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G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.... (replace Ever with Min,Hour, Day as required)

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Hello and welcome ....So happy you jumped on this wonderful train ...it travels all the way to Freedom .. Congratulations on your Fabulous 17 days quit ....you are almost through the tough weeks ... It's just a matter now of keeping that Nico Monster asleep.... You have already been with us ,standing at the station ...Reading and Learning.... My advice ...stay close to the group ...join in ...help others ...all this helps your quit stronger ... You can do it ...🐸

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Welcome to the forum. That's was a lovely introduction post! Well done on your 17 days smoke free.

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I'm not a newbie. I have been here before. Normally I go the Chantix route. This time I am going cold turkey. I can give all the excuses in the book as to why I relapsed this time. My marriage ended, I started a job and within the first 3 weeks I was promoted (which is a good thing, but still stress on top of the emotional stress I was already under) I moved a 1000 miles away from all of my support. My kids, my grandson. But at the end of the day they are all excuses. Excuses doesn't change the fact that here I am relapsed at the end of October. I was quit for a year and a half. So for the last 4 months I have been smoking, I have kicked myself in the butt from day one. So I came back to the one place that has always helped me when I was going through the thick of it. I came here. I hope that I am welcome, but will understand if I am not. I come because I don't want to smoke with every cigarette and every pack I say this is it. No more. I don't want to smoke. After this pack I am not buying no more and I am done. Then the next thing I know is that I am at the store buying another pack of cigarettes. So instead of going to the store this morning. I decided to come here and post. The only way I am going to quit is to take accountability. SO here I am. Nana

@DenaliBluesOh my yes. What they said. One of the reasons I mucked around with cigarettes for as long as I did was because I imbued them with all sorts of magical things. So that is what they became until they "turned" on me. Unfortunately, this release is oftentimes a tedious process. We had, at our fingertips, a way to instantly change/control how we were feeling. Now, we have to let all the stuff we stuffed down arise and sit with it. It really sucks (excuse the pun). That is until it doesn't. When that happens is different for each and every one of us. But a decades' long way of managing our mood is not going away after 3 weeks. What I can share at this early stage in my quit is that I feel so much better. I'm not saying I don't still have cravings or thoughts of smoking (including dreams) but its not the obsession it was for the first couple of months. Others here with more time can speak to their experiences but the more you can focus on the blessings of not smoking, the quicker the mind will shift to not wanting it. Glad you are here.

Hi @Nana20. Thank you for coming back and sharing your experience. We all know there are no excuses or justifications for a relapse yet there are reasons. And, at the time (at least for me), they seemed "valid." I do believe in the adage "relapse is part of recovery." I think it takes enormous courage to show back up and share so big gratitude to you and @Sunnyside. I'm a bit sad that you thought you might not be welcome. One of the things I love about this site and all of the moderators is how non-judgmental, accepting, encouraging and compassionate they are. The only reason to kick anyone out is the fear that it might not work for me. So then we only have 'success" stories which creates an unrealistic expectation about what recovery from drug addiction actually is. Not linear. I am reminded of an ism in Course (in Miracles) which is words-to-the-effect-of we have no idea of what is going on; sometimes what we perceive to be our greatest successes are actually not and our greatest "failure" is the lesson we actually need to ensure future peace. Or something like that. You have helped me by just showing up today so thank you. Blessings to you today and everyone on the QT.

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Welcome aboard the Quit Train Denali Blues. Good call on giving up the smokes and congratulations on seventeen days smoke free. A combination of push-ups and pacing around mumbling profanities got me through some of the toughest times in the early days of my quit. Buckle up, knuckle down, and drive on.

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Hi @Nana20. I can relate, I've fallen off the quit wagon before, myself. Rather than seeing that as a failure, I'm trying to see it as "equipment" to make this quit stick. I know more about what to expect. I know all the wily tricks the nicotine addiction will try to play on me, especially when I am stressed or vulnerable or feeling something I'd rather not feel. I know that instead of smoking, I need distractions and contact with other people - like you - who understand my experience. Staying locked in my own head is NOT a safe neighborhood right now. I can hear your determination and ferocity, Nana, and I love it! It's helping me this morning, so thanks for sharing it. I'm only on day 18, myself, and those first three days were absolutely horrible - I thought I would literally fly apart. But I didn't. I got through them. Hang in there! DenaliBlues

Hi Nana. I'm sure most of the people here have had similar experiences. I know I have so there is no shame in having to come back. so take a seat and ride the craves out. It will suck for a while as you know but you can do it.

It’s great that you knew where to come for support Nana. We are here for you! I’ll be a year quit March 17! I’m sorry to see that the stress of life caused you to pick up smoking again, but you can beat this. You have done it before. You seem ready to just do this and angry enough with yourself to be your own drill sergeant. Nicodemon doesn’t have a chance. Post and read as much as you can. It truly helps. See you around!

When you are in the first stages of your quit this is pretty much the norm. You are an addict going through withdrawal so everything is going to bleak and miserable for awhile. I read so very much on this site. When I first quit and was reading older posts made by others, two things seemed to be a common event that became the catalyst in them knowing that brighter days were certainly coming. The first is that one morning they noticed that taking that first waking breath of the fay didn’t trigger a coughing fit and the second was that they had gotten out of bed and was well into preparing for their day when they realized that they had not had one thought about a cigarette. Brighter days are ahead, it just takes time. You are doing great @DenaliBlues!

Gosh, thanks for all the support and for the welcome wagon! Very well timed, because I woke up this morning feeling rather low. First thing on my mind was wanting a smoke - that yearning has not abated yet. Right behind it was the acute feeling that every other activity pales in comparison to smoking. I'm building the skills to not smoke, and strengthening my "Do something else, just don't smoke." muscles. But I haven't yet turned a corner where I can experience actual gratification or enjoyment from those alternative activities. Am wondering if this is typical? It's like my dopamine receptors have been warped or scorched into wanting just one thing: a big horrible blast of nicotine. I'm trying to throw other stuff at them (sunshine, favorite foods, games, tactile activities, etc.). But the feel-good response receptors in my brain seem almost impervious. I've started to look into the idea of "savoring" in the hopes that might help. So far I can notice sensations other than smoking, which seems constructive. But gratification or enjoyment? Not yet. If anyone else has any experience with this, would love to hear it. Or if I'm just an oddball, that would be useful to know, too! Appreciate you all so much. DenaliBlues

Welcome aboard Denial Blues, it is great to hear that you are 17 days quit. I applaud you on making the best decision of your life. Grab a seat on the train and enjoy your ride to a happier and healthier life.

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Welcome Nana. I relapsed recently too. There is no excuse but it is easily to do. You are back on the train and we will support you all the way 😊

@DenaliBlues, what you are feeling is completely normal. Most of us are either sad or irritable, or sometimes both, in the early stages of quitting. Smoking was such a huge part of your life that quitting is almost like a death in the family. Your perceived best friend is gone forever. Just hang in there and in no time you'll be past this stage 🤗

Welcome back nana, sounds like you've had quite a few lifestyle changes! Congratulations on the promotion. Glad you found your seat on the train, give us a shout if you need us 😊

Hi Nana and welcome. So sorry you lost a quit. I can't offer much advice as I am new here. Glad you are starting over with a new quit. Stay strong. You can do this.

I made this commitment in 2020 I made that commitment then a few short months later I relapsed. I am not okay with the relapse. It is not okay to relapse. I am determined to be that non-smoker. I remember that my pledge to this commitment it was one of the best pledges I made. It helped me quit. So here I am I making that pledge again. I am pledging to this commitment. Nana...

Hey Sunnyside, I to am back here with my tail between my legs. Although I am just starting my journey today. I hope we can give each other encouragement and help each other through the rough patches. I don't want to say welcome back, because if your like me being back at the beginning was someplace I never wanted to be again. I really enjoyed not being a smoker. So I will say lets beat this together.

Congratulations Rajag, that's awesome. That's a significant investment for a wonderful, healthy life.

@Boothat suit and cape is a trap!!! he still broke every bone in his body despite wearing them AND safety goggles. just sayin'

Channeling my inner Evel Knievel. We had a baby shower at the house today for Sugar Britches. I'm not sure about the rules on these things, but I always thought that was a ladies only event. So as not to be in the way, I got together with some guys from work and rode dirt bikes on some trails up on Flat Top Mountain. It is ridiculous how much fun I had out there. Only dumped the bike once when I hit a tree root covered by wet leaves. To my credit, I landed a couple of jumps in spite of having not been on a dirt bike in years. I've decided to get myself a sweet jumpsuit and cape. Don't be a hater.

I currently have 1 day smoke free, you are already an inspiration. That is something to be proud of, welcome.

Congratulations, Rajag, and good for you for quitting at a relatively young age!!! Enjoy your fabulous smoke-free life.

Thank you to all who responded. I am committed to quit and will not stop my efforts for any reason. Many of you offered suggestions which I intend to use. Also I am replacing some thoughts with better alternatives: "I want to smoke." now becomes "I want to breathe fresh air." "I need to smoke." now becomes "I need to breathe fresh air." I am certain if I replace these thoughts diligently I will have a successful quit.

Congratulations on your awesome quit

Thank you and it is an inspiration to those of us greener in our process.

NOPE - Not One Puff Ever