I am responding here to this post of yours
"As a smoker for 38 years I appreciate this thread because I struggle and struggle and relapse and relapse,
then find myself wondering why others are able to stay quit and why I give in to the junkie thinking and make the choice to smoke again
("just one last pack because ABC") over and over and over again,
fully aware of what I'm doing but "feeling" powerless to stop (note I am aware I'm "feeling" powerless, not truly powerless in reality)
Please don't read into this post as giving myself an excuse to relapse.
Thats not what I mean.
I mean, I am trying not to kick myself in the head everytime I relapse,
but to stay aware of the fact that when you smoke for as long as some of us have smoked,
its going to be hard, its going to be tough and instead of hating on ourselves and criticizing ourselves
(that will lead to giving up trying) its better to acknowledge that its going to continue to be hard
and that its time to try something different...take suggestions...try new things to avoid giving in.
I need to shake up this quit. I'm tired of coming in here with a new quit over and over again. Its embarrassing and humbling for sure.
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and my response...
Being honest with myself and using self critique as a tool has only led to me being a better human being to myself and others.
Truth is my friend. How can it not be ?
@MichelleDoesntSmokeAnymore, you've been coming here since March 2015.
This weekend I read over a lot of your old threads looking for a clue as to why you won't keep a quit.
Perhaps, you can find the clue. Here they are.
You have to stop ******* around if you actually want to quit smoking.
This isn't rocket science.
I smoked for over 45 years.
I thought I was 'a dedicated smoker' until I learned I was just addicted
and no more addicted than any other nicotine addict on the planet.
None of us are special snowflakes.
Yes, I had some gnarly hours, days, weeks, months but, so what ?
I wasn't being bombed, wasn't in ER, wasn't starving to death.
What else was I doing with my time ?
Feeding addiction or learning how to Live FREE ?
This is all about addiction and the education thereof.
I am not stronger, smarter or, better than any other nicotine addict.
The only difference lays in the fact
that I committed to myself, near on six years ago
to NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF. NOT ONE PUFF EVER.
This did not take Herculean Power,
all it took was standing my ground, honoring myself and my commitment and blessed TIME.
You know the drill. When will you honor a commitment to yourself and your quit ?