Re read everything ...remind yourself of why you quit and brought you here....

If you havnt read Allen Carr....it's a great read and has helped so many ....

Stay strong....you can beat this....

Agreed with Doreen, read anything you can from Allen Carr online.

If you can, go for a run, that releases endorphins that really help.  Or else just do some cardio, can't work out and smoke at same time.

Eat some chocolate, drink some fruit juice. 

Post, vent, yell, whatever you need to do!  We have all been there.  You can do this.

cut yourself a bit of slack here

struggling is going to be normal for a few days

breath thru the crave

go to your reasons for quitting

exercise

cry and curse

choose to NOPE NOPE NOPE

Re read everything ...remind yourself of why you quit and brought you here....

If you havnt read Allen Carr....it's a great read and has helped so many ....

Stay strong....you can beat this....

I have read Alan Carr 4 times and been to a seminar but thanks for the suggestion I will get through this. x

Yes you will! Might not be the easiest thing in the world, but it's literally a life and death crossroads. Stay tough!

Stay strong Laura....ride through the bumps....the bumps will get fewer.....

Keep marchin....and winning your battles....X

I can't believe how hard I'm finding this, I know I had a rough day Friday but it's not as though I went back to smoking as normal.

I have stuff going through my head like do what makes you happy and it's not the right time omg I know it's junky thinking but I'm struggling at the moment and don't really understand why.

You are smart enough to recognize its the addiction speaking to you...

 

hang tough and get through this minute by minute if that's what it takes...

 

We know it's terrible, but you have to be pushing forward...

 

I am positive, that before you gave in and smoked, it was "easier" to battle the craves than it is right now...so that should be proof to you that it DOES get easier...just keep marching forward!

I can't believe how hard I'm finding this, I know it's junky thinking .

Hi Laura

 

Sorry the addiction feeling is doing this to you, I remember the first week post-nicotine feeling all too well... that stressy anxious itching irritable feeling I guess you have at the moment. A month later and I still get the feeling every so often but not half as bad or as constant as it used to be.

 

Today I was in a pretty bad mood and I was quite close to going 'fck it, I can't be bothered with this non-smoking pish anymore. I was so much happier as a smoker, let's just abandon this now...', but after shower and inhaling of eucalyptus steam, and some vanilla chai tea, I feel super relaxed again, and releaved I'm still a non-snoker.

 

The point is (and I'm only speaking from my own experience) that one minute we can feel a certain way (eg. I want to smoke now!!) and half an hour later we can feel the completely opposite again. Rested, relaxed, and proud to be a successful non-smoker.

 

Like Doreen says, the bumps get fewer. Every mental battle we win makes us stronger.

Hang tough Laura.

 

Rob is right. A crave never kills you. You just breathe and it goes away again.

 

Commit. You need to say it out loud. I quit. I am a non smoker.

Oh dear serious junky thinking going on today, do I even want to quit?. I have even read Alan Carr easy way again.

honestly I read but I'm at the point where it's nothing new, it's down to choice and I don't feel strong at the moment.

Hi Laura, you are recognising that it is junkie thinking, but the addiction is trying to outsmart you, if you carry on you will find it harder and harder as the addiction takes a stronger hold, go have a look at what long term smoking does to you, how your life will end, choose life Laura, while you feel you are struggling, go clean the bathroom, clear out a wardrope, keep your mind occupied on something else, your giving your demons room to grow my lovely please don't put on some music and have a good jig around the room, and before you know it the thought will be gone.  Stay positive Laura we are all here for you xx

I agree jackie ...laura...get yourself a good pair of headphones....

I sang my heart out with my I pod....as loud as I wanted....ok....hubby had cotton wool in his ears...but...

It's got me through some tough times...and still does.....

I have music to listen too....tony has a oxygen machine.....

Stay strong.....fight those craves....your stronger than they are.....

...your giving your demons room to grow my lovely please don't ...

 Yea, I'm kind of feeling this too.  Gosh Laura, i hope it helps to know we really want to you to find the strength and get through this first phase.

 

You said you've read Carr to the point of it becoming less effective.  Can you try this?...  Change the focus to....  Why do you want to be a non-smoker?  

 

What were those reasons and did they really mean anything?  Get hardcore honest about it, get them clearly defined so you KNOW, boom...that's why, and then elevate their priority.  This is what will fuel your will/desire which in turn will trump the junkie talk.  Stifle that junkie shit with solid ammunition!  

 

I have a bunch of reasons why, but there are only a couple that are gut level home truths and those are the ones I thought about as I was curled in a ball sobbing those first few days.  

I hate to sound like a broken record, but Allen Cart, Allen Carr! I never posted an SOS, but you bet your bippy that I had a ton of them. The Audible version I'd use the most, whenever I felt like I was missing out or the void inside got too uncomfortable. He always comforted me, and I was a mess for a stretch after I quit.

You can do this and you do want to! That junkie can just be loud sometimes. Keep posting! It means your head is still in the right place.

Reaching out is s good thing. Well done.

Laura I so agree with Ava....

I read Allen Carr too...but it wasn't until I listened to it on audio....it sunk in what he was saying...

although I smoked a long time....I never considered myself a addict....

Me a addict....nooo I'm just a smoker......wrong.....

I am a addict...and nope is the only way....

When I heard the slogan.....smoking is not on the table no matter what.....this struck a cord....

I fought my battles with nope....

You can do it....if I can anyone can I promise...

Hi doreensfree, I have Alan Carr on audible and I know everything he says makes sense, I'm feeling better and tomorrow I will start my meditation and healthy life style again. I will get through this but for today I will eat sweets and watch movies lol x

I hate to sound like a broken record, but Allen Cart, Allen Carr! I never posted an SOS, but you bet your bippy that I had a ton of them. The Audible version I'd use the most, whenever I felt like I was missing out or the void inside got too uncomfortable. He always comforted me, and I was a mess for a stretch after I quit.

You can do this and you do want to! That junkie can just be loud sometimes. Keep posting! It means your head is still in the right place.

Reaching out is s good thing. Well done.

Thanks ava, I'm going to use my audible and refer to points that I'm feeling at the time. To be honest I never thought of using it to refresh my mind, I will now though x

Yea, I'm kind of feeling this too. Gosh Laura, i hope it helps to know we really want to you to find the strength and get through this first phase.

 

You said you've read Carr to the point of it becoming less effective. Can you try this?... Change the focus to.... Why do you want to be a non-smoker?

 

What were those reasons and did they really mean anything? Get hardcore honest about it, get them clearly defined so you KNOW, boom...that's why, and then elevate their priority. This is what will fuel your will/desire which in turn will trump the junkie talk. Stifle that junkie shit with solid ammunition!

 

I have a bunch of reasons why, but there are only a couple that are gut level home truths and those are the ones I thought about as I was curled in a ball sobbing those first few days.

Thanks runfree I will work with this x

Sorry Laura, Only just seen this.  When I got to a serious wobble I'd scare myself witless...go onto whyquit.com and read one of the stories and imagine it's you. How would you tell your kids about a smoking related illness, could you deal with the steps needed to treat it...or worse. A short time of cosying up with that feeling would kill a trigger stone dead! My emergency help tactic. xx

For me there were wobbles throughout the first year.  As time went by although sometimes the desire was there I willed myself not to give in .  What a shame to through away all of that time I would say.  I would imagine my good health going into reverse, the good color fading, senses dulling,  my teeth yellowing, coughing again.

 

And for what?  What good thing, what one good thing does smoking do? I have never found that one good thing. Because after physical withdraw even the cigarette that I relapsed with would not be good, would not be the relief that I was thinking it would give me.  Instead I imagine my heart sinking as I would smoke, the pride I had in quitting going away, feeling like I failed  .