New here

[LeapOfFaith]

Hello,

I am new here and desperately wanting to quit. I’ve been able to cut back from 20 to 14 a day but can’t move passed that! I am so afraid of cold turkey. Every night before bed I say “I will not smoke tomorrow” and I wake up, contemplate for about a nano second and light up! How did you resist that first one?

[Doreensfree]

Hello and welcome LOF...

Please check our Main Smoking Discussion Board

All the posts pinned with green are there to get you going and will answer alot of your questions 

I had to change my morning routine all together ..coffee and smoke went together..so i changed to fresh orange ..its all about changing patterns ..out with the old ..and in with rhe new ..

Glad you found us ..believe in yourself...you are stronger than you think .

 

[Gus]

Welcome @LeapOfFaith! It’s good that you’ve decided to quit smoking. If quitting cold turkey is not for you there are nicotine replacement therapy products that are available for you to use. I suffer from severe anxiety and depression and I knew that I would not survive a complete break from nicotine. I used the patch and they helped tremendously. I still had to suffer from the withdrawal of all of the added chemicals tobacco is laced with and that in and of itself was rough. Eventually, as I worked my way through the step program of the patch I basically just forgot to put a patch on one day and I knew that I was done. I’ve never looked back. You are going to have to throw out all of the cigarettes and smoking related items(lighters, ashtrays, etc.) and resolve to not buy new ones. Like with myself and so many other addicts we have the “if you’ve got ‘em smoke ‘em” thought process. Grab a glass of water or fruit juice, brush your teeth upon wakening, something, anything to keep that mouth and those hands busy. You have decided to do something so good for yourself. I hope that you stick with it. It is so worth it. There are a lot of us here to help. Make use of the SOS forum as needed. The more you stay connected with us the more grounded you will be in your quit. Everyone here wants to help you along the way and wants for you to succeed! See you around!

[Brioski]

I’m the same way Leap…or I was the same way?  At night I would say no more and morning was right back to it. I literally made myself and said out loud “I’m walking to and sitting at the computer…couch…dining room table…”etc. and did stuff to keep occupied…read news, quit train, TikTok, my mom who quit did Facebook, song pop, online games.  Some stuff to get your mind off of it.  After a while it’s 10am, 12 pm, 2 pm, 4…dinner time, reading/online stuff/iPad, then bed.  Idk how to explain it but even though there was craves it was motivation to keep going each day as the hours/minutes went by, eventually days. Don’t get me wrong it sucked, but u do get through the craves.  These ppl here help a TON too…they’re literal angels

[overcome]

Welcome @LeapOfFaith congrats finding your way to the train, here you can learn and get support from some amazing people, you are in for a fight but it is worth it. All the best on your journey.

One book that really helped me, some not as much, is The Easy Way:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Allen-Carrs-Smoking-Without-Willpower/dp/178404542X/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=HTUC010V3JR0&keywords=allen+carrs+easy+way+to+stop+smoking&qid=1684330072&sprefix=Allen+Carr%2Caps%2C173&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExUUxNUElHVEtIMFVQJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODYzMTQ4MzZBUFBPNDdCOEU5RSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjUzOTYyNkVGVzdQRFhDNjRGJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

[DenaliBlues]

Nice to meet you @LeapOfFaith! I’ve certainly been where you are - I imagine most of us have been. The pattern you are describing is classic addict behavior. I, too, deluded myself for years that I could regulate or moderate my smoking. Hogwash.

 

Probably the first thing to do is get brutally honest about being an addict, and to connect with your WHY. What’s not working for you any more about smoking? How has it imprisoned you, or harmed you or others? 
 

Once that’s said aloud or put in writing, then you can find your HOW. Lots of approaches work, different strokes for different folks. I personally did the NRT route, combined with an occasion (dental procedure) that  made it impossible to smoke one morning. There are lots of ways to get started. This is a great place to record your ideas and get feedback and support. We’re here for you when you take the plunge!

 

Edited May 17, 2023 by DenaliBlues

[Christian99]

Welcome LOF--

 

It's important to know that it CAN be done; YOU can do it.  You've already gotten some great advice, and I want to underscore the point about changing your morning routine.  For me, that meant standing at the stove and making real oatmeal, the kind that benefits from regular stirring.  That physical act helped me, and I even began to have some fun experimenting with different ways to make and add various items to my morning oatmeal (or what my wife sometimes called my "gruel").

 

One key, I think, is to make some changes--morning and otherwise--that work for you and your personality.  There is definitely not a single way to do this.  Knowing that I tend towards the obsessive a bit, I decided to start a daily exercise regimen and made significant changes to my diet:   my thinking was that this would give me something else to concentrate on instead of the thing I was ostensibly denying myself.  (I also used nicotine gum and wellbutrin for about two months.)  That worked for me, but it definitely wouldn't work for everyone:  sh*t, I like to say that the Ben and Jerry's approach (that is, getting through the initial stages with comfort foods) is just as legitimate as more abstemious methods like mine.  And, given one's personality type, it may very well be better.  The most important thing is to quit and to reclaim your health and freedom from smoking.   

 

Let me reiterate that you CAN do this.  And, deep down, you know you must.  

 

We're here for you, friend--

 

Christian99

21+ Years Quit

 

 

Edited May 17, 2023 by Christian99

[Mac#23]

Welcome aboard LOF, once you are truly ready and have your mind set, you can do this. The path to a happier and healthier life is not easy but is 100 percent doable. Just take the Nope oath daily to not smoke at all for that day and the days will slowly add up. Take advantage of all the info, videos and all the forums. They will help you pass the time or beat cravings. The videos will give you knowledge and knowledge is power. We will support you the entire way. Remember you are stronger than the addiction.

[LeapOfFaith]

On 5/17/2023 at 6:28 AM, overcome said:

Welcome @LeapOfFaith congrats finding your way to the train, here you can learn and get support from some amazing people, you are in for a fight but it is worth it. All the best on your journey.

One book that really helped me, some not as much, is The Easy Way:

 

https://www.amazon.com/Allen-Carrs-Smoking-Without-Willpower/dp/178404542X/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=HTUC010V3JR0&keywords=allen+carrs+easy+way+to+stop+smoking&qid=1684330072&sprefix=Allen+Carr%2Caps%2C173&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExUUxNUElHVEtIMFVQJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODYzMTQ4MzZBUFBPNDdCOEU5RSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMjUzOTYyNkVGVzdQRFhDNjRGJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

 

On 5/17/2023 at 12:59 PM, Mac#23 said:

Welcome aboard LOF, once you are truly ready and have your mind set, you can do this. The path to a happier and healthier life is not easy but is 100 percent doable. Just take the Nope oath daily to not smoke at all for that day and the days will slowly add up. Take advantage of all the info, videos and all the forums. They will help you pass the time or beat cravings. The videos will give you knowledge and knowledge is power. We will support you the entire way. Remember you are stronger than the addiction.

 

[LeapOfFaith]

I am beginning to feel a change in my head about quitting. This morning when I woke up the first thing I thought was “I’m not feeling the same twitch of having to smoke” of course I DID smoke but each cigarette after that was preceded with the same thought. I have been able to increase the amount of time in between cigarettes today but the thought of not knowing when the next opportunity will come makes me smoke. It’s odd because I can often go 5 hours at work without smoking and barely thinking about it! This mental game is the hardest part! Like when will I be ready to bite the damn bullet??

[Doreensfree]

The time to bite the bullet is now..

Its like pulling a plaster off slowly

it hurts more ..you have to pull it off fast..

All you are doing is prolonging the moment you quit.

Arm yourself with your tool box ,

Come here and read everything  join in with  the newbies ..

Come here and post every day ..

It works ...

Take that Leap...why put more poisons in just to try and get rid of them later ..

You can do it ..believe in yourself .

[jillar]

16 hours ago, LeapOfFaith said:

Like when will I be ready to bite the damn bullet??

 

Only you know the answer to that but we'll be here when you do to support you  

[intoxicated yoda]

@LeapOfFaith I had to do all sorts or mental gymnastics to get myself to quit.  Ultimately I ended up originally committing to not buying anymore.  I think that short circuited the fear I had about quitting. Switching brands may have played a part too.  In any case, the universe is telling you it's time to put them down or else you wouldn't be here.  You can do it on your terms or let the universe decide for you.  It will be much easier to choose to quit than to be taught the harsh lessons from the universe.  Good luck LOF.