Greetings from Joel Spitzer

[Joel Spitzer]

 

 

Video explaining how I am joining up at Quittrain and will occasionally participate at the site.

 

Related resources:

 

Is cold turkey the only way to quit?

 

Sharing our materials at other quit sites

I realize I forgot that some of my relapse prevention materials can also cause a bit of controversy. I will avoid ever posting or engaging in any of the slip/relapse discussions that may happen at the site. I do feel that the “Why people smoke” materials and the “Why people should quit smoking” materials can help all people no matter what approaches they are choosing to use to quit. Most of the relapse materials too will be good for all members and readers but some people may want to steer clear of the resources touching on the slip vs relapse issue.

 

About Joel Spitzer

 

Link to the new index page

 

Edited December 31, 2017 by Joel Spitzer
Added link to new index page

[MarylandQuitter]

Hi Joel!  Thanks for registering and for all of your help over the past years.  That video index is an amazing tool!! 

[Joel Spitzer]

Thanks MQ. I really appreciate the guidance you gave me on how to create it. It took me close to a year to get it figured out and created but I am really happy to have it up and going now. Look forward to being able to use it to help your members and reader at the site. 

 

Joel

[Reciprocity]

I quit this year and have found your videos plus the support from members here a huge plus in my quitting tool-kit. Thanks!

[Cristóbal]

Welcome Joel !!!

 

I am so glad to see that you have joined the forum.

 

 

Cristóbal

[Joel Spitzer]

I am glad that you have found my materials helpful reciprocity. Congratulations on what looks like your 11 months quit.

[Joel Spitzer]

Hello Cristobal. Good seeing you online again too. 

[Sazerac]

Joel,

I am delighted to see you have joined QTrain.

You were instrumental in helping me quit smoking and deal honestly with my nicotine addiction.

For this, I cannot thank you enough, Joel.

 

Along with you,  

the truth, affection and camaraderie I found on QTrain 

has been essential in protecting my quit these last four years of freedom.

 

Thank you,

S 

[Joel Spitzer]

Glad to have been able to help Sazerac. Don't give me too much credit for your success though--your work and your efforts is what made your quit successful. The page http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-couldnt-have-done-it-without-you/ addresses this issue. Also, I think you will appreciate the page http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/quitting-smoking-can-be-a-very-lonely-experience/

Congratulations on your four years of freedom--and remember to keep the streak going is as simple now as remembering to never take another puff.

 

Joel

[Doreensfree]

Hello and Welcome Joel..

Between your good self and the folks here..I finally quit after 52 years of smoking...

At the beginning i watched and listened day and night... Knowledge was my tool....

I am delighted to see you here...

[Joel Spitzer]

Nice to meet your Doreen.

 

You wrote that knowledge was your tool. I believe knowledge is the greatest tool any smoker can utilize to successfully quit smoking. The one page I have that focuses on this issue is http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/resources-related-to-the-importance-of-being-smarter-than-nicotine-as-opposed-to-having-to-be-stronger/ 

 

So many people are afraid that they can't quit because they are not strong enough to overcome the grip that nicotine holds on them. In truth though, people don't take control of their addiction by being stronger than nicotine, but by becoming smarter than nicotine. This is not that big of a task considering that nicotine has no intelligence whatsoever. So a little bit of knowledge can go a long way--actually all the way in finally taking control over nicotine addiction.

 

The one piece of knowledge that people need to understand to overcome nicotine's grip is that all that they need to do to stay free is to make and stick to a personal commitment to never take another puff.

 

Joel

[Stewie]

Hi Joel! Welcome.

 

I´ve been talking to you occasionally on youtube under the nickname "ILikeTurtles" ;´D

 

I barely think of smoking anymore but back in 2016 i watched your videos a lot. Man, i was climbing walls, watching your videos and drinking cold water nonstop! :´D

 

Thanks a lot for your materials and all the work you do. :´)

[Joel Spitzer]

35 minutes ago, MrTitwank said:

Hi Joel! Welcome.

 

I´ve been talking to you occasionally on youtube under the nickname "ILikeTurtles" ;´D

 

I barely think of smoking anymore but back in 2016 i watched your videos a lot. Man, i was climbing walls, watching your videos and drinking cold water nonstop! :´D

 

Thanks a lot for your materials and all the work you do. :´)

 

Nice to see you here too ILikeTurtles. I believe we have had quite a few conversations through the YouTube comment section over the past year. Most people on that channel just ask a question or two or send a simple thank you. There are a few people though who are I have had more regular and ongoing conversations with--and I feel like you are in that category. Later I will go check through the comment section on the channel and remind myself what our major topics of our conversations were over there. Whatever they were, I hope that you found them all helpful. Look forward to seeing you around the board here now.

 

Joel

 

 

[Joel Spitzer]

16 hours ago, reciprocity said:

I quit this year and have found your videos plus the support from members here a huge plus in my quitting tool-kit. Thanks!

 

16 hours ago, Cristóbal said:

Welcome Joel !!!

 

I am so glad to see that you have joined the forum.

 

 

Cristóbal

 

15 hours ago, Sazerac said:

Joel,

I am delighted to see you have joined QTrain.

You were instrumental in helping me quit smoking and deal honestly with my nicotine addiction.

For this, I cannot thank you enough, Joel.

 

Along with you,  

the truth, affection and camaraderie I found on QTrain 

has been essential in protecting my quit these last four years of freedom.

 

Thank you,

S 

 

5 hours ago, Doreensfree said:

Hello and Welcome Joel..

Between your good self and the folks here..I finally quit after 52 years of smoking...

At the beginning i watched and listened day and night... Knowledge was my tool....

I am delighted to see you here...

 

5 hours ago, Doreensfree said:

Hello and Welcome Joel..

Between your good self and the folks here..I finally quit after 52 years of smoking...

At the beginning i watched and listened day and night... Knowledge was my tool....

I am delighted to see you here...

 

I just figured out how to use the "quote" feature here. MQ wrote me yesterday to just hit the "Quote" function when wanting to respond, but for some reason I thought it meant hitting the "+" next to the "Quote" and nothing was happening. Now I got finally got it.  Sorry for not getting these quotes into the responses that I did yesterday to these comments.

 

Still getting to know the different functions on the board. When you use the quote feature, does it notify the person who was quoted that you have responded to their post?

[Reciprocity]

34 minutes ago, Joel Spitzer said:

 

 

 

 

 

I just figured out how to use the "quote" feature here. MQ wrote me yesterday to just hit the "Quote" function when wanting to respond, but for some reason I thought it meant hitting the "+" next to the "Quote" and nothing was happening. Now I got finally got it.  Sorry for not getting these quotes into the responses that I did yesterday to these comments.

 

Still getting to know the different functions on the board. When you use the quote feature, does it notify the person who was quoted that you have responded to their post?

Yes it does notify the poster that you have quoted them in a post you made. Here's the notification I got from you quoting me

 

Joel Spitzer quoted you in a topic: Greetings from Joel Spitzer
35 minutes ago

[Devil Doll]

Welcome Joel. 

Thank you for all that you do. Your videos and knowledge helped me immensely. 

 

[Joel Spitzer]

10 minutes ago, reciprocity said:

Yes it does notify the poster that you have quoted them in a post you made. Here's the notification I got from you quoting me

 

Joel Spitzer quoted you in a topic: Greetings from Joel Spitzer
35 minutes ago

 

Thanks reciprocity. Now I have a better understanding of how this works.

[Joel Spitzer]

4 minutes ago, Devil Doll said:

Welcome Joel. 

Thank you for all that you do. Your videos and knowledge helped me immensely. 

 

 

Glad to have been able to help Devil Doll. I'd write more but just getting ready to release a new video and have a few quick announcements I need to get out. Actually, here is the link to the new page with the video now: http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/its-cold-outside-boy-do-i-need-a-cigarette/

 

I need to work out a protocol as to how to announce new videos here at Quittrain. For now you may be the first to see it since its first public announcement is here in a reply to you that I believe you are getting a notification for by me using your quote. As you can see from above, I am just getting used to this new system.

[Jenny]

Welcome Joel!  How exciting to have you on board!   Wonderful way to start a new year!  

[Joel Spitzer]

4 minutes ago, Jenny said:

Welcome Joel!  How exciting to have you on board!   Wonderful way to start a new year!  

Thanks Jenny. Glad to be here. 

[PeaceTrain]

Thrilling to see you here on the Quit Train, Joel. You are an iconic figure to me as I watched so many of your videos during the earlier part of my quit which made it so much easier to keep my quit and, as you famously say, “never take another puff.”  I was one of those who believed I could never quit until I learned enough through you and others here to believe I can. And I did!  Thanks ever so much for what you have given me and the quitting community. Best wishes in 2018 and beyond!

[Joel Spitzer]

15 minutes ago, PeaceTrain said:

Thrilling to see you here on the Quit Train, Joel. You are an iconic figure to me as I watched so many of your videos during the earlier part of my quit which made it so much easier to keep my quit and, as you famously say, “never take another puff.”  I was one of those who believed I could never quit until I learned enough through you and others here to believe I can. And I did!  Thanks ever so much for what you have given me and the quitting community. Best wishes in 2018 and beyond!

Nice to meet you PeaceTrain.

 

There are so many people who believe that they can never quit, and sadly the idea is perpetuated by so many in the tobacco control, the popular media and the medical community. It is shocking how many professionals believe that quitting is close to impossible for many smokers.

 

The resources that I assembled on the page http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/breaking-free-from-nicotines-grip-is-more-doable-than-most-people-think/ hit home the point that smokers can quit even if they don't believe the can.

 

Also the page http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-cant-quit-or-i-wont-quit/ is a good one for debunking the idea that people can't quit. One other page worth mentioning is http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/do-you-really-need-to-want-to-quit-more-than-you-want-to-smoke/. It touches on a peripheral issue that I think handicaps some people from starting or sustaining their quits.

 

People here like you are doing a great service by sharing your experiences and insights. The page http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/showing-others-that-there-is-life-without-smoking/ illustrates how everyone sharing their experiences are helping all who participate or just read here. 

 

Wishing you a happy new years too and know that it is likely to be a happier, healthier and calmer year by you continuing to stick to your personal commitment to never take another puff.

 

Joel

 

 

 

 

[PeaceTrain]

3 hours ago, Joel Spitzer said:

 

 

There are so many people who believe that they can never quit, and sadly the idea is perpetuated by so many in the tobacco control, the popular media and the medical community. It is shocking how many professionals believe that quitting is close to impossible for many smokers.

 

 

 

Wishing you a happy new years too and know that it is likely to be a happier, healthier and calmer year by you continuing to stick to your personal commitment to never take another puff.

 

Joel

 

 

 

 

 

First part: This is so true.  On a previous (failed) quit, I was having such a hard time with moodiness, depression, feeling deprived, grieving, all that tough stuff, that I went to see an MD, who is the much-revered, oft quoted guru of smoking cessation at a major health system in NYC. Her advice to me was to start using the patch and start taking Wellbutrin because clearly, I was unable to stand being without nicotine and I needed to be medicated for depression, so why not take an anti-depressant that might help me quit.  This advice came, mind you, at about the 6-month point of my quit.

 

I did not follow this advice... nor did I keep my quit. I felt that if I couldn't be without nicotine, I would prefer to smoke it than absorb it through my skin. So I went back, quite decidedly and fully intentionally, to smoking for another few years.  I smoked much, much less but still I wasn't able to gear up for another quit until about 3 years later.  This time has been completely different and I'm so grateful. 

 

Second part: Classic!

 

[Joel Spitzer]

1 hour ago, PeaceTrain said:

 

First part: This is so true.  On a previous (failed) quit, I was having such a hard time with moodiness, depression, feeling deprived, grieving, all that tough stuff, that I went to see an MD, who is the much-revered, oft quoted guru of smoking cessation at a major health system in NYC. Her advice to me was to start using the patch and start taking Wellbutrin because clearly, I was unable to stand being without nicotine and I needed to be medicated for depression, so why not take an anti-depressant that might help me quit.  This advice came, mind you, at about the 6-month point of my quit.

 

I did not follow this advice... nor did I keep my quit. I felt that if I couldn't be without nicotine, I would prefer to smoke it than absorb it through my skin. So I went back, quite decidedly and fully intentionally, to smoking for another few years.  I smoked much, much less but still I wasn't able to gear up for another quit until about 3 years later.  This time has been completely different and I'm so grateful. 

 

Second part: Classic!

 

 

Here are a few resource pages addressing different issues you raised here:

 

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/are-doctors-taught-about-nicotine-recovery/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/every-quit-is-different/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/past-successful-quits/

 

Since you mentioned feeling deprived last time:

 

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/no-thank-you-i-cant-have-a-cigarette/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/i-gave-up-smoking/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/resources-regarding-the-advantage-of-quitting-with-a-positive-attitude/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/some-people-wont-be-happy-until-they-relapse/

 

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/intentional-relapses/

 

I am glad that you did not experience the ongoing depression this time around. Your attitude may have played a factor in this. At the same time though, I don't want people reading this who may be experiencing ongoing symptoms to automatically write them off to attitude issues and not seek help for ongoing problems. The following pages address this issue:

 

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/when-you-may-really-need-to-talk-to-your-doctor-about-quitting-smoking/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/resources-regarding-mental-health-issues/

http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/will-this-get-better/

 

One extra resource I want to make people here aware of is the page http://whyquit.com/joels-videos/resources-to-pass-along-to-health-professionals/

 

 

Edited January 2, 2018 by Joel Spitzer
Added in "Resources to pass along to health care professionals"

[babs609]

It is an honor to have you here sir.  Thanks for all you have done for me personally and for all those wanting to be free from the chains of the addiction!  thank you thank you THANK YOU!!