Veteran quitter

[Kimyogi42]

Hello all,

I'm new to these boards but not to quitting. I began smoking at 15 and continued throughout college, marriage, babies (although I quit for both pregnancies), to now where I'm 42, still married, and my babies are now 9 and 12. I have spent probably the past 12-13 years trying to quit.  I thought after the first pregnancy I'd quit for good. I would research and study everything that I could about addiction and smoking. Then, I thought that the second pregnancy I'd quit for good.  Same thing, over the years I've watched Joel's videos,  read Allen Carr's book, tried hypnosis-twice, patches, gum, Wellbutrin, e-cigs, running, crossfit, etc. I started studying yoga and breathing techniques and meditation...I even took a yoga teacher training hoping that it would help in my quest to quit smoking. I went from smoking a pack/day in college to 1-2 cigarettes/day now, unless I have alcohol.  Although I learned a lot about nicotine addiction, I couldn't get my mind right. My husband does not smoke, but likes to drink and likes for me to drink with him. Well, in order for me to be able to successfully quit smoking, I know that I cannot drink for a while and he does not like that, so, he hasn't been that supportive in my attempts to quit in the past.  This has been a major factor in my quitting and, sometimes I feel like if I could go away for a few months, I could quit easily...I have all the tools, I just need the support! Which leads me here today...I'm 2 days nicotine free b/c I refuse to spend anymore money on patches! I'm not the best with social media, and can't get on during the day due to work, but I need to remind myself to get on here as often as I can b/c this will probably be the only support that I get, especially when it gets closer to the weekend! Thank you all for listening!

[joe]

Welcome aboard,Kim... 

 

we we are here to listen and support you. It’s good to know that you have already been reading up on this addiction so you are already that far ahead of the game. As you said, you know alcohol is a trigger, so stay away for the first few weeks/ months of your quit... 

good luck , and stay as close to this board as possible... it really is a game changer!

Edited January 9, 2019 by joe

[Doreensfree]

Welcome aboard Kim...

Joining the Quit Train might be just the support you need to succeed...

I'm sorry your hubby doesn't show much ....but you will get enough of it here...

Yes !!!!Alcohol....it's ruined many a good quit ...so I agree best to stay clear ...for a while anyways ,till you feel stronger ...

Don't let anyone make you feel bad ,for not joining in ,on what they are doing ....

This is your quit ...and yours alone ...you have to do what's best for you....

Take Smoking off the Table .....this is one of the sentences ..my junkie brain understood....

You can do it !!!

 

[Mee]

Hi Kim.  You found the right place for support.  We are all ready to circle around you and help you on your journey to quit.  You quit during your pregnancies to save your children's lives, well their mommy is just as important.  They need you to be their for all their important moments in life. You can do this.  You already showed that you can. 

I look forward to seeing you on the forum and helping you reach that freedom you want. 

[notsmokinjo]

Hi Kim and welcome. So I am 42, like you I quit when pregnant and have a 12yo (almost 34... I mean 13)... unlike you I had a very long term quit that I threw away. I think the knowledge thing is a big one. So everyone is going to give you some wonderful advice on all things quiting (1 day at a time, just focus on 1 day... you know you can not smoke for a day, you have done it for 2 days in a row now.. and drink lots of water and juice... 2 biggest tips I have) but on the drinking front, I don't drink anymore, at all, this is a choice thing and a health thing.. but all my friends and most of my relos drink, a lot, and socialise with alcohol... so I took to drinking tonic water with a splash of bitters or drinking non-alcoholic wine... and you know what, it may not be top shelf wine but the psychological image of you pouring your drink from a wine bottle or having a GnT (even if its just the T) makes my friends relax a bit more when I'm not drinking and they are... although I have to say they do enjoy the fact I can always be designated driver.... maybe take the hard line with hubby... would you prefer I have a drink with you now or would you prefer to take me to chemo treatments later? Lay it out that bluntly.

[Sazerac]

Quitting smoking is going to change your life, Kim,

and change it in quantum ways.

You will experience a giant boost in self-confidence

and establish a real trust in yourself.

All that needs doing is making a commitment to yourself

that you will never smoke again.  Not One Puff.

If quitting drinking will help serve you, then quit drinking for a while.

Don't let anything/anybody interfere with your quit.

YOU decide whether to choose Freedom or Addiction

and get ready for a great awakening in your body and spirit.

Freedom is where it's at.

 

[Doreensfree]

Don't wait until you have a smoking related illness....COPD .....your hubby will have something massive to worry about ,beside whether you drink together....

Trust me on this ....

Smokers think ,it will never happen to me .....guess what ...it does .....

The lovely ladies above me have given you sound advice ....you have to want Freedom....then grab it with everything you have ..

[Reciprocity]

Hi Kim and welcome to Quit Train  

 

There's not a lot I can add to the excellent advice you have received above from these fine folk. Education about this addiction is key and you seem to have a good handle on that. The drinking thing well ...... hubby needs to understand your situation and cut you a little slack until you are able to handle it without relapsing. Jo's suggestion was a great one - non-alcoholic drinks for you. You can still socialize with him while he's having his drinks.

 

The biggest advantage to being here on this Quit Train is that you will get 100% meaningful support from a lot of people. And these are ALL people who know exactly what you are going through because we've all traveled exactly the same road as you. There's no better support network than that so yes, join in here and post as often as you can. Look at this place as a respite from the rest of your busy and sometimes complicated life. A place where you can come and bare your soul to other quitters who really get it!

 

See you around the train  

[jillar]

Welcome Kim and congratulations on two days quit, you're doing great already I didn't quit drinking when I quit. I like having my one or two beers in the evening and decided just because I quit smoking doesn't mean I have to quit having them. 

What worked for me was that I too have a never smoker husband so if there's no cigarettes in the house then how are you going to smoke? Sometimes when I was having a really hard day crave wise I would start drinking just so I wouldn't be able to drive to the store. I also used my air cigarette ALOT in the first few months. I preferred the invisible kind because I like looking stupid lol but others have used cut straws, pens, etc. You'd be surprised at how well it works to trick your mind into thinking it's getting the real thing.

 

[johnny5]

Welcome aboard, Kim.

 

I had several short quits that were ruined by drinking.  Alcohol is a huge quit-killer so  you may want to consider cutting our drinking for a while.

 

I didn't cut out the alcohol completely but I did make it a point to NOT drink in places where cigarettes were regularly available (lucky for me, most of my friends no longer smoke) and to cut down on my drinking.  That works for some people and it might not work for others.

 

Still, you need to tell yourself that quitting smoking is the most important thing for you right now.  It alcohol is a trigger, you will need to take whatever steps you need to make sure you don't light up.

 

Stick around this site.  There is plenty of support here if you are struggling.  You can definitely quit for good...you just need to recognize your triggers and have a plan on how to deal with them.

 

 

[Martian5]

Welcome aboard Kim, glad to have you along.  I really cannot add to what has been said above, all great advice.  Congrats on the 2 days.  Just come here when you can and you will receive great feedback and support.  This can be done as you have seen in the past.  Again great to have you along for this journey!!!!

[Kimyogi42]

Thank you all so much! Your support is greatly appreciated! I will stick around and keep reading and posting when I need a little boost!