Hello! Day 12- so far so good.

[nsd_user663_61326]

Hey everyone.

I quit smoking on 16 January after smoking about 20 a day (30 towards the end) for about 16 years.

So far it has been surprisingly easy (something that I feel a tiny bit guilty about). I'm starting to feel even better than I felt right after having a fag (if that makes sense). This is rather surprising because I was one of those people who believed that I would never be happy unless I smoked.

My quit smoking method was: I took a day off work and read the Alan Carr book. After every chapter I went for a smoke break and thought about what he was saying. I would ask myself why I smoked and if I agreed with what he was saying.

Towards the end of the book I started to realise that I don't have to smoke. I can (and will be) happy without it. It was an amazing feeling.

I used the same 'critical thinking' approach through the craving phase. I never allowed the thought "I would love a cigarette" to stay unchallenged in my mind. While I couldn't stop myself from thinking it I could evaluate why I thought that I wanted one and challenge it. Then I would imagine that I just killed the nicotene monster with my fireball (yes, I play too much Skyrim :D).

I know I'm not completely out of the woods yet so I remain careful in case the monster catches me unaware.

Looking forward to joining all of you on this amazing journy to freedom!

[nsd_user663_61170]

Hi,

I think a positive mental attitude is absolutely vital, it hss made a massive difference

too the difficulty of my quit

I'm on day 15 and I also have found it easier than I thought good luck

[nsd_user663_61326]

Thanks Debbie! It's difficult not to feel guilty. I especially feel like shaking the smokers around me and shouting: "Why are you doing this to yourself!?". I'm afraid that I'm turning into one of those ex-smokers that always annoyed me when I was still smoking.

Thanks beerH (I like beer). Glad you are finding it easier than you thought as well. We are very close - fingers crossed that I never beat you in 'days smoke free'

[nsd_user663_56237]

Hey everyone.

I quit smoking on 16 January after smoking about 20 a day (30 towards the end) for about 16 years.

So far it has been surprisingly easy (something that I feel a tiny bit guilty about). I'm starting to feel even better than I felt right after having a fag (if that makes sense). This is rather surprising because I was one of those people who believed that I would never be happy unless I smoked.

My quit smoking method was: I took a day off work and read the Alan Carr book. After every chapter I went for a smoke break and thought about what he was saying. I would ask myself why I smoked and if I agreed with what he was saying.

Towards the end of the book I started to realise that I don't have to smoke. I can (and will be) happy without it. It was an amazing feeling.

I used the same 'critical thinking' approach through the craving phase. I never allowed the thought "I would love a cigarette" to stay unchallenged in my mind. While I couldn't stop myself from thinking it I could evaluate why I thought that I wanted one and challenge it. Then I would imagine that I just killed the nicotene monster with my fireball (yes, I play too much Skyrim :D).

I know I'm not completely out of the woods yet so I remain careful in case the monster catches me unaware.

Looking forward to joining all of you on this amazing journy to freedom!

A great post Lrimas, welcome to the forum

You have a really positive attitude and the help of Mr Carr behind you, who's books I also found to be a huge step towards a good mental state.

Keep plodding and counting those days. Looking forward to more posts like these!

[nsd_user663_61233]

Hi Lrimas

Great post. Very positive. Don't feel guilty, you're feeling exactly how Allen Carr said you would!

I'm 2 weeks into my quit. Years ago, I read the first Allen Carr book and thought it was excellent (though obviously I didn't stop for good that time). I've also been to one of his day clinics. Again, not permanently successful.

However, I am just reading a more up to date version. He puts his theories in different ways these days, and it really is having a great effect on my attitude.

It IS all in the mind and we can beat it and feel happy beating it with our minds.

Keep it up

[Doofus_Overload]

Welcome Lrimas,

Like you, I stopped after reading the Allen Carr book. before I started reading I kept thinking, there is NO way this book is going to stop me smoking, how can it? I remember reading the book in a beer garden whilst having a ciggie and almost burst out laughing at the irony of me reading a stop smoking book whilst having a ciggie.

I still maintain that it isn't a magic fix as you still need the will power but what is does do is mentally prepare your brain for the re-wiring which it must do in order to become a non smoker and in that respect it is flippin brilliant.

Oh and I love the skyrim reference although i'm more of a guild wars man myself

Keep up the good work and make use of this forum, it's really handy

[nsd_user663_61326]

Thanks Sarah, Sugar and Doofus (hehe - do you prefer overload?). It's rather nice to receive so much support!