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Congratulations @Mee on an awesome four year quit! I hope you're doing well and stop by for an update. We miss you!

babs609 Quit Date: 07/13/2012 Posted September 20, 2016 Life is really so simple...WE are the ones who make it complicated Because the truth is....if you BELIEVE the cigarette will give you any kind of comfort or joy...then you will suffer a great deal. Not just in the early part of your quit, but for YEARS after...if you can stay quit that long. This is where the education part comes in. If there is something you want that you believe will make you feel good...most people don't have the willpower to refrain from. Those that do...are miserable and live their life miserably always thinking they are being deprived. They aren't. It's all in their head. All about their belief system. I remember a show that was on...not sure if it still is but it was called 'My Strange Addiction. The people on that show had some of the strangest addictions I had ever heard of. I only watched 1 episode and on this episode..there was a couple who became addicted to coffee enemas. Their addiction became so bad that they took turns taking care of their kids so the other parent could spend 8 hours in the bathroom giving themselves an enema. That sounds crazy to you, right? Of course! But to them...it relieved them of their suffering. Well folks.....that is how non smokers look at smokers. With good reason....because after the initial physical withdrawal that only lasts a short while....that is exactly how it is. All in your head! You believe in it. Because you believe in it...you obsess over it. Because you obsess over it...you drive yourself crazy trying to convince yourself maybe this was a bad time to quit...maybe just one puff...maybe i'll just be a social smoker...maybe this..maybe that. There is no maybe. YOU STILL BELIEVE--and until you de-program your brain with constant reading, videos, repeating NOPE, mantras like 'there is no such thing as 1 cigarette" or just constantly remind yourself that you are a non smoker, that smoking a cigarette DOES NOTHING NOTHING NOTHING for you..until you reverse the programming that has been in your head for so long...you will always suffer, you will always be a minute away from relapse...you will always struggle. Even though there are thousands of "excuses" why people relapse or smoke...here are the most common BS lies. 1. Boredom--what's more boring than putting something in your mouth and lighting it on fire...really? I can think of a thousand more things to do with my time. 2. Anxiety--smoking increases your heart rate thus..increasing the anxiety (the only time smoking relieves you of any symptoms are when you are in the withdrawal period and it only gives you relief because you are feeding the addiction) 3. Help you concentrate--Really? again...an illusion (after the first few days) Smoking adds thousands of chemicals to the bloodstream and ultimately decreasing the oxygen to the brain. How does that really help?? We need oxygen to THINK...not jet fuel. 4. " I'm under too much stress right now" This is life, you will always have stress. The smoking trap was designed to hook you for life. The only 'good time to quit' is NOW. 5. ANY OTHER LAME EXCUSE ENTER HERE...cause that is what it is. Link to original post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/7522-are-you-a-believer/

I remember your last quit being extremely hard for you in the beginning so it's probably the same as last time but you were so far past those days you feel like it's harder. You got this Linda and now you know just how valuable all that time quit is.

5. Break a window

@FunkyMonkey, insomnia and sleep disruptions are normal in the early days. It'll get better. Also don't sleep with an NRT on. I used an OTC sleep aid here and there to get my system back on track.

Dang, me too! Learn something new every day, thanks @reciprocity

So many people find that to be true funkymonkey, congratulations on your first full day quit

The constant thoughts of smoking when we first quit is one of THE worst withdrawal symptoms of them all which makes that first day, and it will come, that you wake up and realize a few hours later that you haven't thought about a cigarette that much more spectacular. It's like you realize that what everyone was telling you IS true, and you WILL get past all this crappy stuff and be smoke free! So, hang in there, it's worth it

1. Make a chimney

Looks good to me

Glad you took your seat @FunkyMonkey, reach out if you need us

He is adorable @Doreensfree

I just saw a commercial about going number 2 So @notsmokinjo guessed correctly so you're up

I win!!! hmmmm, 1. I had a cat named Chiggar 2. I had a cat named Salem 3. I had a cat named Samantha

Those are all good but ill guess 1. is the lie and New York isn't your favorite city

Yippee @intoxicated yoda, you're one month away from that lido deck! Congratulations on eleven months today, don't forget to treat yourself

I used my air cigarette. I just pretended I was holding an actual cigarette in my fingers and then went through the motions of "smoking" it. It worked great at tricking my brain into thinking it was getting the real thing.

Great decision Linda!

Welcome @FunkyMonkey and congratulations on deciding to take your life back I too quit quit cold turkey so am not the best to answer your questions but I'm sure our NRT users will be around soon to offer their tips. Sounds like you've made great preparations for your quit date, I also quit smoking where I normally did (the garage) so that I wouldn't associate that area with smoking anymore. Looking forward to following your journey

Tink Quit Date: 22/11/2013 Posted November 10, 2015 It's a sad fact that they are related to each other I can only speak from what I see or I know maybe others can relate a story? My story is my mum she is a heavy smoker and absolutely convinced she will not quit as its her only comfort!! Which is ironic as her discomfort, disability and depression is all born by smoking!! She has blocked arteries from smoking, this has been medically confirmed by examinations and consultants, she is not over weight and smoking is the number one culprit. These blocked arteries have caused her to be disabled whereas she cannot walk more than 10 meters without having to sit down, this has made her a prisoner in her own home and brought on a depression that makes her the most negative, bitter, sad person to be around. Getting her to understand or accept this has been an impossible task believe me I have tried Depression for me has been a hard learning curve one that I never understood but I'm beginning too... It's definitely not a case of "come on cheer up you miserable bugger" this was my attitude for so long and it doesn't help at all In my experience when someone is really depressed, it's just not the same as a bad day or feeling a bit low or down. So how to tackle it, well one day at a time at the moment trying to get her to at least get dressed every day for the last four days she hasn't bothered as part of the depression comes, why bother and every excuse in the book why not to bother, it's windy, it's dark, it's miserable, no one is coming I'm not going out and you offer to take her out and you get another list of excuses (she never runs out!!) etc anything rather than action! To say this is frustrating is an understatement as the opposite to depression is expression and action So at the moment every excuse I'm trying to match with a solution and buying tools and equipment that will aid this for example a walker with a basket and seat so she can walk but sit when needed without worrying about having to leave a shop or worry she won't make it A mountain we must climb just to function like a normal human being, something we take for granted when not in this position and one she herself took for granted and smoking has taken it all away from her slowly but surely over the years We all think it wont happen to us, but how it can easily sneak up its so sad The morale of the story is why climb a mountain take the easy road quit while you can, while you have your health and mobility it is surely easier than the above path This post is not for sympathy but for a stark reminder to truth What possible comfort did smoking bring here? Nothing! It's an addiction! Link to original post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/6243-disabilities-and-depression-associated-with-smoking/

6. I had a pillow made for my California mom with her cats picture on it

Were glad you found us too @overcome You're doing so great in your quit, congrats on three weeks free already, that's awesome!!!

3. Make a watch front from one

10. Use for business accounting How about a photograph?

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