Sazerac

Day EIGHT !  You are doing great, Kate.  Rewards are essential.

You won't let yourself down unless you choose to let yourself down.

Make the commitment and hold fast to it.

You are dealing with addiction, you need to learn more about addiction, understand addiction.

Please do this for yourself.

This will help you with everything you experience quitting, it puts everything in perspective.

Glad you are back. There are plenty of research materials here as well as our support.  Take advantage and build yourself a sturdy and strong quit.

Since you mention NOPE, you might find this post useful

NOPE~Never~Ever~Forever

The miraculous transformation we all experience 

from addiction to freedom

is the best part about quitting.

This is what keeps my quit solid, as well.

I am so happy for you QueenB.

You quit smoking !

You don't smoke anymore, Ms V.

So, let these anxieties and fears wash right out of you.

They belong to the addiction.

You are a free woman, now,

building yourself a strong and sturdy quit.

Make sure you reward yourself for conquering the latest episodes, this is important work.

Soon, you will be able to be around smokers and not be tempted

As long as you remain true to your commitment to Not One Puff Ever (NOPE) nothing can cause a relapse.

The stench may become repugnant which makes it hard to be around smokers but, there is no crave.

For some,  profound feelings of compassion replace temptation.

You are free, they are slaves to nicotine addiction.  You can go 20 minutes w/out having smokey thoughts take over your life, they cannot.

This freedom is so precious and worth everything to preserve.   Protect your quit with your life.

Most of the nicotine has left your body, V.

Now, it is addressing craves and triggers.

You are doing so great, it is a pleasure to witness your quit.

Stay focused and committed to Not One Puff Ever

and you will not go wrong.

You are going to go through a year of craves getting milder and also seasonal triggers.

Each trigger you conquer will change your brain and wrench your reward system away from nicotine.

The biochemistry of this is astounding and once you reclaim these receptors, they are Yours forever ! 

They will only return to nicotine if you do so, NOPE your way through.

This is why rewards are so important.

You are doing so great, have a super attitude and are ruthless in Sticks/Chicks !

you may well have to adjust medications, @Vivianne

Medication Adjustments That May Be Necessary After Quitting Smoking

Have a good time, V !

Oh what a beautiful photograph of Love !

Thinking of you, mrs.

How was the weekend ?

You quit smoking, Richard !  

You can do anything.

Please be kind to yourself.

Saz

I'm with Jillar on this one also.

Their thoughts were likely not craves, like the ones you may be in the grimy midst of.

Sometimes a smokey thought will waft through in a long term quit but, these are old memories and easily waved away. 

I am not tempted by nicotine anymore in any way.

and as Jillar mentioned...the 'out' you may be thinking of is dangerous.

Check out Red Flags  (and add your own ! )

Protect your quit.  Guard it with your life, baby.

Oh !  Post all you can, mrs !  Your photos are grand.

The more you post, the more invested you will become in your quit

and the more you will help other people with your experiences.

Hello Mrs,

I was just thinking of you and how fabulous I think you are.

You jumped into cold turkey all the way and are rocking your quit !

I am super excited for you.

I ate Satsumas and a lot of them in my early days.

Also, altoids and those little fabulous ginger candies.

Breathing was better than candy.  Available, free and delicious.

Take care of your mouth.  Salt water rinses.

All of your symptoms are not uncommon, as Jillar said, 

and I agreee....go to the quack if you have any issues.

All this is temporary, including your bitchiness.

Be extra kind to yourself, you are doing serious work, beating addiction ! 

I am glad to hear you are rewarding yourself.

Diamonds are just the thing !

I re-claimed my breaks with deep conscious breathing, a few in through nose - out through mouth

and the chance to find something of beauty.

That light on that leaf, that shadow, cloud, reflection or a happy memory, a little fantasy...a place where I could rest my brain and appreciate some beauty.

YOU are doing so great Mrs !  Thank you for sharing your quit with us.

Stay close and keep communicating.  You are building a sturdy quit.

Oh !  Don't forget to give yourself small rewards for every crave/trigger you conquer.

Saz

Here is Joel's take on 'breaks'

Thinking of you mrs,

Depending on if those patches were viable or not,

your body is pretty close to being nicotine free.

Now, it is a matter of retraining your brain to deliver endorphins for good things instead of the tie to nicotine.

So reward yourself ALL THE TIME !

You will do fine, mrs.

Lots to dream about,

what will you spend your new dosh on ?

Oh, the places you will go !

NOPE your way through any grimy moments,

they won't last long and each time you conquer your thoughts

the stronger and more pliable your brain becomes.

"You'd think that would have been enough for me to put the cigarettes down, but no. "

Addiction is addiction, and we all must understand it's power.

(not more powerful than we are but, it is very serious, indeed )

What a beautiful picture, mrs.

You quit smoking !  Look forward, soon you will have confidence in the quit you are building.

Build it sturdy and strong and the benefits will shine on all parts of your life.

I am so glad you found us !

Thinking of you, Richard.  

me too, Hellkat.  Thinking about you.

You have a lot going on, Richard.

Please treat yourself with extra kindness.

Here is an entry on The Great Smoke Free Mental Fog

where y'at, Kate ?

I used to keep my hair very very short, very short and loved that people would rub my scalp.  It felt so good.

Glad you are communicating.  Glad you are here.

Stay focused.  You win.