JackiMac

Been off the sidelines for a few days, (firstly all your love and prayers were greatly appreciated, my son is on the mend, he had a lung infection and is slowly improving, so good to see him smile, one happy mum) anyhoo, havent been around for a few days, missed you guys :D but last time stress came aknocking on my door, I caved in and smoked. This time I am happy and proud to say that even after the S@@T of the last 5 weeks, I didn't give in, Oh god I wanted a cigarette, I seriously thought that lighting up would make my life easier, but I then rationalised my thought process, I remember my last relapse and I remembered the taste of lighting up the cigarette after being quit, and I remember how utterly DISGUSTING it tasted, I remember how disappointed I was with myself and how I wished I could have put the clock back and just uttered one simple word "NO", this time I braved myself against the crave and I did utter that one SIMPLE word "No", thats all it took "NO" how easy was that!!!. So me -v- Stress HA I won, na nannanana Stress get out of here. Yes Stress is one major factor in the reason why people do not quit, and why so many of us relapse, but we are only laying the blame at stress's door, we have the ultimate say so on when we can quit and why we do not need to relapse. The ultimate word is NO.

Colleen Happy Happy Birthday my lovely, hope you have had a wonderful day xx

Thanks Jen, not sure what we can get in the UK for him, we asked at the Pharmacy on Weds and they told us that there is nothing we can give him. I'm going shopping tommorow first chance Ive had so Im going to look in the supermarket, its breaking my heart, and yes let me have the illness leave my wee man at peace xxx

Ross that looked amazing, two spoons for the pudding, I just had chicken fried rice, curry sauce and chips followed by Minstrels, Nom Nom, xx

Colleen just read this, how are you feeling? Hugs to you and hope you are on the mend soon xxx

My wee boy has been unwell since last Wednesday and I am completely stressing out. He has not eaten properly since then, he has always been a fussy eater even when well, but I am worried beyond belief at the minute. I took him to the docs today who said "nothing to fret about, its a virus, and as long as he is drinking". Ummm but you can see and count every rib jutting out, see his bones in his back, anyone have a realistic idea of how long a virus (common cough and cold) can last for and affect eating, should I be as worried as I am, He is on a course of antibiotics, not been at school since last Wednesday either. Im managing to get him to eat a few spoons of ice cream, or a bite of a sandwich. Sorry to offload, but all of my friends have older children like my eldest and you kinda forget. Just a worried mum xxx

Its amazing reading through all the posts above, although many of us have so many different reasons for not wanting to quit, the main one that stands out to me is Fear, thats what stopped me for so many years, I was so scared to stop smoking, It scared me more than dying from smoking itself, it just shows you how deep the addiction really is that it stops our brain from being rational. Our younger smoking selfs all confessed to "enjoying the smoke", it made us look cool, everyone smoked, sitting in the pub with our favourite tipple, relaxing with friends, sitting down after our evening meal, it was all brainwashing, I would tell myself I couldn't live without my smokes Ha, then I started to realise that I would die eventually with them, what did I want more, my life or a cigarette, no contest really, but its convincing the addict inside, he is there and he does come around quite often, but I believe I can overcome the addict and I can overcome the fear, because I am worth more.

Your Lbairdness well done on reaching the fantastic milestone, keep posting on the flat whites and swing ur kilt in celebration xxx

Well done on reaching an amazing 7 months xx

Awesome quit lace, well done on 8 xxx

This is just brilliant Humbled well done xx

Jimmy I lost my brother Mark at 4 days old and he sends me 2p's most days, the other day when I was feeling particularly down I said jokingly come on Mark you can do better than that, the next day £1 coin at my feet. Thanks Mark for being with me xxxx

Over the moon for you what an achievement, life is good for you Rez and I for one am happy for you, thanks for all you do and celebrate in style xxx

Hi Beacon I recognise these thoughts, and I am so sorry you are going through this at the moment, please believe me when I say its the addict in you, its trying to get back inside your head and take over, this happened to me and I listened, I romanced the cigarette for days and weeks on end and I finally caved in I was so so stupid, please do not give up your wonderful quit for this smelly, nasty, killing, addiction, you will deeply regret it the minute you light up, try to remember how proud and healthy you feel, and you have achieved so much and come so far, these thoughts will pass. My neighbour after 12 months of quitting went back to smoking because of the weight he put on, do you know something he is still overweight and he is having to be referred to the hospital due to a lingering cough. Think about it Beacon, tough love on yourself works wonders. xxx

Rowly so happy to see this, one step at a time, one NOPE at a time, we are all here, all the support you need is right here, xxx

Im tired, Im emotional, Im stressed, Im running from place to place, I shake my fist up to the sky and say Please enough already, I plod, I'm not at work, I'm not doing my exercises, I'm not sleeping, I'm not eating, but the most important thing through all these I'm nots is I AM NOT SMOKING, I thought I would crumble, after my relapse, I honestly thought that at the next part of high stress I would just smoke, but I didn't, have I finally realised and accepted that smoking really is not an option, the thought of lighting a cigarette honestly makes me feel sick, yes the thought is there, but its not welcome, the door is not fully open to allow it access into the deeper recesses of my brain, I am not holding my hand out to welcome it back in. If the nicotine demon tries to get in any further, I am shutting the door in its face. I recently read a wee comment on facebook which I loved and I think is appropriate at this time (Marti my lovely a wee nod in your direction xxx) Nicotine please accept my middle finger salute to you......

Hi Sweetie the Zits will go and your skin will be lovely, you will see a fresher look to your face, the thoughts will come and go, its remembering not to allow them any room to grow, its just the addiction testing you, I romanced the cigarette and deeply regret my lapse, I am still having the craves and thoughts but keep in touch with reality and remind myself the thought will go, the feeling of missing something will pass, lighting and smoking really is not an option because I like the newer healthier me, do I really want to go back to being that smelly, lethargic person again, NOPE, keep posting and questioning all you need to it really helps to know that there are lots of us here who understand exactly how you feel and reach out and hug you to help you through, xxx

I never listened when someone tried to give me advice, I would just nod at all the right points and smile politely all the while thinking "yeah yeah wateva, nothing will ever happen I'm young, there is plenty of time", I can see the same look in my son's face. xxx

Tracey you done did it, you got to 11 not far to go till you can say BINGO you've got through it all with humour and a big smile on your lovely face, and all the while taking time to make sure we are all alright too, luv ya, xxx

one whole year you are a super STAR big hugs and do something simply super to celebrate my lovely xxx

Nay absolutely fantastic 5 months is amazing xxx

See the person dangling from the wings a bit like in the Twilight Zone, well that will be me, I am working on my CATapult (see what I did there bakon!) as we speak so should be flying somewhere near you on the day Marti, but have mega fun my lovely you so deserve it xxx

NOPE

Hahah they seek them here they seek them there lol xx