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Putting the breaks on relapse


18 years ago 0 5195 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Penquin... Are you ok? [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 7/1/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 286 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,728 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1001 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 25 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 49 [B]Seconds:[/B] 12
18 years ago 0 5195 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Penquin... Glad to hear its going again for you. Keep taking one step at a time, deep breaths and drink a lot of water. You know what it takes. Hang on tight. You know how to reach me if you need to. DO NOT hesitate to ask for help if you need it! That is why we are here. Let us know how you are doing. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 7/1/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 289 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,798 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1011.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 25 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 11 [B]Seconds:[/B] 45
18 years ago 0 2830 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Alright Penguin. You've analyzed your mistaks and have made corrections for them, which is good. You have admitted what you were doing wrong and have made goals for yourself. Good. But here's one thing I don't see on this list... COME HERE FIRST!!!! Post and wait for 10 or 15 replies. You've got me on your IM list... IM me. If I'm not on, email me. Put a few other people on your IM/email list if you haven't done so already and contact SOMEBODY before you give in. Do NOT let yourself give up without first talking to somebody!!! No matter how long you've been quit, that junkie can still come a knocking and you've got to have a plan in place for what you will do when it happens. So make a plan! Second, I saw a list of a lot of things that you did wrong and what you will do to correct them. Good. What I didn't see was a list of the things that you did RIGHT! You were quit for 107 consecutive days! You must have been doing something right!!! So give yourself credit where credit is due. And I can't say enough about the rewards. I'm glad to see that you now have a reward system in place. They are VERY important!!! Penguin, I know that you can and will do this. Just don't give up on yourself. Right now, I KNOW how easy it is to say "will I EVER be able to quit for good?!?! I know others can quit, but can I?!?!" The answer is YES!!! And I'm living proof of it! So don't give up on yourself. Keep fighting for your life!!! Crave the Quit! Pam p.s. I'm on IM right now if you want to chat. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 10/28/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 166 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 4,174 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $685.58 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 12 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 49 [B]Seconds:[/B] 14
18 years ago 0 563 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
penquin, I read this thread and I was very concerned that you had relapsed since you hadn't replied recently to the other posts here. Then I saw that you posted to my 11 month anny thread and your meter showed 1 day quit.. with a quit date of 4/14. Congratulations on getting back on the wagon. Quitting is all about attitude, and to a large degree, character. Those with the right attitude, who display the proper character traits, generally are you successful quitters. Quitting isn't a game, it's not about obsessing about your quit, it isn't about catchy phrases or the SSC. It's about a lifestyle change that you undertake to rebuild your life in a manner that is free from the addiction to nicotine. Your slips are caused by a number of factors on the outside, but inside they are really only caused by the simple lack of commitment. At least that is how I see it. When you are completely commitmented to something, anything, then no amount of temptation will cause you to lose your focus. Smokers tend to call it junkie thinking. That's as good a title for it as any I suppose. In reality, you are questioning your commitment to your quit and you rationalize smoking. Clear your mind. Revaluate your quit and what it means to you. Accept your new, smoke free life as a second chance at life. Be proud of your quit. Never envy a smoker for they are nothing more than addicts who are enslaved to their addictions. Be at peace with yourself. This is your new life you are building for yourself. Relish it. Best wishes. [b][color=Purple]Be Strong. Be Smart. Be Quit[/color] [color=black]Joe[/color] [size=3][color=Blue]Knowledge Replaces Fear[/color][/size] [size=2][color=purple]Hoping for success without hard work is like trying to harvest without planting.[/color][/size] [size=2][color=black]Illegitimus non carborundum est[/color][/size][/b] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/15/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 336 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 8,409 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $823.2 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 58 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 49 [B]Seconds:[/B] 15
  • Quit Meter

    $36,342.40

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 9770 Hours: 19

    Minutes: 6 Seconds: 29

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45428

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    363,424

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 989 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Whew - glad to see you back on the wagon. The seats are hard, but the wheels will get you there! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/15/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 366 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 9,160 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1281 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 50 [B]Hrs:[/B] 23 [B]Mins:[/B] 37 [B]Seconds:[/B] 43
  • Quit Meter

    $794,990.00

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 5684 Hours: 12

    Minutes: 46 Seconds: 5

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45428

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    1,135,700

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 989 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Penguin - you have learned alot! It really is an exciting journey, full of lessons, hard fought insights, introspection and enlightenment along the way. I am impressed by the wisdom you have gained and I am touched by your openness and vulnerability in expressing them. I have no doubt that you will win this war. Congratulations and welcome back. You are so right to own this quit and leave your husband out of it. My husband (my reactions to him, not him really) was my downfall in ten years of "trying" to quit. Finally, I owned this addiction and here I am a few days short of a year. The freedom, as you well know, is amazing. Best wishes. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/15/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 363 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 9,076 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1270.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 50 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 21 [B]Seconds:[/B] 36
  • Quit Meter

    $794,990.00

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 5684 Hours: 12

    Minutes: 46 Seconds: 5

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45428

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    1,135,700

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 941 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
I don't know about the rest of you, but I think after going 107 days without a smoke some pats on the back are in order. I REALLY don't agree with your decision to reset you meter to zero. I don't think the punishment fits the crime. A slip on 3 days negates everything you've done? Please. You're human for gods sake, we slip up. You got back on track and learned something from it. Isn't that how we have evolved over the eons? Learning from our mistakes? Knock a week off the thing but I trhink you're being a little hard on yourself. Any comments from the rest of you? [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/7/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 37 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,305 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $314.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 15 [B]Seconds:[/B] 21
  • Quit Meter

    $99,941.60

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 9153 Hours: 2

    Minutes: 15 Seconds: 5

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45428

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    363,424

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 1306 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Thank you everyone for your replies Yes I am still here, day 3 now, thats 62 hours now Lady. Thanks Lady for our chat. You helped me to make the right decision to continue on - one hour at a time. Thanks Sheila for yesterday. I was having one of those 3 hour craves and we chatted it away. Was so much better after that. Thanks golferman for wonderful insight as usual. I will sit down and think about commitment today because I know you are right. I don't want to play that slipping game anymore. I am back on track with my "new" quit. I don't feel bad about losing those 115 days anymore. I am excited to start at 1 again. If I can make it through yesterday, I can make it to 6 months. I will do this. It's a choice! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/14/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 2 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 60 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $23 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 5 [B]Mins:[/B] 40 [B]Seconds:[/B] 1
  • Quit Meter

    $330,488.70

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 6028 Hours: 9

    Minutes: 52 Seconds: 29

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45428

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    681,420

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 1306 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Some of you may have seen this coming. I slipped the first time just over two weeks ago, and then again this weekend. Today, I slipped again and the junkie and I talked about relapse. As I contemplated this option, I said: "That is not what I want." and I put the breaks on. So tonight I conducted a review of the events and thoughts leading up to those slips - what I did wrong, what wasn't working, what I need to correct and do better, what I had done right, and what was working. This is what I have learned: 1. Anger is an emotion that I have never dealt appropriately with. I refuse to acknowledge it. I blame my husband in most cases. I do not take responsibility for it or for my actions resulting from it. I believed it to be a reason to smoke. I need to educate myself and develop some coping techniques for managing it. 2. I lost my focus. I was becoming discouraged with the still almost constant smoking thoughts after 107 days. I tried to push them away. I believed that the SCC was becoming an obsession and tried stepping back. I allowed angry thoughts too much room. I stopped telling myself that I needed to do whatever I had to in order to be free. 3. I allowed myself to feel deprived. I let the fact that my husband still smoked weigh too heavily on my mind. I stopped rewarding myself. I forgot to remind myself of the benefits I had achieved up until that point. I have now made a list of the rewards I will use & when. I will keep a daily diary and record my progress. I will continue to use the SCC as my main support, but contact some other supports as well to use in times where the SCC is unavailable. I am still giving myself credit for the 115 days I remained smoke free. 4. I stopped making it a choice! I allowed it to be just so - too early. Don't know if that makes sense, but it was too early to just let freedom fly solo without my constant attention. I stopped telling myself that I was dealing with an addiction. I will go back to making a choice each time I have a desire to smoke. 5. JUNKIE THINKING - "I don't care." "I'll quit again." "Smoking will make me feel better." "I deserve to smoke." If you give the junkie even one small opening, it will jump in and swallow you up. I need to do some s
  • Quit Meter

    $330,488.70

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 6028 Hours: 9

    Minutes: 52 Seconds: 29

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    45428

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    681,420

    Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 715 logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo logo 0
Keep up the good work penguin :) I know it's hard right now but it'll get better. Breath.... No matter what don't lite up... Keep on keepin on... Cherie [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/22/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 419 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 8,383 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1676 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 40 [B]Hrs:[/B] 19 [B]Mins:[/B] 52 [B]Seconds:[/B] 38
  • Quit Meter

    $26,838.00

    Amount Saved

  • Quit Meter

    Days: 587 Hours: 6

    Minutes: 47 Seconds: 7

    Life Gained

  • Quit Meter

    4473

    Smoke Free Days

  • Quit Meter

    89,460

    Cigarettes Not Smoked


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