TravellingSunny

@Sazerac, I know. I know. It certainly IS making it harder. Everytime I think I've got a head start on the junkie thinking, I'm slammed back with a stupid "I want a cigarette" thought. How I've been addressing that is to remind myself that it's NOT what I want, and then I just try to think about something else. Anything else. Whatever I've gotta do to divert my attention. This isn't the first time your advice has mentioned being aggressive or merciless in stopping those thoughts. But, HOW? They just creep in there without my permission. It feels like all I can do is dismiss the thought (or ridicule it) and move on. But, when you say we should be merciless - what do you mean? I'll be minding my own business, not even thinking about smoking, and then all of a sudden - BLAM! I feel that "longing" for a cigarette, and I have to put the damnable thoughts aside and ignore them until it passes. My brain knows I don't want it, but the thoughts pop in there anyway. How do I stop those thoughts?

Milestone reached today. I forgot how many days it's been since I quit. HAHAHAHAH! Not for long, of course. The math was easy enough - it's only been 17 days. But, this morning is the first day that I didn't know EXACTLY how long it's been and had to count them out.

I can totally relate! The last time I quit, I did so with almost an entire carton of cigarettes under my bed. My husband had bought them for me just a few days before my quit date. I kept them out of sight, but I always knew where they were, and it became a source of pride for me that I was "able" to quit with those still available to me. After two or three months, I finally gave them away. I think it really boils down to whether or not you're ready to quit or not. Honestly, if a crave or circumstances get tough enough to make someone decide to throw away their quit, it won't matter (necessarily) if they have smokes or not. They can always just go to the store to buy them. Of course, having them readily available makes it much easier to cave in, because you wouldn't have that cool-down period of driving to the store to get them. But, I totally understand the sense of accomplishment that's derived from winning that internal battle.

@Sparkzzz - Well done! What an inspiration!

@Jetblack: I think you and I are struggling with the same demon. I don't want smoke in my lungs, but I want to smoke. I don't want to smell like a cigarette, but I want to smoke. I don't want to spend half of my disposable income on tobacco, but I want to smoke. I don't want to die a slow, painful death, but I want to smoke. I don't want to set such a horrible example for my kids, but I want to smoke. I don't want to be out of breath when I'm walking up a flight of stairs, but I want to smoke. So, I'll keep reading about addiction and NOPEing until it finally sinks in to my thick skull. Maybe I'll always want to smoke, who knows? I am an addict after all. But, as long as we want to be non-smokers more than we want to be smokers, we can still win this battle.

I feel like those of us who are in hell or heck week should be required to wear this quote on tee shirts when we venture out in public. Front and back. LOL!

Enjoy the ups when you have them, and harness the satisfaction and strength you get from those ups to help sustain you in the lower moments. You've got a fantastic attitude, and that is going to help you out A LOT! Edited to add: I'm having a particularly wonderful day today myself. Didn't even THINK about a cigarette until I'd been up for about an hour and a half. Celebrate the accomplishments!

That first week - oh, man! Sounds so easy... just DON'T smoke. You can do anything else, but don't smoke. Silly as it sounds to those who are fortunate to have never picked up the habit, It takes some serious willpower and commitment to keep yourself from smoking. And, look at you! Hell week? Check. Done and did! There'll be a roller coaster of emotions over the next few weeks and months, but you've started out strong and I don't expect you'll be letting up anytime soon. GOOD GOING!! Reach out to us if it gets tough - you're doing a super job!

@Ren OMG that's scary!

Truer words were never spoken. You DO have the strength, and I'm so happy that you're doing so well!

Amazing! Congratulations!

Wow! Major accomplishment! Congratulations!

@Ren I totally remember how after a few months, everybody stopped congratulating me on a job well done, and were of the opinion that since I'd gone without smoking for that long, I was in the clear. Obviously, I wasn't. So, WELL DONE YOU! 50 days is an awesome accomplishment, and you are a total Superwoman!!

Not today!

Nopity nope.

Nope.

Valuable lesson that I'm still trying to learn. Thank you for sharing this. I needed to be reminded.

-6

@lml - Five days?!? That's amazing! The first week was soooo hard! Congratulations! Make sure that you are rewarding yourself for your accomplishments!

I love that you come back monthly just to give us updates (and maybe help keep yourself accountable in the process.) Kudos to you for 9 months!

Oh, Suz, good on you for 47 days strong! What an accomplishment! Glad that you've decided to join in the posting fun. I've found it extremely cathartic.

Welcome to QT, Hermine! Glad to have you here!

Sunny, calm down. breathe a few breaths. You are not going to get that 'ahhhh' from nicotine any more. that is GONE. You can get that 'ahhhhh' feeling from LOTS of other things that won't KILL you. Breathing is good. and Oxygen gives me the most reliable, "AHHHHHHHHHHH". Breathe, baby.

That's wonderful! Congratulations, Tyme2B!

Oh, wow, congratulations, Wee Fluffy Me!