What brought you here?

[shaun]

Many people attempt to quit without joining a forum. What was it that made you come here?

 

For me, I'm a big fan Leo Babauta and Zen Habits, and he said that when he quit he joined a forum which really helped him in terms of support and accountability.

 

Then after many failed attempts i knew i needed to try something different, so i finally took his advice.

 

Any other Leo fans out there? I'd love to connect if there are, as his writing has sincerely changed my life and helped me in many ways.

 

But more importantly, i'd really like to know your personal story as to how you got here.

[Still winning]

In a moment of clarity after a healing course I decided to throw everything at quitting for one last time. That included support, I had none at home as we were all smokers terrified that someone would actually win and break away from the gang! I had been attempting without support and it was incredibly unsuccessful for me. However each attempt contributed in one way or another in terms of learning. Even if some parts of that learning were fairly obvious like I can't be a social smoker!

 

This place gave me a ton of suggestions of things I could do instead when I wanted to smoke, like a list of top 100 things to do instead and I knew I was home. I didn't really know how to get through a day without cigarettes, they were a big part of my life at 40 a day.  The reality is most smokers hate smoking...they just don't know how to be a non smoker.

 

Actually though, it's easier in the long run. Yes there are some mental moments, some early cravings but mostly it's just crazy thoughts of wanting to set fire to something, put it right up to your face and inhale all the drugs and chemicals.... when I broke it down like this, it seemed more than a bit daft to carry on doing it. It also educated me, on why I was addicted, as in how it actually duped me. Why I thought it relaxed me and shifted my understanding to the fact it was doing the opposite, revving me up but it was quieting the need for a fix which made me think that it was "helping" to calm me. More than all that though was the being accountable. A couple of times I would have thrown myself off the proverbial cliff but the thought of telling what was now friends here and maybe even having to leave them...that stopped me. It's a crazy, wonderful place :)

 

Off to look up this Leo chap. He sounds interesting.

 

x

[Doreensfree]

Desperation...after smoking my way through 52 years...

I developed a severe health issue....was given a choice....

Carry on smoking...lose a couple of limbs....

These folks here supported me 100 per cent....they gave me the tools...

I would never have done this alone....they are my dear friends and I love them heaps...

[sgt.barney]

Uhhh ... Getting tossed out of The Other Place?

 

 

Easy Peasy

[Tink]

Family and friends all smokers, I felt alone and knew I needed help and support, I found it amongst people with common goals who then became friends

 

Stick close Shaun x

[Jengelsnew1]

screw the other place...

[queen greenlover]

Me too Sarge, but I decided to see if I would be accepted here & I was.

[shaun]

In a moment of clarity after a healing course I decided to throw everything at quitting for one last time. That included support, I had none at home as we were all smokers terrified that someone would actually win and break away from the gang! I had been attempting without support and it was incredibly unsuccessful for me. However each attempt contributed in one way or another in terms of learning. Even if some parts of that learning were fairly obvious like I can't be a social smoker!

 

This place gave me a ton of suggestions of things I could do instead when I wanted to smoke, like a list of top 100 things to do instead and I knew I was home. I didn't really know how to get through a day without cigarettes, they were a big part of my life at 40 a day.  The reality is most smokers hate smoking...they just don't know how to be a non smoker.

 

Actually though, it's easier in the long run. Yes there are some mental moments, some early cravings but mostly it's just crazy thoughts of wanting to set fire to something, put it right up to your face and inhale all the drugs and chemicals.... when I broke it down like this, it seemed more than a bit daft to carry on doing it. It also educated me, on why I was addicted, as in how it actually duped me. Why I thought it relaxed me and shifted my understanding to the fact it was doing the opposite, revving me up but it was quieting the need for a fix which made me think that it was "helping" to calm me. More than all that though was the being accountable. A couple of times I would have thrown myself off the proverbial cliff but the thought of telling what was now friends here and maybe even having to leave them...that stopped me. It's a crazy, wonderful place :)

 

Off to look up this Leo chap. He sounds interesting.

 

x

 

Thanks for the story Marti that gives me a lot more confidence.

 

Uhhh ... Getting tossed out of The Other Place?

 

 

Easy Peasy

 

By other place are we referring to another forum or something?

[Evelyn]

This is a diffferent support forum I've encountered: people have strong quits and stick around to help newbies it's just about 'me, me, me' it's a group process.
These people witnessed me growing, having sticky quit and it was because of there's something, more supportive in this group.
For me praying helped a lot. Gained weight, yeehee :( but I'd never want to go back to smoking

[Evelyn]

Well I was asked in this place, and intuitivly this group felt better

[shaun]

This is a diffferent support forum I've encountered: people have strong quits and stick around to help newbies it's just about 'me, me, me' it's a group process.

These people witnessed me growing, having sticky quit and it was because of there's something, more supportive in this group.

For me praying helped a lot. Gained weight, yeehee :( but I'd never want to go back to smoking

 

I've seen this phrase "sticky quit" mentioned a bit on here, what exactly does it mean?

[Evelyn]

Yeah 'the other place' is another quit forum, after day 1 i was asked here

[shaun]

Yeah 'the other place' is another quit forum, after day 1 i was asked here

 

I actually joined another forum at the same time as this one, and i was immediately turned off by the other one because certain people were being aggressive, judgemental and even a little insulting. It felt like they were attacking other members rather than supporting.

 

My view on this is that an environment such as this, we should all have the right to feel safe and supported. I don't feel this is the place to attack people based on your own personal (and often misinformed) opinions.

[Evelyn]

Sticky quit means you got it and that you protect your quit no matter what. NOT ONE PUFF EVER, no matter what... scream, kick in the walls cry, hide in a closet but do not light that cancerstick!!!

If you have this mindset. You can get major setbacks, break-ups, arguements, illness, sad news a relative who passes, but you do not smoke and you know why?

Because it will not do ANYTHING for you, accept creating another problem, because in the end you want to quit anyway and there's no such thing as one puff, or jus 'one cig' those are junkie thinking we need to expose

 

Ok, lot of info sorry

[shaun]

Sticky quit means you got it and that you protect your quit no matter what. NOT ONE PUFF EVER, no matter what... scream, kick in the walls cry, hide in a closet but do not light that cancerstick!!!

 

If you have this mindset. You can get major setbacks, break-ups, arguements, illness, sad news a relative who passes, but you do not smoke and you know why?

 

Because it will not do ANYTHING for you, accept creating another problem, because in the end you want to quit anyway and there's no such thing as one puff, or jus 'one cig' those are junkie thinking we need to expose

 

Ok, lot of info sorry

 

No thats not too much info at all, i appreciate the break down so now i understand what people are talking bout. I like the concept.

[Evelyn]

Right now I'm living alone, you might want to check out my topic in the smoke section 'point of worry' and how I dismantle smokers junkiethinking and concersation 'in my head' seeying others smoke, while first think 'I want one'

[DCCXXVII]

Uhhh ... Getting tossed out of The Other Place?

 

 

Easy Peasy

 

 

screw the other place...

 

 

Me too Sarge, but I decided to see if I would be accepted here & I was.

 

 

Yeah 'the other place' is another quit forum, after day 1 i was asked here

 

 

[jimmy]

 a lot of friends here   asked me to join   

[action]

Hey Shaun, nice to meet you.

 

I decided to join an online community after I'd quit... when I felt like I had to do something different than I had tried before!  I joined an online community on day 16 of my quit, and never looked back.  The reason I am still at this particular place, is because of all the great people, who are now some of my good friends.  I had  a little break for a few months recently, but now I am back, looking forward to getting back into the swing again :)

[Evelyn]

You bet you are Action!!! just running off LOL

[El Bandito]

I too came as a refugee from a place of drama...

 

I came to forums as a place where I could get a laugh, a kick up the ass if required and real life experience of quitting.

 

Now - I repay the kindness that I was shown - in addition to all the above.

 

Leo and Zen - I follow his blog. Some stuff I really get - some other stuff not so much.

[Petra]

I too was on the "other" forum.  I came to a forum because I was looking for additional support.  I had relapsed after a 4 year quit.   I was so upset with myself.  I had done the first quit so successfully - it was truly Easy Peasy.  After relapsing, it wasn't so easy peasy to quit.  The support on a forum was just what I needed.  I spent many hours there - i bet i was on two hours a day some days.  :huh:  

 

When this site began, the cream of the crop came over, so here I am.  Many of us remained active on both sites, but for me, that became too much.  :)

 

This is a great place!  So many AWESOME and SUPPORTIVE people!!

 

Welcome to you.  We hope you are enjoying the ride. :)

[Devil Doll]

When I was in the process of deciding to quit it was right after Christmas but before the New Year. I had spent a majority of December in and out of the Emergency Room for different ailments. Blood pressure, lung and circulatory issues were among my health problems along with Diabetes and a host of other things. I knew that my heavy smoking was exacerbating a lot of my issues. I had quit many times before and all of them were unsuccessful I decided that I needed to do something different this time. I Googled forums and stumbled across the other place. I read threads there for a few days while still a smoker. Then I read one of the saddest threads that I have seen. It was a "goodbye" thread... One of the members had passed away from smoking related illness. The weird thing was it was the same member whose threads I had been reading for days. I joined and continued to read, I was still smoking as I set my quit date for January 1...new year, new start. Well, I ran out of cigarettes at 5 pm on December 31 and decided that was it. I wouldn't be running to the store for the "last pack". I started posting and never looked back. These people are what made the difference.

[cpk]

Something like Day 18 of my quit I was on the Internet trying to find out why I wasn't coughing yet my chest hurt a lot. Received a lot of responses from this site, then just stayed. My favorite thing is to read the feedback offered. Everyone is very generous offering what Mr. Bakon calls "free advice." (Hmm. What other kind of advice would there be on a quit smoking community forum?) The members here are very responsive if you throw a question out and ask about other people's experience. It's very, very interesting. As well, I have grown quite fond of a few people on QT who are like shining stars in the night sky...real hero and heroine types!

[ChRiSpY]

A$$holes on the other forum.