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TEW (TearyEyedWoman) ---- running coach and pt philosopher

Special discount on nope tats Ladies with flip flops welcome

Sign on tattoo shop: COME IN AND GET NEEDLED

Thanks, RF.

Did you have anxiety a month ago in your quit...around 10 weeks?

working on week 10 --- experiencing tons of free floating anxiety it really sucks and am going to get into bed and pull the covers up over my head as virtual town's tattoo artist don't trust my shaking hands so this week approach at your own risk! that's all...just marching... (just waiting for one of those gems of days when sun is shining and everything is groovy...just gritting my teeth and waiting cuz the good days do show up...)

:yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo: :yahoo:

Hugs to you, dear one. You were the first person I read coming onto this site.

I've was lurking and reading old threads from a year ago onwards. It's interesting, like looking at a photo album. All the oldies...back then...wobbled a bit sometimes ...struggled to rebalance, and shared their struggles. Everyone marched on, got stronger Those who valued not smoking more than smoking stayed on Reading the old threads was good. Just people...all different kinds of life situations. Sharing one thing, holding onto their quit. Keeping it as simple as possible. I just wanted to post to say thanks.

whatever...

s Bakonistic philosophy. I wondered if these other women understood you so glad you took the time to explain your view on flip flops. But, okay....here's another question about summer...why do grown men wear baseball caps turned around backwards like they are 8 years old??? :soldier_girl:

:pleasantry: :yahoo: :pleasantry: :yahoo:

Congrats, sweetie. Treat yourself to something extra specially special this week! :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub: :wub:

Writing it out is always so good, too. I've kept a journal of my quit journey. Looking back, I can see the progress. I am sure I wouldn't have remembered the specifics, such as being too winded to walk on week 3, and then by week 6 being able to walk for 2 hours straight. I would not remember these details. But they are all important milestones.

Thanks for everyone's input. Since smoking is so all encompassing, taking it away is an eye opener. However, taking it away also reduces its power, and negates it as a linchpin. Taking smoking away is sweet! I was down to 10 low-nicotine smokes a day before I quit, so I can specifically remember when, where, and how I smoked. I don't miss any of them, and the craves or triggers are easy to knock down, except for the ones I get when stressed. Those are the toughies. Bingo! again. I don't need to make a list of life stress situations as I got them imprinted on my brain. I have three main areas to work on. (I kind of think in lists.) But I am going to make it a point to separate the new normal of not smoking from all the rest of the stuff. And, to see where there's overlap. This thread has been very helpful going into so-called No Man's Land. Counseling is a good idea, although sometimes not easy to put into place. I tried to find a good grief counselor after my sister's death without success. I ended up being my own grief counselor, being trained in the field. For this No Man's Land time think I will use REBT techniques, which aim to correct cognitive distortions. (REBT for Rational Emotive Behavioral Therapy techniques) I now see, after reading this thread, I need to strengthen my coping skills, and directly deal with the areas in my life causing stress. That's a lot to work on, so it seems I'll be pretty busy while in No Man's Land. I'll be back to report on that part of my journey. This was a radically helpful thread.

Thanks so much for this.

huh?

Glad to hear it's "not a command." Too much talking and writing about this has actually gotten me to feeling depressed!

Maybe nothing I spoke about was related to smoking. (Bingo! Insight!) When you quit it's hard to sort out what's what. I have a lot of life pressures. Not smoking might actually not be tied up with any of them. I don't miss smoking, and if I get craves and triggers - let them come! - so I can kick them to the curb. Not smoking is one of the sweetest things that has happened to me in 2015. There are some other sweet things, too. With time, one comes to know which emotions are related to not smoking, and which are related to the normal complexities of life.

Thank you, steadfast one. You are always there, and it's everlastingly comforting!

Well, I have only just entered this phase of the journey. In my post about entering No Man's Land I pointed to a feeling of grieving the loss of a habit that was once thought to be a comfort and solace. It is true we pick up these addictions ourselves, and need to hold ourselves accountable for throwing them down, however, those who are attracted to substances may be trying to emotionally soothe themselves, and heal real psychological wounds. So I guess part of No Man's Land is to defeat cravings while allowing feeling states to breathe. In the long run this will make for a hardier personality, and someone able to help others and pay it forward. Presently, I feel raw, depressed, sad, and solemn, and it's hard to believe I ever had a joyful thought, comforted anyone, or shared a laugh. I'm mentally, emotionally, and physically drained. I can very well see why many people drop quits between 2 and 5 months. One has to face their own idiocy, mistakes, failures, and lack of common sense...as well as betrayals, lost dreams, heartaches, and existential loneliness. But this kind of writing is really for a blog, not the board. I don't have anything more to say. I just want to grind out the third month on my own.

Interesting description of passive and active approaches. I think I prefer passive approach, just taking situations as they come. Having identified stress as biggest obstacle, I could challenge myself more, like "attacking" my tax prep instead of procrastinating, like am now doing. I have faith that if I just keep not smoking, I will relearn everything I want and need to relearn.

Read this piece somewhere else, before writing my own thoughts on newly entering this phase, and I found this piece uninspiring, and even somewhat depressing. Smarty Marti suggested a much more positive outlook regarding this stage in one of her comments to me, bless her wisdom. Marti suggests this is a pivotal stage, where the practice of knocking down craves and triggers gives the quit its strength and vitality. Like working out. No one likes the actual working out part. Everyone likes the results. I have also been thinking that as the new warrior exits the first few months of the final war, he or she is mentally exhausted because it's hard work. Again, Smarty Marti has great advice, and she suggests taking it easy when it's being easy. That lady needs to post longer bits! She's a marvel!

Just mad cuz I called you bouncing ball. Have it your way. You're not bouncy, then. Thanks for helping me build a good quit, and for smoke free garage.

Never said TOO long, just looooooooong. (take back WL) I deserve kudos for actually reading entire tome. In fact, took hint from bakon novel and myself watched smokers smoke...taking their drug every 20 minutes. Observing smokers cements facts about addiction. Makes one think, "I am so glad I'm not doing that," because addiction aspect looks very desperate and sad.