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

New Year Approaching Fast

Timbo637

2024-12-14 1:53 PM

Quit Smoking Community

logo

11 years and counting

Timbo637

2024-10-31 6:49 AM

Quit Smoking Community

logo

Feels like hell week all over!!

Timbo637

2024-10-30 9:38 AM

Quit Smoking Community

logo

Roller Coaster Withdrawal

Timbo637

2024-10-14 12:28 PM

Quit Smoking Community

This Month’s Leaders:

Most Supportive

Most Loved

Browse through 411.769 posts in 47.067 threads.

161,384 Members

Please welcome our newest members: HolidayBlues, samtadrus10, someone12, Grey596, Jaja

Need help....


12 years ago 0 2778 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hey Denise!!!
 
      Whew!!!  Congrats for making it through the night!!!  I  KNOW  that you ARE the quitter that you want to be!  Like Lainey said, just keep hammering it into your brain that you ARE a non-smoker now!  The demon is a crafty SOB and every time it tries to speak those sweet nothings into your ears,  POW!!!  Send it to the moon!!!  I applaud you for posting and holding out for those responses!!!  Keep it up, buddy!!! We got your back!!!
 
         Hugs!!!
 
                 Jim 
  • Quit Meter

    $46,050.00

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 1124 Hours: 7

    Minutes: 14 Seconds: 0

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    6140

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    184,200

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

12 years ago 0 74 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Well, thank you all for the feedback and support.
Breather, I don't think you were beating me up at all, just giving me a little welcome reality feedback.
Josie, I do have a bunch of stuff to combat the craves, just nothing worked well that night. I did get through it, without caving, however! Lainey, yes, you and Breather and Eyja are absolutely correct, it's all junkie thinking! I seem to have trouble recognizing that at the time!
 
I read somewhere here that quitting smoking won't kill you but continuing smoking will! So I did get through it, and I thank each and every one of you for the feedback. 
 
DeniseK 
12 years ago 0 3875 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Breather is absolutely right Denise. Yes it is junkie thinking! You feel like you can't do it, because you're addicted, plain and simple. That's how nicotine keeps the smokers coming back, by hooking them and them creating the cravings that tell "You have to have it" Well, it's all lies. You don't have to have have a cigarette, you CAN get thru this, you CAN be smoke free, and more than that, you WILL feel better for it, you WILL be able to breathe.
Quitting smoking won't kill you - Smoking WILL! Take your life back. Keep a quit bag of goodies to help you be prepared for next time, and practice saying this. "NOPE, I will not smoke, I do not smoke, I release the need to smoke, I am free of all addictions, I am a non smoker! You can do this, just like we did it. You are on your way, and just for making it thru that anniversary crave, give yourself a small reward, a nice cup of hot cocoa or something! You have earned it!
12 years ago 0 816 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hello Denise  Congratulations on nearly 2 months of smobriety. You're doing awsome. Addiction tells us that we're doing well when we aren't and the opposite is true. As a two pack a day smoker for over 40 years ( I started when I was eleven years old ) I'm not buying into the I'm a failure routine. The surgeon general of the U.S. said that cigarettes were more addictive than heroin. So? I sense a bit of if I justify the fact that I'm eventually going to cave anyway then I might as well start now. It took me a long time to get over the stinking thinking or in better words to see myself as a non smoker. It took me a long time to be actually happy about not smoking but I am. Happiness is an inside job. You've gone 5 months before and you can do it again one day at a time or five minutes at a time if need be. Think about what you've gone through to get to where you are and ask yourself if you really want to go through everything again ? Is it worth it ? You've already proved to yourself that you don't need that nasty vice. I apologise if I seem to be beating you up but I want you to succeed and know that you can do it. Excellent for you. breather
12 years ago 0 12049 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Denise,
 
Think big!
Think positive!
 
You have reached day 57 1/2 days! AWESOME!!
 
What do you bring on your night shift to keep you occupied?
 
Have you made a crave basket? It is simply a bag or basket with all kinds of items that you can use when craves surface.
 
Gum
Candy
Stress ball
Book
Magazine
Suduko
Crosswords
 
Keep it handy..it can help.
 
Keep away from situations that will tempt you..when your ready give them a try!
 
Meditation and relaxation are used on a daily basis.  Make it part of your daily routine!
 
You can do this!!
 
 
Josie, Health Educator
12 years ago 0 74 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thanks, Eyja, you are absolutely right, it's just the junkie thinking and I can get through this. I think I get stuck in the thoughts that I've failed before and failing is almost a habit, too.  I know the right stuff to say to myself, I just didn't do it. So now I'm distracting myself by reading and playing games on Facebook...not busy at work, can you tell? LOL, thank you again for your help,
 
DeniseK 
12 years ago 0 823 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
 Hey Denise : ) 
Hang tough there . . . you're doing great by posting instead of going for smokes!  Try taking a big deep breath and get some fresh oxygen in those lungs - when I first quit I used to 'pretend' to smoke if I got a big crave like the one you describe -  somehow taking a deep breath between my fingers (like I had my smoke there) seemed to give me a break so I could rethink my options and strengthen my resolve.  Maybe this can work for you too, on that long night shift . . . and a cool glass of H2O helps too : )
I've read some of your posts and see that you've basically been doing really well so far!  So when you say that "this is beyond my ability to withstand" and you "don't have the ability to live without the dang things" I don't see these as true statements; just that junkie thinking creeping in to rattle you. The real truth is that you have 57 1/2 days without cigarettes already logged. YAY for you on that!  How have you found a way to cope for these 57 1/2 days?   You mention that quitting smoking now is a health decision that's very important for you. That's a good reason to keep the quit you have going - it's just so hard to restart your quit  if you cave to this crave!  If you make it through this one, it wall pass and the next one won't be so bad . . . but every time you start over again, you have to get through these awful moments all over again!  You're doing great so far.  Hope the rest of your night goes well too.  Post again if you need to vent - that can be helpful too :)  
Good work Denise : )
Eyja 
12 years ago 0 74 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
It says day 58 but really it's day 57 and a half,...and I am really struggling with the desire/crave/thought - what ever you wish to call it. I am at work (I work nights) and there is no real danger of me leaving and buying a pack, but the thought is there and I can't seem to shake it. I've had 5 months before, and now I'm nearly at 2 months. The last time it took me 4 years to get back on the wagon. I don't have another 4 years of smoking in my body, I'll end up on oxygen, and I don't want that, but this is beyond my ability to withstand...I have smoked for 45 years, I don't know how to live without the dang things...how do I stop this insidious junkie thinking? I've done all the meditation and distraction (hubby and I went out to dinner with non-smoking friends) techniques I've read here and elsewhere. I've never been an adult without those things, I started when I was 12. This is so f*ing hard!
 
DeniseK 

Reading this thread: