DenaliBlues

3. Bhaingan Bharta (smoked eggplant Indian curry)

Quantum Physicist

NOPE

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Uranium Inspector

Koi

1. Baba Ganoush

Ostrich Breeder

… @Cbdave surprised everyone when he whipped out a harmonica. He started playing…

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…things looked grim for a while. But @Stewbum came to the rescue by…

9. Sliders

Great to know a little bit about your situation, Michelle. I’m sorry that you are coping with health issues. I hope you feel better soon. It sounds like you have a lot of really great reasons to quit! Those can provide a great North Star as you go through the first difficult and disorienting days. The feelings of envy/longing evolve and fade over time. Stick with it… it gets better!

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nope

Hey @MLMR. Thanks so much for this post. It’s important to be real. Quitting is hard enough physiologically and cognitively, but I’m not sure we have enough honest talk about the emotional and mental health aspects of addiction and recovery - bleak bits and all. When I first quit I was most terrified of despair. Terrified that I would never be happy or whole without smoking. I was wrong. That was not an accurate assessment of my mental health - it was addict mind panicking about losing control. Those moments that feel like you MUST smoke (or that there is nothing to lose) cannot actually be trusted. In fact, I think nicotine makes depression worse… I won’t lie - it was gnarly. I was messy a lot. But it did not destroy me. In fact, it fortified me… to be free of the shame, the shackles of compulsion. My advice for what it’s worth: get a good therapist and try again. You belong here, my dear.

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7. Chili

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That’s awesome @Kdad. You’re on your way!! If you stick to NOPE you never have to wrestle with the discomfort of withdrawal again. Keep it up!

Glad to hear you are determined to stick to NOPE! It’s rough at first, but freedom is beautiful in the end!!

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