It's about time! (Greetings from Dream)

[nsd_user663_60155]

Hello there everyone.

I'm kind of new to message boards and communities like this, so I'm not entirely sure where to start.

I've been smoking since I was around 16 (recently turned 24). I have to say I'm utterly fed up of it. I'm tired of smelling funky, feeling embarrased when being around people after lighting up and many more. Last year I managed to quit for around 5 months but as life stresses picked up I fell back into old habits and really regret it now.

Since that time I've had what you could call "trial quits" which were never successful. Each and everytime I found myself feeling extremely anxious and panicking about not being able to get my fix. To the point at which I would need an excuse to leave work and grab a pack. I think this was mostly down to poor planning and preparation. I had never even considered joining a community such as yours or seeking any form of real support. I was simply running into it head on with no form of alternative to help with the cravings.

I've been reading up on the forums checking out other peoples experiences and tips for staying strong during the rough moments of kicking this habit. All of your stories and progress updates have really inspired me to register and get involved!

At the same time, I'm freaking out about how to get rid of the addiction (or at least lessen it) and the habits I have formed around smoking. For example, I love music! I literally do everything whilst listening to my playlists. So with bits of my spare time I love grabbing a coffee and having a wander round the garden with my headphones on and puffing away. I know it sounds silly, but I'm so used to it now that I feel like I'll be losing something that really helps me switch off from work and the other things that play on my mind. But i suppose there are always alternatives and ways of still enjoying that without having a ciggy?

Of course there are always a number of other triggers, after meals, getting away from the desk at work, after some gaming on the computer. I guess it just feels a little overwhelming.

In any case, I've had a look at the resources on the site and am looking at all your tips and tricks to staying on the straight and narrow and have put together a plan which i'm going to start tomorrow. I've got my final few on the desk which will last me until tonight and then crack on in the AM! I can only imagine how liberating it must feel to be free from this addiction.

I really look forward to meeting and getting to know the community here!

So with that, thanks for the opportunity of joining you peeps and I hope you are all having a lovely weekend!

[nsd_user663_59642]

Hello and welcome to you, Dreaming Lexicon! You know you've come to the right place and that by having had a good read of the forum, you are aware of the pitfalls and the JOYOUS MOMENTS that await you on your journey. You sound like you are ready to sail through this quit which is brilliant.......!

Val

[nsd_user663_59440]

Hello, best of luck to you.. it is just like a smoke free family here.. so have a question or problem u make sure u ask.., nothings too stupid

[nsd_user663_48218]

Hi and welcome to the forum. We will help you as best as we can but you have already made a major step to quitting by joining the forum.

Good luck!!!

[nsd_user663_60155]

Thank you for the kind and warm welcomes! I'll try and keep updating in the relevant places as it all progresses.

[nsd_user663_54305]

...I'm freaking out about how to get rid of the addiction (or at least lessen it)...

Hi and a big welcome to the forum.

Everyone here has been a hopeless nicotine addict at some point in their life. What do I mean by hopeless? I mean uneducated. Once you invest some time reading about, and understanding, your addiction, you will find you are arming yourself with the tools and knowledge to beat it.

You may wonder why I picked the particular phrase above from your original post. It is simply to illustrate the confused thinking which can hamper anyone trying to embark on a successful quit. You can't 'lessen' addiction - it's an all or nothing proposition. The whole concept of 'cutting down' or 'just having the occasional one' is absolutely doomed to failure. There was a time when I didn't quite believe this, just as you perhaps don't believe it now. I now know better - as you will too, as you come to understand your addiction.

You need to invest a lot of time in reading and understanding and I would implore you, if you've never read it before, to invest in the Allen Carr 'Easyway' book. Read this and it will turn your perception of smoking on its head.

You will find lots of different opinions on the forum so all I would say is take on board what works for you.

I wish you every success in your quit!

[nsd_user663_60155]

You may wonder why I picked the particular phrase above from your original post. It is simply to illustrate the confused thinking which can hamper anyone trying to embark on a successful quit. You can't 'lessen' addiction - it's an all or nothing proposition. The whole concept of 'cutting down' or 'just having the occasional one' is absolutely doomed to failure. There was a time when I didn't quite believe this, just as you perhaps don't believe it now. I now know better - as you will too, as you come to understand your addiction.

Hi there Egg!

Thank you for referring the Book to me. I will definitely see if I can grab a copy as i'm sure (like you said) it will provide invaluable insight into smoking addiction.

As with the quote above I can really relate to that. With many quit attempts previously I often said to myself; "Ahhh it will be fine! I'll just have 3 a day and eventually I'll stop all-together." But unsuprisingly this never actually happened. I would love to be able to say yes cutting down is a good process, (and believe me I really would want to !) its just not possible. I suppose I could put it down to another preventative measure on the part of addiciton holding off my actual attempts as stopping.