Get the Support You Need

Learn from thousands of users who have made their way through our courses. Need help getting started? Watch this short video.

today's top discussions:

logo

Challenging Worry

Ashley -> Health Educator

2024-04-20 11:42 PM

Depression Community

logo

Hello

Linda Q

2024-04-11 5:06 AM

Anxiety Community

logo

Addiction

Ashley -> Health Educator

2024-04-08 3:54 PM

Managing Drinking Community

logo

New Year's Resolutions

Ashley -> Health Educator

2024-03-25 2:47 AM

Managing Drinking Community

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Browse through 411.748 posts in 47.053 threads.

160,502 Members

Please welcome our newest members: Fwcl, anonymeLouise, RDANIELA NICOLE, Lfr, CPADUA

Stress


16 years ago 0 880 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
This is a real hot button...I too must say that I retreated to chateau nicotine whenever the monsoons came. I suppose in retrospect it was a way of negating the ill effects of stress and retreating to a place that was mine to control. The irony of course is that my refuge became the well-spring of my addiction. I sought control and in so doing became controlled by nicotine. Ain't that a kick in the head... nonic [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]12/25/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 401 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 12,030 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $4,210.50 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 74 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 20 [B]Seconds:[/B] 10
  • Quit Meter

    $66,507.00

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 1302 Hours: 9

    Minutes: 25 Seconds: 27

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    6334

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    190,020

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

16 years ago 0 2631 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Yesterday I was watching a show where a gentleman weighed over 700 lbs. I found myself identifying with him. I am most definately an addict. When I am stressed, I want to be comforted. I used to smoke and then I turned to food. I am controlling my diet and getting lots of exercise but I still feel this need to "self-medicate" after a hard day. I try not to have unhealthy food in my home because I will never be one of those people who can just have "a bite" I would rather not have any. I exercise ALOT just so that I can eat more but I often wonder what would happen to me if I stopped exercising. When I feel "bad", I want something that makes me feel "good". Exercise certainly helps me to manage stress more effectively but it doesn't take away the desire for a "reward" at the end of the day. In addition, I always used to smoke when I felt anxious in new situations (this started in my teens) Now that I don't smoke, I tend to eat in social situations. I also had to start adding club soda to my wine because I drank more glasses of wine. (The club soda meant that I could still drink more glasses without actually consuming more wine) Does anybody else ever feel like this? If so, what is your reward after a hard day at work? I'd love to hear what works for you. I'm also hoping that I'm not the only one that ever feels like this. Windy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]9/11/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 506 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 10,120 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2,530.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 49 [B]Hrs:[/B] 7 [B]Mins:[/B] 25 [B]Seconds:[/B] 9
16 years ago 0 3207 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
oh goody..i can't wait to see those lists. Seriously. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 314 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 12,560 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2,135.20 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 44 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 54 [B]Seconds:[/B] 19
16 years ago 0 967 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
yes, and I actually do that, it just seems, and I have been told that I take things to heart and way to seriously all the time. I have been with the same company for twelve years and started out doing this and got out do to how I tended to let it wear on me. We had a change this last spring that threw me back into it after being out of it for seven years. I am trying several things right now, and you are right, we choose how to be, but I swear my mind sometimes chooses for me before I have a chance to react..that is kinda funny. But seriously, you wouldn't believe some of the excuses these people come up with...some are hilarious and some you want to jump through the phone and strangle them for even trying to play you for an idiot. I am going to start making a list and will post the best of them for you every once in awhile...we will make fun of it. Thanks for the reply..it helps when you know somebody read your post... :p [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]12/6/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 55 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,650 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $206.25 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 47 [B]Seconds:[/B] 57
16 years ago 0 3207 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Maybe this seems too simplistic, but I still feel it has merit. It is part of an email my brother sent me today. "Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or ... you can choose to be in a bad mood I choose to be in a good mood." and Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or...I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it. We definitely can't always choose what happens to us or what others do, and anxioux and John I feel for you in the situations you are facing, but we can choose what our reactions are going to be. John, I think that's probably a good move - move. And anxioux, your job seems like it inherently is going to include those stressful phone calls. But, is there some way to make them more rewarding/humorous (like make a list of the top ten insults?)? or take satisfaction in calming someone down when that is possible? [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 314 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 12,560 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2,135.20 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 44 [B]Hrs:[/B] 8 [B]Mins:[/B] 43 [B]Seconds:[/B] 56
16 years ago 0 967 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
My job is working a supervisory line for a contact center. Several times during the day I have calls transferred to me for somebody to ream me out and swear and blame all lifes problems on me. Happened today earlier and the first thing I wanted to do was smoke...but I didnt. I am really trying to figure out how to handle these situations without taking my perscription meds. Deep breathing helps some, but not enough. I am relearning myself I guess. :mad: [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]12/6/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 55 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,650 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $206.25 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 42 [B]Seconds:[/B] 23
16 years ago 0 4 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I just found out they want to put in a rather large airport near my house. The end of the runway will be 400 ft from my back door. Am I stressed? HECK YEAH! Looks like I be movin! John aKa John_in_NC [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]5/3/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 272 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 6,800 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $952.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 42 [B]Hrs:[/B] 10 [B]Mins:[/B] 20 [B]Seconds:[/B] 17
16 years ago 0 948 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Lainey is right. Stress is unavoidable. Its how we deal with it that matters and smoking will only make it worse. People who don't smoke have always found ways to deal with stress and so can we. Those that have quit are proof that we won't crumble but we will get stronger learning to deal with our stress instead of smoking it. That which does not kill us makes us stronger! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/1/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 335 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 8,375 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,675.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 36 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 29 [B]Seconds:[/B] 33
16 years ago 0 3875 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Stress happens whether you smoke or not! What do non smokers do to alleviate stress? Deep breaths, a time out, exercise, relaxation exercises, a stretch. What do smokers do? Drown the emotion with smoke, then feel horrible from smoking too much. :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 331 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 8,275 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $3,492.05 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 43 [B]Hrs:[/B] 11 [B]Mins:[/B] 23 [B]Seconds:[/B] 43
16 years ago 0 46 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Learning how to effectively manage stress has been a huge factor to my quit. For nearly 20 years I've dealt with stressors and conflict by retreating with a cigarette. Cigarettes were actually used as a tool of avoidance. "Life's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they're supposed to help you discover who you are." - Bernice Johnson Reagon [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]12/11/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 49 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,960 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $441.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 4 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 4 [B]Seconds:[/B] 52
  • Quit Meter

    $1,271.42

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 5353 Hours: 5

    Minutes: 57 Seconds: 45

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45408

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    317,856

    Cigarettes Not Smoked


Reading this thread: