Discouragement

[Linda]

I am ashamed to post this, but I had something happened,

and thought I needed to smoke a cigarette. Well I gave in at a weak

moment and did. We all know there is no such thing as smoking one.

I don't know if I have it in me to quit again. I feel like such a failure.

I worked so hard at quitting and I threw it away. 

[Linda]

Tried to delete my ticker, but not sure how.

It didn't work.Obviously 33 years is wrong,haven't quit yet 

so my ticker needs to be deleted. Tried but it wouldn't work.

Edited October 21, 2023 by Linda
Ticker not right

[Brioski]

I’m sorry Linda….I can feel your down in the dumps feeling through the screen.  I’d say just try throwing them out to start your quit again as soon as you can and just call it a blip in the matrix. 

[Reciprocity]

It must be terribly disappointing to experience a relapse after working so hard to remain quit. I can understand you want to beat yourself up over it but honestly that won't help anything and will only allow your addiction to worm it's way back into your life again making it even harder to quit down the road. Take stock of what's really important to YOU then ditch those nasty cigs and start again. It may be hard but you're worth the effort. NEVER give up on quitting - NEVER,

[DenaliBlues]

Hi, Linda dear. I am so sorry for your struggle. Ouch. But I also am really glad you shared about what happened and about your feelings.
 

Please don’t give into the shame. Regret? Sure. Anger? Totally. Guilt? Fine. But *shame* is a tool that Addict Mind uses to try and manipulate us back into misery by messing with our sense of worth and self efficacy. Addiction thrives in silence and isolation and shame - its fangs get sharper, its lies get louder. So speaking out like you are doing is a great way to fight back. Even tho you are feeling lousy, posting here is an act of strength and love.

 

I, too, once relapsed after many years. A big mistake I made then was giving in to the “I can’t do this” fallacy. That was Addict Mind lies, not the  truth at all.
 

The fact is that you CAN do this. Your time of freedom proves that you have the knowledge and tools and strength! You just need to take some extra tender care of yourself and your quit when life throws you a wrench. 

 

This relapse need not define you. You belong here. Throw those smokes out and get back to NOPE! 

[Doreensfree]

This is sad reading .

It a great reminder for us all

We are addicts and have to stay on our guard 

Dont feel shame .

Shame is NOT getting back on the train ..

Take your seat ,buckle up

Let's get you back on track 

[Gus]

Sad to see this Linda. I thought about you a couple of day ago. You and Kris. I wondered what you were up to. I missed the quotes you used to post for us almost daily. I remember you were having to deal with a lot off and on. You were having a rough time. But you fought through it all. You stayed quit and you helped Kris so much when she joined us. I know that you have it in you to quit again. I know that you are strong enough. I’ve witnessed it. I don’t know what caused you to dig up what you had buried thinking that it might help you deal with your issue, but I do know that you have it in you to bury it again. I’m thankful that you remembered us and are thinking about hopping back on the train with us. We are here for you, so toss those cigarettes and let’s get this done once and for ever!

[overcome]

Sorry @Linda do not beat yourself up too bad, and when ready get going on your quit again.

 

[intoxicated yoda]

I'm sorry you had a moment of weakness @Linda. Don't feed the addiction that negative energy.  I don't think it means you need to just throw all your previous effort away.   Ali didn't throw all his previous wins away just because Frazier beat him once.  He got back to training, booked another fight with Frazier and then beat his ass.  He was 56 and 5 and finished as a champion.  You can do the same.  You still have a winning record.  Finish as a champ.  

[Angeleek]

Hi Linda,

 

I think most of us quit several times before finally getting it gone for good.  You hold the power to rise above your nicotine addiction. Know you will overcome it. Never give yourself over to it. 

[Christian99]

Hi Linda--

 

In December 2001, I gave away a three week quit:  like you, I was pretty devastated.  But a couple of days later, I screwed up the courage to try again, and the cigarette I had on the evening of December 10th was the last one of my life.  I share this with you to let you know that, as hard as it seems right now and as discouraged as you might feel, your forever quit can begin right now.  You CAN do it.  

 

Peace--

 

Christian99

Nearing 22 Years Quit

[intoxicated yoda]

@Linda How you doing?

[Linda]

@intoxicated yoda I'm hanging in there,but this time seems

to be much harder than ever.Can't get my mind into the struggle again!!

Edited November 3, 2023 by Linda
Quote

[Paul723]

You have to push the idea of smoking out of your head.  The quicker you dismiss these thoughts, the easier it will be.  I used to tell myself "move on, I not going to smoke".  A positive attitude will ease the struggle.  You don't have to smoke, you are free.  Keep going.

[Doreensfree]

Take Smoking Off The Table ..

Once my junkie brain took this in ..

It made life easier. X

 

[Reciprocity]

You must fully commit mentally to quitting in order to get through the early days. 

 

It's like going swimming in cold water. You can't just stick a toe in the water and wiggle it around while pondering how badly you want to go swimming. You need to make up your mind before hand then dive right in. The initial shock of the cold water only lasts for a brief period just like the really difficult challenges you experience when first quitting.

 

Both these things are more of a mental issue rather than physical one; IMO

Edited November 4, 2023 by Reciprocity

[intoxicated yoda]

@Lindayou can do it.  glad you are sticking with it.  i know it took me forever to learn how to not focus on not smoking and i know you want this.  Pray for the strength to endure.  I was never much for praying but it's what got me through.

[jillar]

I'm glad you're posting about your struggles with this quit Linda because I sometimes think people take their quits for granted especially the ones who had easy quits so figure if this one doesn't stick they'll just quit again. 

As far as struggling, maybe it'll help to go back and read your posts from the beginning of your first quit. It may remind you that how you're feeling is normal and how you dealt with it back then. 

[Linda]

12 hours ago, jillar said:

I'm glad you're posting about your struggles with this quit Linda because I sometimes think people take their quits for granted especially the ones who had easy quits so figure if this one doesn't stick they'll just quit again. 

As far as struggling, maybe it'll help to go back and read your posts from the beginning of your first quit. It may remind you that how you're feeling is normal and how you dealt with it back then. 

@jillar Yes,I hope this will help someone else!! I thought my last quit was the last.

Have to stay on guard all the time. I will say each time it did get harder!

[overcome]

4 hours ago, Linda said:

@jillar Yes,I hope this will help someone else!! I thought my last quit was the last.

Have to stay on guard all the time. I will say each time it did get harder!

 

Agreed need to be on guard at all time, today doing some stuff in the garage and all the sudden, I felt the strongest urge to light up!!!!! I was like what the **** finally I managed to break free and come to my senses but it was pretty intense. 

 

Hang in there my friend, we are all behind you!  

[intoxicated yoda]

@overcomeglad you were able to fight it off.  those sneaky urges can be tricky to deal with sometimes.  

[overcome]

39 minutes ago, intoxicated yoda said:

@overcomeglad you were able to fight it off.  those sneaky urges can be tricky to deal with sometimes.  

Thought I was over anything like that and BAM there I was ....... thank you for the kind words. 

[Kate18]

Hi Linda, how are you doing now?  

 

I was a serial quitter/relapser, but never quit digging to find the deepest "why should I quit" that I could. For me, it was the spread of Covid across Asia. I knew it was coming here and I felt certain that, if I got it, I'd die because of compromised lungs.  The week following my quit (February something) Covid was discovered in the States about 15 miles north of me, in a retirement home in Kirkland, WA. (It was here sooner; it just hadn't been found until then.)

 

With a good enough reason, initial crash and burns don't matter. We don't give up.  And then we win.

[overcome]

Hi Linda - how are you doing, we miss you and hope for the best.

 

Merry Christmas to you!

[Linda]

@overcome I'm doing ok, haven't posted much,but have been checking

in and reading. Has been a struggle this time for sure.

Merry Christmas to you as well.