georgen

Not good. I wake up with the best of intentions every day, but fall at the first fence. It is that first one or two that do me in. But, over the past few days, I have realised something : Cigarettes are not working for me any more. I don't get that hit and think to myself "WTF am I doing ?"

Got it. Thank you.

The first smoke in the morning is the one that is proving extremely strong. I usually smoke very soon after waking up. Is anyone else like this ? If so, how do you get round it, fight it or whatever ?

How do you "do" the Pledge ? Do you go to the website and write something, or do you just NOPE to yourself first thing, or what ?

Right, I will read the Pinned Posts.

I get it. Quiting must be absolute, regardless of what is happening in my life. Life goes on whether I smoke or not.

Thank you very much. I tried using a toothpick yesterday as a substitute and wound up puncturing my gums with the point. Also, toothpicks in my hand are a pain in the arse. I will try the pretend cig and see how I go. However, I am taken with your idea that using a substitute only delays the reprogramming. That is not something that has ever occurred to me. This is why I need other people and can't do this on my own-fresh ideas and real experience.

I have been reading many excellent posts here, with a view to gathering weapons for the fight. Here is what I have found so far : 1. Use NOPE one day at a time. Personally, I have never managed to kick any addiction by saying "Never again". One day at a time does it for me. The days turn into weeks, the weeks into months and the months into years. I know some people can make up their mind to not smoke and that does it. But I know myself well enough to know that my own brain is not that powerful. 2. This soon will pass. 3. HALT-an old friend and one which has worked for me before with other problems. Why not use it with smoking ? These are all for me only. They may well drive someone else insane. I have read loads more, but these ones stick out. What I am not seeing is some way to substitute or replace the act of smoking. I have tried eating in previous attempts and put on half a stone ( 7 lbs for the benefit of any Americans reading this) in one week that way. This prevented me from training, so.....I smoked. Any suggestions or comments gratefully received. Thank you.

I used HALT to overcome other addictions earlier in life. It never occured to me to use it with smoking. Talk about a blind spot.

This soon shall pass. I am gathering weapons for the fight here.

Ok, so no-one gets "struck smoking" the same as they get struck by lightning. I get it.

"Smoking doesn't fix anything" Thank you.

If it was as simple as changing your attitude, there wouldn't be any smokers on earth. Not putting this discussion down by any means, just saying there has to be more to it than just making up your mind. Otherwise, I would have stopped years ago.

How do you get round your own thinking ? How do you get round the "I want to stop, just not yet " ?

My grandfather was exactly like that. A very hard life, smoked like a chimney and died in his sleep at 93. Most of his sons and daughters didn't last that long and smoking-related issues were a factor in their deaths. Thanks for writing this. Apart from the truth in it, you have a way with words.

By jesus, this is a lot of support. Thank you all very much for such a warm welcome. I am not alone with this. There is a lot to read here. Any tips on where to start ? I can see that I can use my brain to rationalise not smoking in the same way I rationalise smoking, but is there a nugget apart from NOPE that I can use ? maybe I need to write out a list of what smoking has cost me and not just money. Saying "Never again" won't work for me, but doing it one day at a time has worked for other things, so why not this ?

My name is George. I have been smoking on and off for 40 years. I did stop smoking for 5 years, but started again when my mother died. I smoke secretly, as my wife and family don't know I started again. I have a number of health problems, none of them directly related to smoking, but it does play a part in slowing down healing and preventing me from healing completely. I have knee problems and if I don't stop smoking and reinjure myself, I could wind up on crutches permanently . I also have bad tendonitis in one elbow and the lack of blood flow due to smoking means that this is not getting better. If that remains the case, I wouldn't be able to use crutches and could wind up in a chair or on a frame. I have overcome other addictions earlier in life, but have never done anything successfully without group support. I don't feel able to quit alone and keep putting off my quit. So, here I am.