DenaliBlues

4. Take a walk outside to, “blow the stink off.” (As my grandma used to say.)

Gosh, the crud is really making the rounds! Sending you get well wishes, @catlover.

So sorry you are ill and feeling skunky, @Linda. I’ve felt the same way. This wily addiction sure likes to try and strike when we are feeling low or unawares. Stay strong! Bear with me as I try to express something for you, for me, for all of us who suffer… there is something important about “comfort” that quitting requires us to reclaim. I think smoking hijacked our ability to feel comfort. Instead of receiving tender care, we received ugly toxins and the manipulative mind games that come with addiction. Smoking was much less gratifying than it was cracked up to be. But Addict Mind wants to smoke anyway. So it’s telling me (falsely) that I am bereft of all comfort. The thing is, we are not bereft. We just need to reprogram how we’re habituated, to give ourselves ACTUAL kindness and care, not crappy chemical substitutes. There are days when it feels impossible to experience being soothed without smoking. But I try. It’s a great creative challenge to find other ways. And when I simply can’t comfort myself, I benefit from attempting to give kindness or comfort to others. I have VERY happy cats since I quit… lol. Take care, dear.

NOPE

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Thanks, everyone! Your support has helped so much. Lido deck, here I come!

NOPE

Way to go, @Kerry!

10. Clean up a spill How about 10 things you can do with… feelings of frustration.

Boys in Blue

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@Kerry, glad to hear that you are going to keep your quit! Going into a situation that is a known trigger can be a trial, so have a plan for what you’ll do if a strong craving strikes. (It helps to do something physical, also have gum or mints handy.) come back here afterwards and let us know how it went. That sharing is a great reinforcement for your quit as well.

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Nope!

Hi, @Kerry. Big congrats on making it through your first week! This Train community is a great place to get info and support (and to distract yourself from cravings) as you progress through your quit. Learn all you can about nicotine addiction, and keep us posted on how you’re feeling. Welcome aboard!

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NOPE

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Glad to have you with us, @darcy. Thanks so much for posting. I, too, was reluctant/terrified to quit: Afraid of failing (again). Afraid of what life would be like without smoking to "soothe" me. Afraid that I'd never be happy again without cigarettes. Afraid of withdrawal. 11 months later I can tell you this: Life without the draining cognitive dissonance of loving/hating smoking is more liberating than I ever imagined it could be. A lot of my ideas about how smoking "soothed" me were horse hockey, just my addiction making noise. Just like this post says: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/11789-nicodemons-lies-lies-truths/ I felt a lot better after I was fully free of nicotine. Withdrawal definitely sucks, no two ways about it. But it's temporary. If you're able to swim over 100 miles per year (wow), you have the grit to get through many difficulties. Quitting IS possible. And there is a posse of good people here to help. Just let go and fall... up.