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Challenging Worry

Ashley -> Health Educator

2024-04-20 11:42 PM

Depression Community

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Hello

Linda Q

2024-04-11 5:06 AM

Anxiety Community

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Addiction

Ashley -> Health Educator

2024-04-08 3:54 PM

Managing Drinking Community

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Browse through 411.749 posts in 47.054 threads.

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16 years ago 0 1288 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Members, Thanks for sharing all the great words of encouragement with each other! Keep perserviring! Sylvie, Bilingual Health Educator
16 years ago 0 3207 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Some really thought-provoking, encouraging responses here to that dilemma of relying on ourselves when it is so hard in the beginning, and the role of others in our quits [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 311 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 12,440 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2,114.80 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 43 [B]Hrs:[/B] 22 [B]Mins:[/B] 26 [B]Seconds:[/B] 20
16 years ago 0 763 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Draw strength from each hour and day that you say no and don't smoke. "YOU" are making that choice and insisting on the followthrough. The addiction raises such hell in the beginning days/weeks and sometimes even off and on for months, that we can easily loose sight of the "now" and feel overwhelmed by what we perceive as forever fighting in this manner to stay in control....It WILL get better. smoking is an "addiction"....it isn't just a nasty habit. Nonic put it nicely. Battling an addiction takes time....and the help of professionals in regard to depression should not be overlooked. I also suggest rewarding yourself on a regular basis....being sure to acknowledge that the reward is due to NOT having given in. Hang tough.....your quit is just a baby....treat it like one....guard and protect it at all costs. and remember that each day is a victory....to light up now would be insane....cause you WANT to quit and giving in will just mean that you have to repeat these first steps.....thinking about that is usually good for allowing you to say "it would be insane to smoke now!" So just hang on....go through whatever emotion is thrown at you, but don't smoke....it WILL get better Katy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/4/2002 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1989 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 79,560 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $11,337.30 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 261 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 8 [B]Seconds:[/B] 21
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    $158,949.00

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16 years ago 0 813 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Fly Before I comment in any way regarding your current situation, here is what I want you to do. If you feel that your current psychological state is more than you can handle at the moment, please, please go and seek professional help. You sound like an extremly intellegent and articulate person who is struggling with a powerful addiction. Please do not forget that many of us have used nicotine to cover other emotional issues that need tending. I am one of those. As you know this is not any easy addiction to over come. I believe it is so because nicotine is such a seductive drug that it takes our natural facility for reason and twists us into rationalizing pretzels. We find reasons to smoke and then when confronted with the same situation again, we now know we MUST smoke. Then we take that situation and make it into an emotional template, so that when we are confronted with a life event that stirs the same emotions, our response is already programmed...LIGHT ANOTHER SMOKE...That is a general description of the cycle. And in order to defeat this addiction, we must not let this wheel of events spin out of control. Being addicted is allowing the cycle to spin unabated. First we must recognize the cycle. Secondly, we must acknowledge that we began the cycle. Thirdly we must see that we have allowed the cycle to run on automatic pilot. And fourth, we must stand up take a good strong stick and put it squarly in the spokes of the wheel. Once you do that you begin to heal. Things get better not because you stopped the cycle once, but because you now realize that you have the power to stop the cycle permanently. I know none of this is easy, but I also know that it is worthwhile. You do not want to smoke, there is a part of you that has always wished you didn't smoke. Listen hard to that voice and begin to recognize the emotional stimuli that cause you to reach for a smoke. Those are your triggers, those are the responses that you have honed over years of repetition. It is time to raise up a new skill set, that will counter the old. This is never easy, but as you progress you get stronger and one fine day, your responses to not smoke will win out over your responses to smoke. And when that happens, you will be glad that you did not fold when the going got tough. nonic [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]12/25/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 173 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,190 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,211.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 31 [B]Hrs:[/B] 14 [B]Mins:[/B] 8 [B]Seconds:[/B] 43
16 years ago 0 3207 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Fly How you doing? From what I've read on this site, it is often difficult to look towards partners/family members for support when quitting at the same time. I guess because everybody is going through difficult times and wants the support at the same time. I've also seen where one person doesn't hold to their quit, and the other one feels betrayed/jealous/resentful/disappointed. Then, the one who quits sometimes minimizes the struggle the still quitting other is going through. I don't know if this is at all your situation, but I saw that the ones who let you down are people who were quitting as well. I've also seen partners who support each other during their quits, as well as partners who can accept that one can do it at a time when the other can't, and it doesn't jeopardize their quit. I guess the bottom line is what you said, the one true person you can count on to support you in this journey is you. But, all of us on this site will gladly give you a helping hand, arrows to helpful info, and BIG congratulations as you keep triumphing over your addiction. Congratulations on 9, almost 10 days!!!! You're doing awesome!!! And remember, if you need someone immediately, post something that lets us know that's what you need.....I've done it myself and I know others have too. -aloha [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 85 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 3,400 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $578.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 11 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 8 [B]Seconds:[/B] 9
16 years ago 0 1151 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Fly, I'm glad to hear that you will be talking to your doctor about the depression. I think that the "blues" are to be expected but smoking can often mask true, clinical depression. Lainey and Nance have given you some great advice. They may have said this already but please also consider that during those first weeks of quitting our own emotions are all over the place. Your friends may not realize how they are affecting you and you may be more sensitive to it than you normally would be. The bottom line though is that by the time you end today you will have been quit for 10 DAYS which is awesome and is the most important thing. Did you reward yourself for the week you already have under your belt? They really do help. Hang in there and know that there are many here rooting for you! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]8/5/2004 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1044 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 20,880 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $4,698.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 79 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 27 [B]Seconds:[/B] 27
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16 years ago 0 303 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Fly, About a week ago I thought I needed to be committed to the Hospital, I was feeling so down. I think this is a normal part of the process. It does get better. I'd say if it dosn't get better within a week I would talk to a dr. I think it also very normal to have critcal feelings about other people at this time too. I don't care for people who never smoked cause they just don't understnd the torture of quiting plus they have nice healthy bodies. Then the smokers I don't care for because I assume that they are healthy still and can continue to smoke without any consequences. (Untrue) The support people I have besides this site are not really any help. My husband told me on the 3rd day that he was proud of me and that is the last I have heard except a complaint that the patches were too expensive. My chain smoking sister told me yesterday she was mad at me because I quit. Search yourself and you will find that you are strong enough to do this on your own, because you are. Congratulations! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]5/18/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 28 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 392 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $98.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 50 [B]Seconds:[/B] 54
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    $15,906.80

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    Days: 802 Hours: 8

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16 years ago 0 12049 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Fly, Lots of good advice and support here. Check with your doctor regarding the depression, they also know what you are going through and can help you through this. We are always here to help, so please count on us to guide you along and feel free to ask questions. Take it one day at a time and yes focus on you for a change and how you can challenge those fears and progress forward. Thanks for sharing, Josie, Support Specialist
16 years ago 0 3875 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Reason #1, I am quitting because I am addicted to a drug that is killing me! :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 102 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,550 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,076.10 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 12 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 19 [B]Seconds:[/B] 2
16 years ago 0 27 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I read through Joe Cool's thread a few days ago, for inspiration. As far as information, I've been reading feverishly for three weeks, and have found more information than I knew existed. True - one must wade through it all a bit to pick and choose what works and what doesn't. I'll offer up this little tidbit that was sent to me by another smoking cessation site this morning ... I sent it to my unsupportive partner via e-mail today, along with an update on how I'm doing, and wishes for another successful day ... The nicotine found in tobacco is a highly addictive drug. Within a few seconds of smoking, nicotine goes to your brain and gives you a temporary "high". But over time, your brain starts to adjust and you may need to smoke more to get the same effect. Eventually your brain adjusts and the nicotine no longer produces a "high". It produces the feeling you call "normal". [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]6/6/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 9 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 225 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $11.70 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 59 [B]Seconds:[/B] 37

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