Patoolla

 

Suggestions that helped me:

     Make 2 lists, first list is of reasons why you want to quit.  2nd list is things to use as distractions when crave hits.  1st thing on this list is to read the 1st list!  LOL  Keep list handy always...we don`t think clearly when in the middle of a crave so list help remind us why and how to keep our quitting goal!

     Our distraction list will be our choices of what we can do instead of smoke. It helps so much if we have a plan for that.  After all, smoking is NOT an option..not matter what!  

     Here is a start for your distraction list:  Use the 5 D`s, Deep Breaths, Drinks of Water, Delay, Distract and Discuss.

     Deep breathing, 10 times... breath in thru nose, hold it for 5 seconds then push air out slowly with pursed lips.  Make sure to push out all the air clearing lungs of stale air.  (Proper breathing is using stomach/diaphram instead of chest)

     We don`t think about it but everytime we inhaled the nasty ole cig...we deep breathed, right?   So we really miss that a lot...we tend to forget to deep breath when we first quit.   So when you feel a crave..deep breath...you may be wanting that more than the smoke!

     Drink lots of water...I use a sports bottle with a straw.  Sucking the water thru straw helps the crave.

     Chew gum, have munchies on hand at all times, low fat if watching weight.  Carrot stick, celery, sugar free hard candy.  Grapes have been great...helps with the hand to mouth need.

     Take a day at a time, an hour or minute or even a `tick` at a time.

     Most important for me is to pray often for Him to keep me from smoking!

     My favorite crave buster:  Stuffed Straw to puff on:   Cut beverage straw about 4 inches, stuff with some cotton (or tissue till you can get some cotton) to puff` on.  A Q-tip helps to stuff in the cotton.  Be sure to twist end of the straw to crimp it good so you don`t inhale the cotton!  LOL Some say that it isn`t good to mimick the smoking pattern...but, hey, I`ll mimick it any day instead of smoke!  The stuffed straw isn`t addictive, doesn`t put crap in our lungs, is free...so unlike smoking!        

     Also, start listing the rewards you notice..focus on those rewards.

     FEAR = false emotions appearing real

     S.M.A.R.T. = Set goals, Measure Success, Arrange environment for success, Recruit support and Treat yourself.

     N.O.P.E = Not One Puff Ever

     Yoda says, “Do or do not... there is no try.”   

     Allow yourself to grieve.  Quitting leaves us with a feeling of loss, even tho a loss for the better!  

     Here are the 5 stages of grieving:

Denial, Resentment/Anger, Bargaining, Depression/sadness and then Acceptance.   And these feelings are in no certain order and quite often we go back and forth with some of them until the acceptance comes. 

     At first we go on the emotional rollercoaster ride.  We are no longer numbing our feelings so they are intense.  They will balance out, just do not stuff them or they will come out usually in the form of a crave.  Roll with the flow on the feelings, `The only way out is through`!