Good morning members, I hope you are having a great smoke free day of peace.
Here is a follow up article on positive thinking. Here is a guy with one of the most severe medical conditions you can have, depression! And it looks like he has beaten the addiction to nicotine while fighting his other battle with depression. His testimony is an example of positive, pro-active behavior and one that we all can learn from. I hope you get something from this, I did.
�I used to hang out here in this forum and (another site) all the time. I now have a 5 1/2 yr quit not smoking one day at a time. That is 2028 smoke free days.
When I started this journey, I never thought about being quit this long. I struggled with each day. In the beginning I also went to bed early and didn't want to get up. If I was sleeping, I was away from the cravings and insanity of my own mind.
I used the patch...... and I was totally focused on never smoking again that I set my jaw, my mind and the core of me on that spot. Not one puff ever, no matter what. I was depressed, I was scared, didn't know if I could live without my cigarettes.
I have severe bi-polar disorder, am on SSDI and have lived with depression, panic attacks, and many dark days. I had my first panic attack in kindergarten. It has not been easy. I am now 62 yrs old, and am on medication. That helps a lot.
One thing I want to share is this: don't focus on how lousy you feel. That part will pass. Yup, you are going to be miserable, downright ugly and mean, grumpy, sad, crying, sick, confused..... and all kinds of other things those first few weeks. It passes. Just hang in there, one minute at a time, and push through the cravings. Don't live in your discomfort tho. Change your thinking toward the goal you are seeking. The reasons you wanted to quit. The feelings of what you will feel when you have 3 months, 6 months or 1 year smoke free.
Get excited about what you are doing. Don't allow your body to dictate to your mind........ let your mind lead here. Make happy choices, Look for the good in what you are doing. Push forward, find humor, and look for the little victories that you are getting all the time. Even tho you are miserable.
Pull up people....... come walk with me. I have walked where you have walked and made it. You can also. Change your focus, get positive, happy, and excited about your quit. Don�t take the next puff, no matter what.
I wish you enough ~
~~ Billi �
Bob aka Duffis
[B]My Milage:[/B]
[B]My Quit Date: [/B] 2/13/2005
[B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 550
[B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 16,510
[B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1413.5
[B]Life Gained:[/B]
[B]Days:[/B] 110 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 42 [B]Seconds:[/B] 39
-
Quit Meter
$285,481.25
Amount Saved
-
Quit Meter
Days: 6851
Hours: 14
Minutes: 4
Seconds: 34
Life Gained
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Quit Meter
45677
Smoke Free Days
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Quit Meter
1,141,925
Cigarettes Not Smoked