EvolutionHealth.care

Home
Main Forum
Quit Smoking
Health Educator's Corner
Have you slipped?

Advanced Search Form

Have you slipped?

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 916

I have tried to quit smoking on previous ocassions. My record was four days, and then back to smoking. But this time iI educated myself about my addiction and I gathered all the help I could need. My Chantix, this board and the Allen Carr Seminar. I do not slip, I relapse . I know it for sure because I cannot control the second cigarrette. So This time I am choosing not to smoke the first one!!

I know that If I smoke the first one I will go back to my smoking habits. So I can't slip. I have that kind of personality. all or nothing,. But I learned this from my previous quits and going trough my program and analizying my smoking behavior.

So far so good. I am not ketting my guard down. I Know I am a nicotine addict.

Have a great evening

Marivi

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 1/23/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 263
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 3,945
Amount Saved: $394.50
Life Gained:
Days: 29 Hrs: 22 Mins: 50 Seconds: 30

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1904

I've slipped many times--a probably seven to ten. I've also dealt with anxiety. I read the book "Anxiety, Phobias, and Panic" by Reneau Z. Peurifoy about 20 years ago and that helped tremendously. The source of my anxiety is control issues. I was raised early on in an alcoholic, abusive household, so I had lots of misery and very little control over my life and, therefore, I started to become very good at trying to control the things I could or thought I could. 12 Step Program helps here. In the programs, you practice giving up control. Knowing you don't have to be boss all of the time creates an atmosphere of serenity, which has a calming affect. I have a friend who suffers for OCD. When I mention giving up control to him, he freaks, so I know I must be onto something. I also had a therapist years ago who told me two valuable things, (1) obsessions occur when people lack the information they need to make a decision. It's playing a game of fill-in-the-blanks. Sometimes you have to stay in something or do something a little bit longer to gather the evidence or information you need to avoid an obsession. (2) An obsession is not an obsession unless you think it's one. Many people think about the same thing several times a day, and they are generally not bothered, especially about thoughts of sex. It's only a problem when the thoughts are unwanted. You'd be surprised at how fast some thought disappear when you welcome them and show no fear.

I rarely have anxiety or obsessions... now. When I do, they are well defined (waiting for a test result) and manageable. But when I start to feel out of control, I start to crave cigarettes.

So as for smoking and anxiety, the only relationship I see is the control issue. But of course, we aren't really in control. Many smokers don't know that though. The thought is that we pick up or keep these annoying habits because they give us something that we think we can control. The insanity is that we aren't in control.

Giving up smoking may help your anxiety, etc... because you will learn to giving up control when you give up smoking--at least in the long run. You'll have to turn it over.

My Milage:

My Quit Date: 5/1/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 165
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 4,620
Amount Saved: $1,790.25
Life Gained:
Days: 18 Hrs: 1 Mins: 53 Seconds: 8

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 183

I slipped on day one, still wonder if I am trying to make too many changes at the same time. Though I did smoke when I got up today, I am giving another shot,going to a meeting thren to workout. My motivation is the hope quiting will help more with my anxiety/panic issues. I have already cut out coffee, soda, any "junk food" or beverage.and started working out. I have a lot of "lonely" time at the house, where smoking was my escape. I have gum to chew, reg. And nicotine patches, still I'm struggling.

15 years ago 0 +0 / -0 11226

Members,

Have you slipped? As many of you know quitting is a process and the average quit attempts before a final quit is 7. But sometimes when we slip we can feel defeated. It is important to look at a slip as a learning opportunity.

From members who have slipped, how did you get motivated and get back at it? Also, what did you learn? Please share!

Ashley, Health Educator

Here to help :)

Reading this thread:

today's top discussions:

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Most Active

Most Loved

Have you slipped?