Sazerac

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Wow.

Teacher of The Century and great film

I was an obnoxious smoker and sneered right back at obnoxious non smokers. I smoked everywhere possible and as places to smoke became scarcer I became belligerent. Addiction turned me into a real arsehole, I only thought about feeding it. Being Free, like Ela says, is delicious and has made me a far, far more considerate person.

Hey GITW, Your experience helps others, there is no doubt about that and I am really appreciative reading your posts. It reminds me to stay the course and also brightens my day by seeing people consciously pay attention to their quit and themselves. You have a great quit. Nurture and protect it. Will rinsing surfaces with baking soda or white vinegar mitigate the chemicals ? Humans should never let Dow chemical into their houses, breathing that stuff is damaging.

I have read about the acronym, H A L T, in recovery paraphernalia and have used it to a great degree of success in changing my patterns from a nicotine addict to a Free person. Having a Crave ? H. A. L. T. Are you Hungry - Thirsty - need a deep breath of Oxygen ? Angry - Happy - Emotional ? Lonesome - Bored ? Tired ? In many, many instances, when I would reach for a smoke, my poor body was actually trying to alert me that it needed attention in some way. My addiction silenced these natural signals. I still catch myself these days...no, it is no longer a crave, it is my body hollering for water or food or something it really needs ! Now, groovin' in my new freedom, when these signals come up, my first thought may still be, 'Oh cigarette, dammit' However, it is followed immediately by, 'No, not smokes...you're Hungry, baby !' or, you're thirsty or, you need to go sit outside and take a big gulp of oxygen and figure out what your body or spirit requires. The piracy that nicotine practiced is still mind-boggling to me. Allowing nicotine to take over my basic human needs of sustenance and comfort was a grave error on my part. I am grateful my body is so forgiving . I am grateful to be free. Free and learning how to read my body's signals and remembering how to take good care of it. So, next time you have what you assume to be a Nic fit, have a think...what is your body really telling you ? It won't be hard to figure out. For me it has been obvious and I have to wonder, how could I have neglected my body for so long ? It is a miracle it survived. I would like to include our friend, Joel Spitzers' Do You Want A Cigarette....H.A.L.T.

What are your motivations ? Making a list of your reasons to quit can be a useful tool in your toolbox. and while I think of it, don't forget to also post a Pre- response to your own SOS, this is so helpful to you and also to the group, in assists us knowing how to respond to you and helps you to conquer any crisis you may encounter.

Nikki, Post like this really help people because your experience is universal. We have all been there. All you can do is power through and know that the discomfort is Temporary. You are doing GREAT. It is obvious you have been educating yourself about nicotine addiction, this is an integral part of your success. Congratulations on quitting smoking. YOU don't smoke anymore. That is a truly awesome thing.

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hello addictedbassman, good to see you here. As you well know, smoking will not solve any problems or make any rough patch smoother. It will only fcuk up your life and that is the truth. Drink more from the bottomless cup of NOPE and appreciate your strength and your FREEDOM. Here is a brilliant post from Christobal Your Quit & Your Life :The Proper Sequence We are all here to cheer you on.

Stay On The Path. Stay Focused. You are leaving hell behind. Drink fruit juice (Welch's Grape is just grape, no added sugar) Eat Satsumas. Take a primal screaming shower. Stomp and shout. Do anything but smoke. Every crave you beat is gone forever as your brain begins repair. Reward yourself for every crave beaten down, every smoke denied. Read this The Significance of Rewards You are doing great, Linda ! This won't last long and you will emerge beautiful and strong.

You feel bad because you are interfering with and denying Jackie The Addict. She is bound to flail about and cause needless trouble because her days of ruining your live are OVER. You don't smoke anymore. ney gonnae do. Have a look at this post The Great Smoke Free Mental Fog

bumpity bump bump Please add to this great thread !

I'm here. Nicotine free. Caffeine free. and not enough alcohol in my body for a disinfectant squirt on a hangnail. Hello to all you beautiful free free free creatures. I must say I love WeegieWoman's merkin (oops sorry, it is a Sporran not a Merkin)

The human drama corporeal, temporal one heartbeat.missing. Please,to share secrets, recipes for the future. We need elders voice. In a flash I'm old. weight of wisdom so heavy, I did not prepare.

Hello Linda ! We all want to see you have a successful quit and will do everything to help you. Educate yourself about nicotine addiction. Read and watch vids until your eyes bleed. No kidding. and commit to NOPE (not one puff EVER). The self awareness and confidence that you will acquire will blow your mind, believe me. You will love the freedom and emerge a confident powerhouse of a woman. Get yourself a plan...NRT or hypnosis or cold turkey (any way you quit is the right way to quit), the crucial bit is committing to your decision to never take another puff. It may be gruesome for a while but, nothing you can't handle. Quitting won't kill you, Smoking will kill you. Craves are not commands. Don't forget to have some fun here, even though quitting is serious business there is plenty of room for frivolity. We have games and such to distract you from craves. This post will help you navigate around the site 10 Ways To Effectively Use This Forum To Help Yourself and Others To Quit Smoking

Satsumas mostly in the early chaos then Lemon Heads and any flavor Altoids.

Welcome, Jim. Congratulations on your nearly 8 year quit ! How does that feel ? Hope you can share some of your wisdom and experience with us. S Is your avatar a one eyed cat peeping in a seafood store ? Shake, Rattle and Roll (Charles Calhoun) Get outta that bed, wash your face and hands Get outta that bed, wash your face and hands Well, you get in that kitchen, make some noise with the pots 'n pans Way you wear those dresses, the sun comes shinin' through Way you wear those dresses, the sun comes shinin' through I can't believe my eyes, all that mess belongs to you I believe to my soul you're the devil and now I know I believe to my soul you're the devil and now I know Well, the more I work, the faster my money goes I said shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll Shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll Well, you won't do right to save your doggone soul I'm like a one-eyed cat peepin' in a seafood store I'm like a one-eyed cat peepin' in a seafood store Well, I can look at you till you ain't no child no more Ah, shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll Shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll Well, you won't do right to save your doggone soul I get over the hill and way down underneath I get over the hill and way down underneath You make me roll my eyes, even make me grit my teeth I said shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll Shake, rattle and roll, shake, rattle and roll Well, you won't do nothin' to save your doggone soul

See ? Sewing Machines have nothing to do with smoking !

Congratulations Fluffy One ! I have the Nicotine Free Tardis parked right next to you should you want an excursion around the Universe.

This is exactly the path, Jo. Embrace the suck and make it work for you. I sew also and would hate for something as arbitrary as my nicotine addiction to gangster my sewing machine. It is MY sewing machine, a beautiful tool to create lovely things to wear or admire. Go get your machine oil out and clean up your machine, meticulously. Get all the fluff and chaff out of the workings. Oil her up. Check her tension. Run her at top speed to exorcise all those demons out of her. Vroom Vroom Vroom. Sew a few miles of bliss for yourself, a veritable crazy quilt of love and kindness and FREEDOM, bebe. FREEDOM. I am so proud of you for pulling yourself back from the edge. I know it was scary close but, YOU WON ! Ha ! Go celebrate.

Congratulations on your luscious freedom, Claire. Thanks for checking in , you are an inspiration.

I thought I was skating through the worst during the first couple days, then the big shit hit. It was real pain, head and belly cramps. no energy, angry. Prepare yourself with soothing tonics for your belly. Tonic, Chamomile. A heating pad. OTC intestinal tract stuff. Headache meds. Crawl under a rock, lock up your weapons. Be really really KIND to your sweet self, PorkChop. You can get to the other side...if I did....you can. I know this. Love you like a pork belly, baby. S p.s. I am still more than a little bitchy but, the head/belly pain is gone or very very vague.

Intense, intelligent, informative. All these links, like the Big Tobacco movies, gets you really riled up and solidify your quit.

I know we have Joel's video library here but, here is his YouTube channel. He has helped countless people to quit smoking Joel Spitzer YouTube Channel and his introduction p.s. I know sometimes posting Joel's vids is controversial because he never smoked but PLEASE , y'all ! Your psychiatrist doesn't necessarily have to be insane to help you, right ? Take what you need and leave the rest ! He has informed and taught and helped countless people. Myself included. Don't shoot the messenger.