Newbie Party!! (Everyone's invited)

[c9jane29]

First of all,

You guys are doing it!!

 

I want to check in with you guys and see how everyone is doing...

One thing we love around here is a quitter!! Another thing we love is talking about quitting 

So, please grab a drink and some stinky cheese and tell us how you are...

You know, What helps? What doesn't? What is sticking with you? How did you "survive" the first few days/week that so many others fail?

 

You never know who could be lurking and maybe your comment (from a fresh quitter in the trenches) will be the one that helps them commit.

 

So, congrats! And cheers to us, the ones that choose life!

 

[c9jane29]

This also might be a good time to really think about finding a quit buddy or accountability partner.

There will come a time in your quit that you want to be left alone. We get it. But, there will also be a part of you that wishes you had someone to check in with.

I wish I had found a quit buddy. I didnt think I would need one as my quit has been easy. Then my hard time came...and I truly truly wanted to reach out to someone but I didn't know how.

The person that stepped into the role as my accountability partner didn't (doesn't) know what those few messages meant to me, but they put light back in my heart...just by saying hi. You will want that too, I promise. 

[notsmokinjo]

^^ See that.... 100% on the money.... I didn't think I needed a quit buddy either.... but I lucked out to and found myself with a quit buddy or a few even... but there is always that one who can read your post tones and just knows something is off.... that 'voice' on a screen has been the light to guide me out of some really dark places during my quit.

 

So to kick festivities off... and cos its not a party without fair bread and stinky cheese is definitely not a substitute.... tuck in:

 

[c9jane29]

6 minutes ago, notsmokinjo said:

stinky cheese is definitely not a substitute....

Well, I warned you about these dang llamas @notsmokinjo

[WeegieWoman]

did someone say party?  ive brought some scotch eggs yee haaa

[jillar]

Great post Jane and spot on! We are all in this fight together and need each other to conquer (at least) the first full year. Be it advice, lending an ear, saying silly things to get a smile or even tough love. The list goes on and on at how we can help each other. 

Newbies, you are not alone. We have people from all over the world here and chances are someone will be here within an hour of your posting. And sometimes way sooner  

So since this is a party, let's party!

[c9jane29]

25 minutes ago, jillar said:

So since this is a party, let's party! 

Let your hare down, girl!!

 

I guess between the stinky cheese and scotch eggs it smells like an Easter day fart in here 

 

Do the locomotion!!

[Sazerac]

Way too much food at this party, it's going to kill my high !

 

[Mee]

6 hours ago, notsmokinjo said:

that 'voice' on a screen has been the light to guide me out of some really dark places during my quit.

I have been feeling that way the last two days.  It is funny how all the encouragement has been keeping me from posting.  Didn't want ya all to be disappointed in me.  I am almost two months and surprised to be feeling that panic of wanting to run to the store.  I am positive I am not going to act on it but disappointed that I am thinking it.  Then there is this kind of down feeling that I am not.  I feel foggy, yucky, blah and am disappointed in that because you would think all the crap would be out of my system and I would feel great!

I really don't feel like a party right now but am glad you posted it to keep the conversation going.  

[notsmokinjo]

18 minutes ago, Linda Thomas said:

It is funny how all the encouragement has been keeping me from posting.  Didn't want ya all to be disappointed in me. 

 

Oh Linda you are nearly two months... that is a really new and shiny quit sweety... we would never be disappointed in you posting that things were tough... I understand that feeling though. I have rough spots every now and then still.... nothing like early on, even the rough spots are less significant now.... but if I need to I still post and now I tend to worry more so about putting newbies off by having them think, oh but Jo is 9 months and she had to SOS it will never get better.... but you no what the biggest thing to disappoint me is... if you are doing it tough and you don't shout out, you don't post and say "hey guys did anyone else feel like they were doing fine and then suddenly it was all hard again?".... or "Hey talk to me peeps, I'm struggling here".... its when people don't do those posts and just vanish into the night never to post again... those lost quitters, especially the ones who don't come back to try again... they are the ones that makes me sad more so than disappointment... but saying you are having a few bumps on the way to freedom.... that is frickin heroic my friend. A friend on this journey once said I don't want to post about the bad days and the struggles because it might put those behind me off... I see it more as... ok feeling like this is normal... and Oh late month two early month three can be hard, others who went before have found that, right lets sure up the defenses, NOPE, NOPE, NOPE.... can ride this out. 

 

SO my last big challenge, was a few months ago.... and it was close, but I didn't post about it until after the danger (and lets be serious it was a few hours in the middle of the night when I got in my own head and romanticized the whole smoking and embraced the thoughts... so I made it more than it was) and I think because it was so close, and because I didn't say anything I pretty much got the message my quit mates weren't too impressed with me NOT saying something at the time... it was the only time I have really felt like I disappointment anyone here... and it wasn't because I had a melt down in the middle of the night, it was because I didn't say "struggling here with an urge and smoking thoughts".....

 

You are never too far along in your quit to let it all hang out and say its a bit tough at the moment. You my dear friend need to remember what Aunty Saz says..... put you and your quit first.... everything else second..... we wont judge you and you deserve to be heard, you are worth listening too and you are valued.... remember that always.

Edited September 26, 2018 by notsmokinjo

[jillar]

Well said jo, @Linda Thomas, what you're feeling isn't different from what I felt almost my whole first year. The way I got through it was by posting. Members assured me what I was feeling was normal and nothing to feel ashamed of. Heck I started smoking at 17 and continued for 35 years! That length of time isn't going to 've erased by only a few months so please give yourself a break.

We love when members post. It not only helps you but any lurkers reading behind the scenes and shows everyone that yes you may be struggling but you refuse to give up all that hard earned time.

I think it was @Lust4Life that made a thread not long ago about having thoughts well past a year. I agreed wholeheartedly with her. It's going to happen so posting about it helps everyone know what could happen down the road. 

[c9jane29]

@Linda Thomas is in the house!!!

 

((Thank you for your honesty))it is hard when the constant thoughts have you pacing. We know allll about it. 

Find yourself someone you can message when you need to. We love to help! 

I don't care if you don't party with me today; (you will someday soon) I'm just glad you are here and still smoke free!

 

 

[Sazerac]

1 hour ago, Linda Thomas said:

I have been feeling that way the last two days.  It is funny how all the encouragement has been keeping me from posting.  Didn't want ya all to be disappointed in me.  I am almost two months and surprised to be feeling that panic of wanting to run to the store.  I am positive I am not going to act on it but disappointed that I am thinking it.  Then there is this kind of down feeling that I am not.  I feel foggy, yucky, blah and am disappointed in that because you would think all the crap would be out of my system and I would feel great!

I really don't feel like a party right now but am glad you posted it to keep the conversation going.  

 

I am so proud that you are quitting smoking and would never be disappointed you weren't feeling like 'Polly fcuking Anna'.

Euphoria comes and goes, just like in real life,  irregardless of smoking.

 

It took a year for all the gunk to be out of my system...maybe even 16 months.

The encouraging part was knowing, deep down, that I was never going to smoke again and that will come with time.  You can fake it till you make it....I did.

 

Your quit is young, Linda.  Cut yourself some slack, be really kind to yourself, reward yourself copiously.

Craves can pop up out of nowhere, your addict is desperate and will stop at nothing to ensnare you.

Stay focused and alert. 

You quit smoking.  There is  nothing more to negotiate.  You quit smoking.

 

Celebrate and reward yourself DAILY !  I'm not kidding.  Your brain needs to learn what rewards are, what pleasure is.

 

[Sazerac]

 

[c9jane29]

11 minutes ago, Sazerac said:

Celebrate and reward yourself DAILY !  I'm not kidding.  Your brain needs to learn what rewards are, what pleasure is.

Hear! Hear!

Cheers to rewards!

[Mee]

Well I did not want to be the party pooper but I'm glad I finally posted.    It is a comfort to know that it is normal to feel like crap  I should have known better about posting because you do all make me feel better.   I know I have confidence in my quit but I did think I would feel better by now.  I do have a very complicated life right now and I know that plays a lot into the way I feel.  Oh,  And a heads up to all, I will definitely need support the first part of October.  We will be getting the whole family together for my dad's 90th birthday and I can't tell you how many nuts there are in the family tree and how these nuts push my buttons.  

Thank you all for jumping in and lifting me up.   Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.  If not, I will give a shout!

[Mee]

9 hours ago, WeegieWoman said:

did someone say party?  ive brought some scotch eggs yee haaa

Those actually look quite interesting.  Never seen them before.

[c9jane29]

29 minutes ago, Linda Thomas said:

And a heads up to all, I will definitely need support the first part of October. 

 

I'm ready @Linda Thomas!

[notsmokinjo]

49 minutes ago, Linda Thomas said:

Those actually look quite interesting.  Never seen them before.

Scotch eggs are awesome... I only make them at Christmas or if I'm off to the races.... At Christmas I even make prawn ones.

[Mee]

6 minutes ago, notsmokinjo said:

Scotch eggs are awesome.

Okay a recipe would be nice.  They look like hard boiled eggs, breaded and fried.

Edited September 27, 2018 by Linda Thomas
spelling

[notsmokinjo]

Will post both recipes today...and the recipies for the dipping sauce.

[TobacNO]

I'm 9 days in now and sometimes that feels like a long time without a smoke and other times it seems like I just quit today.

 

 Cravings are all over the place. Yesterday I could almost taste a cigarette and I went through about a hundred Life Savers and Tootsie pops to keep me on the straight and narrow, Tough day but I made it through.

 

 Today about noon it struck me that I hadn't thought about a cig up until that point (saw someone smoking in a movie) Then the regularly scheduled cravings were back but at least I had a few hours respite.

 

 One thing that has been the biggest problem for me is the lack of sleep and the off the wall and really vivid LSD trip type dreams I have when I do manage to sleep. Anyone else have that particular problem in their first week or so?

 

 Regardless, I've made it over a week without a smoke and I will NOT let my addiction draw me back into one of the most useless and self destructive habits the human race has inflicted upon itself.   Nope!

[Mee]

2 minutes ago, TobacNO said:

Regardless, I've made it over a week without a smoke and I will NOT let my addiction draw me back into one of the most useless and self destructive habits the human race has inflicted upon itself.   Nope!

Good for you.  That is the kind of thinking that will get you through.  Stay close and promise nope and we can do this together.

[jillar]

@TobacNO,  the insomnia is totally normal right now unfortunately. And I love trippy dreams, had two last night lol, so just enjoy them while they last  

I had some of the best dreams ever a few years back when I tried quitting with Chantix. It was almost worth using again this quit just for the dreams lol

Nine days is awesome so give yourself a pat on the back because you're doing great

 

[c9jane29]

43 minutes ago, TobacNO said:

Regardless, I've made it over a week without a smoke and I will NOT let my addiction draw me back into one of the most useless and self destructive habits the human race has inflicted upon itself.   Nope!

Cheers to you, @TobacNO and your big fat NOPE!

The beginning of the quit is an emotional rollercoaster! At 9 days, I would chalk the "cravings" up to only smoking memories. You used to smoke, now you don't, and that's all. 

Wear that quit with pride!!

I'm glad you're on the Train, TobacNo!