Sazerac

Good, great work, Rose. There is a connection between the effects of caffeine and nicotine, I think Joel addresses this, I will search around.* Some people have cut back on coffee and it has made them feel better. * I found Joel's vid Possible Changes In Caffeine Tolerance

Joe's (+1) House of Estrogen

I don't know of anyone that has had a completely easy quit, they are all different but, you must, at the very least, expect some temporary discomfort. After all, you are weaning yourself from a dangerous addictive drug. Since counselling has wound down, spend more time here and share your experiences. Learn more about nicotine addiction and know you have made one of the best decisions of your life. Reward yourself. S

Congratulations Mollie 1 on your first year of Freedom. Celebrate wildly and stay vigilant.

Congratulations S ! Thank you for being here to celebrate your first three months and for all you bring to the site. Your freedom looks marvelous, how's it feeling ?

Welcome Rosewothorne and congratulations on quitting smoking. Educate yourself on your addiction, our addiction. Knowledge is Power. Post a lot, NOPE always and don't forget to have fun, there is an incredible collection of people here to help.

Here is a very influential post that reminds me who has control of me and to stand strong with NOPE.

Something somebody said reminded me of me and my spoiled brat-dom. I was almost three years into my quit when I wrote this.

Congratulations Sparkzzz, Six months is a huge achievement and I am glad we can celebrate your success.

the sleepy haikus for all my wide awake friends gently rock cradle breathing slow, slowly deep and slowly, deeply slow, hypnotic rhythms wedge your palm of thumb into your solar plexus, silent lullaby nice warm bubble bath can give you rest without sleep, chamomile tea, please.

Quit 'Till It Sticks, DVredux, quit 'till it sticks. Congratulations on your first 8 days of freedom. It may help you and others if you can articulate your experience. What triggers your relapses ? How will you protect this quit ? What is in your toolbox ? How are you feeling ? What encourages you ? Don't forget to reward yourself and use our collective knowledge and support to your advantage. You don't smoke anymore, yay.

This is sad news, Doreen. You were a good friend, the very best. You never stopped encouraging her to stop smoking and you are such a shining example of smoke free beauty. I hope you can find some peace and solace here and there. Please take very good care of yourself, you ,who takes care of everybody. S

oh, no sorry, jillar, my friend. Stockton was fine fun for me. Lucky, maybe...for sure has violent history and present. I lived 10 miles up a dirt road in coastal Sonoma County. I know about wild pigs, only too well, they are really delicious, breed every 18 months of 5-6 darlings and big trouble for your fortified garden fence. Bambi defoliators but, jerky yum yum. I think I'm getting old, and changing. It kinda bothers me to know I kill to dine, mostly, doesn't seem fair but, tastes so damn good !

Change can be chaos but often interesting, Oh ! Ambivalence. To love the familiar is never arduous. Challenge can be fun

Don't be hating on Stockton, the home of my great friend, Mindy Lou ! and (you'll thank me for this) please read John McPhee's, Assembling California. Frankly, read anything written by J. McPhee. Am I the only one who feels sad for my wild porcine sisters and brothers? They're just out there a rootin', free and wild-ing.

It is all about vigilance, Opah. I don't think the monkey ever gets off our back, really. Addiction always lurks and we must be ever vigilant. Glad you are not stupid anymore, glad I am not stupid anymore. We don't smoke anymore. Have a great trip.

(It couldn't be stopped, this morning's string of haiku. Oh, insistent muse.) Morning with Corvus, Rooks, Jackdaws, Ravens or Crows, I think they're my friends. Out my own back door, I put Crow whistle to lips, blew, 'Crow! Hey you, Crow' Papa Crow up there, listened to my Crow whistle, 'wtf', he thought..

This is a helpful essay. All of us were joined at the hip...stuck like glue with Nicotine.

Congratulations on your journey. Your thought, "it was somewhat a loneliness, " reminded me of this post, "My Cigarette, My Friend"

It's predatory to me, too.

Sorry you are having a bad day and having smokey thoughts. You are more powerful than any desire to smoke. You ARE strong and you haven't lost your marbles. Addiction is a serious adversary embedded in your brain, in your DNA but, already you are healing yourself with every smoke not smoked....every crave quelled. Reward yourself, especially through hard times. Remember you are a hero to yourself, gotta love that, and keep your eyes on the prize ! Freedom is Yours. You Don't Smoke.

Hey Opah ! You don't smoke anymore ! Ain't that grand.

Before I quit, I maintained my denial about the dangers of smoking but, when I had made the decision to quit, things changed. I then acquired a voracious appetite for the truth and it did, indeed, helped to cement my quit. It still does.

Travelling is so much easier being a non smoker ! Travelling is so much easier having headphones and something interesting or soothing to listen to. Take a really good book, a coloring book, writing paper and now, if you have a phone you have so many options (games etc). People watching is fun. Talking to strangers can be interesting. Me, I love to fly. I love looking out the window at the clouds and the quilt of the earth. If things are dodgy, I do a lot of deep breathing. I know travel can be stressful but, it was far more stressful being a smoker. Remember who you are, you are a non-smoker, you don't smoke anymore. Have a safe journey and tell us all about it when you can.

Is it too quiet in here ? Is everybody OK ? For everybody quit and quitting, every day Free is an incredible achievement. I remember, often stringing minutes together is a triumph. Every crave beaten is a giant success and you must be very kind to yourself with rewards. The simplest of rewards, little celebrations, a peaceful walk, a moment with a book or a luxurious long bath will rejuvenate you and make you stronger for the next barrage. Remember, you will never ever have to go through this transition again. Already, your brain is re-wiring its pleasure receptors. The cilia in your lungs is sloughing off ugly, sticky tar. Your heart is free from the stress of smoking, your blood pressure is normalizing. Ha ! You don't stink ! You have quit smoking. Let that sink in ! You have quit smoking. Bask in the applause.