DenaliBlues

Hang in there, Stew! Hoping that the diagnostics won’t be too tough.

NOPE

Me too @Melissa247! I re-read this post whenever I find myself romanticizing what it was like to smoke. Glad to have you with us! How long since your last smoke or vape?

That’s a lot to deal with, Stew! And you’re right about this irrational addiction… how many times did I smoke through bronchitis and pneumonia? Crazy. But it’s great that you can address this current cardiac challenge as a nonsmoker! KTQ Hang in there, buddy. Crossing my fingers for a good outcome.

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NOPE Hurricane Gulch, Cantwell Alaska

Wow, those hours, days, weeks and months are really adding up! So glad that you are here with us and are building such a great quit. Keep climbing toward that one year mark… with style!

Congrats @SD2026! Five months is major… you’ve built some strong quitting muscles and laid a great foundation for your Forever Quit. It’s been wonderful to have you in this community. You deserve a pat on the back!

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Love this post @Stewbum. Radical candor is a powerful antidote to prevent relapses and Stinkin Thinkin.

Ugh, so sorry that life is throwing you these left curves, Stew. Attaway to stay strong!

Well done, Wayne! Hats off to you!

Thanks for sharing this candid and important story @stzr500 And congratulations on your month of being nicotine free. Agreed that nicotine is a very powerful drug. So protect that beautiful and precious quit that you’ve worked so hard for!

You can do this @shy! Cravings are not commands. They are just loud obnoxious commercials for junk you don’t wanna buy. Like a big noisy trash truck. You wouldn’t chase a trash truck, would you? No, you’d just let it roll on by. Same with cravings. Just let them roll on by. Stay busy with other things. Another thing to consider is that by smoking occasionally you are probably INTENSIFYING your cravings. It’s counterintuitive, but for most people the weaning or “cutting back” method ends up backfiring. Because you keep re-activating the part of your brain that is used to nicotine, which keeps you in a constant state of withdrawal. And every time you smoke you start the cycle all over again. (Yeah, addiction is just bonkers…) Break the vicious cycle. Give yourself a chance to get through to the other side of withdrawal. Good things await you there!

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Well done!!

NOPE and NOPE!

Hey @Stewbum, it’s awesome to hear from you! Welcome back. We’ve absolutely been saving a seat for you. First class all the way! You just gotta get thru the “baggage compartment” first. Which means getting thru withdrawal, and letting go of the shame and fear. Addict Mind feeds off of those shame and fear feelings. So be sure to invite some other feelings along for your ride… like hope, renewal, love for your family, and fierce determination. Welcome back to Hell Week, but you know the terrain. THIS IS TEMPORARY. Stay busy, beware of stinkin thinkin, and don’t give those cravings your attention. Let us know how it goes!

Nice to meet you @Miscegene! I started smoking very young, as well. As a child. So young that I didn’t really have an adult identity without smoking at the center of my life. Or so I thought! Turns out that, as a nonsmoker, I’m still thoroughly me… just less stinky! Anyway, quitting may be tough but the rewards are amazing… more money, more time, better health, etc. But the real gift is that one’s brain chemistry is no longer held hostage. The early cravings can be rugged, but they are TEMPORARY. The gifts of quitting, on the other hand, go on and on and on… Hang in there. You can do this!!

NOPE

Welcome @greatcall73! It’s great that you are on the road to your own freedom, as well! There are many sources of strength to help us quit, and I’m glad that you have strong faith in your toolkit. And your other recovery experience will be an asset, too. @shy, good on you for being accountable for your slip. Pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and start again. The next time you feel tempted to smoke, immediately distract yourself… watch videos on this forum (I’m sure folks can offer good suggestions), call a buddy, take a walk, do countertop pushups, jump up and down, do the dishes… anything except smoking. My first 2 months of my own quit, my house was RIDICULOUSLY clean, lol.

Welcome to the network @shy! So glad that you found us! I’m glad that you have a trusted mental health provider. Now is definitely the time to lean on them - because there will be mental, emotional and physical ups and downs to navigate as you quit. Not gonna sugar coat it, withdrawal sucks. So marshall all your resources… including this board. Learn all you can about addiction, too. That really helps, as others have said. But even as you prepare for tough times, don’t be surprised if your mental health actually IMPROVES once you finally quit! No more cognitive dissonance. No more worry about each cough or palpitation. Freedom from shame. Freedom from that sense of failure. Doing something life-affirming that you will feel so freaking proud of. All of these gifts, and more, await you on the other side of withdrawal. I always thought quitting would consign me to a life of pins and needles and misery and longing. But I was wrong… that was my addiction serving up some stinkin thinkin to keep me hooked. The truth is that I am calmer, complete, and more independent without nicotine. It’s a beautiful thing. You CAN do this. And we’re here to encourage and support you. Keep us posted on how things are going!

Hey, Sandi. Sorry to be late to the party, but I wanted to wish you a VERY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! I remember your early days here… you were having a truly grim time, but you wanted to be free so badly, and you leaned into the support here. And look at you now!!! Finally free, and paying it forward as one of our fabulous moderators. Your perseverance despite your cravings made you a true quitting Wonder Woman! Congrats, dear.

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