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Nope

NOPE

Nope!

G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min Hour Day as required!) And can I add.... stay safe

NOPE

Nope!

NOPE...

We don't get to decide all of our future but we do have some control over the present, so focus on what we can do. What you can do, right now, is not smoke. You're in control of that.

NOPE!!

Nope!!!!

NOPE

NOPE

Nope!

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NOPE

NOPE

npe

Nope

Kate, you're putting a lot of unwarranted stress on yourself. Using words like "crazy" and "weak" to describe your thoughts. You have committed to a process that forced us all to deal with contradictory thought patterns and differentiate between perception and reality. You thought about smoking, but stayed true to your commitment and didn't smoke. Give yourself some credit...that's a win.

Make a list of the things that stress you out in your day-to-day life. Now, put a check by any of those stressors that are directly alleviated by the act of smoking a cigarette. Not a lot of check marks are there? Smoking alleviates one problem and one problem only: nicotine withdrawal. The only problem solved by smoking is the problem created by smoking...it's a dead-end loop.

Pretty much everyone relates dully, that's one reason we keep our quits. To never have to go through those first days/weeks/months of quitting again!

I get that part about having a smoke while you plan how to tackle unpleasant tasks but now that I don't smoke, I view that a little differently. I now see that action as a delay mechanism. Go have a smoke so I don't have to deal with the issue head on. I'm much happier now just getting on with things and dealing with them quickly without smokey images clouding my thinking. Regardless of your situation, deep down inside you know that smoking makes nothing better - nothing! Life with all it's pleasures and challenges is always better as a nonsmoker so carry on Kate!

NOPE

NOPE...

NOPE - I don't smoke anymore.

G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min Hour Day as required!) And can I add.... stay safe

Nope

It's totally normal to think about taking that cigarette home this early in your quit Kate. I remember I noticed every.single.cigarette on the ground when I first quit. Thoughts went through my mind about how many puffs were still left on it and how long it had been sitting there. CRAZY I know! We smoked a long time Kate so it's going to take much longer than just a month to get past these kinds of thoughts. But at this stage, as you saw, you were able to get past picking it up, it was just a thought. Well done! We encourage everyone to take the One Year Pledge because we really feel it takes a full year to get past most of the cravings you'll face. Of course unexpected ones will still come up, even for us long time quitters. The beauty of it though is that we can have those thoughts and not have any fear of acting on them Have a nice nap and again, well done

I needed a break from the internet Covid news and serious email for my children in a worst-case scenario. I took my dog for a walk in the park. It's a beautiful neighborhood park with a woodland trail, sports fields, a basketball court, playground equipment for little tykes, climbing rocks for bigger kids, and picnic areas. Here and there along the 1/3 mile perimeter path are benches to just sit and relax. At the foot of the last bench on our path there was an unsmoked cigarette on the ground that someone apparently dropped accidentally. I am shaking my head about it, because I actually had to reign in an impulse to pick it up, take it home, and smoke it. That's crazy. I would have thought I was beyond that kind of thought. Kind of scares me. Is my self-mind control that weak? Anyway, we're back home. I have a tension headache. I'm taking a xanax and going to take a nap. Have to break the stressful thoughts I'm having.

I had a few crazy days like that myself. Some of the things that worked for me were: Closing my eyes and just taking slow deep breaths Drinking lots of water Taking a walk or some excercise Get immersed in a hobby, chore or a book It's hard work but completely worth it so hang tough. Just lean on everyone here because they truly know what you are going through.

I'm the same age as you Kate ..... I can tell you quitting is the best thing you can ever do for yourself....you will feel so much better health-wise I'm doing more now ,than 10 years ago... Being smoke free is so worth fighting for ...I wish I could let you feel what Freedom really means .. I carnt ..I can only tell you ... I too have had the talk with my adult children ...In case the unthinkable should happen ... But putting your self in harm's way to buy cigarettes is madness....it's putting you at risk for no good reason ..

Keep smokey thoughts away from your free person. They don't belong to you anymore, they are the voice of an old addiction. Idiotic and whiny and powerless. Focus your attention on your letter, I have written one similar also. It is poignant and important to face realities, something that was impossible in the throes of addiction.

Learn some techniques to settle yourself, @dullyboi. These will help you throughout your life, your smoke free life. Deep Breathing, Meditation Exercise of choice Sit with yourself and concentrate on something of beauty. A memory, a piece of art, music. The face of a loved one. That light on that leaf. We are surrounded by beauty and it stimulates our endorphins. Use this to your advantage.

Sorry you're having a bad day Kate, glad you posted though and I'm hoping by doing so that it helped weaken the crave for you. Yes, that is not an easy email to read for your kids but if the worse should happen they'll be glad you did let them know this stuff. Hang in there, and I'm glad your awesome quit is not in jeopardy. Xoxo

That happens to us all AK. That is the voice you need to ignore to be successful. The longer you turn your back on that demon, the weaker his voice will get. Soon enough, you won't hear him at all. Keep moving forward without cigarettes! Congrats on getting back to it right away. It's the right thing to do.

You didn't let us down as much as you let yourself down AK. I expect you are disappointed in yourself for having caved to the cravings ... deflated even but as others have said, reclaim your pride in accomplishment by learning a valuable lesson from this and get right back on the horse and ride it all the way to the barn this time. You CAN do it, just as many have before you. Relapse doesn't have to mean failure unless you let it be that. Use lessons learned as a stepping stone to a permanent quit!

NOPE

Just keep going one day at a time dullyboi. Eventually you'll realize that it was worth a little short term pain to achieve long term gain.

I used deep breathing to relax me when I was feeling anxious or tense. Found that relaxed me at least temporarily.

Keep reminding yourself ...your body is healing ....it's like confused right now ... It's been used to being fed hundreds of poisons every day 20,30,40 times a day ... Is it any wonder our bodies are unsettled.... Stick with it ...all is temporary.....

The lovely Chicklettes gave the Sticks a good Thrashing ....well done !!!

you can check out but, you can never leave @jillar, don't I know it ! BIG FAT O for The TRIUMPHANT Chicks !!!!

Day 6, still anxious, but i was able to completely relax for about 30 minutes today, which I hadn't done before. The anxiety goes up and down constantly throughout the day. The world around me just seems so stressful without nicotine. My mood's a little better but it's still dreadful at times. Does anyone relate?

-13 the road this wagon's on misses you, fall my friend, fall

-12 hi Tammy I'm a chicks or sticks addict so you're causing me to fall off the wagon lol

Al you can do ..is dust down and start again ... You made a choice ...to smoke ..we carnt help ,if you don't post SOS.... Learn by it ...and try and avoid the trap next time ... You can do it ..

Welcome to the Train AK 47! Congratulations on staying off the smokes for almost two weeks! Hope you quit again real soon! You can do it! Don't wait another 10 years cuz you will regret it! Analyze why you started up again and make a plan to prevent that from happening again. Then give it another go ! Rinse repeat until you stay quit...bam!