cpk

I don't understand what this means.

nope

Has anyone figured out Karl's new photo? Me, nope. But I like it...

I am impressed you came on and shared. Obviously your quit means a lot to you, and you want to make sure it stays solid. It's good for someone like me with a new quit to see that asking for feedback, and sharing, is always an option. Thanks.

following the boss :dirol:

That's why I wanted to make sure to say the anxiety after 6 weeks...because I knew it wasn't from triggers or withdrawal. It was something in place that smoking masked. I also want to add, because I don't think I really made it very clear, that smoking was so physically stressful that was its own anxiety. As each physical symptom is relieved there is tremendous relief. My quit is new so I have time to keep exploring this. Who knows how this picture will look six months from now? Or a year? That's kind of the exciting part. So far, the promise that "It gets better," has held true. No more chest tightness, headaches, fatigue, sore throat, cough, blurry vision, aching joints, problems breathing, allergies, bronchial pain, and I could go on. An impressive list. Let the healing continue. :)

nope

Yay, you! :wub:

Yes, Marti, you are so right. The skills I learned in quitting smoking will help me resolve the issues around anxiety. It's better to learn a new way "to be" instead of trying to "medicate" the problem away. It's just something that was there all along. Without the education and insights offered on QT I would never have seen it, confronted it, and pledged to do something about it.

You have taught me so much, through sharing your experiences and insight, Marti, I just want to say thanks. Okay, I'm having a "euphoria" day...when the rewards of not smoking shine brighter than the sun. This day hard won because many recent days have been tough, with silent screaming (yes, I confess) tears, struggle. Thank you, dearie, for paying it forward with such grace and beauty. You are truly a lovely human being.

This thread is old. I'm now at 103 days quit...but thanks, anyway, TEW.

Thank you, QT peeps. You are awesome, and I have learned so much from you all. Tonight I just feel so grateful and happy to be a non smoker. I must have tried a dozen times to quit over the past few years, and could never get beyond day 3. And here I am, at day 103. Sometimes I think about this. I remember how I would always relapse on day 4. I remember that feeling of hopelessness. Going back to smoking never felt like a happy event. The first things I found on this site were hope, and community. Then I found education. Before I go to sleep I like to just breathe deeply, and have that be a prayer. The word spiritual comes from the Latin word for breath. I will breathe a prayer of thanks to all of you, all over the world, who have quit smoking, and who support others in this miracle of not smoking. Thank you, lovelies!

It has taken me awhile to figure out that the anxiety I have been experiencing since week 6 of my quit (now in week 15) is not directly related to quitting. Not smoking is the peaceful part of my life. The anxiety was there before I quit. I probably used smoking to try to keep the anxiety in check. I don't recall having "anxiety attacks" when I smoked. I have opted to use natural supplements, which are helping. This weekend I picked up a workbook on using DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy) to quell anxiety through cognitive and emotional restructuring --- that is, simply put, training my mind to not be anxious. I need to reprogram the software in my brain. I had gotten in the habit of being anxious. I now need to learn how to do life in a new way. I know that people sometimes relapse because they find they are more anxious not smoking and feel they can't cope. They think it is because they miss smoking. This was me in the past, before I joined QT and got educated. I never even considered that my anxiety had nothing to do with quitting smoking. I used smoking to try to calm myself, but that probably made everything worse! I certainly felt like a physical wreck, and it's pretty hard to cope when you have smoking related headaches, respiratory distress, fatigue and a host of other physical problems. Now I have none of these physical problems. The good people on this site prodded me a bit to look closer, and to observe what was going on with my life. That is the beauty of QT...that quitters know the journey of self-discovery takes time and patience. (I especially remember Tracey suggesting this in a very gentle way.) I was a little bummed out to realize this state of being anxious was something lurking beneath my smoking addiction. However, accepting that this is something I have to work on is far better than endlessly relapsing, which is very bad for self confidence. Strength to strength. I think I read that somewhere on this site. That's how I see the non smoking journey. Moving forward, growing, and evolving. Saying n.o.p.e. is the first step. Lurkers who may be reading this...there is great HOPE --- and the promise that you will never again have to experience a disappointing relapse. I know I was like many...feeling scared to try to quit again, just thinking it would end in relapse. There is a way...to never, never, never relapse again, and to forever embrace the freedom of not smoking. The way can be found right here, right now, on QT. QT helped me to see I never again have to think about relapse because I have the skills now to be a nonsmoker for life. I have freedom from smoking forever.

I was at the food market today and a guy was handing out samples of coffee from a local company. I was having fun tasting all the different coffees. I told the guy I had recently quit smoking and now really enjoyed coffee and the different tastes. He leaned over his samples counter to shake my hand and offer congrats then told me he was six months quit. We instantly bonded! We talked about all the rewards...tastes, smells, NO ALLERGIES (another miracle), freedom from being a slave to the addiction etc. This was the first time I met a "fellow quitter" in 3D. I realized that I had been focusing so much on avoiding smokers I'd forgotten there was a whole new world of happy quitters. It felt so good to be a part of this new world. I knew at that moment I would never relapse, never go back. I just knew it with every cell in my body, and every emotion in my heart. The new world of not smoking was a little bit of heaven on earth. From the smile on the coffee man's face it seemed apparent he loved his new found freedom, too. I noticed how healthy he looked, and how peaceful his smile. We talked a long time about coffee...how "less was best"...and how, as a non smoker, one can savor coffee and appreciate it, and not use it like a drug. The New World of New Normal is a place where many happy quitters reside. There are opportunities everywhere to be supportive of new quitters.

I'll beat Babs to the punch cuz whatever the quit brings up she always says "It's temporary." While slow death by smoking is not, I'll add. What will it be, Texas? My insomnia got worse, better, worse, better...but last night sleep evaded me. It's a small price to pay for BIG freedom, even though it is a royal pain in the...

Oh, and such a cute blush ;)

Ahhhhh, noping and breathing deep...

Karl: I was thinking, maybe if you decide to make these reviews the best you have ever written...and focus really deeply and fully on the music, and the great art being produced. I know that since quitting my senses feel "washed clean" and music sounds extremely lush and beautiful...more than ever. Shift the focus a bit, and anyway, it's such a cool thing and I wish I could get that free press pass...used to be a performance art photographer back in the day. Ride on the joy of such a cool job, and leave the smokes to others not as enlightened as you are now. Feel inspired to do some photography myself this weekend. Have fun. :yahoo:

I'm kicking and screaming (metaphorically), while falling out of my comfort zone. :) I was unable to properly meditate until this week, some 14 weeks into my quit. Thank goodness it's back. Meditation isn't about feeling secure while sitting in a little bubble, it's about feeling secure while "falling" into the future. Enjoyed this post. Thanks, Babs.

Wow! So handsome in your new pix!!! (I also drink espresso, but now cut it with 1/2 decaf)

these additional words helped - thank you - please see my response to thread - this was all very helpful and has set my mind at ease a bit

love this so much

Thank you, beacon. None of us are the perfect snowflake with the perfect quit. For those demi-gods who never wobbled, maybe there should be a special heaven realm forum. These other comments have helped me feel okay about how my wobbles manifest...mostly in the form of anxiety. I so often forget how LONG I was a smoker, and how deeply it had become part of the fabric of my life. For me, I think I've now discovered, a wobble means I just feel, at times, delivered to new lows in my quit, with feelings of despair, negative thoughts, crying, and praying. Other issues have surfaced that were masked by smoking. That I am a spiritual being having a HUMAN EXPERIENCE is going to be my new response to my own form of wobbles. That's a good prayer in going forward.

100 days and 1 season and 1,000 cigarettes not smoked I came on this site at 18 days to find out why I wasn't coughing. (health anxiety throughout quit) I'm still not coughing, and still not smoking. Thank you for the support and education. I am absolutely certain I would not have made it to 100 days without QT. No need for congrats. Although happy I have quit I feel ashamed I was a smoker. The real reward will be to join the 82% of the population that doesn't smoke. Besides pledging n.o.p.e. I would like to always have compassion for those still ensnared by this addiction who long to be free. It is those people to whom I dedicate my quit, forevermore.I pledge to never preach about not smoking, but if it is requested, to share all the wonderful education I received on QT. GTQ. KTQ.

freak