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Hard time today


10 years ago 0 2606 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Hello lemontwist,

You may be faced with situations that will trigger the urge to smoke. We call these high-risk situations. Review this emergency coping plan to help you deal with these situations. If you feel the urge, or are tempted to smoke: 

AVOID the situation. 

Identify the situations when you normally smoke or feel a craving for a cigarette. For most smokers, high-risk situations include work breaks, finishing meals, having coffee or being in a bar. Plan how you will avoid these situations for a few weeks. Plan for alternate activities. 

LEAVE the situation. 

If you find yourself in one of these high risk situations, leave if you can. And, leave before you get a craving. 

DISTRACT yourself from the craving. 

If you find yourself in a situation you can't leave and you get a craving, distract yourself from the craving by: 

Thinking about something else, like your benefits of quitting smoking (or how much money you’re saving every week). 
Do something else to distract yourself like drinking water or deep breathing to relax. 
Think about an upcoming event in your life, such as a vacation. 

DELAY taking the cigarette. 

If you can't keep your mind off it, then make a deal with yourself that you will wait 5 minutes before you give into the craving. The craving will usually pass in a couple of minutes anyway. If you delay, the craving will go away. 

Use SELF TALK 

A craving may be accompanied by negative thoughts about your ability to resist it. Use positive self talk statements to combat your negative thoughts.

10 years ago 0 54 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
That feeling of depression might be coming from quitting smoking, actually. I remember getting really low at about the point you are at now, and not understanding why. Stay strong -- you are almost past the first month! People here call it "zombie month" and there is a reason. Once you get through it things will improve considerably, I promise. :)
10 years ago 0 187 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0

Sorry to hear it, keep strong. 

10 years ago 0 96 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thanks everybody, I am just going through a period of minor depression and it's making my quit a bit harder, but I'm trying my best to take things day by day and stick with it. Fingers crossed.
10 years ago 0 1985 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
That's a nice name, lemontwist
 
Not smoking it the morning is tuff but you grab a bottle of water or two, drive yourself into work, plop yourself down at your desk, take some deep breaths and start your work.  When you get antsy, take a walk down the hall, visit with someone for a few minutes, clear your head and head back to do work.  You find distractions for yourself:  disrupt your daily schedule, change your work schedule even by 30 minutes, start earlier or later. Have breakfast early or not at all.  Take a early lunch, go work out longer, take a shower when you get home.  Go to bed early... 
 
 Read through some of the Hall of Fame links under community tab. I have one there in 2012, I think and many good posts from many good quitters.  I wish you well and you know, better to do it now so you can get on with your life and not have it nagging at you for an eternity.  You will do it sooner or later so now the time is right. It will get easier, distractions...
 
StickinToIt
10 years ago 0 187 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
How are you feeling now lemontwist?  Better I hope.  I found yesterday to be hard as well, maybe even harder then the first day.  You've been strong this far, so stick with it, you're doing great. 
10 years ago 0 96 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I'm having a rough day today. Fortunately I have been able to keep in mind that smoking will not make my day better, and will only stress me out more. Still, it's really hard. 

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