
Smoking Addiction & Recovery Support Group
The CDC claims that nicotine is a "very addictive drug" that can be "as addictive as heroin or cocaine." Nicotine is typically eliminated from the body within 2 to 3 days, however, physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms may last for much longer depending on the individual. If you are trying to kick the habit, this community is dedicated to giving smokers the...

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Much like Raven, I've never been real big on support groups, but then again I've never failed so many times at something in my life. Obviously there has been a huge vacancy in my efforts to free myself from the nightmare of nicotine addiction and I'm hoping that all of you can help fill it and be a part of my success.
It takes more than strength tho. I have no shortage of that. I'm a COO in the alternative fuels industry which requires extensive travel and time. I'm also raising 4 kids aged 2-16 as a single parent. I've competed in amateur rodeo for 30 years and still ride a bull every now and then. I think I possess plenty of strength. So why have I been smoking for 20 years and trying to quit for 19 without any success? It takes more than strength. I have found and used every possible excuse to continue to smoke, many of them multiple times. Millions of people have managed to quit. I cannot figure out why my life and responsibilities to my children have not been enough to simply do what needs to be done. Someone please tell me why (not how) I can so that maybe I can finally see what I've been unable to in the past.
Please help! I don't think my mind and body can handle another failed attempt.
It takes more than strength tho. I have no shortage of that. I'm a COO in the alternative fuels industry which requires extensive travel and time. I'm also raising 4 kids aged 2-16 as a single parent. I've competed in amateur rodeo for 30 years and still ride a bull every now and then. I think I possess plenty of strength. So why have I been smoking for 20 years and trying to quit for 19 without any success? It takes more than strength. I have found and used every possible excuse to continue to smoke, many of them multiple times. Millions of people have managed to quit. I cannot figure out why my life and responsibilities to my children have not been enough to simply do what needs to be done. Someone please tell me why (not how) I can so that maybe I can finally see what I've been unable to in the past.
Please help! I don't think my mind and body can handle another failed attempt.
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and have quit repeatedly---only to start again. I quit for 3 years, smoked 3 years; then was diagnosed with COPD, and quit for 5 years.
I had a PTSD moment when having to face my abuser and started smoking again August 2004. Since that date I have quit and started repeatedly. Fear of dying does not make me quit. Worry for my son being without me does not make me quit. Being on oxygen does not make me quit.
It is NOT a matter of willpower or strength, as you put it. 1) I think we need to change the way we think. 2) Support 3) accept this is as addiction.
I have quit smoking. I hate the taste. I hate the smell. I hate not being able to breathe. Yet, I still crave that nicodemon.
It is all powerful. It is addiction. Hate addiction,
Hate cigarettes. DO NOT hate yourself and think you are a failure. This just sets you up to fail over and over. I do not know if I helped at all, as I am trying to cease smoking, one day at a time for the rest of my life.
could never quit till I did get willpower & strength. But
only way I got that was asking HIGHER POWER (GOD) for willpower and strength. Proud too say togather I am smoke free for
I have been quit for 4 Months, 4 Weeks, 1 Day, 8 hours, 45 minutes and 17 seconds (152 days). I have saved $674.97 by not smoking 3,047 cigarettes. I have saved 1 Week, 3 Days, 13 hours and 55 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 07/01/2007 1:00 AM
Just as no two fingerprints or retinal scans are the same, no two quits are the same, even for the same person. But there are things they all have in common. One of those is attitude.
Being a COO in what is essentially an infant industry, I have no doubt you are well versed in Positive Mental Attitude techniques. You need to apply those to your quit with more vigor than you've used them in the past.
You have said I've never failed so many times at something in my life, there has been a huge vacancy in my efforts, I have found and used every possible excuse to continue to smoke, and I don't think my mind and body can handle another failed attempt. I will tell you now, and you can take this to the bank, YOU ARE NOT A FAILURE, NOR HAVE YOU FAILED EVEN ONCE!!! What you have done is found a number of ways that do not work, or at least, they did not work at that time. You have not hit on the right combination yet. But know this you still desire to be quit, you are still quitting, and you have not given up on quitting. That makes you a winner in anybodys book. So stop the negative thinking because there has been no failure.
Another thing I saw, I cannot figure out why my life and responsibilities to my children have not been enough. The best way to quit is for you, nobody else. You cant quit for your children, for your responsibilities, for your job, or any other reason. You must quit for you, because you desire to quit because it is best for YOU! Because you desire to improve your health, because you desire to regain your freedom and control from the addiction, because YOU DESERVE IT.
When you quit, dont focus on the moment. Pay no attention to what is happening right now and do not give it the power to exist in your future. Withdrawal is temporary. Recovery is forever. Instead, imagine how you will be in the future, but establish no time limits and no deadlines. Simply see yourself as a non-smoker. You smell good, you are breathing better, you actually look better and younger as your skin recovers, you have more energy, you have more time, you can relax and enjoy after a meal with friends or family or business associates instead of rushing out or being distracted by the need for a fix, no more burn holes in your clothes, no more yellow fingers, ad infinitum.
Im glad you are still quitting and that you have joined us here at DS. You can do this and you will succeed (I know these things).
Peace and blessings, Cowboy.
Shevie
You are SO right!! It takes WAY more than "willpower" and "strength" to quit smoking!
It takes the ability it be HONEST with yourself about your addiction, maybe for the first time EVER in your life.
It takes the ability to completely re-program how you deal with stress. And trust me, THAT takes more than willpower. But if you can master this ONE thing, you will have beat the Nicodemon's biggest tool!
It takes more than just "WANTING TO QUIT". Why? Because EVERYONE "wants" to quit on some level. Instead of dwelling on "I want to quit" you have to change your way of thinking to "I DON'T want to smoke". It sounds the same, but believe me, these are two totally different mindsets. The latter being much more powerful than the 1st.
It takes PREPARATION. I don't know anybody who went from smoking a pack of cigarettes or more a day to QUITTING in one day. I am sure there are people out there who have quit "cold turkey" on a whim, but it's rare. For most of us, who are deep into the addiction, you have to take a certain amount of time to mentally prepare for the day when you will no longer use nicotine as your crutch. Much like someone who has used crutches or a walker for 10-20-30 years will need physical therapy before they can ever hope to use their legs on their own, so to do you need a form of "mental therapy" before you can really quit smoking.
And finally, it sometimes takes HELP! Don't ever be too afraid or too macho to talk to your doctor about the best ways for you to approach quitting. There are LOT's of things out there to try and believe me, I tried them all before I found the one that worked! I chalk those attempts as part of my "mental therapy".
So you are right. Ouitting smoking is much bigger than simply having the "willpower" to do it. Let's be real. If all it took was willpower, Big Tobacco would be out of business because NOBODY would smoke!
It's a daunting and difficult task, but once you have done it, it feels great! In fact it feels so much better than the small amount of pleasure you get from that smoke!! It really does!
Wishing you the BEST of luck with your Quit!
Tamera
I have been quit for 2 Weeks, 6 Days, 14 hours, 43 minutes and 19 seconds (20 days).
I have saved $84.10
by not smoking 412 cigarettes.
I have saved 1 Day, 10 hours and 20 minutes of my life.
My Quit Date: 11/10/2007 12:00 AM
N not
O one
P puff
E ever
A word I learned from shevie and I live by!
Please tell me how to calculate the "saved days". I believe that will be something I'll want to keep track of.
NOPE - Thanks Shevie & Shell!
http://www.silkquit.org/sqmmiv/meter.aspx
Here's a link to links to other meters:
http://whyquit.com/whyquit/LinksDMeters.html
Shevie
Quit May, 2005
Here's a link to another that I like: http://www.dedicateddesigns.com/qk/index.htm
Here's the output of it for me:
I have been quit for 2 Years, 6 Months, 1 Week, 9 hours, 52 minutes and 27 seconds (921 days). I have saved $3,188.07 by not smoking 18,428 cigarettes. I have saved 2 Months, 2 Days, 23 hours and 40 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 5/23/2005 5:30 AM
The "life saved" will vary from meter to meter because of the rather ambiguous calculations used. Anothr meter I have says I've saved over 130 days. Whatever you use, watching the numbers go up is awesome.
Congratulations on your quit, Cowboy.
Peace and blessings to you.
Shevie
Quit May, 2005
Grannie 189 Days
Liz-Beth:
Three months, three weeks, three days, 17 hours, 12 minutes and 32 seconds. 2334 cigarettes not smoked, saving $834.82. Life saved: 1 week, 1 day, 2 hours, 30 minutes.
Just wanted to check in with you and see how you are doing.
Did you find that Quit Keeper?
Another thing I wanted to share with you that helps me STAY quit is that when I am faced with difficult situations that would have normally sent me to the smokes, I feel a sense of empowerment that it no longer does and I have found that I actually handle these situations so much better!
It feels good to be in control and I am proud to share that feeling with the people who matter the most to me.
I hope you are doing well!!
Tamera
I have been quit for 1 Month, 4 Days, 13 hours, 15 minutes and 52 seconds (34 days).
I have saved $140.97 by not smoking 691 cigarettes.
I have saved 2 Days, 9 hours and 35 minutes of my life.
My Quit Date: 11/10/2007 12:00 AMI have been quit for 1 Month, 4 Days, 13 hours, 15 minutes annds (34 days). I have saved $140.97 by not smoking 691 cigarettes. I have saved 2 Days, 9 hours and 35 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 11/10/2007 12:00 AM