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Eleven Although Ten years quit was the milestone, in this eleventh year I have utilized the lessons learned by quitting nicotine/dealing with addiction in another profound way. My body was rebelling after my years of abuse, from smoking, from defying gravity for 69 years ! Arthritis was making for painful days. No surprise. I was lucky I could still breathe after so many years smoking like a whore in church. After experiencing symptoms of an autoimmune disease, I decided to take radical action. First, I learned everything about Sjögren's syndrome and then looked for solutions, just I had come to this site and availed myself to Joel Spitzer's work and other information. Second, I took the initiative. Instead of quitting nicotine (smoking), I stopped consuming anybody with a mother, cold turkey (pardon the expression, lol) including dairy. As a 'foodie' omnivore, I never in my wildest days thought of changing. But here I am, a raw vegan. I found a marvelous resource online, just as I had found y'all. Dr. Brooke Goldner offers a free hyper nourishing protocol that has help thousands reverse disease. Look her up if you are curious or in pain yourself. Sure, it was a radical act for me but there was no doubt in my mind that I could succeed, after all I quit nicotine! The results have been astounding. My body moves freely again. I feel healthier than ever before and empowered. Exactly what quitting nicotine/smoking did for me. The changes also helped me face other truths; Dealing with habits and addictions around Food! To examine using food as comfort or reward just as I used cigarettes. Now, food is nourishment and I know all the cells in my body rejoice after being malnourished for decades. The lessons learned around my nicotine addiction were a struggle eleven years ago, now they are easier to initiate and complete. To change is a pure gift we have the power to give ourselves. To trust ourselves again after a lifetime of addictive behavior. To stay current and change whenever needed because we have the tools! Our brain knows the drill and also understands the profound rewards. Hello to all you beautiful nicotine free creature who understand the need to change, who have the desire to confront their addictions and gather the tools to begin and and continue on this marvelous journey. Here is a kindly hand up, or stand on my shoulders if you need to see the other side. Know in your struggles and successes that others understand and are amazed at your fortitude minute by minute, day by day and soon...year by year. Decade by decade! Thank you for telling your stories and strengthening the thread that weaves us all together. NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE. Sazerac.

Nope!

NOPE. Not ONE. Not Ever as I look forward to year Twelve. For all you newbies...know it is a beautiful journey that you are capable of.

Not one puff or Nicotine patch EVER!

NOPE!!

Yep to NOPE!!!

@Sazerac ... Congratulations on moving into your 11th year, smoke free, nicotine free!!! You were one of the people that reached out to offer support to me when I first joined this site a few years ago.... and I am grateful for that! I did not quit at the time but you were the reason I decided to come back to the Quittrain when I was ready to not only stop smoking but stop the nicotine patch.:) I am happy to hear that you have been able to apply the lessons leared about addictions to other areas of your life. I sincerely hope you are finding some relief from your other health challenges. Wishing you all the best. Thank you for being here for so many newbies in the past. Warm Regards, Gene

Thanks to all y'all for making quitting informative and interesting with a bit of distraction and fun.

NOPE!

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

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

NOPE

Sazerac has given a lot of wise words to this forum and to a new quitter it is worthwhile to find some of them. Before she had even one year quit (let alone ELEVEN!) she wrote this: Smoking and nicotine had become such a dominating force in our lives that we have all had to find new ways of operating. I myself had developed routines that made “breaks” to smoke. These are gone now and if I need a break, I just take one without smoking. Easy. I'm pretty sure I've recycled this post.

NOPE

NOPE!!

Gene, People say, 'you know it is all worth it if I help only One person' and I was greedy about this, I wanted to help zillions. Even if I didn't know. But, your words...touched me. Realizing that I made a difference in your decision in returning to QTrain and making a commitment to yourself. It is magnificent to help One person, to hear their words. Thank you so much, what a great anniversary present, there could be none better.

Hi Sister. Its good to see you, Nice to hear you have found answers to help in your struggle with a few ailments you have/ had … Hope your feelings the best you can , it’s hard to keep track of old members anny,s as all the tracking disappeared , due to the board needed updating . Soooo Congratulations on your fabulous 11 years .. I think we laughed our way through out early quits Take Care Sister in crime ❤️

nope

Truly an inspiration to those of us following in your footsteps! And wise words about translating what we learn about addiction to other facets of our lives. Thanks and happy anniversary!

NOPE

NOPE!

NOPE!!

Happy anniversary @Sazerac, its good to see you 😊 Thank you for the update and your words of wisdom and support. It really sounds like you're living your best life 😊

Darling Dutch Woman, You veer from the path, you might stumble but you pick yourself up, dust yourself off. I've seen you! and I believe in your resolve. Today. Now. Your footsteps follow your footsteps and another minute, another hour, another day of conquering addiction brings power.

Glad you're feeling good today Gene that's awesome ☺ Try not to over think things. I started smoking at 17 because it was cool and everyone was smoking back then. My mom had us lighting her cigarettes for her when she was driving and no one really thought anything about it. Nowadays I can just imagine the remarks and dirty looks she would have gotten.

Hey @Genecanuck, everything you're feeling is totally normal and temporary but only by going through it like we all had to do. Weaning will only prolong the inevitable as I'm sure you know so put on your big boy pants and let's get you nicotine free once and for all!

NOPE!!

So sorry to hear about Tiki, @jillar. Holding you both in my heart.

Nice to see you check in and congratulations on 11 years smoke free @Sazerac You have inspired many.

@jillar... I am sorry for your loss. Hugs

1000 days ... and on ... GAELthoughts, Quitnet Re-Post, August 3, 2005 From The_GAEL on 8/3/2005 3:05:47 PM It's a funny thing, this addiction. It starts with the most social of behaviors - just sharing some time and a chat with friends, and 'lighting up' as we used to say. Usually, a beer in one hand and cig in the other, feeling grown up and mature at - what was it - 15, 16 years old... In those days, it was usual to offer your cigarettes around the group, and in turn, accept one offered back - part of the bonding process, I guess, being accepted into the group. And so the seed was planted. Later it became less of an event, not something done when the evening arrived and a little relaxation was the prize for the day's labors and stresses, but it was a persistent nag, somewhere in the psyche to get away, to stop what I was doing, to halt the concentration and focus on the task at hand, and... light a cigarette. It wasn’t yet the constant companion that soon it would be, but it was definitely exerting pressure - selfish and vile - to have its hand on my shoulder and its lies whispered in my ears... that was coming, but I never saw it. And so it took root. In time though, smoking was always with me. Always had a pack in my pocket and another in my car. Soon I was buying 2-3 packs at a time and then - self delusional and totally hoodwinked - I was buying cartons to save money. If I got below half a carton in my stock, I'd buy another carton; just to be sure I had plenty on hand. And I still never saw that I was addicted, and I was not choosing to smoke - my free will was totally ineffective - I had no choice - I had to smoke - and I was blind to the strength and power of the addiction - it was that good in its power over me. And so, the evil infestation grew and thrived on my withering self-determination. Later it was clear that there was no rationality in smoking - not one - all I had believed was self-delusional. The financial cost, the disgusting smell, the morning cough to get the brown-green mucus out of my lungs, the lack of taste in any food, the difficulty I had in climbing stairs or carrying any load, the fact that that I was controlled by the need to inhale the smoke of a toxic weed, the very fact that I was killing myself... I was causing the acceleration my own death... the very end of my life... But I still didn't get it. It was still a pleasure, I told myself, one of the few I have left... even after I had seen my mother die of it, and aunts and uncles, one favorite with a tracheotomy after his larynx was removed due to throat cancer. My blindness was complete - oh, no, not me, I'll prove them all wrong, and live to be 100... But, it's all crap. The blindfold had to come off. For me, that happened just over 1000 days ago. I've told of the events that led up to it, and just beyond it many times - it's still in my profile, and I stand behind all of the words I wrote there, even though much of it is almost 3 years old. It wasn't easy. It wasn't the first attempt, or third or... I don't even know how many times. But it was the last. I had a quit in me, and I invested in it... I cleared the weeds and found a spot to plant a flower. It's a fragile thing, a single flower, and needs care and close attention. It needs the weeds to be kept well back, and it needs love and a gentle hand, but it has one purpose - to thrive. And it will thrive, and grow strong, and flower and gain strength with each passing season. I used to say Strength, Courage and Determination was pretty much all that was needed. I now believe that these are part of it - a very strong conviction that you are making the single very best decision to improve your life, followed by the courage to accept that decision and act on it, and the determination to hold fast to your commitment to yourself. The missing part - was to recognize the importance of doing this alongside others, and in the supportive company of friends. I don't think I've ever thanked the friends I've made here at the Q, and in 1102, nearly enough. Without your support, whether you knew it or not, I would not have been smokefree these last 1000 days. Thank you, for my life. ________________The GAEL 1006 days, 13 hours, 5 minutes and 13 seconds smoke free. 24157 cigarettes not smoked. $4,225.20 and 6 months, 4 days, 12 hours of your life saved. Your quit date: 11/1/2002 1:00:00 AM

HI @MLMR .... just checking in to see how you are doing. How are things going?

Awww, but who said that stature had anything to do with physical height eh? 🎀

Thank you @QuittingGirl ... I agree with you that the weaning method always delays the inevitable work that needs to be done/ Many thanks for your support.

Thank you @Doreensfree .... guarding my quit big time. That little girl in you did not know that she could always stand tall with the big kids without the ciggies!!! My coping mechanism these days is to just feel the internal buzz of anxious feelings that trigger thoughts that I need nicotine, and let them be. Deep breathing and relaxing always disipates this feeling. The craving for nicotine always goes away! And even when that background buzzing does not disipate, its ok. Eventually, if I do not feed my body nicotine, that internal buzzing will go away. Upwards and Onwards @Doreensfree, Warm Regards, Gene

Thank you @jillar ... This reminds me that all the values, attitudes and believes about smoking have changed today..... Thank goodness! But there is no sense in leading with judgements about the past. Its just important to focus on doing the right things in the now. gosh, overthinking things is what I do often lmao.....

I’m proud of you Gene , your fighting for your quit , you know how precious and delicate it is … so guard it well One day , one minute if you need it , I was 11 when I took my first puff , hanging out with the older kids trying to be big , in the back alleys of Liverpool . who knew I’d be in my sixties before I got a grip , I had a punching pillow , drew a face on it of someone who was giving me grief , when I got a crave , I punched the hell out of that pillow , it used to fly through the air Ahhh I felt gud We all need to find our coping mechanism dear Friend Upwards and Onwards 🐸👍

Good morning everyone, I woke up today feeling ok about my quit. It almost feels like a non issue that I am not smoking today or using nicotine patches. Of course this is what normal feels like right? Only a brain that is addicted to nicotine would think that it is normal to be jonsing for nicotine and mentally fighting the urges to put nicotine in your system. I think my real journey is about recovery. I have to start looking at the reasons I started to smoke in the first place. Nobody is born and decides early on in life, gee, I want to become a drug addict that is addicted to smoking or nicotine!!!! Life happens and then we start to develop negative, self defeating coping mechanisms. When I was fourteen, I was a very insecure teenager that was desperate to make friends and be accepted. I really started smoking with my peers because I was feeling lonely, depressed and not loved. Smoking became my pathway to acceptance, friendship, being cool, feeling accepted, coping with situations where i felt socially awkward or anxious. As an adult, I get to find postive coping mechanisms to deal with all of the above. I have to parent the self and support that emotional 14 year old and tell him its all going to be ok! You were always loved and accepted. You just did not know it at the time. Keeping my quit. Not one puff or nicotine patch ever! Gene

Addicts and non-addicts are exactly alike - with only a few differences. Quitnet Re-post, March 24, 2007. Author Unknown Addicts have cravings; non-addicts have hunger, thirst, headaches, depression, anxiety, and so on. The feelings are identical, but addicts use the wrong word. Do yourself the favour of honesty and call things by their right names. Perhaps then you can do the right thing about them, and there won’t be anything to fight. Addicts have withdrawal; non-addicts have stress. The sensations and chemical causes are identical, but addicts use the wrong word. Also, the addict takes nicotine, which amplifies the feelings. The addict in recovery often `fights` against these feelings, and so only adds to the stress. Stop the insanity. Address stress the way sane folk do. Don’t think that smoking will help. Don’t think that fighting will help. They can only make it worse. Addicts have urges and desires; non-addicts have memories. Again, same thing, wrong word. I remember my old girlfriend, but that doesn’t mean I want to wreck my life and leave my wife. And while I’m remembering, I’ll remember the hells that wench put me through. While you’re remembering smoking, remember that made you feel good only by taking away some of its own bad, and that bad is gone for good now. Addicts fear consequences, non-addicts fear causes. Stop looking for the `next one`, start seeing through your delusions. Then there won’t be a `next one`. Addicts believe that addiction `makes` them think things; non-addicts know that faulty thinking IS the addiction. You stopped believing in monsters under your bed, stop believing in demons between your ears. You can quit. It can be amazingly easy and permanent. You just have to quit the right things. Quit using the wrong words. Quit lying to yourself. Quit fearing your own imagination. Do it consistently for two months, and I guarantee you will find yourself quoting Dr. King: `Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we’re free at last!` Addiction is not about weakness, Recovery is not about strength. Addiction is about self-deception, Recovery is about self-love.

Hi Gene, When I quit smoking last year I started off with the weaning method, eventually smoking 2 cigs a day, one in the morning and one in the evening. Unfortunately, the weaning method didn't work at all because I was in constant withdrawal and always on edge. I joined this board around the time that I was weaning and everyone told me I had to give up the cigs totally. So on May 23, 2023 I went totally smoke free. It was very hard for me in the early months, but, it was much easier than the weaning method. That's why you can't have any more of those patches. You will do it and we are all here for you to help you! Every day that you don't use the patch, your cravings will become less and less. Just take one day/hour/min/sec at a time. YOU CAN DO IT!! 👍😃

Thank you @jillar and @DenaliBlues .... I am waking up today feeling very commited to NOPE. Its funny. My first consous awareness is to to scan my body to see if I could feel that every so slight nicotine withdrawl buzz. I know at that point I always put a patch on. This morning. I am not feeling anything except maybe a very dull rorar in the background. I have many friends and co-workers who have never known me as a smoker. Thats because I have been a closet nicotine patch user for years. When I did have my cigarette smoking relapses, I would hide them and smoke in private, and then return to work or with non smoking friends wearing the patch. I would even make sure I had washed stinking cigarette smelling clothing. I hated that smell and knew that non smoking friends and co-workers would know right away that I was smoking. Not one Nicotine Patch ever! Thanks for your support. Gene

Good for you for reckoning with your nicotine addiction, Gene. Whether it’s smoking, vaping, the patch or lozenges, nicotine is a powerful chemical. Confronting it is an act of courage. Saying it aloud is important… sunshine is a great disinfectant. Withdrawal is lousy for a while, so saddle up. Addict Mind will spew all kinds of BS at you… it will moan, whine and wheedle. It will tell you quitting is not possible, that you’ll die without your fix. It will say “just one” won’t hurt. Don’t fall for it. You can beat this. You’re in a great position to give nicotine the heave-ho for good! You are knowledgeable about addiction. You have many tools at your disposal. And you have all of us here to cheer you on. The intense cravings are temporary. Distract yourself. Take it one minute/hour/day at a time - and stay committed to NOPE - and you’ll do fine.

Yes @jillar ... I hear you. Many thanks:)

Just said goodbye to Tiki before she crossed the rainbow 🌈 bridge. RIP my little troublemaker, Cookie hopefully greeted you on your arrival. I love you xoxo