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G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min,Hour, Day as required)

Nope

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NOPE!

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NOPE!

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

NOPE!!!!!!

NOPE

Nope .

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NOPE!!

You've already proven Your strength by Conquering battles from the past so don't let the one that you're fighting now make you feel hopeless or any less stronger Do not fear what lies ahead and continue to keep your head up and you will be victorious once again

Even a single thread of hope is still a very Powerful thing. Grab onto it with both hands and never let it go.

Nope!!!!

Well Hello again Robbie, all I can say is these struggles and up's and downs last. I am going to be straight forward with you on this, I have suffered with anxiety almost my entire life. At the age of 5 I had a step father that imprinted the flight or fight trigger in me. By 5 1/2 I was out of the situation. Just a bit of back round, we will leave it at that. Anyway as a teenager I started smoking, hell cool thing to do. Anyway 25 years old I was blind sided by anxiety, panic attacks and the feeling of derealization. Kinda like when you get so stone on pot reality just doesn't seem real. Anyway that lead to the panic attacks, just a vicious cycle. Took 6 months and I was better, still have it creeping around the corner yet but much more manageable after quitting smoking, and I smoked for 30 years. I don't take medicine because I can function and I exercise and besides there is always a root to the problem, it's just trying to find it that can be difficult sometimes. I'm not a fan of chronic but sometimes it is what it is and learn to manage it. That is why I stressed so much about each quit is unique, never compare because nobody but you have lived your life the way you lived it or your thought process. I have come to realize I can be my own worse enemy at times, as we all can be. Depression will lift anxiety will lift will it ever go away, I don't think so because those are emotions we are born with, it's what brings them out and how we learn to cope and deal with those emotions. That is why I stated also on research, research and research. The human mind is the most amazing thing as well as the human body, it's when we poison it with all these chemicals in tobacco, drugs and alcohol that we now have opened new door ways. You basically have to reteach your brain how to handle things without a smoke. Whether it be for pleasure or for stress or being pissed off, those are the three big triggers for me. I will admit it's hard not to over think things but sometimes you have to dig real deep to figure yourself out at times, if that makes any sense. I still have issues I deal with but you learn new coping skills over time, that's what is amazing about the human brain. I have come to value my body, mind and soul like I never have before. What an inner peace you will develop, it is truly amazing. You got this !!!

NOPE!

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Coke does have a caffeine free option. I personally can’t tell any difference.

NOPE!!!!!!

Please send all unwanted caffeine to me - thanks in advance

Don't put added pressure on yourself by feeling the need to be positive. Bad news elicits negative emotions, this is just the natural order of things. Stay strong Linda.

Quitting smoking is largely a matter of time, patience, and repetition. The rough seas of the early days eventually give way to smooth sailing. Good job Robbie. Congratulations.

Sorry to hear about your friend . It's hard but I am so glad she quit smoking years ago and glad you've quit smoking now . Cancer is not selective. It can hit anyone anytime , smoker or non smoker . Twenty five years quit is something to be very proud of . Not many are able to do that and it shows me that your friend is a strong person . Because she quit when she did , she had many years more that she was able to spend with good friends like you . You and she are blessed to have each other . I'm sorry she is alone because of this stupid covid , but one thing covid had taught us is it won't stop us from comforting one another . Even an old fashioned letter like the good old days can be a welcomed gift in the mail and bring a smile . Hearing cancer is hard for anyone and I'm sorry . I know you will continue to be in each other's hearts and be the strength that's needed for each other . What a wonderful friend you are to her and she to you .

Linda, I am so sorry about your friend. I am sure this is devastating news. Don't doubt yourself Linda. You are very strong and can get through this. Don't let your grief turn into regret. Concentrate on being supportive in other ways you can help. Her family may need support or meals. I will add you and your friend to my prayers.

G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min,Hour, Day as required)

LIFE IS FULL OF WISDOM IT WILL CREATE DEEP SADNESS, SO WE KNOW HOW TO TRULY UNDERSTAND HAPPINESS. IT WILL CREATE CHAOS IN OUR LIVES SO THAT WE MAY APPRECIATE THE PEACEFUL TIMES IT WILL TAKE THOSE WE LOVE AWAY FROM US SO THAT WE WILL TRULY UNDERSTAND WHAT THERE PRESENCE MEANT TO US ❤❤❤❤❤❤

Ha....... I resemble those remarks

Thanks everyone for your messages, it means a lot to me! Good to meet you Gus, and I'm so glad that you survived 'Hell Week', I've put myself through this a few times as I stopped smoking and then started again about four times this year...I decided I couldn't keep doing it to myself and found this forum. You are doing so well to be up to six weeks! Abbey, yes the tears are quite exhausting and one friend suggested to me yesterday that I'm clinically depressed which I'm sure that I am, but I just have to stay with it and hope that it lifts as I continue staying off the cigarettes. Luckily here in Australia we are doing well with the pandemic, very few cases and they are mostly in quarantine so are contained, we don't even have to wear masks at present which is a relief...but of course this could all change at anytime. I'm absolutely sure that I don't have Covid, because with the way my lungs are, I'd probably be dead by now if I had it. I was a little scared about the loss of taste and smell as apparently this is a symptom of Covid, but it's definitely a really heavy head cold which can cause the loss as well (thank you Dr. Google!) Fortunately it's starting to improve now, I can breathe through my nose again, but alas no smell. Your post is a great help, thanks so much Abbey. Thanks Jillar for the link to the grief article, I'm sure that's happening too as cigarettes seemed to feel like a 'comfort' but I know it was not real and they were simply killing me. Good to be writing that in the past tense. Not quite sure which stage of the grief cycle I'm in, I seem to be stuck in depression unfortunately. One thing I noticed recently is that large 'chunks' of the day disappear before I think "Oh, I haven't had a cigarette, isn't that good!" and next thing I know I can add another day to the quit list. Even though I've had to stay home a lot from being unwell and have been quite lost, the thought of smoking hasn't dominated my whole day. I'm hoping this will improve as time goes by. Anyway, a heartfelt thank you to everyone for your comments and posts here, it's wonderful to feel supported on this tough journey out of the smoky haze I've been living in!

Oh no. I’m so sad for you and your dear friend. I’m sorry that you are hurting. Losing loved ones is the worst. My husband was diagnosed with cancer and even though it was stage IV he lived for two more years. I understand the desire to put yourself into a nicotine laden stupor but please be true to your quit. Please show your friend that you will be strong when she can’t be. Please show your friend that she will be leaving behind someone who is a fighter, someone who is capable to live life to it’s fullest without chains. Let her know that it will be a tribute to her. You can and will do this for yourself but in her name.

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

NOPE!

If you can accept that there is balance in everything then you will understand that even if you are going through hard times right now your good days are coming next!!!!!

I know a guy named Alvin. Has a bad attitude and a punchable face. He's pretty easy to hate.

Nicotine doubles the rate that the body depletes caffeine. An ex-smoker consuming the same amount of caffeine after quitting will feel like they have doubled their caffeine consumption. Probably not a bad idea to cut back on the caffeine when quitting smoking. Unless you need to stay awake for a while and walk to Pensacola for some reason.

Truth. Speak it.

I'm Sorry you are having to deal with the sad news about your friend .....I too know this pain .. I Lost my life long friend 3 years ago ...we had been by each others side for over 60 years ... I know I'm further on in my quit ....but watching her suffer through a smoke related cancer Somehow made me stronger ... Also watching my Hubby Die of Emphysema...later ....made my Quit stronger .... Linda .....Keep your beautiful Quit ....because this is your life your fighting for ....❤

You are. We are. We have to be. Please keep talking to us. We are here for you. Your thoughts for today have helped me so much. Please keep your quit.

Sorry about this awful news Linda. I know you can defeat the urge to smoke. You've become so much stronger and more confident over the last few months. Hang in there and honor your friend's situation by keeping your amazing quit.

Just got a hiking permit for Mt. Whitney, the tallest mountain in the U.S. (outside of Alaska). Hoping the weather and avalanche conditions cooperate. I have a feeling there won't be any smokers up there.

@Linda, you can do a zoom call or face time call with her. I discovered them this past year and they're wonderful

I'm so sorry @Linda, you don't always have to be positive in these types of situations, you just need to stay quit. Remind yourself that smoking won't help your friend. It may also make her feel bad that her diagnosis led to you relapsing and I know you don't want that! Grieve with your friend, be there for her, hug her and make sure she knows how much you love her.