I'm laughing at triggers...

So I've reached almost half-way through Day Four (which doesn't get its own folder, sniff!), and I'm finding myself encountering what I call my Lesser Triggers, which are triggers that don't come up as often, and which I wouldn't have even thought were triggers until I quit smoking.

One was last night, driving home from my friend's (former girlfriend's) house. She doesn't smoke, hates smoking, etc. so I was always deep in the closet around her (although she knew, and I eventually came clean with her).

Anyway, I hadn't seen her in a couple of weeks, and certainly not since I quit smoking. One of the great pleasures of the evening was telling her I'd quit; she even teared up about it she was so excited for me.

But I'm getting off topic.

When it was time to go home, I got into my car and began the drive, and realized that I was habituated to reach into a little pocket in the door and pull out cigarettes and a lighter, so I could smoke on the way home.

As I say, a Lesser Trigger.

So yes, while I didn't reach for those cigarettes, I thought about it, and I had to deal with a little craving. Which, as I'm beginning to realize, lasted all of about 2 minutes before going away on its own.

Big triggers, Little triggers, you're all the same. You're all constructs I made in my brain, and you no longer control my life!

I take back that job, at last. Loving every minute of it!

[Hidden]

And speaking of little triggers, this one made me laugh.

I woke up this morning, thought about smoking, and immediately thought, "Oh yeah, I'm supposed to think about smoking first thing in the morning so I can get that first craving of the day over with."

That was my actual thought. So listen up, Triggers: I fart in your general direction!

[nsd_user663_1655]

Too kewl, I enjoy threads like this. Only on day two this time, but remember last times strange triggers. Weirdest was after a movie, 4 months into the quit.. Reached into my pocket to find nothing, then realized I hadn't dealt with the after long movie trigger yet. Ill update if I get some neat ones this round, but for now everyhing is a trigger. You are doing great!

Vike

[Hidden]

lol you guys have such a fantastic way of dealing with things .. and you will! so here's to laughing in the face of those triggers as they jump out unannounced and try to trip us up only to be brushed aside with a wave of the hand :o)

[nsd_user663_32615]

Big triggers, Little triggers, you're all the same. You're all constructs I made in my brain, and you no longer control my life!

I take back that job, at last. Loving every minute of it!

This is a great attitude, DGee. Hold on to this and your quit will be a breeze! And you are right about the duration of the cravings - as long as you don't allow yourself to dwell on them, they are over in no time at all.

Keep that positivity flowing!

[nsd_user663_20558]

Totally. It's all about the little tripwires that are set off in the brain. You do a thing, feel a thing, experience a thing which before would have meant a cigarette, and your brain goes 'aha, yes, smoke now please'. Sometimes you say 'no, I don't do that any more' and all is well. Sometimes, your brain will kick off like a small child in a supermarket who has been denied sweeties. But either way, break that trigger once or twice and it is a trigger no more.

The thing to watch out for is a little way down the line when the initial thrill of the quit has worn off and you're just a little bit complacent - it doesn't have to be some huge emotional event that will screw your quit up. I remember a load of Winter quitters crumbling when the spring came last year and the nice weather started! Just be prepared to go once round the sun and say 'NOPE' to all the triggers that come along, good and bad, and you'll be set

Have a good day!

Helen

[Hidden]

Totally. It's all about the little tripwires that are set off in the brain. You do a thing, feel a thing, experience a thing which before would have meant a cigarette, and your brain goes 'aha, yes, smoke now please'. Sometimes you say 'no, I don't do that any more' and all is well. Sometimes, your brain will kick off like a small child in a supermarket who has been denied sweeties. But either way, break that trigger once or twice and it is a trigger no more.

The thing to watch out for is a little way down the line when the initial thrill of the quit has worn off and you're just a little bit complacent - it doesn't have to be some huge emotional event that will screw your quit up. I remember a load of Winter quitters crumbling when the spring came last year and the nice weather started! Just be prepared to go once round the sun and say 'NOPE' to all the triggers that come along, good and bad, and you'll be set

Have a good day!

Helen

I for one really appreciate it when someone with a lot more experience in this quitting business comes by to offer their real-world experience, so thank you, Helen!

The thing about nice weather is fascinating, and I would never have thought about something like that being a trigger. I feel a little more prepared now to ward off the really subtle kinds of triggers you've described.