limited success but some success

[mr.lucky66]

I started taking chantix last oct. and went 3 months smoke free until surgery when I couldn't take it. I smoked for a week or so then stopped for a few more months with chantix until a bad accident which wasn't my fault. I smoked for another week or so then chantix, got really frustarted about something else and started yesterday. I will only smoke for a few days then go back to not smoking. Before, I couldn't stop at all but now I can but am dissapointed at going so long and then smoking for brief periods. Is this progress? I still fell I can do it and didn't before.

[kathyjo]

I re-read my posts and I realize how bossy I sound, sorry. I get passionate about this though as I smoked for 38 years and never ever quit before now. It's been 7 1/2 months and I can honestly say that I haven't had a real craving for some time and even when I'm stressed, I don't think about reaching for a smoke!
Right about now I am at my limit.....my son leaves tomorrow for a year in Spain and my daughter will attend college in Paris come August. I have never been without them, my whole life was them, and now I will be without them. If this happened last year, I would be a regular chimney but I handle stress differently now......exercise is my outlet and I'm not only doing something good for myself, but I am also feeling much better : )

Hang in there lucky and keep up the good job : )
Kathy Jo

[mr.lucky66]

yes of course I control it and I did well for the most part and will learn from my mistakes.

[kathyjo]

The point being, if you can go for 3 months without them, then you can go a lifetime without them, providing you really want to.
When stress really gets to you, pick up a lolipop of a toothpick, take a walk, jog or do something to occupy yourself, but never smoke again.
In your first post you say:
1. "smoke free until surgery"
2. "a bad accident which wasn't my fault"
3. "got really frustarted about something else and started"
Read between the lines. You and you alone control what you do and when you light up, you are subconsciously telling yourself that it is alright to slip because you can stop again when and if you want. At some point the lines gets blurred and maybe you won't be able to stop so easily and maybe you will forget just why you wanted to quit in the first place......excuses are something I do well : ) Not this time, never again will I smoke. I control it, not the other way around.
Good luck, but don't kid yourself.
Kathy Jo

[mr.lucky66]

I know smoking doesn't aliviate stress but it's a reaction to it. It's more about frustration or really strong emotions that make me want to smoke. I know this, that the past 6 months I have spent over 5 of them smoke free, 3 at once and I can break through.

[kathyjo]

Somehow you have confused cigarettes as a way to alleviate stress and thats just not the case.
Smoking causes stress so in effect what you are doing is making excuses to legitimize your slip.

"
"TRYING to quit" is an uncommitted declaration of leaving something behind.
Tell yourself recovery is HARD and unless you're lying it will be.
Believe your craves to be INTENSE and intense will be the ride.
Ponder excuses for a FIX and you’ll eventually get to use them.
If you think you might RELAPSE, then relapse you just might.
If you keep telling yourself you will FAIL, then chances are you will.
If you WANT to be a ex-smoker, your mind has yet to heal.

Allow honest DREAMS to fuel recovery and freedom you shall find.
View this challenge as WONDERFUL and fulfillment will arrive.
See the GLORY of today, then glory it will be!
Praise the HEALING of your body and set your spirit free.
Inhale the JOYS of today, feel the spender of the journey.
Yet be TRUTHFUL of the past, to protect the here and now.
BELIEVE yourself a ex-smoker, an ex-smoker you shall see.
NEVER take another puff and freedom it will be!

Breathe deep, hug hard, live long"

John R. Polito [whyquit.com website]

I urge you to read and then re-read all of the articles

Good luck

Kathy Jo