Great post. And no confessions needed about using info from other walks of life! That just means you are smarter! And wiser! And gonna do this!
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 4/15/2005
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 273
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 6,828
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $955.5
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 38 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 1 [B]Seconds:[/B] 47
Was looking through old stuff on the computer and found something I wrote to myself many many months ago the first time I made a serious stab at quitting. Why on earth did I not print this and carry it with me?? Don't know. In any case, will do so now and wanted to share in case anyone else found it helpful:
1. Know that �just one� will lead to renewed dependence and having to quit all over again and the misery that goes with it.
2. Read this list when having a craving. Remember why you want it and how you want to feel physically and how you want to feel about yourself.
3. Focus on positive thoughts about being free from poisons and cravings and being healthy and smelling good rather than entertaining negative thoughts about anything being missing or less fun. This is a head game you will play with yourself to rationalize smoking again.
4. Know that a craving is only a thought and it cannot control you or make you smoke. You control your thoughts and can choose to control the craving.
5. Know that the number and the intensity of the cravings will decrease.
6. Remember that you have been a nonsmoker for much more of your life that you�ve been a smoker.
7. That some of the most enjoyable things you�ve experienced have been experienced as a smoker is not because of smoking. Quitting will not make the fun less fun. Freedom from cravings will let you enjoy the adventure even more. This is another head game you play with yourself when you�re talking yourself into relapse.
8. Remember that the more you drink the more likely you are to forget why you want it and the easier you will find it to rationalize smoking again.
9. Be aware of the other head games you play with yourself to convince yourself it�s okay to smoke just this one or just today. Remember what you really want long term.
10. When you�re in that place in your head where you�re talking yourself back into it, STOP repeating those thoughts. Distract yourself, distance yourself from the situation or trigger or stressor, and repeat to yourself: I CAN DO THIS. THIS WILL ONLY GET EASIER.
YOU�RE NOT MAKING A DECISION WHETHER TO SMOKE WITH EACH CRAVING. THE DECISION GETS MADE ONCE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO NOW IS WHATEVER IT TAKES TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT DECISION. YOU KNOW IT�S THE RIGHT
Well, confession time. I totally stole the "decision gets made once" part from a book about running training. The author's point was that when the alarm goes off at 5am you don't make the decision whether to get up and do your training run. You already made that decision when you put your training schedule together. So...you suck it up and do that morning run. Talking yourself out of it not an option. Really struck a chord with me in terms of quitting smoking. Gotta work the same way, or I'll talk myself into relapse every time. I'm guessing an author who writes about running would be happy to be plagiarized (for personal use) if the goal is to quit smoking.
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/9/2006
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 3
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 55
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $9.75
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 4 [B]Seconds:[/B] 54
:) I especially like the last comment...THE DECISION GETS MADE ONCE. ALL YOU HAVE TO DO NOW IS WHATEVER IT TAKES TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT DECISION.
thank you for sharing with all of us!
[color=Purple]~lbugg~[/color]
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/17/2005
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 301
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 16,002
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1986.6
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 29 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 50 [B]Seconds:[/B] 38
New,
Nicely written! This is some great advise and words of wisdom for the newcomers and seasoned members.
Thank you,
Josie
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The SSC Support Team.
