Andi

Kate- you are still not smoking so you are doing FANTASTIC! It may help you to think about the comfort that routine has given you. Most smokers love routine, that is why it is so difficult to let go of the cigarettes. So, replace your old routines with new, healthier, happier ones. If they are moving you towards your goal, then they are part of the plan. Stay the course. If you find yourself having so much difficulty with decision, you may want to make a calendar or list for yourself. I.E. on Monday, Wed and Friday you do this etc. Use this as a starting point for reorganizing yourself and then be flexible for the new experiences you will be encountering.

I quit 11 years ago and I still occasionally find myself wanting a cigarette. Here's the difference between a quitter and a smoker. A quitter doesn't smoke. A quitter realizes that the craving they are experiencing is the sign of something else that needs to be attended to. A smoker smokes- then wonders why they can't quit. ~~~~SMOKING ISN'T THE ANSWER, IT NEVER WAS~~~~

Congratulations! You have made the best decision ever. I'll share a few things I learned during my quit as I also used the patch. That was 11 years ago. I'm not sure if this is your first quit but it doesn't really matter. What matters is where you are now. You understand that you are going through a behavior change as well as a physiological change in your body. You will need something to help you with the "oral" fix. There are many good suggestions. One that seems very successful if cutting up straws to the same size as cigarettes and putting one in your mouth. You can go through the whole reach for the smokes, put it in your mouth and suck routine that you are used to . Some quick tips- That drug store that you used to buy your smokes at. Don't avoid it, confront it. I used to go to Walmart once a week and look the large wall of cigarette cartons. I'd stare them right down and say aloud "You CAN'T have me! I win, you lose!". It worked. The patch- you will come to a point where you need to get rid of the patch or you will just be getting the nicotine from there. When that time comes buy some small square band aids. I used to put the band aid on the same part of my body where the patch had been. I basically "fooled" myself into thinking I was still getting nicotine. This worked amazingly well and the final withdrawal was almost painless. Just remember- Smoking is not the answer, it never was. Once you quit smoking, you need to deal with whatever it was that was really bothering you. You must develop different copying mechanisms but you will and you will succeed. Just tell your self that you have no choice. I wish you the best!

Hi Linda- I'm fairly new to this group but I'm cheering for you! I quit 11 years ago after smoking for over 30 years. It isn't easy but it is doable and so very rewarding. We all have different things that help us. ~Smoking isn't the answer, it never was~~ When you accept that the cigarette smoking never really solved anything then you can get to the real work at hand. Smoking is a symptom. Don't let it overwhelm you but it really is as simple as this: It's a decision that you make and once to make it, you need to stick to it. No matter what. I quit once and never smoked again. I went through withdrawal but it eventually stopped bothering me. It never was as bad as the smoking. It truly is uplifting when you realize that you are no longer a slave to your addiction. I walk by people who are huddled outside in the rain trying to smoke and I feel so grateful that I am no longer one of them. Hope you are doing well!

Thank you!

Nope- never again, thank you.