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NOPE!!!!

OK... so you are 1 month quit... that's a big milestone, possibly bigger than the 1 year milestone because it is the hardest one to get to.... Think about how far you have come. Think about all the achievements you have made that you would have to go through again. It is a lifestyle change but there is nothing to mourn over, it is all positive. No more poisons being pumped into your body, no more slavery to an addiction. You know you can do this because for 32 days you have, you just need to hang in for the next 24 hours.

Please help ? I am loosing touch with my decision rapidly. It's getting harder to stay positive.. I'm not sure what's happening. It's like I am mourning, though I don't actively miss smoking. I really do my best to enjoy what I would normally enjoy, but... it sort of doesn't happen. It resembles so much the early start of depression, which I am all too familiair with. I really don't want to go there and rationally I know this probably isn't that. I don't want to lose this and I don't know how to ETQ in a gentlest-as-possible-way the moment.

G'day It's NOPE for me C

Not today!

My Life, I am a little bit ahead of you on the quit train and I had a bad day yesterday too. I chewed the head off of anything in my path. That darn smoking thought kept popping into my head. Then, I thought I was looking for excuses to run out that door and down to the corner store. I do have this thought that I have now planted into my head and it brings me back to reality. The thought - "I choose life" . I have so much to live for. I have never come this far before. Why would I want to go back. Keep reaching out - we are here.

Nope!

MLMR, the 1st day, 1st week, 1st month milestones were the hardest.....for me, at least! It was as if my brain wouldn't stop obsessing about placing a poison stick in my mouth and lighting it on fire!!!! Keep reminding yourself "one day at a time", meditate and use deep breathing to calm yourself down. It takes all our strength to get past those obsessive thoughts in the beginning of this journey ...but as the days add up those thoughts will become weaker and weaker. If you can... go for a 15 minute power walk, or take a shower, or take a nap, or brush your teeth....it will help!!

My life, stick with us. I had a tough time between the four and six week mark. I guess that's due to the realization that we are actually doing this and can continue. Not a good time for the addict in us. And I guess that sense of loss to the addict can definitely be felt as a downer. It was only the reflection on the good things I was achieving that helped pull me through. Tell me what positives you have seen and what you would expect to feel from smoking? You know it would taste bad, you know you would really feel a sense of loss for that beautiful quit, you know you would reawaken the addict fully. In fact this time a month ago I bet you would have been desperate to be right where you are now a month later. It's an emotion, not a crave. Embrace it and stick with your guides here, because we love having you here and you are worth it.

Nope!

NOPE - I don't smoke anymore.

Hi my life I'm so glad to see that you want this quit bad enough to post SOS again. I posted a couple of my own and then just like now for you, these awesome members came to the rescue I'm hoping your tomorrow is just a little better for you, you really are doing great. Just keep believing in yourself xoxo

NOPE!

For me, I have grieved the "loss" of smoking. It was my habit for 40 years, and retraining the mind to see the reality rather than the lies has taken some time. After about 9 months, I realized that it had been a few days rather than minutes since I had had obsessive thoughts about smoking. That's the question we all ask, right? How long? How long before I can think about something other than smoking and killing myself. That last bit is the thing I need to focus completely when the thoughts come. Aside from the quite real physical withdrawal you are going through, the thought patterns need to be synced again to reality. Lies I told myself: Smoking calms me. Truth: Uh, no. Nicotine actually is a stimulant. The "calming" comes from the fix that happens as soon as I give my body the hit. The adrenal glands go, "Thanks, big hug!" Problem there is that my heart is constantly being exercised while completely stationary, which I guess isn't so healthy. Lie: I'm one of those people who just can't quit. Truth: No. I'm one of those people who will tell myself that in order to keep doing whatever I'm doing that will kill me. I said it about dope, booze, and then the nicotine. And I have quit all of those and stayed quit, just for today. If I stay focused on the real cause and effect, I don't feel quite so bad. And it gets better, trust us. Your day is coming.

)So, what's junkie thinking telling you? That it's not worth it? It doesn't matter if you quit now because you can quit again? One drag won't hurt?...We know these lies, right? We studied and practiced our nope for this day. You ETQ right now by owning that you only feel this way because you smoked not because you quit. You acknowledge these feelings as smoking memories and simply move on. Winning these small battles are how you win the war MLMR. Eventually, your brain will stop sening you constant signals...you just have to keep pushing thru, friend. Just wanted to add, that you should try something new. I don't wear makeup dauly, but in my early quit, I loved playing with eyeshadow colors. (Since you don't want to Bob Ross with me?) Also, Linda Thomas, wisely suggested a mantra seperate from NOPE. Mine was "find something else to do". I also had a visulation of a light switch in the off position(in my minds eye); that meant my smoking lamp was off and smoking is not an option at the moment. Sorry so longwinded MLMR, but I want to fill your box with tools, even if you don't use/need them because I want you to succeed!

Thanks a lot. The internet connection us crap here, but when I can, I read your answer. Hanging in, at least for today I decided.

Don't loose your fabulous month quit.. Soooo...you lit up that cancer stick ...your throat will burn ..you'll cough...you'll stink...and you will be so upset with yourself...that you are back to where you started.. Wishing you were quit... Stay strong fight for your quit..you will be so happy you did ..

Hang in there my life.. you've just hit a wee bump in the road. I remember going through the same most of us have. It felt like the death of a loved one I was mourning. It really helps if you can try to think positively (Not easy at this time, I know) you are not losing anything but you are gaining, your health, precious moments and your freedom to name but a few. Your nicodeamon is kicking up all hell and doing everything it can to make you think that things are so much worse than what they are and that a wee smoke would fix it all.. Well... you know it won't, it won't fix anything... in fact it will make you feel a million times worse.. As Jo rightly said, you've made it through the hardest month and yep that is a bigger deal than the 1 year.. Why because you have to drag yourself through it kicking and screaming but you arrive victorious if a little battle scarred at the end of it.. You have made it through the first month. You are awesome but your body and mind are healing so please, please, hang on in there. I promise you, it does get better.. Just take it one day at a time..

#NOPE

NOPE

MyLife, thanks for posting. It is hard at times, it does seem like a loss at times. But you have to think about the positives from quitting this last month and hang on to those thoughts to get you through. It does get better and the fight gets easier but fight we have to and the win is a quality life for you -- Keep It Going -- You Can Do This!!!!

Nope. I will never smoke another cigarette.

What Aine said is pretty much bang on! This process takes time and we have to be patient with it and when we feel we can't that's when we have to reach down and summons ALL of our will power and just say NOPE! Some days saying it repeatedly all day long if necessary. The really bad days come to us still after a few weeks but they also go. The truth is, they become fewer and fewer along the way. Takes time to retrain your brain and all the emotions you have to live normally again without smoking being attached to all of your emotions. No wonder we feel lost and detached from life for awhile. It happens to all of us My Life. It's just your turn now so come on and fight for your life because, that just may be what you are really fighting for in the end. It's doable - we have all been there and won those battles

My life, Awesome job for hanging in there. You're beating it. Also, it's great that you posted here rather than giving in. These moments will come as you hit the occasional triggers. We've smoked for years and it will keep trying to find a way back in. You're doing awesome. Stay strong and share your pics from Spain. P.S. Isn't it nice to be able to climb the steep streets without running out of breath?

Hi my life, just wanted to chip in if you are on any medication make sure you aren't missing taking it? Early in my quit I was so caught up in my quit that I was forgetting to take my meds. And whoosh my anxiety shot up! Just keep doing what you are doing and stick around here, read and post, read and post. I read incessantly early in my quit. Not just on the board. Anything to do with quitting and the benefits of quitting. That just reaffirmed over and over again what I was doing and why I was doing it.

NOPE!

NOPE.....

NOPE, never again.

NOPE!!!!!!!!

#NOPE

Good morning fellow NOPErs. Today is one of my favourite days of the whole, entire year and starts my absolute favourite week of the year.. the last Monday is September is Brownlow Medal Count Day.... its the second biggest day in the footy (Aussie Rules) calendar where we get to watch 22 rounds of 3-2-1 votes be counted for a total of 198 games to find out which player was competitions Best & Fairest.... who doesn't like a prize that goes out to the fairest player not just the most talented. They also award best goal, mark. rookie, and there is an award for the player who gives the most back to the community. I fricking love Brownlow night... the kid likes the pre-brownlow red carpet for all the wags in their fancy dresses but pfft, give me the count..... Well lets be honest its the only chance my club has of winning anything worthwhile because even if we make the grandfinal and haven't dropped a game all year we will still loose it (yep another long season as cellar dwellers).. so the hot money is on one of the boys from Hawthorn (yes Doreen I'll post a pic) and the likely outside is one of the Blues but I don't think so, I think the surprise upset might be one of the Melbourne boys.. and we are in with a chance for the winner on numbers being inellegible cos he was naughty and broke someones jaw with his fist..... There were some official days, Cherries Jubilee (blurgh), Punctuation day (like I could ever give that a shout out) ... but this is a purely selfish shout out, which will mean nothing to anyone not in Victoria, oh OK in an AFL state... but bestest day of the whole year, even better than Christmas Day and Granny Day. So.... will I ever win a Charlie, NOPE, did I have a son who could win won... NOPE... do I live with the hope that I will have a Grandson who could win won... hell to the yeah! .. and me little nephew is looking promising, he already plays competition 2 age groups up in U14s (he's 9) .... But he will have to N.O.P.E. to get there, need a lot of lung capacity to run a footy oval for 2 hours.... NOPE ... cos lung capacity needs to be cherished.

NOPE!!!!!!!!

Nope

I'm glad you've decided to hang in there, My Life. Nothing is worth lighting up another cigarette over. Remember, smoking will not solve anything, it just makes things a lot worse. Thanks for posting an SOS. These first few weeks can be rough but it is worth fighting through. Things do get a lot better with time.

Nope

Pretty good. Used to going outside for a smoke so I'm just going out for fresh air.

Good choice My life and yep take it one day at a time and each day we get a wee bitty stronger against this addiction until one day you realise you are in control .. Keep going.. you got this..?

NOPE

Congratulations, bakon, on your Six Years of Freedom ! Thank you so much for sharing your quit, your humor and your support over these years. Here are bakon's Topics and the story of bakon's successful quit, Starting Now These are quite a testimony to a valued and never boring member of QTrain. You may discover ~Just how devoted to felines he is ~What appropriate footwear makes him really happy ~How all the bad girls here are his Devoted Eggs He is also a fierce ally to anyone quitting smoking. It was a pleasure to meet you and your Lovely and Saintly wife. I hope we will meet again, I really do. Have a great anniversary and take time to reward yourself, baby. Thank you for blazing a clear trail.

I remember the time warp, @TobacNO craves seemed endless but, in reality they were only a few minutes long. It is great you are feeling some relief, you will begin to feel better and better....just keep your focus. You are doing really great ! Holler if you need anything. S your handle is very clever, 'TobacNO'

Better I think. More time between cravings now so that's a huge relief.

Congrats on 6 years, smell the flowers... Literally

NOPE!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday was the Autumnal Equinox for us in this hempisphere.

I am two months caffeine free. My blood pressure has stabilized and now w/out meds. Yay. I also quit drinking, cut way back on salt, improved my diet...got serious about vitamins. I am glad to have caffeine out of my body. I feel really good. It was pretty gruesome the first few weeks and I appreciate y'all for cheering me on. There haven't been any real craves ( certainly nothing like nicotine !) just nostalgic thoughts and the smell is still pleasing but, I have no desire to ramp up the addiction. Coffee/caffeine holds no benefits for me but, I surely enjoyed it for 50 years !

Hola, M'life, Pleased to hear you are hanging in. Each day brings change. Maybe today will bring you more clarity. You have power. Use it to defeat your addiction. If you think depression is knocking at your door you certainly don't want to smoke because losing your quit will plummet you down down down. Where's that at ? You don't want to be there. No no no. You really don't want to be there. Save your quit, protect your quit and nurture yourself. You may be feeling bad but, smoking can not change that for the better. Your smoking days are over. Remember the 'ahhhh' moment we used to feel when lighting up ? You won't get that anymore unless you smoke a few to re-establish that synapse, re-establish your addiction. Why would you ever want to do that ? NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE.

Thank you so much everyone! I'm so excited that it's finally been a year. People like you are one of the main reasons I have reached this milestone, especially in the difficult early days of my quit. I don't think about vaping/smoking much anymore, which is a huge relief, since at first it was so hard. I'm so excited to be on the lido deck. Thank you so much everyone for all your support.

I start cardiac rehab in 2 weeks! ? I have been a slug for last 5 months which is so unlike me but had to follow dr's orders....I started gradually getting back into my power walking since Monday so I don"t embarrass myself during my cardiac rehab assessment session.....