MarylandQuitter

Snowed in here too. Probably going to watch the box set of Indiana Jones.

Glad all is well with the young lady you work with. Please be watchful over your quit right now because like Nancy and babs said, "you woke up the addiction". "...now you know what relapse feels like...so you never have to feel it again cause the feeling it brings won't change.." You do realize there are only a couple of good reasons for relapsing, right? Good Reasons To Take A Puff On A Cigarette After Having Quit Smoking For people who think that there are no good reasons to take a puff on a cigarette after quitting, and more importantly, for people who think that there might actually be good reasons. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvHl-zwUdBo

What happened to lead up to this? As you know, relapses are planned. You must have been entertaining some junkie thinking beforehand? Glad you're a non-smoker again. :)

Well done!!! How's the little one doing?

This can be very difficult if you believe that smoking relieves stress. Please read this. http://www.quittrain.com/topic/4504-is-smoking-stopping-you-from-experiencing-all-that-life-has-to-offer/?do=findComment&comment=122415

Many if not all smokers believe that smoking relieves stress. How can this be possible? http://www.quittrain.com/topic/4504-is-smoking-stopping-you-from-experiencing-all-that-life-has-to-offer/?do=findComment&comment=122415

Many if not all smokers believe that smoking relieves stress. It doesn't and in fact causes it. Nicotine causes your heart rate to increase, your blood pressure to rise and sends adrenaline pulsing through your veins. This happens each time you smoke a cigarette. It's an illusion that smoking relieves stress because as smokers, we've conditioned ourselves to believe this. Look at it this way. After we put out a cigarette, the average smoker starts to experience mild withdrawal after approximately twenty minutes. Most smokers don't even realize that they're in withdrawal but start to crave another cigarette to relieve the discomforts of withdrawal. The cravings are a result of being in mild nicotine withdrawal which causes us some discomfort, makes us feel edgy, irritable etc., so when we light up another cigarette, we relieve those withdrawal symptoms and we feel better, for around 20 minutes or so. Then once the dose of nicotine wears off, the withdrawal process starts all over again and we continue to feed the addiction and keep the cycle going. So it's only natural for us to add 2+2 and come up with 7 because we've believed the lie that smoking relieves stress when in fact all it does is relieve the withdrawal symptoms (which are stressful) caused by smoking in the first place. We're using the same drug to try and fix the problem that started this whole process when we became nicotine addicts. So when things in life upset us, we automatically think that smoking will calm us down or help us cope with whatever it is that we're dealing with because that's the illusion smoking provides. The truth is that smoking causes stress. It's impossible that it can calm us down because of the effects it has on our heart rate, blood pressure and the release of adrenaline, which by the way is produced whenever we're experiencing a stressful situation or a period of extreme excitement. Nicotine is causing all of this when we smoke. Stress is a normal part of life and so is feeling extremely stressed or excited. Imagine that feeling of fight or flight (caused by the release of adrenaline which causes your blood pressure to increase, heart rate to increase etc.) as your body readies itself for whatever it is that's in front of you. Now imagine smoking a cigarette at this time. It can only further elevate your heart rate, blood pressure etc. It has the opposite effect of something that can calm you or relieve stress. Adrenaline is awesome. It's what makes us survive and thrive at certain things. But relieve stress or calm us down? Impossible. Once we stop smoking we're better equipped to deal with life and all the joys, pleasures, boredom and stress that it brings. Smoking actually ruins our peaceful moments in life by causing our adrenal glands to prepare us for "fight or flight" and escalates the stressful times by doing the same. When we smoke, are we ever really experiencing all that life has to offer us? Are we even capable of living in the "Now" and protecting our much needed down time to recharge? Are we able to meditate or stop the chatter or chaos that so often fills our minds and consumes our thoughts? Can we experience the calming effects of a still mind and body? The other evening it was around 4°F with a wind chill of -10°F. The moon was giving off just enough light that I could see the trees and sky through my windows. I was laying on the couch in front of the windows and was completely relaxed. It was quiet and as I released all of the stresses, to-do-lists and thoughts of what tomorrow might bring; my mind was still and quiet. The chatter was gone as there would be time for all that later. But for those 30 minutes, my mind was still and all the stressful thoughts were gone. This allowed my body to relax and just enjoy "The Now" for there will never, ever be another moment exactly the same. I want to experience all of those "Now" moments that I can. Smoking and constant withdrawal would have never allowed me to experience this inner state of peace and quiet. Never again will smoking take away these much needed quiet times that allow me to grow and be the best that I can be for myself and my daughter for without her, I cannot experience all that life has for me, just for Now. I Smoke Because I Like Smoking This video discusses how people who often say the smoke because they like smoking can come to realize that they really smoke because they don't like not smoking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCkt_ajgTQE

Wow!!! 10th Valentine's together, planning the big day together and a great meal to top it off. Sounds like the perfect day. :)

I forgot!!! lol

I'm glad that you're still on the train. :) If you want to get rid of the cravings, you'll need to get rid of the nicotine gum because it's keeping you addicted and craving it. You used it to stop puffing on cigarettes but being nicotine free is the only way to stop the cravings. Nicotine is nicotine is nicotine. We're all drug addicts and our drug of choice is nicotine. Only one way to get over it and that is to break the cycle of constant withdrawal and supplying your body with the same drug that you're trying to free yourself from. Here's a couple of videos that are very relevant to what you're going through. 30 Years Of Nicotine Gum Nicotine gum has now been available for over 30 years. Video discusses the dismal success rate of this product as well as introducing materials explaining why all of the aids out there have done little in helping people to successfully stop smoking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cUtsVIdvaJo 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 Keeping NRT In Case Of Emergency Video addresses the consequences of keeping a supply of any nicotine replacement product in the event of facing major or minor stress. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GMRj1BlDTRw&app=desktop 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=L2I0NQVAg4I

Update To Video - "Premature Deaths Caused By Smoking" While many people know that smoking is bad for your health, most underestimate just how dangerous smoking is. Smoking is the number one cause of preventable death in the United States. This video serves as an update to my 2006 video "Premature deaths caused by smoking", incorporating new information just released in the February 12, 2015 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine article titled "Smoking and Mortality — Beyond Established Causes”. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZ60bR_T4lY Link To Article Referenced In The Above Video: Smoking and Mortality — Beyond Established Causes http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/... Referenced Video (Original From 2006): Premature deaths caused by smoking http://youtu.be/U5a7DsgdOzU Other Related Videos: "But smoking is the only vice I have left..." http://www.ffn.yuku.com/topic/9958 Consequences of smoking playlist http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=... Other related article: Dependency's costs directory http://ffn.yuku.com/forums/72/Depende...

What happened that led up to you smoking again?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_VLzElVlTE

A little bit of this or I won't allow myself to watch the mid-season premier of TWD tonight. I have all day to get some of this in so no excuses.

One thing that I'm beginning to learn (very recently!) is that when I'm restless, it's my ego listening to all the chatter in my mind; trying to sort everything I have to do at work and at home, all things going on in life that need my attention and what it will take to fix it all or get it all done. I'm learning to live in the "NOW" and not let the ego guide me or take control of my mind. One thing at a time. This very moment that we're all in will never exist again so it's best to simply embrace it. “You need nothing more than the experience you are having right now. It is enough. It is plenty. It is perfect just as it is. It was designed for you, given to you for your experience. All you have to do, and all you have ever had to do is accept this gift. Take it and let it in. Let yourself experience the present moment just as it is. It doesn't get any better than this. This is the simple truth the ego refuses to accept, and it will suffer as long as that is the case.” After nicotine has left your body and you're still struggling, perhaps it's your ego trying to satisfy what it never can, whether you choose to smoke or not. “When you find yourself wanting a better moment -wanting something else in the future- it can be helpful to ask: What will that give me? We think we will finally be happy when that moment arrives. What we discover when we do get what we want is that even that wonderful moment disappears. Life keeps moving on, bringing us a mixture of what we like and don't like. Why not like- love - it all because it won't be here for long, it will never be this way again, and it's all you've got.”

N to the O to the P to the E!

Why is nobody using it? Perhaps nobody likes to cook anymore? Hoarding recipes and don't want to share? You quit smoking now don't tell me you quit cooking too!! Somebody post a good recipe for sweet potatoes. Thank you. Have a good day. :)

You know, I listened but I never cared. But sometimes it takes somebody who cares enough to speak up. For me, my doctor cared enough about me that he didn't care if he hurt my feelings because it needed to be done. He spoke the truth. Not about cancer and all the dangers of smoking, but rather that I was a drug addict and cared more about keeping it alive than anything else. Young people always think they have time so the dangers of smoking often go in one ear and out the other. What sticks with young people are how stupid they really are by smoking and how stupid and unattractive they look. How they stink worse than poo and how their skin looks gray. Tell a young female that her skin looks gray and her color is horrible and if she says I wonder why, point to the almighty cigarette controlling her life. All that money spent on fancy hair products is down the drain as the stench of stale smoke fills the air, all of which is coming from her hair. Tell her that her hair is stinking up the office. lol Not really but it's probably true.

Thanks for checking in and sorry to hear about that collapsed lung! Yikes! Glad you're in a better space now. You sound better, very positive and ready to celebrate that 4 month quit!!!

My first true quit I did so with very little knowledge, certainly not with the knowledge found here. I quit because I wanted to quit more than I wanted to smoke. Although the quit lasted several years, it failed. It failed because I had no knowledge base to draw from when I got the urge (whether from stress or happiness) to smoke. If we want to do something bad enough we will. Nothing can stop us. I often like to use the analogy of holding a winning lottery ticket worth millions in your hand. There is nothing, and I mean nothing that would stop anybody from getting that ticket to the whatever agency to claim your money. The reason is because the money will change your life in big ways, not always for the good, but most often that is the case. Think of smoking in the same way. If you want to quit more than you want to smoke, nothing will stop you. Your life will change forever as you'll be free from the drug addiction, will enjoy better health (look at all the runners we have here!!!!!!!), have more money, possess an inner strength that you can do anything and the list can get quite lengthy from how one's life is better after quitting smoking. Now for a reality check. Many new members have mentioned they were scared of reading about people who have relapsed after long periods without smoking. We're talking 5 or more years. I was quit for 6 yrs and relapsed. Of all of the people throughout my life, including myself, who went back to smoking after being quit for several years had no support group. No education about the addiction. Little to no understanding about why they smoked or why they were feeling the way they were which led to the relapse. With support groups such as this, the success rate is much, much higher. Support with ongoing education and discussion can and most often times leads to a life time of being smoke-free. I know that without QuitTrain, I don't know where I would be right now. Another reality check is that some people are just going to relapse. No way around it. Those who want to fight for their freedom and ultimately their lives, will stick to the program, stay active here and post and reach out when in trouble. Not only "trouble" when you're on the verge of lighting up, but day to day things that upset us. Talking these things through from the onset will head off any danger of relapse. "It's Inevitable, Some Smokers Are Going To Relapse" If you are a member of any quit smoking support group, whether it be online or a live program, it is likely that some members of your group are going to fail. You should not interpret this fact to mean that it is likely or inevitable that you are going to fail. Video spells out the major difference between people who relapse and those who don't. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ego_dpPmfOk Now, another reality check! :) A Thirty Year Success Story A short video discussing a clinic graduate and panelist who just celebrated his 30th year anniversary of having quit smoking. His experience relates to the video "Amount smoked" that is linked in the video description. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62wrmoJEpuE&feature=youtu.be

As I was reading babs post, I thought this video was very relevant. Going Back To Normal After Quitting Smoking Video discusses how after quitting smoking a person will eventually get back to normal. Normal does not mean going back to the normal they experienced when they were smoking but more accurately, what they were like before they ever took up smoking with effects of aging now thrown in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUKBBcZ26BQ ...and of course one my favorite GL tunes. :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKb2XvemUeI

Will I ever feel relaxed or content again if I quit smoking? I'm new in my quit and will this restless feeling diminish? Is this restless feeling bad? This is a great topic for discussion for newbies and oldies (not necessarily old in age. :dirol: ). Everybody, jump in and share your thoughts. http://www.quittrain.com/topic/4389-restless/

Going Back To Normal After Quitting Smoking Video discusses how after quitting smoking a person will eventually get back to normal. Normal does not mean going back to the normal they experienced when they were smoking but more accurately, what they were like before they ever took up smoking with effects of aging now thrown in. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUKBBcZ26BQ Related articles: Sleep Adjustments http://www.ffn.yuku.com/topic/12275 Medication adjustments http://www.ffn.yuku.com/topic/23017 Is it true that everything smells and tastes better when you quit smoking? http://www.ffn.yuku.com/topic/11885 Videos related to topics touched upon in this video: Using cigarettes to self medicate pre-existing conditions Quitting smoking and mental health http://youtu.be/2ysFk0-pQ3A Blood sugar symptoms

I'm restless right now and it ain't gotta thing to do with not smoking. :) Great post. Will add more later once I get home.