I used to only smoke when I drank, (I was a binge drinker), then when I quit drinking I started smoking all the time. I started to love a cigarette with a cup of coffee in the morning, and nothing is better than one after eating! Then it progessed to lighting up while talking on the phone, driving, and so on....... Had my last one 12 hours ago. OMG!!! The only thing that is keeping me from going for a pack right now is it's raining buckets here!!!
I keep telling myself if I can give up the booze I can certainly quit puffing!
Anyone here an ex smoker? and can ya pass along some tips?
Addiction is addiction is addiction..... This too shall pass......
Love and hugs, ya'll.
-- Edited by Doll at 22:50, 2006-02-22
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* We eventually realize that just as the pains of alcoholism had to come before sobriety, emotional turmoil comes before serenity. *
Hi there all the information you need is at nicotine anonymous, once I have a bit more success with my alcohol program, its the next program I intend to get to. Have been told to keep it simple at the moment.
Doll, there are Smokers Anonymous groups in some cities. I smoked for a few years after I got sober, then I would quit in the winter because I was sick with a cold or lung problems. One winter after I was feeling better, I picked up one of my husband cigarettes, started to light it, and this voice in my head said"What are you doing ? You haven't smoked in months, don't start now."I like to think it was God, doing for me what I couldn't do for myself.
Suggestions...go spend an afternoon at a respiratory therapy clinic just watching the people who are coming in for treatment.
My Mom who I'm caring for is attached to oxygen 24/7 , breathing treatments 4 times a day. When she was in the hospital last year, they put the patches on her and we started the Step-down system. They worked well, then after awhile we went to the system where you put the nicotine cartriages in the inhaler, just because she needed something to do with her hands.Now she just holds the empty inhaler. It really is hard to watch my Mom go through all this, she is so miserable and in a great deal of pain, struggles for each breath.
I've heard alot of people say they put the money they don't spent on a pack of cigarettes in a jar, then after awhile spent it on something for the family.
I know I've heard people in the program say they gave up drinking they sure aren't going to give up smoking too.But I think it's like drinking, when you get sick and tired...when you can't breath...you will surrender.Good luck, if you want to quit.
oh, wow, Rose. That is really hard. Having worked in a hospital and convalescent home I have seen the cases that you are talking about. People all blue and wheezing, gasping for breath. My dad died of lung cancer that metastasized too, from smoking, and I was diagnosed with emphysema the same year.
I started smoking when I was 6, because a baby sitter thought it was cute and funny to give me drags off her cigarette. At 7 I was picking up butts that were still smoking off the ground at our complex. At 12 I was regularly getting drags off my parents' cigarettes, and at 14 was buying my own. this was before we realized how bad smoking is. At age 30 I was smoking 2 packs a day, waking up at night with a need for a cigarette, and having to have one first thing in the morning. I began to feel like my arms and legs were leaden and I was very tired after walking even two blocks. I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with early emphysema. I did quit at that point. At first I got a lot of strong nicotine fits, but I got some tips on how to handle them, which did help. I didn't know what to do with my hands, cuz smoking entails an habitual ritual. And I didn't have the excuse to take a break from working that I needed a cigarette and had to find something else to do for a break. After two weeks I noticed I felt a little better,, and after a month I noticed feeling lighter. After 3 months I could get 4 blocks and still feel alright. That was positive reinforcement for me. Some things still trigger a craving for a cigarette too... being on the phone with any kind of drink in my hand, for example,,, but when I get to the store or vending machine and find out how much they cost now...... I'm cured!
Coffee is another addictive substance. We'll talk about that another time, eh?
love in recovery,
amanda
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do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time
1. remember that the time that a nicotine fit lasts is limited, although it sure feels like it is going to last till we finally have a cigarette,, it won't. so when one comes on, get busy doing something to get your mind on something else till it is over,, which is actually only a few minutes.
2. be encouraged by the fact that the longer it is that you have quit smoking the longer the space between nicotine fits. They come quite often the first few days,, but less often after the first week, and even less often after the first month.
3. Half of our habit is often that our hands and mouths are doing something, and when one hits we need to be doing something with our hands and mouths. I used to nibble on pretzels, though some prefer lollipops.
4. It is often helpful, especially now when the cost is so high, to put the money that the cigarettes would have cost you that day into a little bank, and do spend it at the end of the week on some treat for yourself. this works in two ways; 1. it is a reward, 2. it really helps to see how much money we wasted and could be spending on better things.
5. Don't keep cigarettes in a place that you can get to very easily. The more complicated it is to get to them, the more chance you have to talk yourself out of the impulse for one, and let the actual fit go by.
6. Remember that it does get better, and that you are saving your own life from horrible illnesses.
love in recovery,
amanda
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do your best and God does the rest, a step at a time
