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G'day Ain't I glad I don't smoke! NOPE C

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HELLO NOPErs... or as they say in my neck of the woods G'day!... Today is World Hello Day... it is a day that has been with us since the early 70's and is now recognised and celebrated in over 180 countries. So Hello Day was designed to show that communication is the greatest and simplist way to resolve conflicts and marked the day Israel and Egypt sat down to talk about their issues are 25 years of sporadic conflict.... so how does one celebrate Hello Day... its simple, you just say Hello to at least 10 people you wouldn't normally say hello to... you don't need to have a great chat, just a simple g'day and a nod as you walk past some stranger in the street. If you want to go hardcore though you can reach out to someone you have had a falling out with and give them a hello. NOPE .... cos nothing controls me but me.

4 or 5 years ago

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Congratulations @Tammy for being smoke free for 5 months. Well done Tammy. I know this month was a rough one with life through challenge after challenge your way. How proud are you that you stuck it out? We are all super proud of you. So even though you are just back from a little holiday to catch up with all your besties... make sure you do something super special to celebrate today, your 5th month smoke free. You really are doing so well and rewards are still just as important now as they were in the first weeks and months.

Hello! Nope!

Nope. Smoking is never an option.

Wow! Talk about amazing 5 months is a huge accomplishment - congratulations Tammy! In honour of this important occasion, me and 4 of my friends are going to float over Mumbai today - look skyward. We'll be cheering you onward!

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Nope! Once you master your quit, you will be able to deal with other annoying things in life - no problem!

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Hello Wantsit, You are not a weakling, you are a hero to yourself, you quit smoking ! Each crave you beat is another receptor in your brain that you own again, another receptor wrenched away from nicotine addiction. Here is something from The Mayo Clinic you may find interesting "When you smoke, your brain changes in response to the very high levels of nicotine delivered by cigarettes. Those brain changes cause you to become addicted to nicotine, and that addiction can make stopping smoking very difficult. Nicotine is the chemical in tobacco that keeps you smoking. Nicotine that gets into your body through cigarettes activates structures normally present in your brain called receptors. When these receptors are activated, they release a brain chemical called dopamine, which makes you feel good. This pleasure response to dopamine is a big part of the nicotine addiction process. Over time, as you continue to smoke, the number of nicotine receptors in your brain increases. Addicted smokers have billions more of these receptors than nonsmokers do. When you try to stop smoking, the receptors in your brain do not receive nicotine, so the pleasure response is cut off. In addition, low levels of nicotine lead to symptoms of nicotine withdrawal, such as strong cravings for a cigarette, anxiety, irritability, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, depressed mood, frustration, anger, increased hunger and difficulty sleeping. The fastest way to alleviate the withdrawal symptoms is to smoke a cigarette, which releases dopamine and activates the pleasure response. To make stopping smoking even more difficult, the brain receptors can be conditioned to expect nicotine in certain situations long after you have stopped smoking. For example, if you regularly smoke when you drink alcohol, or when you are in a stressful situation, or after a meal, the nicotine receptors in your brain anticipate the dopamine rush from nicotine at that time. These "trigger" situations can cause intense cravings for a cigarette, even if you have stopped smoking for several months. The good news is that once you stop smoking entirely, the number of nicotine receptors in your brain will eventually return to normal. As that happens, the craving response will occur less often, won't last as long or be as intense and, in time, will fade away completely. — Richard D. Hurt, M.D., Nicotine Dependence Center, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. To be fair, our brains have to completely re-fit each receptor and this takes time. Even at five years quit, sometimes a rogue receptor will rear it's ugly head but, it is easily dismissed. Replace each smokey thought with something you choose. Claim back each receptor. Soon, they will behave and distribute your rewards suitably. You can help them by rewarding yourself with a little something every time you beat a crave. Stay focused, you are building a beautiful quit and amassing strength every day. Nope-ly yours, S

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Congratulations @joe for being 5 years smoke free. Well done Jo-with an -E. Five years of freedom is a fantastic achievement. Thanks for popping in from time to time to check in with us and support the newbies... and of course share your amazing pictures. So surely 5 years smoke free call for a major award, maybe a Harley? Would love to know how you are celebrating.

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Endure it. When i was 3 months in i bought a pack and on my way home i passed by my brother´s house who is a bad mofo as he made a chest movement and said "endure it like a man". I will never forget the look in his eyes. The thing is, if you believe you will quit smoking without some disconfort and pain, well....i guess it could happen but it is unlikely. Grind your teeth and say nope. Nope through that motherfucker nicodemon. Im with you lad. Lets make it to one month, then ill make you a big celebration page in the cheers section. cmon!

I think the lesson here is to stay on point and prepared for possible triggers, especially during the first year. They really are sometimes shocking in their ferocity but, they are just receptors in your brain that haven't read the New Rules, yet. NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE

Free your head. 1 1 This post made with 100 % recycled advise.

@Wantsit Please continue to educate yourself on nicotine addiction...it has changed the chemisty of your brain. Sazerac gave good info above...there are scientific/medical reasons you are feeling like you are. Knowledge of the addiction takes away its power. YOU are in control of you mind, not nicotine and you need to let junkie brain know that. Don't give smoky thoughts one ounce of romance because it can easily be manipulated and trigger the rest of your receptors to activate in desperation (think of a nursery and one baby starts crying...they ALL start crying) Give a firm "NOPE! I'm a non-smoker!" Eat a small snack and move on to redirect brain activity.

Congratulations on taking your life back!! Hooray! 6 months free from the chains!! I know alot of us felt a brain fog/laziness in our early quit. There is also what we call No Man's Land(you find lots on that if you type it into the search glass at the top of the main page); a time when the quit excitment is gone but you are still trudging thru the mental hurdles. You nees to get back the excitment of loving the quit! Embrace it and take it out on a nice date! Try something new; something you maybe didn't like doing as a smoker because you've changed and the new non-smoking you might like different things. Maybe start a small exercise every morning for a boost? If you feel something is odd or wrong with you tho; I'd see a dr. to rule out anything medical. To me, it sounds like a mental block...keep pushing thru; make a daily goal to clean one closet a day or to walk around the block before dinner...something small but doable. Hope I helped some (I tend to ramble)...let us know how you are getting along, stick around and you will get tons of support and knowledge along the way!! Congrats again Wow! Thank you all for the input! I took your advice and literally FORCED myself to go into my studio and grind at least one piece of glass and wound up grinding six went back a little later in the day and worked until my legs hurt from standing. I have always known what I had to do but some how your push and support got me up and moving...Thank you so much! I hope it lasts! Quitting has been the most mentally emotionally and physically challenging thing I have done in my entire life. But, I had two choices smoke or breathe....I cannot do both! Thank you again! Sandy

Congratulations ?

Well done Tammy. For me at the 5 months mark was when i could breathe and feel like a nonsmoker. I tell you, you got this by a nail. Keep pushing lad.

Bloody hell Mr Stoic .... you frickin been in the hossy since Sundee an ya only just tellin us now!!!!!! Typical Aussie male too... Oh I just had a TIA... only a mini stroke... off to the OR on Thursday, blah de blah de blah blah, get the pipes cleaned.... Frcuk a Duck mate that's some serious shit. So will be keeping you in my thoughts on Thursdee... sendin' healin vibes and all that good stuff.... Shell Chocolates always speed up a recovered ...... seriously get better soon and get back online because I don't want my days starting without a G'day.

I actually have one of those talking (well, singing really) Christmas Trees lol

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G'day It's NOPE ( you guessed that..right!) C

Nope... Hello!

I put my last cigarette out at 11:59 AM on the morning of Sunday, November 16, 2014. I have to admit I was quite scared then but wow, NOPE actually works. I find nothing appealing about smoking anymore and hardly ever even think about it. I'm glad I put that crap behind me.

You did good coming here to voice your concerns Wantsit. Keep doing that when something takes you by surprise because, almost for sure someone here will have experienced the same thing and can tell you what worked for them

Tough times never last, but tough people do.

Thank you all. I wasn't prepared for the want yesterday, if you can call it that. I appreciate all the feed back. Today will be better.

Congratulations on your FIVE months of Freedom, Tammy ! and thank you so much for the support you show to all quitters, new and old !

Congrats Joe on 5 Years. Amazing milestone that gives those of us behind you something to shoot for! Have a great Day

You are NOT a weakling! You’re strong and tough, being able to stand the nastiness of early days. Be proud of yourself, we for sure are proud of you!

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It get's tiring at times early on but when it does, just go back to the basics. Breathing exercises to calm yourself. Hard candies or whatever your go-to pacifier is and remember .... why you wanted to quit! That's key! Would you really want to go back to nicotine slavery? I think not Just do one day at a time for now. Still early days. You will get there if you do that.