MarylandQuitter

There are three primary factors associated with relapse: (1) rewriting the law of addiction; (2) an excuse; and (3) a vague memory. It doesn't matter if it happens within two hours, two days, two weeks, two months, two years, or twenty, the factors remain the same and apply to all of us. https://www.quittrain.com/topic/7669-caring-for-our-quit-by-john-r-polito/?p=191537

NOPE!

Well, I can tell you that I have one wonderful offspring and nothing would make me pick up an ecig to see what the appeal was for those who partake in such nonsense, including her. You see, I smoked for many years and already know the "appeal" is a lie; ecigs are just another means for Phillip Morris and others to attract new nicotine addicts and even lie to smokers to lead them to believe that it's a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. No need to quit after all because the ecig is "safe" and "cool". It's all a lie. I don't need to puff on anything to reinforce the strength of my quit because should I need that, my quit would not be strong after all. Moreover, we cannot ever introduce nicotine back into our bodies, ever. And I'm not talking about eating potatoes either. Colleen made a mistake; we all do and there are consequences for our decisions and this is a perfect example of how even a long-term quitter can get sucked back into taking a puff. When I read this I was shocked and I'll holster my other emotions for now because Colleen was one of the few who believed in what we were doing when we started this support group and we all knew how dangerous taking a puff could be not only to ourselves, but also this group. It does not send a good message and because of that, there are consequences, even for those whom are "family".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=725iONdAu9Q

How is administering nicotine by puffing on an electronic cigarette any different than puffing on a Marlboro? It's not. You wanted to see what the appeal was but at the same time, decided to disregard NOPE and everything this community stands for since we started it. What if you would've liked the ecig and "got" the appeal of it? Would you have continued puffing on it? You blew your quit as far as I'm concerned but you can be the judge of that and how to handle your addiction going forward. We've always taken the stand that NRT is okay, provided the goal is to get off of nicotine swiftly and completely. I'm not going to debate this issue nor will any such debate be allowed as this has been beaten to death and it can't be resurrected again. I would expect this out of a newbie, not someone who has supposedly been quit for over 3 years. As you all can see, this addiction is real and not to be taken lightly as even the most seasoned quitter can be lured to take a puff of nicotine. Please view the videos below as they explain in great detail why you can't take a puff. NOPE! Curiosity Killed The Quit Ever find yourself curious about exciting new technologies that allow you to smoke without actually smoking real cigarettes? Video explains how such curiosity if acted on can kill your quit. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbCOOb4D2ms The Law Of Addiction "Administration of a drug to an addict will cause re-establishment of chemical dependence upon the addictive substance." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CbOeOvA940U Smoking A Cigarette Will Help Me Secure My Quit Video discusses how some people can bargain themselves into smoking with the thought that taking a cigarette that tastes bad will reinforce their resolve to stay smoke free. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY6tAeam9Lg Nicotine Is Nicotine Is Nicotine Video discusses how nicotine delivered by any source via any route of administration has the full potential of causing relapse to any former smoker or user of any nicotine product. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KViTfIfHUv0 I Know Too Much About Smoking To Ever Be Able To Relapse Video discusses how some people may erroneously begin to think that when they fully understand all aspects of smoking and quitting that there is no way that they could ever relapse back to smoking again. The Lucky Ones Get Hooked Video discusses how not all people who take a cigarette after quitting instantly get hooked--only the lucky ones do. Should I Reset My Quit Meter? Video stresses the importance of drawing a clear line in the sand regarding the issue of whether a person should reset their quit meter if they ever take a puff off of a cigarette, or really deliver nicotine via any tobacco product or other nicotine containing device.

Glad to hear it, Tiffany!!!! :) Ruby? Hope all is well but if you had a slip, don't let it stop you from getting back here and quitting. At least check in with an update. :)

Tuck your chin and keep going. As long as you don't smoke, you'll never have to go through this again and it's only temporary. Most people can put up with just about anything for a certain amounts of time (think of POW's and years spent in torture!) for a lot less than what you're getting for quitting smoking. :) Be Proud That You Quit Smoking Video discusses the importance of being proud of yourself when you are first quitting smoking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpxnCA7fBNs&list=PL8EB359C247D3FE6C&index=15 Disorientation That May Occur When You First Quit Smoking What many people find to be the most worrisome symptom when they are first quitting smoking is a general level of disorientation. The effect is usually due to a drop in blood sugar that often occurs in the first few days after quitting. The resources below gives suggestions on how to minimize the effect. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu7hsiOdlDM

It's the same issue that always repeats itself. Perhaps this is the tree in the road that stops Tiffany from taking this to the next level. What do you think, Tiffany?

Queen Queenlover was a chronic relapser, that is until she refused to no longer give in. That woman turned out to be one of the toughest around. She remained quit until she died and never gave in. Hers is the path we all need to follow for as long as we remain roaming the earth. Don't give up, Evelyn! You're way stronger than what you think you are. Do. Not. Give. In.!! Got it? GR8. :)

Tiffany, I am the exact definition of an addict. When I was first faced with this by another, I was nearly appalled; that is until I realized it was true. No amount of denial or rationalization was going to change that. The same applies to you as you too are an addict. Your drug of choice is nicotine and your delivery method remains one of the deadliest of all addictions. But who wants to volley semantics back and forth for another 3.5 years? The bottom line is that in order for you to remain quit, you MUST commit to never take another puff no matter what. You've rationalized and have said quitting is too hard for a long time. Try breathing with emphysema long before you hit your 60th birthday. How will your son handle the untimely death of his mother because she said quitting was too hard? It's uncomfortable at the beginning but not hard. Get comfortable being uncomfortable, stop making excuses and commit to NOPE like the rest of us. If it was that hard to quit, there wouldn't be more former smokers than there are smokers. Think about that. Is your addiction somehow special in that it's harder for you to quit than me or the millions of others who've kicked the habit? Hardly. Take it from those of us who have long quits under our belts. We know all too well what it takes to succeed and also what you need to change to succeed.

NOPE!

This is awesome news, Ruby! As time goes on, your list of newly found changes will grow. Reward yourself daily for not smoking. Even if it's just something very small you earned it because quitting is a big deal and each day you stay quit is another day under your belt. I love your positive attitude. :)

Forget willpower. Make a non-wavering commitment to never take another puff. It may suck at the moment but you will get through this. Don't smoke! We're here for ya.

Recent studies show that some electronic cigarette fluids being marketed as nicotine free actually contain nicotine. Video discusses the real danger for any former smoker who tries one of these products. http://www.quittrain.com/topic/2096-video-introduction-to-joel-misc-educational-videos-by-joel/?p=189291

Is Your Nicotine-Free Electronic Cigarette Actually Nicotine Free? Recent studies show that some electronic cigarette fluids being marketed as nicotine free actually contain nicotine. Video discusses the real danger for any former smoker who tries one of these products. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Kq-UH7-Ed0&feature=youtu.be Link to articles about these studies: -E-cigarette nicotine labels not always accurate https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases... -'Nicotine-Free' E-Cigs Still Deliver the Juice https://www.medpagetoday.com/pulmonolo... Videos related to other issue raised by this video: -Carrying mock cigarettes https://youtu.be/4Jgu7Q-ZNZY -"Miracle" aids for quitting smoking https://youtu.be/AyhfRm5nev0 Other videos related to general electronic cigarette use: -Electronic cigarette users having a harder time when quitting smoking https://youtu.be/fAApE5yo3Nc -Dual use of cigarettes and electronic cigarettes https://youtu.be/BgqnM7e8aB0 -E-cigs as effective as nicotine patches https://youtu.be/M2GZJksxWP0 -Gallup Poll: Most quitters credit cold turkey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM2jC0... -Our views on the need for harm reduction https://youtu.be/HcPcVxA_WaA -"Whatever you do, don't quit cold turkey" https://youtu.be/lUSJLDzkIhs -Electronic cigarettes and harm reduction https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xE42iW...

Tiffany, you're still early in your quit and you still want to smoke. It's normal as smoking was part of everything you did every single day. Your life revolved around your smoking. You're right; it's in your head and you have a choice. Only you can make that choice, despite being uncomfortable and choosing to stay nicotine free. You can do this. The rewards are much greater than the discomfort of the desire to smoke right now. :)

All I can smell is autumn in the air. No cigarette smoke, fresh or stale from the past. NOPE!

First, ecigs are not safe whether they contain nicotine or not. If you use these things for just another form of nicotine delivery to feed your addiction, it needs to have an expiration date. For those who vape without nicotine, why? What's the point? I don't need to inhale chemicals through a high school science project to rationalize quitting. Is it to look cool, fit in or to remind you of the fond memories of your cigarette, your friend? I don't need that kind of reminder. Electronic Cigarette Users Are Having A Harder Time Quitting Smoking Why users of electronic cigarettes may be having a harder time emotionally with their quits over the longer-term. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAApE5yo3Nc My Cigarette, My Friend How do you feel about a friend who has to go everywhere with you? Not only does he tag along all the time, but since he is so offensive and vulgar, you become unwelcome when with him. He has a peculiar odor that sticks to you wherever you go. Others think both of you stink. He controls you totally. When he says jump, you jump. Sometimes in the middle of a blizzard or storm, he wants you to come to the store and pick him up. You would give your spouse hell if he or she did that to you all the time, but you can't argue with your friend. Sometimes, when you are out at a movie or play he says he wants you to go stand in the lobby with him and miss important scenes. Since he calls all the shots in your life, you go. Your friend doesn't like your choice of clothing either. Instead of politely telling you that you have lousy taste, he burns little holes in these items so you will want to throw them out. Sometimes, he tires of the furniture and gets rid of it too. Occasionally, he gets really nasty and decides the whole house must go. He gets pretty expensive to support. Not only is his knack of property destruction costly, but you must pay to keep him with you. In fact, he will cost you thousands of dollars over your lifetime. And you can count on one thing, he will never pay you a penny in return. Often at picnics you watch others playing vigorous activities and having lots of fun doing them. But your friend won't let you. He doesn't believe in physical activity. In his opinion, you are too old to have that kind of fun. So he kind of sits on your chest and makes it difficult for you to breathe. Now you don't want to go off and play with other people when you can't breathe, do you? Your friend does not believe in being healthy. He is really repulsed by the thought of you living a long and productive life. So every chance he gets he makes you sick. He helps you catch colds and flu. Not just by running out in the middle of the lousy weather to pick him up at the store. He is more creative than that. He carries thousands of poisons with him which he constantly blows in your face. When you inhale some of them, they wipe out cilia in your lungs which would have helped you prevent these diseases. But colds and flu are just his form of child's play. He especially likes diseases that slowly cripple you - like emphysema. He considers this disease great. Once he gets you to have this, you will give up all your other friends, family, career goals, activities - everything. You will just sit home and caress him, telling him what a great friend he is while you desperately gasp for air. But eventually your friend tires of you. He decides he no longer wishes to have your company. Instead of letting you go your separate ways, he decides to kill you. He has a wonderful arsenal of weapons behind him. In fact, he has been plotting your death since the day you met him. He picked all the top killers in society and did everything in his power to ensure you would get one of them. He overworked your heart and lungs. He clogged up the arteries to your heart, brain, and every other part of your body. In case you were too strong to succumb to this, he constantly exposed you to cancer causing agents. He knew he would get you sooner or later. Well, this is the story of your "friend," your cigarette. No real friend would do all this to you. Cigarettes are the worst possible enemies you ever had. They are expensive, addictive, socially unacceptable, and deadly. Consider all this and NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!--Joel

He is the brains behind our new home and will be making sure all is operating well. By the way, we're transferred to our new home and the site was only down for 15 minutes in the middle of the night during the move. Excellent! :)

Good to see you! Let's finish once and for all this time!!

NOPE. Not today, not EVER!

Yes! A cold used to linger on for two weeks or better and now it's 2, maybe 3 days at the most. I used to get little colds often and now, I don't think I've had one in almost two years now. *knock on wood!!!! lol

NOPE!

lol, we're in the process of moving to an entirely new server configuration which is much more sustaining. We'll be doing trial moves so when we actually move the site, the downtown will be a couple of hours instead of much longer. :)