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...
wow this site is really great. so i want to quit smoking and have been going through lots of the info avaliable. conditoning my mind for the coming challenge. i am going to visit my son on oct 18th and they dont like me smoking where the grandkids can see. so i am shooting for quitting before this. i love the ideas that the short times of withdrawal discomfort are worth no having the constant fear, social rejection, smell and cost.
my addicted mind keep reminding me- should not quit when things are exceptionally stressful ( which times are now)
why should i quit cause it bothers my son!!! ( why should i not let this be an incentive to quit?) they ask me to wait till they are asleep to smoke. well my attitude was THEY DONTGO TO SLEEP TILL MIDNIGHT. so what i only see them 2-3 times a year. and my beer and cigs are more important than at least making myself not do this for a few days? how selfish an addiction makes us
dual addictions for me. i drink beer every night at home and smoke. what a waste of time. i am so conditioned to do this around 7-8 pm the urges start. i complain about lack of time in my life! look at the wasted time associated with these bad habits.
i guess for me this info helps the most knowing that i dont have to WANT TO QUIT BEFORE I CAN. to me this meant that i would develop an internal WANT that would magically suddenly flood my brain and i would stop. not that easy. but worth it. the self esteem that would be gained by actually stopping for all the right reasons for me.
i want to be alive for my family. they need me. dont want to get lung cancer ( sister that smoked just passed away).
junkie thinking- well its 2 late for me to stop probably already have microscopic cancer cells
i am so appalled that i smoke that dont even tell my doc. and then worry that he needs to know cause maybe i need a chest xray more often.
i want to be able to stay and be more a part of social gatherings that i cant smoke at
want to stop using a cig and beer as an escape. want to learn to be present in the moment and comfortable with maybe watching a movie with some and not running out to smoke
any advice or suggestion appreciated. sherry
my addicted mind keep reminding me- should not quit when things are exceptionally stressful ( which times are now)
why should i quit cause it bothers my son!!! ( why should i not let this be an incentive to quit?) they ask me to wait till they are asleep to smoke. well my attitude was THEY DONTGO TO SLEEP TILL MIDNIGHT. so what i only see them 2-3 times a year. and my beer and cigs are more important than at least making myself not do this for a few days? how selfish an addiction makes us
dual addictions for me. i drink beer every night at home and smoke. what a waste of time. i am so conditioned to do this around 7-8 pm the urges start. i complain about lack of time in my life! look at the wasted time associated with these bad habits.
i guess for me this info helps the most knowing that i dont have to WANT TO QUIT BEFORE I CAN. to me this meant that i would develop an internal WANT that would magically suddenly flood my brain and i would stop. not that easy. but worth it. the self esteem that would be gained by actually stopping for all the right reasons for me.
i want to be alive for my family. they need me. dont want to get lung cancer ( sister that smoked just passed away).
junkie thinking- well its 2 late for me to stop probably already have microscopic cancer cells
i am so appalled that i smoke that dont even tell my doc. and then worry that he needs to know cause maybe i need a chest xray more often.
i want to be able to stay and be more a part of social gatherings that i cant smoke at
want to stop using a cig and beer as an escape. want to learn to be present in the moment and comfortable with maybe watching a movie with some and not running out to smoke
any advice or suggestion appreciated. sherry
As someone who has worked in health care, i can say with absolutely certainty that you are not fooling your doctor. there are a lot of ways that a doctor can tell if you smoke or not besides just the smell... there is skin tone, nail bed color and tips of the nails are just some of the ways your doctor can tell.
there is also the danger of third hand smoke. not a lot is written about it but every where you sit, everyone you hug and everything you touch, chemicals from the cigarette are left behind and then those chemicals rub off on other people, pets, whoever .
my advice to you is to come clean to your doctor and ask for his help. make up your mind that this is what you want to do and set a date... stress is always going to be there dear..... smokin may give you a temporary calmness but i'll bet that it doesn't last for long. you can do this . you just have to make up your mind to do it.
This was added incentive for me but I had already decided to do it. What really helped me and I went cold turkey, was having this group and a "quit buddy." Phoenixwon and I quit on the same day so we decided to be eachother's support network. Maybe you can find someone either on here or in your everyday life to cheer you on when you reach a milestone ( and every hour smoke-free is a milestone) or keep you on track when you feel you may fail. We here can be your support network as well.
Chime in often and ask for advice, cheers or experiences from the group members. They have been through it all and will definitely be here for you as they have for me. Good luck and when you pick a date to quit stick with it and don't make any excuses for not doing it.
Laura
There will always be stress...so there is no good time to quit. Go into your quit with a postive attitude...you are not losing your best friend!!!
Have a plan for urges and triggers, cuz they will come and you better be prepared (use sugarfree gum, lollipops, candy, the patch, drink tons of water, go for a walk, etc). Know the cravings only last for around 5 minutes, so keep busy when they come.
Instead of thinking that you are fooling your doctor...ask him/her for help. I know he/she would be more than happy to prescribe something or come up with a plan that is best suitable for you.
Come here daily to do roll call and pledge...it keeps you responsible and gives you wonderful support (don't wait until it's an emergency). I came here late one night and nobody was around....so I just went to bed and slept it off.
I'm so glad I am not a slave any more to a senseless addition that made me smell and took a lot of my money with nothing to show for it. I have more time to spend with my grandchild, grandpuppy, and other ppl. I also work at a funeral home for the past 29 years....not a pretty site to see someone with half their face half eaten off from mouth cancer and the funeral directors have to try to make it look normal (rebuild the face).
Pick a date and just stop....you won't be sorry!
I couldm't have said it any better than the excellent advise already given.The only thing I will add is to definately join our sub group Good Posts. Go to the bar at the top of this page, click on Groups and type in Good Posts. You will find a wealth of information including ways to prepare for your quit date.
Come here anytime you struggle. Except for that one time when MsBlank was here alone, there is almost someone here all the time.
Sending gentle hugs,Mayberry