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RE: Quitting smoking support thread - 5/20/2008 6:07:12 PM
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Silverstring
Posts: 119
Joined: 4/15/2005
From: Norway
Status: offline
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Not much to brag about here. Yet. Since last post I decided to have a go at it, resulting in a fidgety and temperamental 24 hours without cigarettes. First attempt in 9 years! Unknown teritory this, and the first day the dificulty has been what to do instead of smoking?!? whenever I take a break.
So if I stick to it another two days, the physical side of addiciton will be easier?
And has anyone thourghts about acupuncture, hypnosis, other alternative treatments?
_____________________________
Everything worth something costs something
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RE: Quitting smoking support thread - 5/20/2008 9:26:19 PM
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Roberta_
Posts: 6962
Joined: 9/28/2007
From: East Bay Area
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: peculiar_lady2
just wanted to poop in with encouragement again.....
Sarah, I sure hope that's a typo! LOL!
quote:
I added the "newby's" to the prayer list...still praying for the ones quitting...just haven't had the time to post much lately (but I have been faithfully following and praying for you all!!!!)
Roberta.....stay strong girl....you have been through so much that has shown your true strength, so don't let this get you down. You can do it!!!!
Thank you!
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RE: Quitting smoking support thread - 5/21/2008 8:27:06 AM
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JimboFletch
Posts: 6614
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Silverstring
Not much to brag about here. Yet. Since last post I decided to have a go at it, resulting in a fidgety and temperamental 24 hours without cigarettes. First attempt in 9 years! Unknown teritory this, and the first day the dificulty has been what to do instead of smoking?!? whenever I take a break.
So if I stick to it another two days, the physical side of addiciton will be easier?
And has anyone thourghts about acupuncture, hypnosis, other alternative treatments?
My understanding is that after 72 hours, the physical withdrawal is over and it's all mental after that, which isn't to say it's easy, just different.
From what I've read and seen, alternative treatments don't offer much in the way of longterm success. The most successful seems to be a choice to Close The Door on tobbacco and commit to stay free one crave, one hour, one day at a time in any way you can except tobacco.
When you're dealing with a strong crave, it may seem to last for ages but they generally last only 3 minutes max in the first few days and diminish over time. As you successfully deal with a trigger, it has significantly less power next time - until it has no power at all. For instance, this past Saturday I checked out at the Tobacco lane at Walmart without the tiniest twinge. I avoided that line for months and, then, with a bit of nervousness for the first time or two. Now, the tobacco wares have no more interest or appeal to me than those Enquirer-type papers at the beginning of the lane.
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RE: Quitting smoking support thread - 5/21/2008 10:47:42 AM
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Pat-rebel_lady
Posts: 688
Joined: 4/12/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: JimboFletch
quote:
1.) Lack of communication, among brothers and sisters in the Lord, on this subject.
2.) Struggling over disagreement with what has been stated about weight gain.
3.) Anger control; can find nothing in this area.
1. Are you talking about this thread or in general? I've found most of the posts in this thread supportive. (There have been a few other threads about smoking that have down-right nasty.)
2. I'm not sure what you're talking about on weight gain. I picked up about 18 pounds during my quit and have not done very well in losing it. I don't do sugar or processed flour or grains and I consistently and vigorously walk 1 to 5 miles, 5 days a week. I've experimented a lot with what I eat, currently reducing portions. But nicotine played a part in all our weight management before - even if we did not know it.
3. Anger... What can I say, it's a natural part of withdrawal because we feel deprived and our brains are all out of sorts while it is trying to reprogram itself to function normally. I was very aware of the anger aspect and managed to only lose my temper twice during my early quit.
My early quit was complicated by learning a new job in a new field at age 54 after being laid off from a 20-plus year job. My Dad had not long passed away and my MIL was battling breast cancer, a battle she lost about 7 months into my quit. I also went through some painful experiences at church.
The good news is that I am noticeably more mellow than before I quit. I used to be constantly angry driving home but now I shrug off inconveniences and enjoy the trip without a need for a nicotine fix.
quote:
PS - You'd have to gain about 100 pounds to offset the health benefits of quitting nicotine and/or tobacco.
I’m sorry!! When I posted that I was still feeling the powerful craves as my body begged and cried to be fed; the pain, my inability to concentrate or think straight, feelings of great depression, irritability, frustration, restlessness, tremendous anxiety, a foggy mind, beading sweaty forehead, rapid mood swings of emotions, irrational thinking, and angry outbursts. I could no longer see or remember these words:
“Embrace recovery as your wonderful journey home to experience the rich, deep, and tranquil inner calmness that resided inside your mind before climbing aboard the endless nicotine/dopamine/adrenaline lifetime roller-coaster ride of cycling highs and lows. See encountering and reconditioning each crave trigger cue for what it truly is - a highly visible sign of true healing and recovery. Sense the emerging glory that is you and the abundance of oxygen arriving at every living cell in your body. In times of challenge fill your cup with truth, desire and the reasons that caused you to embark upon this quest for freedom . See all thoughts of smoking nicotine, that at times may seem to flood the mind, as golden opportunities to shed honest light on each, while sorting through years of conscious denial in which you made excuses for your chemical addiction that built a safe-house based on lies.”
And it made me even angrier, and more hurt and devastated because I failed yet again; I have spent my whole life running, hiding, and shifting blame for my becoming a ‘smoke-a-holic’; but I’ve also knew the truth too: I’ve done it, and still do it, because I chose to do it as an escape from dealing with conflicts and emotional disturbances, and became captured and enslaved to nicotine instead. I pray you will forgive my outburst of yesterday.
I find I need to get more educational information; do some deep meditation and thoughtful studying (armor supplies), in some areas, before I set a quit date; Just know that I do intend to quit (it's either going to kill me or cure me) --- and I very much covet your prayers.
Pat
< Message edited by Pat-rebel_lady -- 5/21/2008 10:57:44 AM >
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RE: Quitting smoking support thread - 5/21/2008 11:05:42 AM
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JimboFletch
Posts: 6614
Joined: 4/11/2005
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Pat-rebel_lady
I’m sorry!! When I posted that I was still feeling the powerful craves as my body begged and cried to be fed; the pain, my inability to concentrate or think straight, feelings of great depression, irritability, frustration, restlessness, tremendous anxiety, a foggy mind, beading sweaty forehead, rapid mood swings of emotions, irrational thinking, and angry outbursts....
I pray you will forgive my outburst of yesterday...
No problem, Pat. I've been there, done that, and have the T-shirt.
For a few days, life is almost surreal and exaggerated when you first quit.
I remember going to a restaurant on day two without nicotine. I was clumsy and everything I did seemed horribly loud. Add that to my usual pattern of getting a nicotine fix after a nice meal and it was like being in the Twilight Zone.
Craves were made worse because I didn't know that the effects of caffeine doubles without nicotine. I was bouncing off the walls and experiencing nagging headaches until I cut back on my usual coffee intake.
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RE: Quitting smoking support thread - 5/21/2008 11:08:03 AM
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stellaluna
Posts: 4258
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: JimboFletch
Craves were made worse because I didn't know that the effects of caffeine doubles without nicotine. I was bouncing off the walls and experiencing nagging headaches until I cut back on my usual coffee intake.
Yep, plus blood sugar crashes, insomnia, etc. It's a big pain for sure.
_____________________________
Who should be allowed to attend church?
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RE: Quitting smoking support thread - 5/21/2008 11:13:24 AM
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Pat-rebel_lady
Posts: 688
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: stellaluna,
Do you feel you have some rage when you don't smoke?
Thank you for replying. Yes, I do classify some of this anger as uncontrollable rage.
As for the topic of weight gain, I need to let that subject go for right now -- hope you don't mind.
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RE: Quitting smoking support thread - 5/21/2008 11:17:14 AM
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Mrs.X
Posts: 2957
Joined: 7/7/2005
From: Newberg, OR
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Pat-rebel_lady
I’m sorry!! When I posted that I was still feeling the powerful craves as my body begged and cried to be fed; the pain, my inability to concentrate or think straight, feelings of great depression, irritability, frustration, restlessness, tremendous anxiety, a foggy mind, beading sweaty forehead, rapid mood swings of emotions, irrational thinking, and angry outbursts. I could no longer see or remember these words:
Don't worry about it. I got grouchy like that in here before I even quit smoking. Just the thought made me grumpy, LOL!
_____________________________
-Stina
From Sweet Grass to the Packin' House
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. -Proverbs 15:1
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RE: Quitting smoking support thread - 5/21/2008 11:19:00 AM
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JimboFletch
Posts: 6614
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Pat-rebel_lady
quote:
ORIGINAL: stellaluna,
Do you feel you have some rage when you don't smoke?
Thank you for replying. Yes, I do classify some of this anger as uncontrollable rage.
As for the topic of weight gain, I need to let that subject go for right now -- hope you don't mind.
The advice I was given and used is to make your quit your number one priority until you can focus on other issues. You can minimize weight gain, especially if you find gardening, walking, jogging, or other exercise relaxing. I chewed a lot of sugarless gum, toothpicks, and other 0 or low calories items.
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RE: Quitting smoking support thread - 5/21/2008 11:20:16 AM
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Pat-rebel_lady
Posts: 688
Joined: 4/12/2005
Status: offline
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Thank you, Jimbo and stellaluna, {{{ HUGS }}} to you both.
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RE: Quitting smoking support thread - 5/21/2008 11:25:59 AM
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Silverstring
Posts: 119
Joined: 4/15/2005
From: Norway
Status: offline
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Pretty much at the mercy of my triggers right now, but still prevaling! Lots of very good advice her in this thread, I think I will put up on a wall this text that you found, pat: “Embrace recovery as your wonderful journey home to .... etc.
And thank you Jimbo for your reply
So, day two of fighting triggers, and I've DOUBLED my coffee-intake to deal with breaks through the day... Makes for energetic and unfocused thinking!
A question: What habits/mindsets/-and such have you replaced tobacco with? I find that smoking have become such a deeply rooted thing in everything relaxing in my life, that allmost everything I do when not working reminds me of smoking one way or another. What has come instead for you?
_____________________________
Everything worth something costs something
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RE: Quitting smoking support thread - 5/21/2008 11:35:04 AM
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Roberta_
Posts: 6962
Joined: 9/28/2007
From: East Bay Area
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Silverstring
A question: What habits/mindsets/-and such have you replaced tobacco with? I find that smoking have become such a deeply rooted thing in everything relaxing in my life, that allmost everything I do when not working reminds me of smoking one way or another. What has come instead for you?
Excellent question. I have that problem as well.
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RE: Quitting smoking support thread - 5/21/2008 11:39:17 AM
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stellaluna
Posts: 4258
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Silverstring
A question: What habits/mindsets/-and such have you replaced tobacco with? I find that smoking have become such a deeply rooted thing in everything relaxing in my life, that allmost everything I do when not working reminds me of smoking one way or another. What has come instead for you?
Along these lines...have you seen the commercials for becomeanex.org? They are hysterical...and all about relearning to do things without smoking.
One of the hardest things for me was talking on the phone. I used to pretty much chain smoke on the phone, even if I hardly smoked at any other time. So I started emailing people instead of calling them. Saved on minutes, too.  Also, just getting healthier overall helped my mindset a lot. I would think if I was getting tobacco out of my body, what other unhealthy things could I get out? The more healthy my body was, the less I wanted to pollute it.
Clean your house. Get rid of the smoke smell--do extra laundry, shampoo your drapes and upholstery, clean out your car, whatever. I promise, once you realize how utterly NASTY smoking smells, you will probably never want to do it again! 
_____________________________
Who should be allowed to attend church?
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RE: Quitting smoking support thread - 5/21/2008 11:43:18 AM
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JimboFletch
Posts: 6614
Joined: 4/11/2005
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: Silverstring
...I've DOUBLED my coffee-intake to deal with breaks through the day... Makes for energetic and unfocused thinking!...
In case you missed it, that is not a great idea. You have effectively quadrupled your caffeine intake!!!!
Drink lots of water or decaf, but halve caffeine unless you enjoy extra powerful craves.
Just my 2 cents.
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RE: Quitting smoking support thread - 5/21/2008 11:45:40 AM
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Mrs.X
Posts: 2957
Joined: 7/7/2005
From: Newberg, OR
Status: offline
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Stellaluna, those commercials are funny.
Silverstring, I'm following the BecomeAnEx.org program. One thing it taught me was to separate my triggers from cigarettes a few weeks before quitting smoking. Like wait on that cigarette when you drink coffee, try to wait as long as possible. Don't smoke in your car anymore, pull over to do it or do it before you get in. If you smoking in your house, start going outside. Occupy yourself so your bordem trigger is replaced with something else. These things have helped me so much.
_____________________________
-Stina
From Sweet Grass to the Packin' House
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. -Proverbs 15:1
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I sure miss him not being grumpy with that patch on although I knew withdrawl is inevitable. But, I'm still smoke free. I almost asked Robert for a drag the other day, but I got scripture on the door that reminded to stay away from "un-clean things". 
) But it did help to get it out and it helped me cope. Just put that in the back of your mind in case you need it.