blakwolf013 said:

'you do, don't give up. Make this quit the most important thing in your life and non-negotiable. Smoking is no longer an option'

Hi Jenn, 

Thanks for taking the time for this with so much going on.

Your statement above is probably the biggest for me. 'Never Give Up'.  It's what I tell myself a lot lately when I feel like 'taking a break' from all of it.  I know it's a trap. But it feels like the addiction flaunting itself.  I'll be coming along pretty good then  wham,  for days I can't seem to get the pictures of cigs out of my mind.  Lately, I've tried limiting the amount of time I spend here to see if that helps.  But mostly I'm waiting because I know it will stop eventually.  All the vets here say it does, so I believe it.  They were right about it getting better before. So, Never Give Up or stay stubborn as Deb would say. It's the only way to get to our freedom.

Thanks Jenn - much love.

Sooz :)

I'm glad that my six month milestone had a kernel that spoke to you!! It is so true. Never, ever, ever give up and most of all on yourself. Every minute, hour and day is a victory. Junkie thinking is so ingrained in our brains because we smoked for "x" number of years. It's going to take some time to relearn every aspect of daily life. You will go through a lot of "firsts without cigs" in the first year. Every time you overcome a craving you are taking a bit more power away from that trigger to smoke. Keep going. The day will come sooner than you think where the trigger will no longer exist  

It gets better...it gets a lot better. Just hang in there. You will experience freedom and be comfortable in your new ex-smoker shoes. Time is your best friend and a bucket-load of patience with yourself. 

For me I stuck to the Forum like glue. I read the articles over and over again. I posted, posted, and kept posting and got through the cravings, unpacked the triggers, and slowly but surely started to feel a bit more secure that there is life after smoking...an awesome one at that. You will get your freedom. Believe. Believe in freedom and, most of all, believe in you.

Hugs and love, Jenn

Hi ((((Sooz)))),

It looks like we are all moving :-) and I'm learning the ropes as quickly as I can! It's great to see you at our new digs! Okay, okay, I'll stop playing with the color of the font...lol. Well, that is, if it actually shows up when I post this message. 

How are you doing? Update....

HUgs and love, Jenn

That was probably my favorite milestone post of yours. (((Jenn)))  It's raw, honest, painful (to write I'm sure, and to read as well).  It's also full of HEART, HOPE and HEALING.  Your posts never fail to pack punch, and what is it with me and alliteration today?  :-s

Anyway, thanks for taking the time to bring so much of your content onto the new forum.  :-)

Hugs and love,
AsuteModMic

Mic

Free since 2002

What if you abandon the journey today and the peach would have come tomorrow?

(((Mic)))

Have I mentioned it's so great to see you back and posting!!!! I decided to post your other favorite star milestone as well. It has been a journey in and of itself figuring out what I want to transfer over from one site to the next. It's a great way to remember the journey, reinforce my quit, and pay it forward.

Hugs and love, Jenn

Dear Jenn,

Today is my 24th day without poisoning myself. I smoked for 32 years except for about 3 years when I had my children. 

I tried quitting for not more than a month at a time , but it was always using NRT. I craved like hell and gave in eventually. 

This time I did it cold turkey. The first day , I literally stayed in bed. I was suffering. 

For a few years I have been suffering smokers cough, I also had difficulty breathing at times and used two kinds of inhalers and continued to smoke. I was sure I will be diagnosed with emphysema soon!!!! 

I clung to my lovely August 2015 group like crazy. I kept reading and posting. They are my lifeline. But we are all new here. I wanted to write to someone who has done it for a while. 

I liked what you said about telling yourself a million times that by not smoking, you are not depriving yourself. This is very much how I feel, although I know it is the opposite! 

Thank you for continuing to write and inspire us. 

Rula

((((Rula)))),

...and today is your 25th day of your journey to freedom from this addiction. If you read my journal you will see that I did not have a straightforward journey whatsoever. Actually, I would describe it more like this: 

I also quit cold turkey. I felt like such a maverick. It felt like so many people around me were "okay" after about 3 days. Not me. I still felt highly uncomfortable. Everyone's body is different just like everyone's quit is unique. I promise you that you won't always feel this way. It gets better....a lot better. The only thing you need to do is hang on, don't smoke, and work on changing your relationship with cigarettes. You are NOT depriving yourself except for perhaps smelling raunchy, bad breath, a hurting bank account, low self esteem, people looking at you, living your life where you need a smoking strategy on when and where you can have your next hit, deteriorating health, and so forth.

Keep posting. Post here or in my journal. Everyday you smoke is a good day and a victory. Take it one minute and hour at a time if you have to. Drink ice water through a straw. Take 4-5 deep breaths (you know, the kind where your tummy sticks out). Do jumping jacks. The key is to distract, distract, distract. Every time you overcome a craving you are taking a little more power away from that trigger to smoke. The day will arrive sooner than you expect where the trigger no longer has this power over you.

Hang in there.

Hugs and love, Jenn

Thank you Jen for the tips. 

I really laughed about the graphs. It is exactly how I feel.

i will try to stay strong and remember that I am not depriving myself. 

Rula xxxxx

quit 3rd of August