efficacy

NOPE!

NOPE!

Thank you abbynormal for this post. I had noted it in my journal (this was before I joined the forum) because I'm not good at dealing with stress and that was always my excuse for smoking again. You've proven no matter what, stress can be handled without smoking. I will keep coming back to this thread. 

I'm sorry about your friend and the difficult health issues you continue to face yourself. But you can be proud you're doing it without smoking and that you're helping more people than you realize by sharing your quit story. 

Thank you for this post Kate18, it was very helpful. I've had trouble staying quit as well. You should be proud of yourself for working through your cravings last night. Like you and everyone says...one day and even one minute at a time; one craving at a time. 

Thank you Doreensfree for this post! 

It and all the responses have helped me more than you know to get immediately back on the right track and take my seat on the Train.

Thank you for your update Jack1664! I'm new here and just beginning my journey...you are proof it can be done! Congratulations!

Thank you everyone, it was scary to justify continuing smoking...that's why I posted my relapse even though I wanted to run and hide in shame. I will post before next time. There is no justification in smoking for any reason...you all have have shown it can be done...

As I was going through my notebooks, I found this quote that Whispers posted on another thread that is helping me at the moment...

"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending." 

CS Lewis

NOPE!

Nope for the rest of the day...

Day 1 again. Frustrated and a little angry with myself. I LET outside stress poke a hole in my isolated bubble of a quit Tuesday evening. I rationalized and justified to myself afterwards why I didn't reach out or post a SOS. I had enough time to contact the neighbor and bum a couple of cigarettes off her so in those few minutes could have posted here. Of course smoking only made the anxiety worse. Doreensfree is so right is her post that a "relapse is serious..." I'm an addict who relapsed & I recognize how serious this is. 

Nosmokinjo said in that same post to answer 3 questions when you fail....1. When will I quit again? Now, already threw out the rest of the cigarettes. 2. What were the triggers? Unexpected stress & addict thinking that believing a cigarette will help. 3. What did I learn? Smoking doesn't help, the stress is still there. I need to "be forever vigilant" as reciprocity says in the same post. I need to expect the unexpected, this is life after all. I also have to reach out and ask for help. You all would have been all over my distress with support like ants at a summer picnic. That's why I joined last week in the first place! I'm sorry I didn't give you that chance.  

OK, I need to fix dinner then will go to bed early tonight so may not be on much tonight. But I will be back by morning at the latest. 

NOPE!

NOPE!

NOPE!

Upstate New York here Linda....it's been flurrying on and off all morning. Mother Nature has been teasing us, sunshine and 78 several days ago and now back to winterish weather. 

Thanks Jillar, I'm going to be the Queen of doing nothing again today, lol!  It's a blustery cold, freezing rain day here, won't make it out of the low 40s, so perfect excuse to lie low again...

15 hours ago, Cbdave said:

G’day

NOPE 

( did you know HOPE rhymes with NOPE.... sorry I get amused by the small things sometimes)

C

Nope for me...

Love this Cbdave....

Just now, Linda Thomas said:

And another day down.  That is the way to do it.  I actually slept a lot that first couple of weeks.  You can do this!

Thank you! I know these are signs of healing...and I'm such a slug today that hubby is bringing dinner home and then I'm off to bed early. 

4 hours ago, Boo said:

 

I think it's best to accept the duality of our thinking.

 

I accepted that my junkie voice was that of a petulant child: impulsive, temperamental, prone to tantrums, and lacking any responsibility.  Meanwhile, my logical voice was the adult in the room: responsible, clear-headed, and on an even keel.  The petulant child didn't go out without a fight, but eventually the logical adult took full control of the situation.

 

 

Knowledge is one of the cornerstones of a rock-solid quit.

 

You are putting yourself in a perfect position for success.

You're right Boo about accepting the duality of our thinking. I would get irritated or resist that petulant child in the past which just made things more difficult for me. Today I tolerated the whiny pain in the neck but was the adult. I will stay on guard to ensure the adult stays in charge. Tired, brain fogged all day but will eat dinner soon & go to bed early tonight. 

43 minutes ago, Jet Black said:

Stick close to this board.

Though this place is pretty small, the most active members are here quite a bit. Even if it is over the web, you won't have any shortage of company or people to talk with.

 

Thanks Jet Black, I've been lurking and although it is quiet at times, I've seen everyone come out in full force for someone in need. 

1 minute ago, reciprocity said:

Turn that around this time by being your own best friend by doing the best thing you possibly can for your future!

 

YOU, like all of us, CAN do it too no matter what method you use. Don't be fooled into thinking that some have it easier than others because they use a smoking cessation aid in the beginning. They too have to do ALL thar hard work that those of us who quit cold turkey do at some point. It just breaks it up a little bit more. It's not necessarily an easier road to travel because it can take a little longer using those aids.

 

You know yourself better than anyone and therefore what might work best for you. Once you have decided how you want to proceed, just stay true to that commitment you have now made to yourself to quit smoking no matter what your addiction throws at you in the early days because we are here to support you through that phase of quitting. Just get on the board here and ask for help or advice. That's why we're here. I think you just might surprise yourself  

Yes!! I wouldn't treat a friend the way I've been treating myself....

1 hour ago, Doreensfree said:

I had a 9 day quit beginning of March but let the "just one" to relieve the depression take me over. This time I will reach out to you all. I will reread everything too. 

 

There is no such thing as .!!!! Just One  !!!!!.....we are addicts ....it has to be Never Take Another Puff .....scream ,yell ,curse,....but never stick anything in your mouth and light it !!!

That "just one" has bit me in the arse more times than I care to admit....one is too many, a thousand is not enough...I'll come here & yell & scream...lol. 

2 hours ago, Linda Thomas said:

I had tried hypnosis and a smoking cessation clinic, along with the patches and gum.  Nothing worked with me.  The addiction does work on your self esteem.  

Like you, I lurked around the forum for a while.  I still was not sure I was brave enough when I joined.  The people here seem to know exactly what I needed to realize that I had the power to do this.  They could see through my frailties and know exactly how to lift me above them.  As smokers, we become weak to the addiction.  As quitters, we become so much more powerful in every aspect of our lives.  When you finally reach that turning point of how you look at your addiction, you realize it was not that difficult.  It was just your mind letting you think differently.

 

I did hypnosis too, both group and individual, acupuncture, chantix twice (scary adverse effects within days), wellbutrin/zyban (discontinued due to side effects). NRT's as well, which for me just made me want to smoke more. I know they work really well for others though. 

I really think the education on what nicotine has done to our brain plus a different mindset makes all the difference along with the support here. I'm hopeful & determined but a little scared as well. I was my own worst enemy in the past.  

4 minutes ago, Doreensfree said:

Having the right attitude helps ...look at it as a great new adventure... Your not giving up anything ....your gaining freedom...

Knowledge ...will be your weapon ..you outsmart this devil...prepare for your battles....everytime you win a battle ,your nearer to winning the war...

Go back on the board and read old posts ..there is so much good information to be found ....

Buckle in ...enjoy the ride of your life .....

Yes attitude makes the biggest difference! I know from previous failed quits what trips me up. That's why I joined right after I quit last night....previously I told myself to get through the first 3 days first and we know how that turned out. So, I will use that knowledge instead of beating myself up. I had a 9 day quit beginning of March but let the "just one" to relieve the depression take me over. This time I will reach out to you all. I will reread everything too. 

9 minutes ago, Paul723 said:

the ability to produce a desired or intended result

 

The definition of efficacy.

 

You can do this.  A crave can't hurt you and they pass quickly (faster if you learn to dismiss them).  

Yes, Paul723 that's exactly why I chose that screen name! I wanted to remind myself every time I looked at it that this can be done! I did a report on "self-efficacy" in college a few years back on people that have overcome great odds. I can apply that to myself now...

5 hours ago, Doreensfree said:

Hello and welcome @efficacy.....

It's great to see you taking your seat on the Train after lurking for a while ...

Congratulations on your fabulous Quit ...

Being part of a team ,gets the job done much easier...,Quitting can be fun......

Taking the daily pledge ...supporting those who follow ..it all helps make your Quit more solid ..

Looking forward to getting to know you better...

Thank you Doreensfree, yes Quitting can be fun, attitude change. I've always approached it scared and anxious. Looking forward to getting to know you better too! 

1 hour ago, Ankush said:

Welcome to this forum, efficacy!!! And congratulations on taking a big step to a new life!!! You will find a lot of support on Quittrain, from the list of Joel's videos to taking part in the daily pledge not to smoke. It will be helpful for you to spend time on Quittrain and talking to people on the forum during the initial days of your quit. Just take things a day at a time, watch Joel's videos (see his Youtube channel for a list of videos to watch on a daily basis as you go through your quit) and have plenty of juice. All the best!!!

Thank you Ankush, that is my plan for today, veg on the couch and watch Joel's Youtube videos. I've already watched the Tobacco documentaries here, read EasyWay several times, read tons at the whyquit site and here. I have my cranberry juice and snacks ready too.

8 minutes ago, Linda Thomas said:

Oh efficacy that was me also.  I smoked for 42 years and just became so discouraged because I could not quit.  Instead, I just stayed home, smoked and became more depressed.  Then I stumbled on the quittrain forum and now I am almost 9 mos quit.  Hopefully you will begin to love this part of social media.  Here you have friends around the world that are going to support you through this major change of your life.  So stay focused on that quit, reach out to us and we will help guide you through.  The first couple of weeks are tough but the rest is a matter of changing our thinking.  

Thank you Linda, reading your posts was like I had written them. I have lost so much self confidence and hid away wondering why I was so weak that I couldn't quit. There have been times I resigned myself to being a life long smoker.  But through your posts and so many others I realize that is just the addiction talking. The missing component as reciprocity said has been the support of you all!

Nope!

That's what I'm counting on reciprocity. Yes, I've seen how well the SOS page works which reminds me, I need to post a pre respond to my SOS too.