With The Holidays Now In Full Swing, Let's Be Ready!

[MarylandQuitter]

As we all know, the holidays can be a huge trigger for many ex-smokers especially those who've not experienced the entire event and season cycles that take place throughout the year.  For some it may be being around family and friends that are smokers and remembering how you used to smoke with them, it could be difficult because of loved ones who are no longer with us, stress for any multitude of reasons being around family, the noise, the chaos and the let down when it's all over.  For some it could mean your first road trip as a non-smoker or the loneliness that many feel during the holidays.

 

Just a quit note about feeling along during the holidays:  If anyone reading this feels alone, post.  I know that I'll be around here as normal so you won't be alone.  You may be sitting by yourself typing, as I often am, but not alone.  You're not alone if somebody is thinking about you.  :)

 

Be Prepared For Holiday Triggers

While filmed on Thanksgiving 2011, video relates to how any holiday or special annual event can result in more smoking thoughts than normal, and the importance of being mentally prepared for the occurrence of such thoughts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOQvS4hjKYY&list=PL4F05C03D0F9B86DB

 

How Holidays That Result In Three Day Weekends Effect Recent Ex-Smokers

While discussing labor day and fall kind of changes, issues discussed in this video applies to lots of holidays and situations like three day weekends and the end of vacations for recent quitters.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGCFdg9tY_w

 

Difference between physical and psychological urges

Video discusses how while the intensity between the psychological thoughts for cigarettes weeks or months into your quit may feel very much like the physical urges you may have encountered in the beginning of your quit, that there is an important difference in the two states.

http://youtu.be/_A8s7Pw7jA0

 

Everything You Did As A Smoker You Can Do As An Ex-Smoker

This video points out that many people don't even attempt to quit because of the fear that they will not only have to give up cigarettes when they quit smoking but also, all of the activities in their lives that they did with cigarettes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqlyAdvafio&index=13&list=PLCDB8BA311D538113

[MarylandQuitter]

Then of course you could have this along with the holiday triggers!  Remember why you quit!

 

The Terrible 3's

This video discusses why people "may" have problems at three day and three month marks.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTIr3UEez1w&list=PL4F05C03D0F9B86DB&index=11

 

Related articles:
The Miserable Threes
http://www.ffn.yuku.com/topic/13906
The terrible threes
http://ffn.yuku.com/topic/12531/The-T...
Other related videos:
How long before I don't want a cigarette
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLp_ic...
Change of season triggers
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADlHtj...

[babs609]

nice!

 

Always remember when any family members or friends go outside to smoke...they are smoking because they "have to" not because they "get to".  Don't fall for the illusion that it's something you are missing. 

 

It's what you "escaped"

 

Thank Goodness

[Leanna]

Nicely put MQ and Babs! I know the holidays are a rough time for a lot of people (me included), but MQ's right -- you're never alone. Feel free to post here throughout the holidays. I plan on being around as well, probably more so because school will be over and I'll have some time to unwind.

 

I've been through the holidays a few times as a non-smoker and can assure you that smoking will not make the feelings associated with this time of year go away. Just trust that the longer your quit is, the easier it gets.

[El Bandito]

Holidays are fun.

 

Even more fun when you do not have to put them on hold every 20 minutes for a smoke break. 

[joe]

All great advise for this time of year..



My quit date is Nov.20,2013....



When I decided to quit, the holidays were the furthest thing from my mind..That was a mistake!..



As stated above, those days can be a huge trigger.. and being prepared for what WILL happen can be the difference of whether you succeed or not.



I am fortunate to be surrounded by a large family...unfortunately, a good many of the brothers/sisters/in-laws are smokers,but thankfully none of my daughters or son-in-laws are..I was the only one in my household that smoked..



I had finally made the decision to quit because somehow, something clicked and woke me up to the fact that it WOULD kill me.. most my life I told myself not everyone dies from smoking, and it wont happen to me..I am sure I am the only one who has ever had that thought .(sarcasm)



I lost my Mother to lung cancer when she was 49 years old. ( I was just 28 years old)..

Ironically, a few weeks after I made the commitment to quit, I got news from my younger sister that she had lung cancer, but was found early, and was scheduled to have a lobe of her lung removed..as of today, she is doing good and the prognosis is still on her side.

How-ever, my Uncle (my Mothers younger brother) didnt know it , but he also had lung cancer at the time of my quit..he didn't get diagnosed until May..with stage 4 lung cancer...and he died this past November....see..i had nothing to worry about..it affects others..not me (sarcasm again)



on to the holidays..



Wow..how I made it through, is beyond me..i didn't join any support groups at that time..i just went cold turkey and somehow made it through...so it IS doable..how-ever, I encourage anyone who is in the early stages of their quit, to be prepared!..you will have an angel on one shoulder, and the devil on the other..and that damn devil can speak pretty loud!! ..it doesn't matter whats going on, your mind will be on sneaking away and lighting up...because that's what addicts do..we get a fix, and spend the next few minutes/hours figuring out how we are going to get the next one...the thought never leaves us, how-ever, we can quiet it down and ignore it...



By being educated...



watching Joels videos is the single most thing that finally got through to me...I cant explain it..you just have to watch them..after a few hours, I was able to admit i am an addict...and,no different than a coke, crack, heroin etc..addict,..my mind kept trying to convince myself that smoking was different...until finally,I wrapped my thoughts around the fact that I WASNT DIFFERENT..I was just as much a drug addict as the ones who were addicted to illegal drugs..my drug was legal and (somewhat) socially accepted,but just as powerful of a drug as those others....and just as devastating.



I tried...and successfully did... use the holidays as motivation to stay quit!..Like I stated..I have a large family...I have a brother and 4 sisters(all married..and plenty of nieces/nephews)..my wife has the same..2 brothers and 3 sisters(again all married and quite a few nieces/nephews, along with some great ones)..but most importantly, I have 4 beautiful daughters and 6 granddaughters..throw is a few son-in-laws, and that in itself is motivation enough for me to sustain my quit!..



Now..(and last year)..as a non-smoker (I really like saying that :D )..I can REALLY see the grip that smoking has on people.. Non of the relatives who smoke, smoke in the house or around others who dont smoke...so when I see the little groups heading out to the garage or patio...in freezing temps (we live in Ohio).. to light up..it is really sad..I have no "envy" for them because they can smoke, and I CHOOSE not to...I seriously feel sad for them...at this time, they have no choice..they are full blown addicts and HAVE to have that fix of nicotine to get through the next 1/2 hour or so...



the ironic thing is...EVERY ONE who stands in that little group all say to me that they envy me...thats right...AS SMOKERS...THEY ENVY THE PERSON WHO WAS ABLE TO QUIT!!!! Looking back I now find it amazing...as new 'quitters"..we look out the window and envy the ones who "get" to smoke, without realizing WE HAVE THE PRIZE..we get to NOT smoke..THEY are the ones who are missing something....not us!!!



last year at our family Christmas get-together, I was only about 1 month quit, but was able to use that knowledge to help me through it..in fact, I was able to hold my head a little higher knowing I got through, and everyone around me who smoked wished that they could do what I was doing...as we all do..i tried to convince them that they could do it too..but...they all have excuses as to why they would fail...so they wont even try to quit...i cant argue too much...that was me :( ..nicotine is THAT powerful of a drug..it wont even let your mind consider it..



so..after all this rambling..my advise to help avoid holiday triggers and cravings, are first and foremost educate yourself. The above links are a great resource and I highly recommend them any time of the year, not just the holidays..education is key!!



Also..you need to remember..you are the one to be envied..Make sure EVERYONE knows that YOU QUIT SMOKING!! it is something to be proud of! And I will bet, not one person will say it was the wrong thing to do. Smokers will envy you!.. Just remember, when the urge to light up becomes unbearable ...people light up because they are weak!..it will not be a strong moment when you give in, buit instead a weak one...YOU ARE STRONG! ..take it slow and occupy your mind with something else for a few minutes...go play with one of your young nieces or nephews..realize how good they smell...and.. you can actually smell them!..realize how bad YOU will smell when you come in with smoke smell hanging on your cloths :( .



That little voice inside that is trying to get you outside to light up.....is the same one that is telling you NOT TO...you have control over it..the voice of reason is powerful..listen to it!

[Wendy]

.

[ChRiSpY]

This time last year I was quit ... I'd quit 2nd November and had no idea how I would cope with Christmas ... turned out it was absolutely fine ... didn't miss it at all, although I did get stuck into the Christmas chocolates ...

 

This thread got me thinking though - one thing that stuck out was when opening the pressies ... the kids didn't have to wait for me to have a ciggie before getting stuck into unwrapping their gifts this time.  Ok so my eldest is nearly 20 and my youngest is 17 - they still get excited to see what santa brought LOL.

 

 

All those years when they were little and super excited that santa had been - dragging me out of bed at stupid o'clock in the morning ... and I made them wait till I had a cigarette.   :(

 

I've honestly not felt so ashamed as I do at that memory.

 

We all did that... no worries.  

 

Not about what you did before... it is about what you do next.

[Still winning]

This time last year I was quit ... I'd quit 2nd November and had no idea how I would cope with Christmas ... turned out it was absolutely fine ... didn't miss it at all, although I did get stuck into the Christmas chocolates ...

 

This thread got me thinking though - one thing that stuck out was when opening the pressies ... the kids didn't have to wait for me to have a ciggie before getting stuck into unwrapping their gifts this time.  Ok so my eldest is nearly 20 and my youngest is 17 - they still get excited to see what santa brought LOL.

 

 

All those years when they were little and super excited that santa had been - dragging me out of bed at stupid o'clock in the morning ... and I made them wait till I had a cigarette.   :(

 

I've honestly not felt so ashamed as I do at that memory.

We can use those moments to secure our quit now. To realize those babies, no matter how old, need and genuinely want us at times - how lovely is it they don't wait anymore :) 

 

I second the feeling though, it feels pretty bad. xx