Reciprocity

Hey! Shoo Flies!! -5

Hi and welcome nervousnellie :) I too struggled a lot with being very short tempered, feeling anxious to the point of just pacing around because I couldn't keep still in the early part of my quit too. I think it's just part of the price we have to pay to get ourselves rid of this deadly addiction. There are things you can do though to minimize some of these affects from quitting. Drinking fruit juice and keeping well hydrated. Eating as healthy a diet as possible. Seeing a doc up front may not be a bad idea. I didn't do that but having your blood levels checked up front might be good. Then they could check them again later to see if there's been any changes. Stay close to this site and read, read, read. Watch the Joel videos too. The better educated you are about the addiction, the better off you'll be. I too quit cold turkey so it's very doable. It's not pretty but you just have to want to quit more than you want to smoke. Take the daily NOPE pledge here too. Gets you day started off on the right foot. Coming to a place like this is also a great tool. I didn't even imagine it until I stumbled across this site. Have unconditional support from others who really "get it" it an amazing tool. Stay with us and participate. You'll see. The more you get involved, the more committed you'll become to your quit :)

^^^ This is the key to you finding freedom. 100% commitment to NOPE (Not One Puff Ever). Look at this first week as a celebration of sorts. Yes it's tough and you feel you're in a different world and nothing will ever be the same but IT WILL BE. That first week you will find ways to distract yourself. You'll make small changes in your routine that help avoid some triggers. Practice deep breathing when the craves hit and you get anxious. Drink more fluids than you normally do. Come here are read all you can. Study this addiction and learn what it really does for you (nothing). If you want it badly enough, you can do it just like others are doing it. Please go to the Daily Nope page and join us in pledging your Nope - just for today. That's all we do. Take it one day at a time and in our early quit; even 1 hour at a time.

It's true! We all think those other people are stronger than we are. Their quit was easier. They didn't have other stressful stuff going on in their lives when they tried to quit. None of this is true. We are all the same and each one of us is capable of making it. You just have to want it badly enough to fight for it! You new quitters stay at it! It's tough but you're already doing it wonderfully. Just keep at it and you WILL get there :)

I love not having to deal with this!!!

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NOPE!

Wow! You are the 3rd person on the board that has managed to drag themselves through that 1st week of quitting. What we lovingly refer to as hell week. I'm sure no explanation is required :) You feel like your whole world has been turned upside down! You're through that worst week now, Use the tools you have developed during that 1st week and carry on to week 2. Keep pushing and stay committed and you will make it :)

Congrats B57!! That was one hell of a week I bet and you're probably exhausted about now but now you are through it and will never have to do that one again. You still have a long journey ahead but you have proven to yourself and us you can do it. Hang in there and keep reminding yourself why you are doing this :)

Congratulations J! 9 months is awesome and you are not far from reaching the Lido Deck now. What they didn't tell you is that you have to row the boat for the next few months to get there :)

Wow! A whole Year Pearlie. Congratulations and welcome to the Lido Deck. Grab a lounge and join the other long term quitters. You worked hard for it now sit back and enjoy :)

Me trying to explain the history of hockey championship dynasties to you would be like you trying to explain the history of Footie rivalries to me - lol, Safe to say; when you win - it's great and when you lose - it sucks, as the pictures above more or less indicate :D

-5

^^^ Absolutely!! Never a better day than today. That will be one of my biggest regrets in life - not quitting sooner :ireful2:

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-13

Hope you had a great Birthday!

A belated Happy BD wish to you Grace. I hope it was extra special :)

I liked the -5 better :P -14

hford, either write out a short jot-note list on paper or make a list in your cell phone of the reasons YOU want to quit. Something you can take out and look at whenever you are tempted to have just one. Smoking needs to be completely off the table for you to make it through successfully. You need something you can carry on you at all times, take out and read when you need to. Not only will it remind you why you are doing it, it will distract you from the thought of smoking for a minute or two. Long enough to let the worst of that craving go past. Also, it gives you something to do with your hands too. Stay committed to NOPE, no matter what that voice of addiction is saying inside your head. It's the only way AND, it works 100% of the time :)

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Hope you have a great one - your first smoke-free B.D. Congrats :D

-10 (we need more sticks :( )

Kenzie - yes it's important that you stay close to the board here while you are traveling along the quit path. If nothing else, it will help keep you focused. You're doing fantastic and should be proud of what you have done so far. These are the really tough days and you're winning!!

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