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14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 967

Long slow deep breaths, think of someplace soothing and concentrate on it. I bought stop smoking hypnosis cds, which, didn't work for the cravings or anything, but the music was soothing. I devoted an hour a night to laying in a quiet room listening to the musinc and visualizing a beautiful place for myself and envisioned myself being free, it really helped.

Take care of yourself,

Kelly

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 12/7/2007
Smoke-Free Days: 874
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 26,220
Amount Saved: $3,277.50
Life Gained:
Days: 74 Hrs: 10 Mins: 7 Seconds: 25

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 90

Leela,

I am so happy you asked, because if nothing else at least I feel like maybe I learned something from that moment that could help someone else. The first three days after I slipped I was just mad at myself and did whatever I could to just make it through each moment. I did not reset my time and that was a real struggle. I needed it to remind me of how far I have come but I also wanted to be honest with myself about my slip. Eventually I decided to keep it and I am happy about that decision now because I think it has helped me through some pretty rough times. I do remember though when I look at my numbers that I am really one day short and I don’t want to put myself back ever again.

After that I think I just got mad at smoking. I don’t want to smoke, I don’t want to be controlled by smoking and I don’t want to have to start over with this battle. I started to spend more time with my friends that are non smokers and former smokers. I don’t go to bars at all and I have tried to change my whole perspective on my addiction. I went to the dr. a few months after that and had a check up in which my dr. did a breathing test and my lungs are the age of a 66 year old! I started to exercise more and eat better and improve my overall health. I feel like quitting smoking for me is more then just the habit of smoking, its learning why I smoke and how to reprogram myself to deal with life differently.

The best thing I could recommend right now is just to be patient with yourself for the next few days. Try to relax and refocus on your goals and why you wanted to quit to begin with. I even threw on a patch and kind of started over with my quit just to get passed those days. Then start setting some goals and rewards and be honest about the things you need to face or confront to become a healthier person in mind and body.

I hope that helps.

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 11/23/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 157
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 3,140
Amount Saved: $1,099.00
Life Gained:
Days: 13 Hrs: 17 Mins: 14 Seconds: 43

Quit Meter

$387,761.50

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 5378 Hours: 2

Minutes: 44 Seconds: 41

Life Gained
Quit Meter

45619

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

912,380

Cigarettes Not Smoked

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 98

hey jen...question for you... i know at the begining of your quit if i remember right you had a break down... wanna help me through mine? you have obviously survived yours and come out strong through this last temptation. i had a slip last night and broke down... though i am not giving uo my number... i have to fig out how to keep strong when it happens again... and advice?
My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 3/12/2010
Smoke-Free Days: 46
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 1,150
Amount Saved: $575.00
Life Gained:
Days: 3 Hrs: 13 Mins: 22 Seconds: 51

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1843

Jeni, congrats for remaining smoke free! And I'm glad you survived the concert last night! Think of the pro's and con's of not smoking. Everything you mentioned below is a pro. Being able to breath. Being healthy. You don't want to go back to smelling like an ashtray and not being able to breath. Life does throw us curveballs at times. As Todash said, smoking isn't going to fix any of the stress. One day at a time, you can do this! I'm sure easy days are on the horizon!
My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 8/20/2008
Smoke-Free Days: 613
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 24,520
Amount Saved: $6,130.00
Life Gained:
Days: 94 Hrs: 10 Mins: 35 Seconds: 4

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 90

Ah... its nice to know at least I am not alone. I am still not smoking. Last night was challenge because I was at a concert around many people who were smoking but I stayed strong. Thanks for the words of wisdom and courage. I am not sure there is an answer and I am not sure I will ever be able to replace that comforting feeling of being able to smoke when I am really down, but I guess being able to breath and be healthy is a good trade off. Times like this certainly do make me thankful for the "easy" days. Hopefully some of those are around the corner.
My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 11/23/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 153
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 3,060
Amount Saved: $1,071.00
Life Gained:
Days: 13 Hrs: 9 Mins: 29 Seconds: 28

Quit Meter

$387,761.50

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 5378 Hours: 2

Minutes: 44 Seconds: 41

Life Gained
Quit Meter

45619

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

912,380

Cigarettes Not Smoked

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1904

Hi Jeniwho. Nice to hear from you. Sorry that life is a little difficult right now. This topic is apropos for me. It was something I intended to discuss in one of my 12 Step meetings this week. Last week the topic of replacing one addiction with another came up, and I had a conversation with someone after the meeting. We had to cut it short, but agreed to take up the topic again this week. I realize you are probably not a 12 Stepper, but I think what I've learned may help you, too. What we 12 Steppers are supposed to replace our addictions with is a close relationship with a higher power. I struggle because although I love God, I don't trust God to handle things for me. I still struggle with giving up control. These addictions can not be controlled. They can only be avoided; we just have to not get into them. But avoiding them often leaves us feeling empty and sitting with our stuff. Working on that stuff which involves learning new coping skills. Those skills need to be built when things are going well. Once we're in a crisis, we use what we know. Get through this without smoking, and then figure out how you will handle stress in the future: prayer, exercise, sleep...

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 5/1/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 359
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 10,052
Amount Saved: $4,272.10
Life Gained:
Days: 40 Hrs: 8 Mins: 45 Seconds: 10

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 984

Ah Jeniwho, it seems you've come to that magical fork in the road we all have faced as ex smokers. The one called 'Adversity Crossing'. Everything was going swimmingly until a personal crisis found its way into your life. Now you can either turn one way and you're moving forward to the 'new you', the one without the smokes, the one that faces challenges in a way made of strength and self confidence. This is the unpracticed road. This is the one that makes you face your fear without the security blanket but put bluntly it scares the crap out of you. It would be so much easier to take the other road. The one that leads back to what you know and feel comfortable with.

But that road erases your 152 days. That road is decay and ruin. You don't want to take it. I think you know that. So what next then?

The big question to ask yourself regardless of everything else is this: will smoking change any single thing about that which has just rocked your world? Or is smoking nothing more than the security blanket that enables you to revert to old behaviour just because it's too much of a risk to break away and be the new you? The answer is the same for every single one of us. Listen to that voice that's telling you to stick with it. I promise you it will get louder as the days roll by.

x T

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 1/1/2007
Smoke-Free Days: 1209
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 27,807
Amount Saved: �7,646.93
Life Gained:
Days: 107 Hrs: 21 Mins: 38 Seconds: 25

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 2606

Hi jeniwho,

First of all huge congratulations on being smoke-free for 150 days! You must be so proud of this accomplishment, I know we are! Stressful situations can trigger those pesky cravings, be sure to refer to your emergency coping plan when you encounter these. You can also try deep breathing exercises to help you manage your stress. Stay strong! Continue to work hard and post often! We are here for you!

Samantha, Health Educator

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 639

Good for you, Jenny. Your observations strikes a note with me, too. I struggle with what to do in stressful situations. While I don't consider smoking like I used to, I am not satisfied with the substitutes either.....Tough to know what to do when for so many years the obvious answer was to light up!!!

Keep up your guard....and enjoy the journey.

Dave

My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 1/19/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 460
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 13,800
Amount Saved: $3,622.50
Life Gained:
Days: 78 Hrs: 0 Mins: 20 Seconds: 9

Quit Meter

$52,352.46

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 1209 Hours: 11

Minutes: 49 Seconds: 38

Life Gained
Quit Meter

5788

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

173,640

Cigarettes Not Smoked

14 years ago 0 +0 / -0 90

I am managing pretty good with this no smoking thing. I have gone over a 150 days. I have started to become healthier and even lost about ten pounds. For the most part I feel great. Then, as life has it, something MAJOR rocks my world and I am stressed and depressed and for days now all I can do is think about smoking. I have smoked the majority of my life and I think I have handled almost every situation in life without smoking so far, but when life gets SO overwhelming I feel like it is the only place to turn. I have tried standard things like talking about, it writing about it, going for a walk, even going for a run. To try and stop my thoughts I have even started eating things in the last two days that I have not eaten for a month, like donuts, chips, soda (lots of it). I just can't seem to figure out how to cope with that helpless feeling and not be able to smoke while I am getting through it. Still trying though.
My Mileage:

My Quit Date: 11/23/2009
Smoke-Free Days: 152
Cigarettes Not Smoked: 3,040
Amount Saved: $1,064.00
Life Gained:
Days: 13 Hrs: 6 Mins: 52 Seconds: 8

Quit Meter

$387,761.50

Amount Saved
Quit Meter

Days: 5378 Hours: 2

Minutes: 44 Seconds: 41

Life Gained
Quit Meter

45619

Smoke Free Days
Quit Meter

912,380

Cigarettes Not Smoked

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