Sazerac

It's predatory to me, too.

Sorry you are having a bad day and having smokey thoughts. You are more powerful than any desire to smoke. You ARE strong and you haven't lost your marbles. Addiction is a serious adversary embedded in your brain, in your DNA but, already you are healing yourself with every smoke not smoked....every crave quelled. Reward yourself, especially through hard times. Remember you are a hero to yourself, gotta love that, and keep your eyes on the prize ! Freedom is Yours. You Don't Smoke.

Hey Opah ! You don't smoke anymore ! Ain't that grand.

Before I quit, I maintained my denial about the dangers of smoking but, when I had made the decision to quit, things changed. I then acquired a voracious appetite for the truth and it did, indeed, helped to cement my quit. It still does.

Travelling is so much easier being a non smoker ! Travelling is so much easier having headphones and something interesting or soothing to listen to. Take a really good book, a coloring book, writing paper and now, if you have a phone you have so many options (games etc). People watching is fun. Talking to strangers can be interesting. Me, I love to fly. I love looking out the window at the clouds and the quilt of the earth. If things are dodgy, I do a lot of deep breathing. I know travel can be stressful but, it was far more stressful being a smoker. Remember who you are, you are a non-smoker, you don't smoke anymore. Have a safe journey and tell us all about it when you can.

Is it too quiet in here ? Is everybody OK ? For everybody quit and quitting, every day Free is an incredible achievement. I remember, often stringing minutes together is a triumph. Every crave beaten is a giant success and you must be very kind to yourself with rewards. The simplest of rewards, little celebrations, a peaceful walk, a moment with a book or a luxurious long bath will rejuvenate you and make you stronger for the next barrage. Remember, you will never ever have to go through this transition again. Already, your brain is re-wiring its pleasure receptors. The cilia in your lungs is sloughing off ugly, sticky tar. Your heart is free from the stress of smoking, your blood pressure is normalizing. Ha ! You don't stink ! You have quit smoking. Let that sink in ! You have quit smoking. Bask in the applause.

Stand strong have yourself some fun. Freedom is dazzling.

Hope you have an even better second year of freedom ! That cola stuff is Poison and You are going to feel SO much better .

I love this post from Sunnyside and look, her Four Year Anniversary is tomorrow , ain't that something !

You are doing great R, keep rewarding yourself, it's important to retrain your pleasure/reward receptors and don't forget to have some Fun. The Blessed Herb is NOT tobacco and not nicotine but, I stayed clear of activities that made me think, 'I want to smoke'. For a while, it was alcohol, for a while it was certain people.

Thank you , J. Thank you for keeping us posted and big celebrations for your Mom.

"because nobody likes to snuggle a stick" well, sugar, I snuggle sticks all the time ! Except when I play the number game.

hey, appreciate your own inner fortitude, Opah and understand this you>>>>your quit>>>>your life

This should be pinned. you...your quit...your life. It is the glue that holds a successful quit together.

you are a naughty, naughty boy but, I like you and I am so proud of your 2 years, bebe.

felizes dois anos de liberdade, senhor ! ouça e assista , UAU

I am thankful that my choice to quit smoking has led to a really deep inner strength and a feeling of trustworthiness towards myself.

Congratulations, DaveH, on your first year of freedom ! Have some big fun and treat yourself kindly.

You will be surprised, Marie, at how good and strong and sturdier you will become when you quit smoking. The Freedom will spur you on and each day your confidence in yourself will grow. We are here to help. Listen to everyone ^^^^^ and have faith in yourself because, YOU CAN quit smoking.

A balm for my ears, there couldn't be better news. Hurry ! Get well soon.

I deleted my response by accident. Love my Jo !

Hi G, Please don't avoid coming here to complain, your experience may help someone else. Sometimes, nobody is complaining and someone is suffering when an honest post like yours could make a big difference. Congratulations on your quit ! You are only five months into your Freedom, please cut yourself some slack. I, too, was annoyed by smokey thoughts still taking me by surprise when I was well into my quit. 'Is this ever going to end ?', I wondered and yearned for a time, a date when it would be done. I celebrate 5 years quit in the Autumn and...well... to tell you the truth.....even after all this time, I still get minuscule tugs from my nicotine addiction. It is not in my daily consciousness but, the thing is, addiction never goes away. You can put the addiction to rest and hardly ever know it is there but, I had to accept that once in a while, smokey thoughts will surface. They are easily dismissed and more and more powerless and infrequent. Now, they merely serve as a reminder to never take another puff EVER, and that's kinda good. I'd hate to find myself feeding my addiction again. Vigilantly yours, S

Thank you BKP and Weegie, " " - a 20 year old lad that works for my husband hung himself last night, he was cut down by his uncle. Thankfully he survived and is now in hospital. Should we just tell him to get out and enjoy the sunshine? Depression isnt 'in'. Its a serious illness and should be treated as such. " Please know you have allies here, Rasdaan

One of my favorite posts (and there are many to choose from) Chrysalis here How To Eliminate The Constant Battle