The other good one, BT, is HALT: never let yourself get too Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. Any one of those things can blow a perfectly good quit when you least expect it. "Self care" has never been my thing, so I find it particularly challenging to keep myself completely free of HALT stuff to protect this most precious quit.
It's great to to know that there are other quitters that understand how a person could slip after a few months of not smoking. It is a very sneaky craving that just sits and waits for you to forget how bad smoking made you feel.
I think remembering our failed past quits is going to be key to our nonsmoking future.
I have lost count on how many times I have quit . I too have had some long quits only to blow them and I have had short term quits and blew them too. Somehow I forget why I quit and think I can have a puff or two, oh so wrong. The insanity of smoking!!!! We have a few repeaters here maybe we can all walk though this together and make it our final quit. There are so many wonderful people here to help us stay on track. So let's kick some ash and make this our final quit.
Good call, BT -- The very same thing happened to me. Always reached the point where I "could handle just one." I can never forget NOPE, Not One Puff, Ever. Glad you're here!
Yes many of us had that happen where we shake our heads to why after being quit for a good amount of time we would then just let it slip away. I think the Demon as in Nico is always on our shoulders quietly waiting until we decide to take a puff. Many on this site have come up with a saying NOPE which means "not one puff ever". We have to know that as we get further in our quits we can sometimes forget how lousy our addictions really were. We see a friend or someone smoking and think whats the big deal to have one. Well that is our addiction talking and we just need to realize the rule of NOPE. I also found a term our "forever quit" to designate that it's our wish to never ever go back to smoking again. As long as you keep this in your mindset you will not go back. Keep coming back here, it works. Ron
I think that its great you are thinking about the future and recognizing that a few months into your quit last time you put down your guard. This is very proactive! I am trying to take this one day at a time but realize that this will be an ongoing struggle. I cannot let my guard down, even when I feel I am getting stronger.
You have come to the right place. You will gain the skills and support you need here. Read through the program and post often in the support group. The members here are great positive supporters who will inspire you.
Like the title of this post, I would like to point out that this will be my 6th real attempt at quiting the stick. I have been pretty successful in the past at quitting for 6 or 7 months at a time but always end up back at a pack a day. I have to learn how to sustain a longterm quit and am going to make that my focus this time around. Now, I'm not saying that hell or heck weeks are easy, just the opposite, they are by far the toughest. But I think I always end up letting my guard down and forgeting how horrible being a smoker was after being quit for a few months. I remember telling myself this lie before I started smoking again on my last try at quitting "smoking is not that addictive, I have quit in the past, one drag will not hurt".
Any how, summing this up. I want to make this my final quit. I know I have some skills I need to acquire to make that happen. My failed quits of the past are my best teachers of today. I really appreciate all the contributors to this site. Thanks
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