jillar

Raya Quit Date: June 30 / 2011 Posted April 14, 2015 Its late and I am awake , and I got thinking how this quitting process has truly has been a roller coaster . Remember the first days quitting smoking are much like a roller coaster so if an hour from now you don't feel so good; RIDE IT OUT . There may be bit of a turn, and you feel queezy and wonder if you made the right decision ; RIDE IT OUT. There may be a hill , and you are filled with fear where you don't know whats on the other side ; RIDE IT OUT. Then you overlook that fall ahead of you ; and it takes your breathe away ; RIDE IT OUT . You may feel fear and panic and tears ; you may feel like screaming , shouting and you are just hanging on for dear life ; RIDE IT OUT. There are smooth patches and straightaways and the roller coaster does come to a stop, but in the beginning of quitting smoking just as in a real roller coaster ride , we don't quite know what to expect . It looks big and it looks scary . We step on with little faith and with little hope only protected by a buckle ; for the RIDE OF OUR LIFE. Oops! ( think I lost myself there and all of you LOL) Lets get back to quitting smoking and lets just sit at the top of this rollercoaster and think about things a bit shall we . Yup we have stopped at the top, and we are rocking back and forth . la ta da ta da back and forth. Ok so this is my thinking : If we were to ride the same roller coaster everyday then we would know what to expect and we are not as fearful when we know what to expect . Our fear and anxiety slowly subsides . The ride is still exciting and becomes rather enjoyable and even comfortable. We find the next turn won't scare us and the next hill won't take our breathe away , and roller coasters won't scare us anymore . And at the end of the day we get off excited and thrilled that we accomplished the uncertain and the unknown . Thats why "ONE day at a tIme works . Do it over and over and over ; at the end of each day be a winner . Some day you will tell this story to your grandkids, the story about the smokers rollercoaster quit ride . Perhaps someday you will go on a roller coaster ride with your kids and grandchildren to the county fair ; you will eat cotton candy ; ride on the ferris wheel ; or just watch ; but please if you do please share with them all the dangers of smoking and help them to understand that listening to advertisements about smoking and other smoking methods. may look appealing ; but they are preying on your young ; killers of your health ; your families health ; thieves of your money , and your life time. Smoking will never bring you happiness . Teach them that happiness is free ; you create it. There is no charge . OH by the way ? Are you still rocking back and forth up there on that roller coaster ? Move forward . You have a lot of friends cheering you on and waiting for you below . C YA ALL TOMORROW Link to original post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/5103-ride-it-out/

Hi @DebbieS, I've moved your thread to the appropriate forum, our Introductions and About us forum since this isn't an SOS for help from a bad crave. The SOS board is for when you're at risk of losing your precious quit and you need extra support to get through it. Post there and we'll come running!

Congratulations on your 1st month quit @Genecanuck and thank you for all your contributions to the board. Have a great day!

Hi @DebbieS, congratulations on deciding to quit vaping! Tackle it just like you did when you quit smoking. Get yourself some sweets to suck on, stay hydrated and we'll give you all the support you could need or want. We have a great vaping forum that will educate you on just how bad vaping is and the long-range dangers are still to be determined.............

Welcome aboard @Asphodelian and congratulations on choosing to take your life back! We can give you all the support you need as well as a ton of information about our addiction so be sure to check out all the various forums. We even have Social forums to help take your mind off smoking while still being close to your support. And by all means if you feel yourself caving to a crave come on and post in our SOS forum that you need extra support BEFORE you smoke so we can help you past it ☺ PS. I've moved your thread to our Introduction forum ☺

babs609 Quit Date: 07/13/2012 Posted September 28, 2015 As a young child and early in my teens, I was very confident. I wasn't the prettiest, smartest, most athletic, or funniest girl (well..I did win class clown in the 8th grade) as a matter of fact, I was an average teenager...but I was okay with that and pretty comfortable in my own skin. Somewhere along the line....in my teens...there was a decline in that confidence. It wasn't sudden. It was so gradual that I didn't even know it was happening. Years and years went by and I still thought inside I was this confident person I used to be but I wasn't. I was playing the role of the person I used to be. The person I wanted to be again. I didn't know how I lost it...I only know I wanted it back. Fast forward 25 years later and I quit smoking. It wasn't until then that I realized how much smoking had destroyed my confidence in myself. I didn't make the connection until I was free from the addiction. Today, more than ever. I realize how really damaging smoking is for not only physical health but mental health as well. I can honestly say that I am worthy, I am healthy, I am loveable, and I can achieve absolutely anything I want to in this life. Amazing! It wasn't even something I had to do....all I had to do was STOP. Stop putting things in my mouth and lighting them on fire...sounds simple enough, right?? LOL...the funny and ironic thing..is that it really is that simple. Link to original post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/6028-smoking-turned-me-into-a-total-coward/

Boo @tocevoD, what a bummer you smoked, you were doing so well. Maybe you should try letting us help you through a bad crave? Its worked for many of us including myself so its worth a try.......

Congratulations @garry mhudson on eight years quit my fellow Butt Kicker! And thank you for sticking around to support those coming behind you

Welcome aboard @I can do it and congratulations on deciding to take your life back. You can do it and we're all proof of it so lets get you past day three. First off its going to take a commitment from you to yourself that you won't cave to a crave. What I did when a had a bad crave was to go or do something that I never smoked at. Get some candies to suck on instead. I was hooked on soft peppermint puffs my whole first year quit. Can't smoke and eat at the same time right? I also used my JAC aka jillars air cigarette. I simply pretended I was holding an actual cigarette in my fingers and went through the motions of "smoking" it. It tricked my mind into thinking it was getting the real thing every time. Some people use cut straws, pens even licorice. I preferred my invisible one so I wouldn't have to remember where I put it lol. Its going to take some self discipline but you can do it!

No I'm sorry I don't. If you feel you can reach more people by posting the link then by all means do that it just can't be here. But our members have now been made aware of it by you so could search it out if they really wanted to. I would also ask them to report the channel in hopes of having it removed.

Welcome @DFINALJ, congratulations on over a year quit. Thank you for letting us know this kind of garbage exists. I have removed the link though as there's no need for someone who's quitting to view it and possibly get triggered. If you get a chance maybe you could head over to the Introduction forum and introduce yourself to everyone ☺

MarylandQuitter Quit Date: 10/07/2013 Posted August 1, 2014 I Know I'll Quit Again Video discusses the risk of allowing yourself to relapse using the logic that you can always simply just quit again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHp8yFnHbZQ Get Right Back In The Saddle? Still quit right away but figure out what went wrong and what happened so it doesn't happen again. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcEzzFM6c7A "Well at least I attempted to quit smoking. That's better than not trying to quit at all." This comment was stated by a clinic participant who, after five days of not smoking, gave in to an urge and took a cigarette. It was only going to be one cigarette, he thought. But by the end of the day, he was up to his old level. So what about his logic that at least trying to quit smoking is better than not trying at all? If this was his first attempt, it could be said that it was a learning experience. Maybe he just didn't understand the concept of addiction. He did not believe one cigarette could reestablish a physical dependency on nicotine. After taking one cigarette, he lost all control. So now, if he would ever quit again, he would not question the concept of one cigarette causing a total relapse. But this was not his first attempt quitting. It was his second time in our clinic, as well as multiple previous attempts at other programs, hypnosis and on his own. He once quit for two months before relapsing. At that time he broke all physical dependency on nicotine. Also, after two months he successfully overcame many trigger situations which cause many smokers to initially relapse. Work pressures, family problems, and social situations are obstacles that all ex-smokers initially face when quitting. He overcame all of these trigger situations. But then, one day, out of sheer boredom, he took a cigarette. In that attempt, too, he relapsed right back to his old level. Obviously, taking that cigarette was a serious mistake. This attempt, too, he chalked up to experience. But when considering his latter attempts, it is apparent that he learned nothing. Unless he objectively evaluates what causes his relapses to smoking, he is wasting his time trying to quit again. Because instead of recognizing his past attempts as failures, he rationalizes a positive feeling of accomplishment about them. This type of rationalization all but assures failures in all future attempts. Don't allow yourself to get into the same rut as this man did. On again, off again, one withdrawal after another. Quitting smoking is only the first step in smoking cessation. http://whyquit.com/joel/Joel_03_11_at_least_i_tried.html Link to original post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/2156-relapse-i-just-cant-do-it-right-now-i-know-ill-quit-again-back-in-the-saddle/

Hi @Linda, glad to see you and I'm happy you're keeping your awesome quit! Well done! ☺

I too am sorry for your loss @Genecanuck, you've been given some pretty big triggers to get past so early and should be proud of yourself for keeping that awesome quit. You're doing great!

Sazerac Quit Date: October 23, 2013, A Good Day to be Free. Posted October 22, 2019 In celebration of my Six Years of Freedom, I wrote this little piece, Sazerac's Simple Guide To Freedom Desire: You must want to quit more than you want to smoke Decision: Make the decision to live life without Nicotine. Commitment: Commit wholeheartedly to live without Nicotine and intend on standing by your resolve. Choice: Choose to never smoke again, EVER. This choice will empower you in many, many ways. “Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Education * Thanks to Joel Spitzer, this site and lurking around the sphere, I am still learning everything I can about Nicotine Addiction. Information is Big Power and I feel sufficiently armed to maintain my quit. Changing Focus. It took some doing but, s l o w l y, when junkie thoughts would drag me down, I began to train myself to look at something beautiful or think of beauty in some way. This retrained my brain and also gave me a bump of endorphins. I use this technique during any moments of distress or discomfort. These are not nicotine related anymore, just moments of life. The concept of H.A.L.T. * (are you Hungry (thirsty), Angry (emotional), Lonesome (bored), Tired) Nine times out of ten, smokey thoughts weren't about nicotine at all, it was my body (poor thing) hollering at me to do something life sustaining for it. Now, the signals are very clear and not related to nicotine in any way. I also want to share the benefits of Breath. Deep, calming breaths of Oxygen. An elixir to sharpen and focus your mind away from the patterns of addiction. Rewards * Not only does rewarding yourself help re-wire your brain receptors, treating yourself well and being as kind to yourself makes life nice. A little spoiling goes a long way, especially during rugged transitions of any kind. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Quitting smoking has taught me much about myself and the human condition. The truth and honesty involved in making and keeping a commitment to myself has been profound. I know myself so much better. I have exchanged an empty bravado for an inner trust and knowledge. I am grateful to everybody here, your stories, your triumphs and your lapses, too. ALL have helped me understand the hideousness of nicotine addiction and the Power of Choice, the Preciousness of Freedom. I am so proud to be part of this community. Y'all are beautiful nicotine free creatures, my friends. S *Joel Spitzer's Quit Smoking Library * Riffing On H.A.L.T. * The Significance of Rewards p.s. To anyone beginning their journey, I would recommend this thread, 10 Ways To Effectively Use This Forum To Stop Using Nicotine Link to original post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/13165-simple-guide-to-freedom/

Great post @DenaliBlues, I was the smoking spouse as well so can really relate to so much of this.... Thank you for sharing ☺

Thank you @Genecanuck for posting these topics from the quitnet site. I totally agree with there is no slip ups, only relapses and have also wondered many times the same things as the poster

Happy anniversary @intoxicated yoda, I hope you celebrate today! Thank you for sticking around and paying it forward

jillar Quit Date: May 29, 2016 Posted May 20, 2018 the perfect quit by jwg1763 » Tue Jun 22, 2010 8:03 pm Welcome come right in ,, how can I help you today? Umm yes I would like to see about buying a quit Well sir you have certainly come into the right store Let me show you some of our newer and maybe are best Ok ,, that would be great,, are they expensive? Lets just look and then we can talk price Umm , umm ok.. Now here this is a wonderful quit, about seven years old fully matured No cravings I can see no real problems for you and this quit I think it could fit you well… but you do have to walk it by 7 am oh and that’s after a good breakfast Umm , I work nights im not up at 7 am Well if you want this quit you will have to get a new job you can only work 9-5 with this quit do you have something else? Why sure we do,, we have the perfect quit right here for you this is the one,, it is only 2 ½ years old but very mature and well behaved However you do have to sit every day and eat two bags of pop corn While you watch the soap operas Ohhmm ,, I don’t like pop corn or soap opera s I think this is a house wife quit . Not for me Well sir quits don’t have a gender there just tailored Oh ,, I see well I need a quit that works nights Likes to sleep in in the morning,, play some video games Doesn’t like pop corn and about two meals a day What do you have like that? Well sir I don’t think you understand you have to Tailor yourself to our quits we don’t tailor them to you.. These quits have taken years to fit there original owners That’s what I want a quit tailored fit to me Where do I get one of those? You can’t buy one of those ,, you just have to stop smoking and Let it grow,, you have to nature it , love it, and respect it If I could just buy a quit like that just for me how much Would it cost? Sir a quit like that is priceless,, you do not have enough money `jwg` Link to original post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/10435-the-perfect-quit-repost-by-jwg/

Congratulations @Vuk, you're past the hardest month of them all

@Genecanuck, I can't imagine how much harder my quit would have been if there was still a smoker here but we've had quite a few success stories. You have to remember and keep telling yourself that you are quitting for you and that you choose to quit. That helps make it a little easier imo. Also ask your spouse to smoke outside and avoid those areas when they are out there or until you feel more comfortable with your quit. @Stewbum still has a smoking spouse at home I believe so maybe he can give you some clues as well

Irene Quit Date: 19 June 2020 Posted March 14, 2020 Before I even entertained the thought of quitting, I always looked at drug users or addicts with pity, thinking how lucky I am not to have fallen into that trap. Ironic huh? Now I have empathy. I'm not a person who bares her soul, wears her heart on on her sleeve, nor starting a thread about something she doesn't know much about....lol I know I'm not the type of person to join a group therapy session on addiction introducing myself and telling my story. Never! Out of the question! Why? Because my fear of quiting was to acknowledge my addiction, and in acknowledging my addiction, made me no different to any addict. 10 days into my 1st quit, I read Allen Carr, surfed the net, and found Quittrain...I knew this quit wouldn't last, and that I just needed to find an excuse to have that smoke. 40 odd days into my quit, I found one, feeble as it was, it was the excuse I was looking for. Still lurking on Qtrain, I started to take things more seriously... 4 days and 2 pkts later, I found myself stepping into that group therapy room...Qtrain..a very brave move from this introvert, but a wise one. It will take me a while to accept the thought that I'm always one puff away from renewing my addiction, to start baring my soul a little, opening up, feeling proud of the quit I am now building, to start enjoying the things I most enjoy without the necessity of have a smoke as well. One thread stood out for me..Introsucktion..MLMR which I highly recommend to all newbies like me..read twice and still find something useful. I know for a fact that I will have a wobbly and will be sorely tempted, and sincerely hope that I have the courage to ask for help. I have made the first step of opening up...now to embrace this frucking quit and start living Thanks for listening......you are all very appreciated, I hope you know that Link to original post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/13659-acknowledging-the-addiction/

New kid on the block

Said no one ever. But I guess there is one thing

Boo Quit Date: March 9, 2016 Posted March 28, 2016 For much of the last couple of weeks, I hit a mental wall of sorts. It wasn't that I was craving a cigarette so much as I was finding it difficult to identify myself as a nonsmoker. Nagging, insecure thoughts were persistent. I began to doubt if I was really done with smoking for good. My policy to this point had been to "fight like hell." What am I fighting? The fight is with addiction of course, but do I really need to fight? My addiction is my own creation and is not an independent entity. Addiction cannot hide around corners, jumping me when I least expect it and force me to smoke against my will. Addiction can only plant a seed, it is my choice to cultivate it or not. My addiction only has the power I give it. I've ceased fighting my addiction and since then, its voice has been a whimper subjugated to the back of my mind. When I was fighting tooth-and-nail, its voice roared. I recognize its existence, but now any irrational addiction thoughts that spring to mind are quickly silenced by reason and logic. I am not becoming complacent, I simply realized the futility of building a thing up only to spend the rest of the day attempting to knock it down. There is no reason for me to fight as I have finally realized there is nothing to fear. Maintaining a successful quit is a simple matter of never making a conscious decision to place a cigarette in my mouth and light it on fire. It does not get more simple than that. I spent time in the darkness, but eventually saw the light. Link to original post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/6851-perception-shift/