Prevential SOS

[Evelyn]

I'm going to therapy boy am I cracked as I come out so I am scared I'll light one, everyone smokes there :( I have to wait for my taxi. How to handle besides the NOPE. 

[El Bandito]

Hi Evelyn - You go to therapy to make things better. I know that you have said it can be a crunch - but it is positive. 

 

Can you wait for your Taxi inside? - Perhaps read a magazine?

 

Do you have some boiled sweets that you can suck?

 

But - at the end as you say - it's simple - NOPE

[Pippa]

Hey Evelyn - you have already identified a possible trigger - so go prepared - take distractions like candy or whatever treat you like - for me it was licorice - plus make sure you have a bottle of water. You know you will face a challenge but go in prepared and you can do this - just remember NOPE !!

[Tink]

good idea to have a plan Evelyn - maybe take a bottle of juice with a straw, gum, candy, use your phone, find some non smokers and engage in conversation with them

 

take something in your bag to keep your hands busy - I have heard an elastic band to ping or twiddle with have helped some people to keep hands and mind busy

 

xx

[action]

You've got to stick to NOPE Evelyn. Sometimes it's the only thing you have... Can you print out some of the material from the board and take it with you to read if you need it?!

[Evelyn]

Ill take a bottle of water with me, munt gum and extra food to chew on. Am prepaired now

[sherry]

All great ideas Evelyn.. keeping that "hand to mouth" thing occupied was (and still is for that matter) important for me to not smoke.. good plan, yer do'n good.

[Still winning]

What you've come up with is whatI did in trigger situations. Cling to that bottle of water and take sips when the crave hits, it distracts your brain momentarily. Mint gum or hard boiled sweets to suck were my other attack method. Brilliant ideas.  Also a small one that might help is to click your fingers as craves hit, it gave me something to do with my hands? xx

[Lynn]

You can do this Evelyn.  Bring lollipops or tootsie rolls with you.  That really helped me.  Just look at the smokers and realize that they have to smoke and you do not.  You have broken away from that deadly addiction.  You are free and going to stay that way, one day at a time.

[Evelyn]

I didn't smoke but wasn't able to go in depth with my therapist :( to scared for the emotions and that I would relapse. 

[El Bandito]

Congratulations on not smoking. As for the therapy - I am not qualified to comment.

 

Keep on keeping on Evelyn! You are doing it. 

[Still winning]

Evelyn, I am so happy you felt well enough to not smoke. I am also not "qualified" to comment on the therapy side of things but am defo happy that you are happy. xx

[Rain Forest]

Evelyn, this is when you decide what you're gonna do BEFORE it happens.  You got some great advice in this thread.  If it were me, I would have a few cig-size plastic straws with me so I could "smoke" them when I leave therapy... you'll have the feeling of smoking, the ritual, all of that... give it a try.  You can do it! :)