Sazerac

In celebration of my Six Years of Freedom, I wrote this little piece, now at seven years I re-visit my commitment to NOPE. Sazerac's Simple Guide To Freedom Desire: You must want to quit more than you want to smoke Decision: Make the decision to live life without Nicotine. Commitment: Commit wholeheartedly to live without Nicotine and intend on standing by your resolve. Choice: Choose to never smoke again, EVER. This choice will empower you in many, many ways. “Once you make a decision, the universe conspires to make it happen.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson Education * Thanks to Joel Spitzer, this site and lurking around the sphere, I am still learning everything I can about Nicotine Addiction. Information is Big Power and I feel sufficiently armed to maintain my quit. Changing Focus. It took some doing but, s l o w l y, when junkie thoughts would drag me down, I began to train myself to look at something beautiful or think of beauty in some way. This retrained my brain and also gave me a bump of endorphins. I use this technique during any moments of distress or discomfort. These are not nicotine related anymore, just moments of life. The concept of H.A.L.T. * (are you Hungry (thirsty), Angry (emotional), Lonesome (bored), Tired) Nine times out of ten, smokey thoughts weren't about nicotine at all, it was my body (poor thing) hollering at me to do something life sustaining for it. Now, the signals are very clear and not related to nicotine in any way. I also want to share the benefits of Breath. Deep, calming breaths of Oxygen. An elixir to sharpen and focus your mind away from the patterns of addiction. Rewards * Not only does rewarding yourself help re-wire your brain receptors, treating yourself well and being as kind to yourself makes life nice. A little spoiling goes a long way, especially during rugged transitions of any kind. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` Quitting smoking has taught me much about myself and the human condition. The truth and honesty involved in making and keeping a commitment to myself has been profound. I know myself so much better. I have exchanged an empty bravado for an inner trust and knowledge. I am grateful to everybody here, your stories, your triumphs and your lapses, too. ALL have helped me understand the hideousness of nicotine addiction and the Power of Choice, the Preciousness of Freedom. I am so proud to be part of this community. Y'all are beautiful nicotine free creatures, my friends. S * Joel Spitzer's Quit Smoking Library * Riffing On H.A.L.T. * The Significance of Rewards p.s. To anyone beginning their journey, I would recommend this thread, 10 Ways To Effectively Use This Forum To Stop Using Nicotine

Thank you everyone ! Great to read each and every one of you beautiful nicotine free creatures. I celebrate EVERY DAY that I am nicotine free. To see 2,555 days of power accumulate is astounding to me. To all 'eyes' and newbies, Please understand that I am not a special snowflake or unique in my desire for freedom from nicotine. Everyone here has this desire and builds on their power to manifest their freedom from nicotine addiction. Nothing in my life has been as empowering as this freedom and I continue to honor and nurture it. Last year, I wrote a 'Simple Guide To Freedom', I will put in in my blog so that perhaps more will read and take heed. Quitting smoking/nicotine is not that hard in the big picture and the benefits completely outweigh temporary discomforts. Trust in yourself, commit to NOPE... and LIVE to enjoy your freedom. S

I'm home. Hopefully the last evacuation of the season and Mother Nature will be sending nice early rains to CA. Is 2020 over yet ? (asking for a friend)

I'm with a human friend and a dog friend in Vicksburg, Mississippi watching the 'S' storm. Hopefully, won't have to change my address or my name. Thank you all for your thoughts.

a NY Times article, Vaping Links To Covid Are Becoming Clear

Congratulations, John, on your three months of FREEDOM. You are building yourself a find a sturdy quit and I thank you for all your posts lighting the way for others.

I quit almost seven years ago and have become an advocate of Cold Turkey but, believe me, I support and encourage everybody in their precious quits. Any Quit Is A Good Quit. Seven years ago (and still seek today) I sought information (in a galaxy of Misinformation) and was dismayed after googling around finding numerous instances of 'responsible experts' recommending to NOT quit cold turkey. Health professionals are quick to prescribe NRT's which actually have higher failure rates than a Cold Turkey quit. What kind of idiotic advise is that ? Is this more Big Tobacco poisoning minds ? Big Drug companies pushing product ? Ignorance ? Then I found a great rap about this from our Friend, Joel Spitzer Quitting Cold Turkey was simple for me. I considered it a personal challenge. No spending any more dosh on tobacco, vape or NRT. No schedule of tapering off. No teasing the addict that is me. It was clean. It was DONE. It didn't hurt. There were gruesome days, for true but, pffttt... there will always be gruesome days about something or other. Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries, right ? I continue on this new fascinating adventure. Not One Puff Ever. Here is another video and resource page that debunks the notion, Isn't Quitting Smoking Cold Turkey Too Dangerous?

Our friend, Joel Spitzer, has a new video out with a page of important resources, Why Do I Smoke ? (resources) and it got me to thinking about why I ever thought smoking was enjoyable or benefitted me in some way. Now, that I understand about nicotine addiction it is very clear. I smoked because I was an addict. That is the ONLY reason. Smoking NEVER calmed me, or made me think better. Oxygen does both very well. Deep breaths are always available and consistent in their benefits. Why do YOU smoke ? Why do you want to smoke ? What lies are you still holding as truths ?

Nicotine patches are keeping your body in a state of constant withdrawal. You cannot expect the benefits of being nicotine free to kick in until your NRT program is completed and you no longer administer nicotine to your body. Please consult a health professional about your depression, you needn't feel the burden of depression while you are starting your journey to freedom. Why Am I Still Experiencing Nicotine Withdrawals

Take a look at this 10 Ways To Effectively Use This Forum To Stop Using Nicotine it includes links to many educational resources

My advice is to quit smoking today. Cold turkey. In three days nicotine will be gone from your body and you can start to learn new patterns that won't involve killing yourself. Please start learning about your nicotine addiction If you want to torture yourself, continue with your plan

Well, projections for these storms are not good. I am evacuating today and going camping somewhere to the North, hopefully out of alligator country lol. Not sure of internet 'out there' so I encourage everybody to nurture their quits and stay focused. Will be back when I can. S

What GREAT news, Kate. Congratulations on your six months of Freedom ! Keep your resolve, keep nope-ing through and please celebrate !

Here's the latest from Levi

Hot Fun In The Summertime, ugh.

I bump this to provide encouragement to people inquisitive about quitting Cold Turkey and to cold turkey quitters. again, all quits are good quits.

congratulations on putting down the smokes for one week ! soon, a nicotine free life will be your JOY.

NOPE Why would you even consider poisoning yourself while you celebrate your good news ? A fleeting moment because of old patterns, sure, but to seriously consider throwing your quit and failing yourself ? NOPE NOPE NOPE

bump

Bump. FREE YOUR HEAD ! You have a choice as to what you spend time thinking about. Nicotine addiction brings the obsession with nicotine...put your thoughts elsewhere... there is a whole universe of delights to think about, don't waste your precious time on nicotine anymore.

Electric Cigarettes Users Having A Harder Time When Quitting Smoking Supercharging Nicotine's Addictive Potential

The point is having control over your life and control over your addiction. The point is discovering reserves of self esteem and self respect. The point is finding you are able to trust yourself not to poison and kill yourself. The point is not suffering with nicotine withdrawals every twenty minutes, every day as a smoker. You must choose. The discomfort you are in is caused by addiction to nicotine. This will be eliminated when nicotine is no longer a part of your life and your body begins its healing.

@ekptr ! Congratulations on your ONE YEAR of Freedom ! This is a tremendous accomplishment and I hope you have a great celebration. As the years pass, now...you will discover many more benefits and have access to even more of your power. I am sure you are a great inspiration to those around you as you are to all of us as you enjoy your freedom.

NOPE

Hey ! You're going to be a married lady ! I think that is splendid. and hey....you do not want to be smoking with oral surgery. Your recovery time will be an nth of what it was as a smoker. Treat yourself to your kindness.