Our double think minds

[mightyboosh]

In 1997 I quit for seven years and then started again. We all know it's like being an alcoholic in that one puff and we're back to square one and my story proves it.

My delusional thinking when I started again went like this.

My friends and I went on a mini trip to Poland so I thought that it didn't really count as real smoking because I was abroad and not at home, which would constitute real smoking obviously   

Of course, because it wasn't real, I would easily quit again the moment I arrived back in the UK. Oh, when I meant back in the UK I didn't include when back at Manchester airport because that's sort of still half abroad isn't it? 

So when I got back home I was full of good intent for a few hours but because it was still the same day as when we were in Poland, I might as well carry on just for the day and stop tomorrow as I was still sort of over there in my mind because I'd left only a few hours previously. I will definitely give up tomorrow, I told myself.

Well, tomorrow took an awful long time to arrive. It arrived on the 22nd August 2019.

[Mee]

I can't imagine quitting for so many years and going back.  Sharing your experience makes me realize I will have to address my quit everyday.  Not One Puff Ever the rest of my life.

Edited September 5, 2019 by Linda Thomas

[Sazerac]

We must always remain cognizant of our addiction

and jump on junkie thoughts Immediately before they manifest.

Red Flags

Complacency is idiotic.

 

So happy you are with us, @mightyboosh !  

Your experience lights the way.

 

 

[Reciprocity]

Thanks for sharing mighty. We are indeed addicts for life. It just becomes very easy to maintain abstinence once our quits are strongly established. the only fly in the ointment is that it is super easy to toss that all away if we ever allow junkie thinking to once again take hold in our brain. Your story illustrates this very clearly Mightyboosh! This can happen to any one of us if we get careless at some future point.

 

Much easier to maintain than to rebuild - much easier!

[mightyboosh]

18 minutes ago, reciprocity said:

Much easier to maintain than to rebuild - much easier!

38 minutes ago, Sazerac said:

Complacency is idiotic.

 

I'm glad I have that experience as a warning against complacency.  Also, at least my body had a rest for those seven years. 

[Sazerac]

4 minutes ago, mightyboosh said:

 

I'm glad I have that experience as a warning against complacency. 

 

 

I'm glad to have your experience as a warning against complacency, mighty one !

[Doreensfree]

Thank you for the great Reminder ...once a addict always a addict...we are all one puff away ..

Always be in our guard ...

I carnt imagine how I would feel if I lost this quit ...I don't think I would have another one in me ...

It would mean me being in deep trouble ...

Never take that puff ...