Sunnyside

Cheri I don't think we have spoke on here before. I just wanted to send you a virtual hug because you really sound like you need it. I really hope life start's to treat you better soon. There are no excuses in life to why we smoke, but I also think there are times when you make it harder for yourself for trying to do everything at once. If you feel you can keep going in your quit, then definitely do it but if not, DON'T beat yourself up over it either x

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just glad this is helping someone, hang on in there guy's you are all doing brilliantly x

Sorry to read this Tiffany, I use to say to myself when the hard day's hit that I must be doing something right, if that little bugger was shouting at me that much, he must be getting worried. Which to me meant I must be the stronger one, even if I didn't feel like that. Everyone has a certain amount of bad days they have to get through, for each person it is different. Once you get through them it does become better. I will cross everything that tomorrow is better for you. But you doing brilliantly, be proud of yourself x

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A coat without using a H where would you wash yourself in?

On the bus. without using an N what is the weather doing today?

Simple game i will ask a question and say a letter. The next poster can answer that question but you are not allowed to use the letter that is mentioned. Example: Without using a C what says Meow ? "I would say a feline animal" Question Without saying a H what do you live in ?

Nope, nope, nopeee.

congratulations to you, 3 year is an amazing achievement, inspirational to the rest of us.

Sorry I have only just seen this. Action is completely right if you want to stop craving for a cigarette, to not have to think about cigarettes for months and months the only way is forward! All you did was satisfied yourself until you put that cigarette out and then the cravings will have got a bit stronger again. If you think of your addiction as having a toddler screaming in your head, imagine a child screaming that they want a toy or a chocolate bar. Now if they were really preforming you wouldn't just give in and let them have it, otherwise they would do I again and again. Every time you feed this little bugger he will get stronger. I know someone that tried to quit for two years straight but kept having one every so often a so technically by having that one fag was putting herself back on day one all the time, it wasn't until she stuck with the nope rule, then she got pass her 8 week hurdle, she is nearly 2 years quit now. The only one that gets anything out of having one is your addiction, not you, if you pull yourself through several months you will start to see smoking for the illusion it is.

Smarties

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I love shark and any film which has one in it Sharknado 3 has just come out called 'hell no', my OH said they got that name right lol!!

I thought I would put my thoughts out here today, my pointers that may help someone out there. If it helps at least one person then I will be happy. When I started out on this quit journey I had no confidence at all that I could pull this off. That this quit would probably go the same as all the others did, a DISASTER I always felt that smoking was apart of who I was. That is how people know me! I couldn't change surely. I went for it anyway because I knew deep down that I should. I was never a 100% about it and for a long time I thought it was a temporary thing, it was more a question of how long I would last? Than would I make it. The years of trying just kept knocking my confidence more and more. I join a forum which I had never done before, not even for anything else. I'm not the sort of person that would ever do a group session, I was the one in school that would sit in the corner all quiet. The support helped immensely and each day I would get up and say to myself I WILL NOT SMOKE TODAY Then keep ticking off the days. The days started turning into weeks, then months, then a year. Gradually things started to get easier BUT also something was gradually changing inside me too. I was starting to look at things differently. I had changed from someone that wasn't sure weather she wanted to quit to someone that no longer wanted to smoke. Someone that really doesn't see want all the fuss is anymore, that can see this addiction for what it really is. Let me just say that their is nothing special about me. I have hardly any will power at all! so if I can do it then anybody can. I know that is a cliché but you all have it in you to do this. Well I have gone on for long enough here is my list of tips. HALT - Hungry, Angry, Lonely or Tired Before reaching for a cigarette think is it a crave or is it something else prompting that trigger. Because our brain rewire their selves as you keep smoking to suit with the addiction when you stop it is very hard to tell the difference. So maybe you are hungry or thirsty, need a nap, stressed. STOP For a minute a think is it something else. IT DOES GET EASIER The withdrawals do not last for ever! The physical side of the addiction last about 3 weeks. If you suffer from anxiety is seems to take a bit longer, but know matter how your quit goes it gets better for everyone eventually. No one could beat off the early withdrawal forever and their are more and more people quitting. It can be done. ROMANCING A CIGARETTE This is the what can only be described as false memories. You will go through triggers throughout the year. The sunshine, going out drinking even sitting down in the morning having a cup of tea. There are times for all of us were we have trained our brains to think that not only did we enjoy a cigarette when being/doing those events but we can not cope with doing these thing without smoking or we would be miserable without one, that we are depriving our selves of something pleasurable. REMEMBER THAT STATMENT How can that be right?!? DEEP BREATHES Instead of reaching for a cigarette when the craving are bad or when you are stress, take yourself some where quiet and take some deep breathes in for a couple of minutes. A craving only lasts for about 3 mins, so if you can take yourself away and just breathe deep for those 3 mins it will pass. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER Read as much information as possible, know your enemy and educate yourself. The information here is priceless but their is also such a wealth of information at your finger tips these days, so use it. If you can change your mind set in to the illusion of smoking it will help you understand what is happening. CELEBRATE YOUR MILESTONES This really worked for me and gave me my new goal everytime I completed one. It also gave me somewhere to share how proud I was with me self. Early in your quit it is a good idea to reward yourself it doesn't have to be expensive just something to focus on. HAVE NO FEAR One of the biggest reasons people don't quit is FEAR The fear that you are going to be miserable all the time that as you watch others smoke that you will always feel like you are missing out. Don't be scared! This will change on it's own eventually, there is a better life out there. The sense of freedom really is worth it. Now I can life my life how I want to, not scurrying around try to fit in a cigarette wherever I go, I'm no longer stress because I am in a place where I can not smoking and I am dying for one. I don't feel self conscious when I am out because I can see the sly looks people are giving me. I'M FREEEEEE!!!!! I hope this will help someone in their plight to be fag free. Their is a saying around these parts ONWARDS AND UPWARDS Just keep putting one foot forward and you will make your goal.

Nope

Awww!! Thankyou you are all very welcoming! I have had a good look around last night and it is a very nice forum, you are all very supportive x