Ankush

Nope

Water, exercising (during the week), and sticking to a wake time and sleep time usually makes the morning stuff happen for me. Usually, there is Morning Stuff Volume 1 before breakfast, and Morning Stuff Volume 2 after breakfast.

@hesteralumni23 I hope you find what you're looking for. All the best!!! P.S. - I hope my replies in some way didn't influence your decision. Take care

@Doreensfree Yes, I've seen that thread. I thought of letting off steam there several times, but eventually decided against it, because some the things I say when I'm angry may be offensive to others on the board (in spite of the thread being a swear thread), even though it won't be directed towards anyone on QuitTrain.

Thank you @QueenB

@Boo Thank you

By my experience, many people do that...I've had friends who are like that, I've been like that as well, irrespective of being angry or not. Problem is, it can be misunderstood in so many ways. I suppose its OK to swear, its 2019 after all.

Congratulations on achieving the 3 month milestone!!!

@hesteralumni23 As an example, when I do have a crave for a cigarette, I admit it to myself that "Yes, I have a crave" but I then say to myself "I'm not going to succumb to it". Now, I understand that this "Haze" that you speak of is not the same thing as a crave to you, but since you already admit that you're in The Haze, you could maybe soon after tell yourself "I'm not going to succumb to it, instead, I'll do something else"....just a suggestion. As mentioned by others on the board, you may have other issues and traumas that you're dealing with. Here's a link to a channel I found on Youtube. It's by a former therapist, named Daniel Mackler. Please do have a look at it. https://www.youtube.com/user/dmackler58 Here's another video that may help you. Pay more attention to the part he starts talking about the "craving monster". If it makes things easier for you, you could replace the words "craving monster" with the words "The Haze monster". https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tTb3d5cjSFI Hope this helps.

I do work out, at least 4 times a week. I used to think that it would be a great way to channel my anger into something positive, but it turns out it just doesn't work that way for me. It's not like I'm angry while working out. I may be angry before or after exercising or at any time during the day, irrespective of what activity I'm doing during the day, it depends on what's going through my head and if somebody makes me angry. I like to keep calm as far as possible while doing a given activity.

Nope

@Sazerac Ok, Thank you

Thank you @Sazerac I haven't picked up any new skills from quitting smoking. I can be patient if I think its necessary (although my patience is limited), so I applied my patience to taking things a day at a time for the quit smoking process. I used to deep breathe before, I don't anymore though, and that's because I don't need to use that tool anymore to get past a crave. Maybe I should use it as a tool to calm down when I get angry. Yeah, that's a good idea. I'll try that. Many thanks for getting me to thinking about this. Then again, my patience is limited to how much I can control my anger. What a conundrum.

I never understood the rules of "sticks and chicks". As far as I could figure it out, well...no, I couldn't figure it out at all.

Confession: I have anger management issues. Don't like this about me, tried to change, but to no avail.

Now that you mention it, that is another thing that used to worry me. Not having a cigarette in the beginning of the day after breakfast and not having the last cigarette before sleeping at night. I had forgotten when I posted my fears as to what I would miss. Since I had forgotten this fear, its a positive step in the right direction.

Instead of taking expectorant, I would suggest plenty of juice (especially Cranberry) and water over the next three days. 3 days is all it takes for the Nicotine to get flushed out. Here is the link to Joel's Youtube channel. Watch his videos, it may help you. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCag4hg_fX_NnOb1N4yXA97Q Check out the playlist section, and watch the videos a day at a time as organized. Try to break yourself out of the mentality that this is going to be a non-smoking period. Think of it as ex-smoker freedom. Somehow, in the beginning, your friend has planted the thought that you are a smoker, and that's what set you on a path to smoking and other forms of drug abuse. I don't know how to put it. Here's what I can tell. People have their own way of getting their dopamine release. Some do it through drugs (legal or illegal), some do it through physical activity (my brother told me that there is something called the runner's high), some (like my mom) get their fix by having that cup of tea (or coffee). We are all with you, we all have been addicts, but that's no reason to succumb to junkie thinking and to taking a puff. It is probably difficult for you, but avoid thinking - "90-120 days over, I'm in that haze, now I need to smoke", try thinking - "90-120 days over, I'm not in that haze, time to up the ante on my exercise regimen" (since you like physical exercise). Maybe you could take up yoga with your girlfriend as well, go for the trek. Eat well. All the best!!!

Thank you very much @Whispers, @Boo, @johnny5 and @jillar

Nope

Thank you very much @Sazerac

@Sazerac That's OK. P.S. - this is why I mention the name of the person I'm addressing over text/chat/comments online. It just makes the conversation clearer and avoids misunderstanding.

@Sazerac To clarify - I'm not against Joel in any way. In fact, it was his videos inspired me to go cold turkey, and I'm grateful for his videos. I did say it was a great video. Also, I do think, since he makes the videos, they will all have his own words. I didn't mean that in any negative way.

Isn't that a good thing? You may say since he's never smoked, he doesn't know what an ex-smoker goes through. But he does, since he's dealt with so many people (through his clinics or online) who have quit smoking, he has a lot of insight and experience (without being a smoker).

I am under the impression they're his own words.

Thank you very much @BKP and @Martian5