Kate18

NOPE

I am watching YouTube videos this morning on combating procrastination, which has led to videos on happiness and meditation (I'm procrastinating vacuuming, doing laundry, and cleaning the kitchen). Here is a Forbes article that I came across about mindfulness meditation. Below is a copy-paste of a paragraph relating to quitting smoking: "Meditation Can Help with Addiction A growing number of studies has shown that, given its effects on the self-control regions of the brain, meditation can be very effective in helping people recover from various types of addiction. One study, for example, pitted mindfulness training against the American Lung Association's freedom from smoking (FFS) program, and found that people who learned mindfulness were many times more likely to have quit smoking by the end of the training, and at 17 weeks follow-up, than those in the conventional treatment. This may be because meditation helps people “decouple” the state of craving from the act of smoking, so the one doesn’t always have to lead to the other, but rather you fully experience and ride out the “wave” of craving, until it passes. Other research has found that mindfulness training, mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), and mindfulness-based relapse prevention (MBRP) can be helpful in treating other forms of addiction." https://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2015/02/09/7-ways-meditation-can-actually-change-the-brain/#2e1e479d1465 And now, back to finding more videos to help me procrastinate doing housework.

NOPE

It sounds as though you are making progress, Amer, even if it is not as rapid as you would want. You are taking action, taking responsibility, and that is the foundation of any success.

Congratulations, Steve. Six months is a really great achievement!

Congratulations, Mac!

That is so great, AK. It's awesome to see the days add up, they just keep adding up and your body keeps getting healthier.

That is wonderful! Congratulations!

How are you doing this week, Amer?

NOPE

NOPE

NOPE

Amer, have you considered food intolerances? I work in a grocery store that stocks a lot of foods for people who are intolerant to a number of foods. We have many gluten-free and dairy-free foods. Some of what you describe is similar to what a few of them have shared. Perhaps ask your medical care provider about the wisdom of doing an elimination diet to see of there is a food or category of foods that are causing your gastrointestinal upset. You mentioned taking over-the-counter meds--they can cause problems of their own if taken over long periods of time. When people are depressed, their posture and breathing change (voice of experience). If it's comfortable for you, holding a proper posture and some gentle, deep breathing may help. Good luck. I'm sure there is a solution for you.

NOPE

NOPE

NOPE

NOPE

NOPE

Should I expect frequent cravings to smoke still? This morning I am dealing with paperwork for physical therapy bills for a workplace injury that should have been taken care of between the PT company and L&I. Then news that I need to increase dose on a medication that may be making glaucoma worse. So I'm off to an optometrist in two hours to have the pressure in my aching eyes measured. And I'm craving a cigarette. Really wish I could smoke. Not an SOS caliber craving, but missing the relief from stress that smoking gave me. Or is this romancing the cigarette

Feels a relief to have the second month. Still craving smoking at times, still a temptation at unguarded stressful moments.

NOPE

NOPE

NOPE

No more breath mints, no clothes smelling awful, more money.

Welcome and congrats on your first two weeks!