/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 119 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,399 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $583.1 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 17 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 45 [B]Seconds:[/B] 2

I must say that after trying to quit so many times, that the beauty of this site is this. When you fall and go back to smoking for awhile, you already feel like a spineless worthless failure, and usually (I have found) friends and family don't help,they are disappointed too. Coming here, you get the support you need. Youre told it's okay to have fallen and they encourage you to get back up and go again. I didn't get that from my family and friends. We learn from other peoples mistakes too. I don't mind reading the posts of those who have failed (As I am one of them) because it reminds me just how very hard this task is, and just how more determined I need to be to make it. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 4 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 111 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $42.2 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 58 [B]Seconds:[/B] 24

Hi Ex I have to admit that, at the beginning of my journey, it scared me when people lost their quit and yes, sometimes I got discouraged....But each time it reminds me about how carefully I need to protect this quit. It also makes me aware of potential pitfalls and to try and be prepared for them. I've heard that quitting is a process - and for some people it takes many tries - There are tons of people here who are now enjoying a smoke-free life who had many falls along the way. Sooooo...I disagree, it's a learning process. I thank God for every day that I remain smoke-free. Windy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/11/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 177 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,550 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $885 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 17 [B]Hrs:[/B] 7 [B]Mins:[/B] 0 [B]Seconds:[/B] 18

Ex-I & quitter friends, I have been smoking for 35 years and this is my fifth "major" quits. In between, I had several other "minor" attempts (ranging from few hours to few days). I have tried different methods: cold turkey, zyban (wellbutrin), NRT gums, ... In this fifth quit, I mainly use the NRT inhaler (supplemented by NRT lozenges - cut into quarters - when desperately needed). So far so good! I believe that this is my last attempt and I will get there! :) What does it all mean? To me, it means that this is a long and difficult journey toward total freedom from smoking. One should be patient and persistent. One should learn and use all the tools available, both physical and mental, to fight against that nasty nicodemon. Never quit quitting, so they say. One should also be kind and realistic to oneself. Regardless of what others might say, please remember that this is your life and your quit. Cheers, nmc [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/25/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 194 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,948 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $970 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 37 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 18 [B]Seconds:[/B] 59

I know I'm coming into this very late, but I'd like to put my 2 cents in as well. Ex-Idiot, I think you raise a good question and I am dumbfounded by the awesome posts here on this thread. What a great discussion! First Ex, I would like you to take a look at my meter. I'm pretty proud of it myself, as I'm sure everybody is proud of their meters, whether they have 1 day on it or 1,000. But that meter would have 133 more days on it if I hadn't slipped 3 times. Yes, 3 times. And the first one, I have to say I was somewhat influenced by some other people ahead of me who had slipped and that made me very discouraged. Also given the fact that I was in the 30 day pit at the time and had lost my job. All of these things together hit me and I smoked 1 cigarette. However, there's nobody to blame for that but me. I can say that it was because I'd seen others do it and felt discouraged (I did) but they didn't put the cigarette in my mouth. I did that. And I did it the second time. And the third time. But it's the 497 days after that last time that I want to focus on. Because not even one of those days would have been smoke free if it were not for this site and the awesome people here who really helped me back up to never do it again. I know there are many who slip or relapse and then keep doing it and never seem to get to a point where they are secure in their quits enough to not smoke again, but there are also many who slip or relapse who NEED the help and support of this site to get to a point where they don't do it again. And I'm proud to say that I'm one of the latter group who wouldn't be here if it weren't for this site. If we didn't let "slippers" on this site, I'd be smoking for sure. I promise you that. So, I'm REALLY glad this site lets people who have slipped stay and keep posting. It's because of that fact, and the wonderful people on this site, that I am 3 days from 500 days smoke free. Crave the Quit! Pam [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/28/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 497 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 12,448 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2052.61 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 35 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 37 [B]Seconds:[/B] 17

I tend to agree with Ex-I. Maybe the "love" given out to those who slip should be a tad tougher. But maybe that's just because that's the way I was brought up. Then again, there must be more than just Ex and I out there, who, if we did slip, would be much more likely to kick our own butts and get back to it, if somebody got tough with us. I HATE failing. And those squirming, horrid, self-loathing "oh my God I failed" feelings are what make me determined to not fail again. Others must be the same. I guess what I'm trying to say is, if there are a variety of people who slip, for a variety of reasons, then I guess there should be a variety of responses TO those slips as well?! And Pete, I don't see how the "reason" for people who slip to post, is to remind us all not to smoke, not ONE, not EVER, if folks then go out and smoke one just to test the theory????? (My theory is, the more we focus on/talk about smoking/quitting/slipping, the harder it actually is to stay quit but hey...... that's probably just me!) Ex. I have always been like you. I avoid like the plague, any posts referring to slipping. I don't want to read them. I don't want to even THINK it might be a possibility and I have not yet reached the position of strength and grace where I can offer support in that anyway. Personally, to my mind (and again, I don't mean any offence) if somebody slips, even if it's just in having half a cig., ALL counters should go back to zero and start again. If the boards are going to advocate NOPE, then a quit only starts from the NOPE point on. S [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 12/10/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 89 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,121 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] �534 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 9 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 13 [B]Seconds:[/B] 1

Great discussion! I can see both sides. Thank goodness, as Penguin said, that this site is not like some others that have nothing to do with you after a slip/relapse and that there is a lot of encouragement. It took me several tries back-to-back to get to where I am now. I've been here 10 months with a six-month quit. At the same time, I avoid certain threads that might make me uncomfortable (example: I don't even look at the weight thread much---reminds me I'm chubby :8|:) and I remember the slip posts as being very disturbing at first. Even now, I will go away for awhile for 'mental health days' when reading posts triggers a crave instead of the other way around. I am very grateful for those that encouraged me after a slip to not quit quitting. So, Ex-I, perhaps you should avoid the relapse threads for a bit. In any event, I think you have a clear understanding that because others slip, it is no excuse for you to follow suit. Those 46 days were hard-earned and, believe me, you don't want to give that up and start all over because of a stupid fight with your honey, the kids have a stomach virus and there is vomit everywhere, your best friend has taken up with a shmuck, a co-worker got the job you wanted, or because you read about someone who slipped on here. Keep the quit! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 180 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 9,038 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1440 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 19 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 19 [B]Seconds:[/B] 42

I have struggled at times with hearing about people who relapsed and/or people who were quitting for the 5th or 10th,etc time. 2 things have disturbed me...(1) The idea of people craving and/or slipping after so much quit time... isn't this suppose to just get better/easier?!? (2) The messed up idea that I have a few more quit tries left because this is only my 2nd try. I have heard statistics saying that it takes a smoker an average of 7 attempts to successfully quit. Oh, so I have 5 more? Anyway, then I realized that (1) Not everyone craves/slips after 3-6-12+ months and (2) If "7" is the "average", then some people must have done it in 1 or 2 tries - why can't that be me? It can! Anyway, while reading posts about cravings & slips has a negative effect on me at times, it has also made me think. And, the responses that people post are always really helpful to me. Just my thoughts on the matter! ;) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/24/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 11 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 403 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $71.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 17 [B]Seconds:[/B] 22

Allow me to reiterate that smoking is a choice, we all know this. We support each other even tho we all have opinions on slipping. At the end of the day this is what I tell myself: "The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all, is the one you have with yourself." You must only answer to yourself, but it's great if you share of yourself to help others. Thanks for all who share the good and the bad. CobenFan [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/25/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 354 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 7,088 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1239 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 33 [B]Hrs:[/B] 15 [B]Mins:[/B] 14 [B]Seconds:[/B] 58

I guess it could be all in how you read the post. The couple posts of people slipping that I read, I did with intent to try to figure out why they slipped and hopefully I would learn something from that. I actually did with some of the triggers they discussed that made them slip. It did help prepare me for those situations early in my quit and what to avoid and what to watch for. Slipping is all part of the learning curve for some people that do go through it a couple of times yet still quit, at the same time it helps not only newbies, but older ones to show that we are all vulnerable at times to this addiction, and hopefully it helps us somehow to fight to keep the quit. Great discussion post. Freebird ~'~ [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/24/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 164 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,936 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $688.8 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 23 [B]Hrs:[/B] 7 [B]Mins:[/B] 41 [B]Seconds:[/B] 53