Jump to content

Sazerac

Members
  • Posts

    14295
  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    191

Blog Comments posted by Sazerac

  1. Each body memory you have that concerns smoking will be changed.

    When recognized, you can consciously eliminate each pattern as it appears.

    Many are deep rooted and I had to repeatedly change the focus.

    Rewards are super important in this recovery.

    Nicotine hijacked the pleasurable release of endorphins and rewards will free those receptors.

    Addiction was pervasive, it even changed our DNA.

     

    So, change lots of little things.

    Go to the chair you used to smoke in and do something fun and wild in it.

    Do something related to pleasure there and own the space again.

     

    You quit smoking, Kate !

    We are all really proud of you.

    Believe it.

    • Like 2
  2. 59 minutes ago, Kate18 said:

    Going to imagine something more uplifting next craving.

     

    yes,  go to positive reinforcement.

    The body misses the bump of endorphins that nicotine corrupted

    so when you are in a crave, force yourself to think of something beautiful, something in front of you or a happy memory.

    This will jump start the flow of endorphins.

    Deep breaths of oxygen do the same

    as does physical movement...music/dance.

    (move a muscle, change a thought)

     

    I walked down to the tracks and did primal screaming when the train rolled by.  very satisfying.

     

    You quit smoking, Kate !  You don't smoke anymore.

    Celebrate this every moment.

    • Like 2
  3. " Trying to figure out how to make a running list of cravings, not separate blog entries."

     

    The only way to do this is to  'edit' into your original post

    or

    post new entries down here in the comment section.

    This works really well for Hellkatbaby.

     

    The sooner you switch up your patterns and triggers the easier this will be, Kate.

    I know, easier said than done.

    Move your coffee cup, put it in a trigger-free zone.

    Take breaks and reward yourself with something, breaths...happy memory, music, dance....

    Replace smokey thoughts with deep cleansing breaths, use @jillar's Air Cigarette.

    Distract yourself, reward yourself for every crave conquered !

     

    You are doing important work.  Stay with it for a minute, another hour, a day, a month, a year.

    NOPE is the mantra, just like Free Your Head.

    S

    • Like 3
    • Thanks 1
  4. Oh dear Richard,

    I am so sorry for the devastating loss of your beloved.  

    This is so sad.

    I, too, hope this serves as a catalyst to help people quit smoking.

    The addiction not only hurts ourselves but,  all living creatures around us in so many ways.

    Please be kind to yourself and let others show their kindness also.

    Thank you for this brutal wake up call.

    Love,

     

     

     

  5. I

    6 hours ago, hellkatbaby said:

    Not sure how to make a 'new entry' yet w/out starting another blog so I'll just carry on in the comments - keep it simple. 

     

    If I understand what you are saying, I think the only way is to 'edit' your original blog post and add on to the the body of the first entry.

    When you "add blog entry"  it makes it's own separate little blog but, still under your umbrella.

    But I like the immediacy of you carrying on in the comments...it's more conversational

    • Like 2
  6. the link above no longer works.

    Here is the vid

     

     

    and here is the original essay by Joel Spitzer

     

     

    How do you feel about a friend who has to go everywhere with you?

    Not only does he tag along all the time, but since he is so offensive and vulgar, you become unwelcome when with him.

    He has a peculiar odor that sticks to you wherever you go. Others think both of you stink.

     

    He controls you totally. When he says jump, you jump.

    Sometimes in the middle of a blizzard or storm, he wants you to come to the store and pick him up.

    You would give your spouse hell if he or she did that to you all the time, but you can't argue with your friend.

    Sometimes, when you are out at a movie or play he says he wants you to go stand in the lobby with him and miss important scenes.

    Since he calls all the shots in your life, you go.

     

    Your friend doesn't like your choice of clothing either.

    Instead of politely telling you that you have lousy taste, he burns little holes in these items so you will want to throw them out.

    Sometimes, he tires of the furniture and gets rid of it too.

    Occasionally, he gets really nasty and decides the whole house must go.

     

    He gets pretty expensive to support.

    Not only is his knack of property destruction costly, but you must pay to keep him with you.

    In fact, he will cost you thousands of dollars over your lifetime.

    And you can count on one thing, he will never pay you a penny in return.

     

    Often at picnics you watch others playing vigorous activities and having lots of fun doing them.

    But your friend won't let you.

    He doesn't believe in physical activity.

    In his opinion, you are too old to have that kind of fun.

    So he kind of sits on your chest and makes it difficult for you to breathe.

    Now you don't want to go off and play with other people when you can't breathe, do you?

     

    Your friend does not believe in being healthy.

    He is really repulsed by the thought of you living a long and productive life.

    So every chance he gets he makes you sick. He helps you catch colds and flu.

    Not just by running out in the middle of the lousy weather to pick him up at the store.

    He is more creative than that.

    He carries thousands of poisons with him which he constantly blows in your face.

    When you inhale some of them, they wipe out cilia in your lungs which would have helped you prevent these diseases.

     

    But colds and flu are just his form of child's play.

    He especially likes diseases that slowly cripple you - like emphysema.

    He considers this disease great.

    Once he gets you to have this, you will give up all your other friends, family, career goals, activities - everything.

    You will just sit home and caress him, telling him what a great friend he is while you desperately gasp for air.

     

    But eventually your friend tires of you.

    He decides he no longer wishes to have your company.

    Instead of letting you go your separate ways, he decides to kill you.

    He has a wonderful arsenal of weapons behind him. In fact, he has been plotting your death since the day you met him.

    He picked all the top killers in society and did everything in his power to ensure you would get one of them.

     

    He overworked your heart and lungs.

    He clogged up the arteries to your heart, brain, and every other part of your body.

    In case you were too strong to succumb to this, he constantly exposed you to cancer causing agents.

    He knew he would get you sooner or later.

     

    Well, this is the story of your "friend," your cigarette.

    No real friend would do all this to you.

    Cigarettes are the worst possible enemies you ever had.

    They are expensive, addictive, socially unacceptable, and deadly.

    Consider all this and NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!

    Joel

    http://whyquit.com/whyquit/joelcigfriend.html

     

     

     

  7. 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.

    .....................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

    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 ?

    • Like 6
  8. On 7/20/2019 at 10:12 AM, richard said:

     If it went easy all the time everyone would quit. Keep it up you are doing great.

     

     

    If quitting was too hard all the time, nobody would quit

    and there is a trainload of quitters here to cheer you on.

     

    It gets better and it gets easier.  Please, believe us.

    Your accumulated strength is astounding, I know you can't see it yet but, hold on !  You will !

    • Like 1
  9. Thinking of you Richard.

    Please educate yourself about nicotine addiction.

    It is your best tool in the toolbox.

    Read all you can, we have  wonderful resources.

    I already bumped this thread for you in 'discussions' but, here it is in your blog

    The Great Smoke Free Mental Fog

     

    If you stay close to the board and post often,

    we will be able to offer suggestions and support.

    Stay as focused as you can on your quit

    and stand strong in your commitment to NOPE.

     

    Discomfort from quitting smoking is temporary.

    Distract yourself.  Go have some fun.

    • Like 2
  10. I am happy to see you starting a blog !  Writing can help as does reading EVERYTHING you can about nicotine addiction.

     

    You say, 

    "My every intention at this moment is to stay and have a permanent quit"

    I say,

    It is the commitment to yourself and to Not One Puff Ever that will solidify your intentions.

     

    Very glad you found us, Michelle.  It will be encouraging and inspiring to read how you build your quit.

    • Like 2
  11. More unexpected benefits will be forthcoming !

    and after a bleak Winter, the first buds

    will appear and burst into the fresh new Greens of Spring.

    The lushness will delight you and it is something you don't really appreciate unless you slog through a Winter.

     

    Here in NOLA, it is a green jungle most of the year, unless we get a freeze and then it is devastating.

     

    So happy you are with us and finding benefits with your quit.

    Reward yourself, especially in the dark days of Winter.

     

     

    • Like 2
  12. Christine, 

    You are dealing with a dangerous and deadly addiction

    which has changed your DNA, changed the way you think.

    You have the power to override the addiction.

    Each minute you have choice and are able to choose instead of letting addiction choose everything for you.

    If you don't have super resolve or commitment don't worry about it.

    Take one moment at a time.

    These moments will build and grow your confidence.

    Stay in the Now.  You don't smoke.  End of discussion.

    Go reward yourself and go have some FUN.

    s

    • Like 1

About us

QuitTrain®, a quit smoking support community, was created by former smokers who have a deep desire to help people quit smoking and to help keep those quits intact.  This place should be a safe haven to escape the daily grind and focus on protecting our quits.  We don't believe that there is a "one size fits all" approach when it comes to quitting smoking.  Each of us has our own unique set of circumstances which contributes to how we go about quitting and more importantly, how we keep our quits.

 

Our Message Board Guidelines

Get in touch

Follow us

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Guidelines

Please Sign In or Sign Up