Always looking for excuses

[Levs]

I seem to spend most of my days looking for excuses to smoke. I am so bored of this ever repeating process I go through every day, all day. Even in that last sentence I am looking for that excuse. I am bored of stopping smoking so therefore I should smoke again. Its constant. I am stressed so I should smoke, stopping is making me fatter than I already was so I should smoke so I can loose weight, I am a nasty person when I don't smoke so I should start again. The list is endless and it goes around and around in my head. I just want to turn it off

I have come so close to giving in several time and then a different thought comes into my head. I don't want to smoke. Whether that is because I am a stubbon cow and I refuse to be beaten rather than a desire not to smoke I am not sure. I know alot of it is I don't want to have to face my family again if I fail.

Sorry, I know this is a rant, I suppose I was/am hoping that if I write it down then maybe it will go away for a while.

S

[nsd_user663_3633]

Ranting is good, but you are caught in the "normal" trap caused by smoking.

It's nothing to be ashamed of, but it does need addressing. The only way to do this (at least, the only thing that worked for me) was to read, read, read.

Point your browser towards these 2 great sites for a start and read everything you can find.

whyquit.com

woofmang.com

Then search google, and read every site that looks genuine (theres lots of rubbish on the net just trying to sell you something - smokers and quitters are seen as an easy target!).

Once you find the one thing that "clicks" with you, and it is there somewhere - you will wonder why quitting was ever so hard. It's never easy, but it doesn't have to be torture either.

[nsd_user663_2783]

If it helps you stay off those evil sticks then keep on ranting. That's what this forum is for as well as support and advice.

Don't keep looking for excuses Levs just try and ignore them. I know it isn't easy and you know you don't really want to smoke. Keep yourself occupied and drink loadsa water or juice. Frozen grapes are a good one as well. If you need to put something in your mouth try lollipops. Not exactly slimming but it helped me the first few months.

Good luck and keep quitting.

[nsd_user663_3638]

Hi you rant all you want if it helps! we've all been there and its not easy, i would read up on the links that Stuart suggested, it really does help. I think you are being very hard on yourself, try not to be ashamed of yourself for feeling like you do, but instead see it as a positive thing that each time you are stronger than the addiction and you resist the temptation to smoke, its an achievement and you deserve to be proud each and every time you say no, i don't want to smoke...***puts arm round shoulder*** keep going and stay strong we are all here with you x

[Levs 1000 Days Smoke Free]

Thank you.

I started reading Woofmag.com 'the tales' last night on advice from someone here and am reading it again now. Some of the comments on there are as powerful as the original posts.

One that is sticking with me is 'when the addiction starts saying that maybe I should just go back to smoking, I remind myself that if I give in now, when would I try to quit again? There will never be an easier or better time than right now'

I seem to have fallen into a pattern of one good day and one bad day, yesterday was a bad day so today should have been a good one, but it isn't and that has thrown me a bit.

I KNOW that i don't want to smoke anymore. I managed to convince my husband on Saturday that I should smoke again and when he finaly agreed that I should start again and just try to have 3-4 a day, I knew how ridiculous that was. There is no such thing as just 3-4 a day, maybe for a week then slowley but surely it would increase to that pack a day again and I refuse to be beaten.

I am glad that last night instead or reaching for a smoke I reached for my laptop and found this site as I think I would have caved otherwise.

S

Sian, aged 31, smoked for 20 years, 15+ a day. Quit on 14th September at 10:00am

[NicFirth 10 Years Smoke Free]

Hi there, we have all been there!!

Have a look at the Lame excuses thread

It says it all.

All the best,

Nic

[NicFirth 10 Years Smoke Free]

I am glad that last night instead or reaching for a smoke I reached for my laptop and found this site as I think I would have caved otherwise.

I'm glad you did too, its sometimes said that if you decide that its all got too bad and you are going to cave, post a message here and wait until there are at least 4 replies before having that ciggy. By which time the chances are that you will have changed your mind.

[nsd_user663_3633]

I'm glad you did too, its sometimes said that if you decide that its all got too bad and you are going to cave, post a message here and wait until there are at least 4 replies before having that ciggy. By which time the chances are that you will have changed your mind.

Very true, Nic. Another thing which stuck in my mind and has helped me up to now is...

There is no situation helped by a cigarette - the situation is what it is, and the craving WILL go away whether you smoke or not. The only difference is that if you take the 1 cigarette you want, you must take the 1,000's you don't.