Reciprocity

Yes we did  Benefits of quitting add up fast and are put to GOOD use!

Something to warm your soul  This trip paid for from saving on buying cigs  The benefits keep on comin"!!

Congrats on your 17 days of freedom from cigs ICH  You should feel proud. That's a great start and you are already realizing just how crazy smoking was and just how negatively it affected your whole life. That's a huge step forward in the educational process which is key to a permanent quit. That automatic leaning toward having a smoke when you get stressed or unhappy or experiencing any emotion will fade with time. It does for everyone.

Can't help you with the winter issue other than suggest that one way to deal with a change like that is to take up a new hobby or activity suitable to your new environment?  

Or; maybe not?

Good to know you're still quit and sounding positive about it  

I don't know if any of us have a responsibility to anyone other than ourselves; once we make that commitment to quit. We end up helping others just by participating here whether we know it or not. You are also doing this now. Also, don't forget to think about the 14 days (and counting) of hard work you have put in to date next time you start romancing the cigarette and your smoking past history because .... it IS past history now.

You can't afford to make it your current situation again .... trust me on that one. You have already made your choice and that is the best choice you can possibly make for yourself - you're smoke-free!

I'm happy you took the time to reason things out properly Kate because that's very important!

Our minds play tricks on us when there's an addiction involved. Our mind suggests relief from our struggle will be the reward if we give in and light up but that is just a lie.

The truth is, we will be back in chains again, a slave to this addiction that brings nothing but misery and even death. Many have come to this realization too late - AFTER they went and bough that pack and lit one up! Stay strong because you are really doing a great job and this post proves you know how to rationalize the pros and cons of smoking. That's a very useful tool to have at your disposal going forward!

We've hid behind that smoke screen so long that it's hard to figure things out as a non-smoker sometimes but we must learn to do that and as we do, we find it's not so bad. Facing things head on is a good thing! Get them over and done with then ..... move on   Sometimes, I think maybe that's why I didn't quit sooner? Hiding behind the smoke-screen was much easier.

It's good to reflect like this every once in a while. Keeps us grounded to reality and what others are exposed to daily. Things we just take for granted all too often.

Yup - that's the way it goes for all of us I think. You end up with a mixed bag of thoughts and feelings on any given day and the whole process seems endless but, it won't be that way forever. Things always change and with quitting, the longer the time you invest in the process, the better the changes become. Surely you must notice that when you think back to your first week or so of quitting? I know I am still seeing improvements in my quit after over 1 1/2 years. They aren't pronounced and they are very slow in coming but I have even less desire to ever smoke again than I had after 1 full year. The mental healing process is ongoing for all of us. It won't skip by you Tammy - it can't! All you have to do is continue the path you're on and it will ALL come to you, just as it does for all of us  

OK - thanks Weegie! This will help a lot more people than you might think  

On 11/15/2018 at 6:12 PM, WeegieWoman said:

I had many a quit where I was quick to cave. But those experiences helped me get where I am today. 34 years old and over one year quit. I kept trying and this time it stuck. 

Is there anything in particular that you can identify that made this one work for you Weegie? 

Great Work DF! Just take it a day at a time and you'll be surprised at how fast they add up  

Yup! What Jillar said. Just be determined to do it now! None of us know "for sure" if we have quit forever. All we know is that we will not smoke TODAY! That's the whole idea of the nope thread. Pledge your self commitment to stop smoking just for today Days add up and before you know it, smoking seems like a distant memory. I know ..... hard for you to believe today. I've been there myself C12. So have all the others here. Guard your resolve closely in the early days. That nicomonster will be whispering sweet nothings in your ear during these days. Don't listen!

This might just be your defining moment C12. Think about that for a moment.

Love Jo's quote about Crossroads and stepping UP or stepping DOWN!

Always step UP!! This is the road to freedom Life long is possible for all of us and YES, that includes you C12!

Be kind to yourself in these early days C12. You know quitting is worth the effort or else you wouldn't be here

We are cheering you on!

It's always easy to rationalize that if we were still smoking, all life events would be so much better. NOT TRUE! The addiction adds another layer of ugliness to our lives. Think of it this way; "my life is off the rails at the moment so if I was smoking, it would be SO much easier.

NO! The smoking addiction would just allow you to avoid those undesirable life events. You'd be outside somewhere obsessing about the life issue while smoking a cig. Great! You are adding self destruction to the temporary life issue - Nice

Good post - hang in there C12

It's wonderful you are having some of those days already. Feels great doesn't it?

It's the ah ha moment when you know you finally have the upper hand on the Nicodemon

As in my NOPE post today, the first while it will seem like this ..................................

Then after some period of time unique to you and only you, it will be like this!

Now go do it Christine! It is yours for the taking if you just commit yourself no matter what

Great Post lml

I agree that erasing smoking from your subconscious is not possible but, the longer you stay smoke free the deeper into your subconscious those memories of smoking will sink. That is both good and perhaps bad too in a way.

It's good that we will not have to have thoughts of smoking just popping into our minds each and every day but then there's always that danger that because we are not expecting those thoughts that we may become complacent or forget some of the basic critical things we have learned in our quit - like, Not One Puff Ever and, there's no such thing as "just one".

I fully expect to be living my life in the coming years with fewer and fewer thoughts about smoking but I also need to always remember the experience of quitting so I never have to go through that again!

You have just described one of my favorite benefits of being a non-smoker. Freedom to do what you want for as long as you want without having to "service" your addiction master - nicotine.

Whether it be the art museum, a family gathering or a night out with friends, you no longer have to sneak away early to have that cigarette. Now, that's freedom!

You pretty much nailed it lml

Hopefully others starting out will read this too because as you point out, realizing you are an addict and NOT in control is important to gaining that control back. And it is possible to get the control back. Takes time, patience and rewiring your brain is all. Everyone who adheres to the NOPE principal will get there in time.

I'm glad you found your way through that dark time Sunny! It is certainly overwhelming at times for most of us particularly in those early days. I don't know if you noticed but there is also a "Pre Respond to your Own SOS" thread on that page that you can utilize as a help tool too. You can post up a meaningful message to yourself that you can read if you're feeling weak at some point. Hope your having a better day today

You're doing the right thing by repeating these positive things to yourself because .... it's all true! Smoking doesn't do 1 damn thing good for you. It only compels you to keep feeding it's horrible addictive self every waking hour of each day and you don't need that anymore. You're way better off without it!

Yes, it's a battle to get there but it will be so worth your time and effort Keep going because that's what it takes. It's more of an endurance event than a sprint. The intensity of what you are going through right now will fade soon enough but the work will continue to make sure you have the strongest quit possible. One that will last a lifetime. Enjoy the experience because it will be like no other and hopefully, you will never have to repeat it.

Everything you said is right on!!

Anticipating whatever triggers you can allows you to take them on much easier. When you realize that you can get past these situations, the addiction gets weaker and you get stronger. That's why it's recommended you stick around for at least a year - all seasons. Each may have their own set of triggers for you. Christmas/New Years with parties and family gatherings. That kind of thing. Each season has different situations coming along for the first time since you've quit.

And yes - this quit is for YOU! It's a benefit to your loved ones too but it's your quit. You own it and YOU are responsible for it and when you have that solid long term quit, YOU are the one who reaps the rewards. Carry on Rose - doing great

There will likely be a lot of way up and way down moments over the next while for you Rose. As you said in your post above. If you you try not to make a big deal of the down moments, it won't be so bad. You know they don't last all that long so do your best to focus on the positives you see. How much better you smell, how you don't have to go buy smokes any more. How you don't have to find a place to smoke anymore and how you don't miss other important things in your life while you are having those smokes. It just gets better and better all the time. Keep moving forward and be proud of what you've done