I failed but what "worked" for the 5 months I was smoke free

[borninquisitive]

Someday, I will make another attempt.
I used the patch and that helped take the "edge" off.
I was having a terrible time, each time I wanted to "light up"-I had to remind myself...I didn't smoke. I kept feeling like I was smacking into a wall (if you will) each time I automatically thought, "I'll have a smoke." After experiencing this over and over again, you begin to get frustrated-exasperated. Or at least, I did.
Anyway, initially I became overwhelmed and would think to myself, "Oh my gosh, I am going to have to repeatedly go through this, how many times in a day!?" This is sabotage! I figured that I shouldn't think about it in that way. Rather, deal with just one pang at a time. Don't think about the forth-coming ones. Just deal with the one and DON'T WORRY OR THINK about the rest. Eventually, it becomes easier.

That said, I did smoke again. I won't get into why. My hope is, that anyone attempting this...to keep in mind my tip. It may very well work for you! It helped me out for 5 months. Given a different personality & circumstance-this may very well take you on your way to never smoking again.

Best!

[avisg]

You did do it for 5 months and thats means you CAN do it . I think that is a very improrant thing to know  for yourself. I also went back and forth a few times before I quit for good and it does help because at least you know you can. If you ever desided to try agian come here I really think having support while you do it is sooooooooo helpful. have a great weekend
Avis

[chi-town guy]

Having some failure is part of success so go back and finish what you started and use your own advise, it's good. Quiting the cigs is something thats hard to work at but the reward is great.

[borninquisitive]

Thank you for your words of encouragement and support. Never before had I made it 5 months and I know that I can do it, based on that. I think what aggravated it was feeling unwell physically and psychologically (not having to do with not smoking-i.e. other issues). That and not having any support, in those areas or in my quest to not smoke again. I am certain that had the circumstances been a little different...I would not be writing today, "I failed." If I could make it 5 months under those
conditions...what could have I have done under "normal" conditions.
I just wish I tried to quit earlier! Having said that, I am trying to "nail" some problems down and with that, get a leg up on not smoking again.

If I could go back in time and change only one thing, it would have to never smoke. I was a youngster when I began. I didn't do it to try and "be cool." I did it out of curiosity and boredom. Which leads me to realize, I wasn't as smart as I had thought! lol

I tell the youngsters the wonderful reasons to never smoking and end it with this, "Its easy to never smoke, it's extremely difficult to quit. So, don't ever start."

Thank you again. I will be back. ;-D

~Kate

[Wayne Baker]

I believe that if I focused on the pleasure of smoking (whatever that was), I'd have a hard time staying quit.  I have made a choice to focus on what is good in my life about NOT smoking!!!   There is so much more good than the little pleasure I derived from sucking in all that poison-laden smoke to relieve a craving that was created by that same smoke 20 to 30 minutes earlier.  Another tool I am using is my "Why I Quit" list.  Its where I've listed all the reasons I quit smoking and add to it as new ones come to mind.  That way, when I forget why I quit, its there to review.

[morganave]

I do not smoke, I am a singer and do not  want to smoke myself into singing bass.
Please stop before you get some kind of smoking related cancer and put your family through watching you die a horrible death.  It is the kind of illness that will put your family and friends through hell.  Why not smoke one less each day until you have smoked your last one.  It may take a few months, but oh so worth it.

Good Luck to you, I know you can do it.
Morgan

[kathyjo]

Quitting smokes is the hardest thing you will ever love to do!
What a great feeling not to have that monkey on my back any longer and how nice I smell and how nice it is to be able to smell (most of the time). I can walk, jog, sleep without the shortness of breath, oh and did I mention how I can actually talk to someone, close up, and not be embarrassed by my breath.
I used to be prone to panic and anxiety attacks and was under the impression that smoking helped "calm my nerves" but I now realize that it couldn't be further from the truth! Anxiety about when and where in NYC I would be allowed to smoke, who I would offend and if I had one, would I be able to have another in the 15 to 30 minutes it takes for me to have the next craving? Could I chance taking a plane or train ride for anything longer then an hour without having to deal with the anxiety of not being able to smoke. What if I needed one and I didn't have access to a place to do it??? What if I couldn't afford that next pack??
That is  how I lived my life from age 12 to 52 and how many things I didn't do because I was at the mercy of one stupid smoke after another.

In the 1 year, 2 months and 2 weeks that I haven't smoked, I have managed to cleanse my lungs of 9,721 cigarettes!! I smoked for about 39 years so you do the math.
It is incredible how powerful I feel now. Never again will I be controlled by those cancer sticks.

So, I can't give you the formula for quitting, but what I can give you is advice. You can do it. I promise you that it can be done with support. You have to absolutely want it above anything else. You need to educate yourself about the evils of smoking and prepare yourself for the road ahead as an ex-smoker. When a craving happens, call someone who will keep your mind occupied or write to the forum. A craving will only last for a short time so you only need to deal with one at a time. The 12 step program is effective because it teaches you to deal with "one day at a time." That is how you have to approach your quit.

An excellent website is whyquitdotcom. Any question you may have is covered under Joel's Library. If you need added incentive then read the "motivation" column.

I honestly thought that I would die with a cigarette hanging out of my mouth. I was pretty hardcore, so when I say this, I really mean it. If I can do it, anyone can. I know it sound cliche, but it's the truth. The sooner you admit that smoking is not nearly as calming as you have brainwashed yourself to believe, the sooner you will be on your way to quitting.

Good luck all, and with the New Year coming, what better way to begin 2009 : )