The penny's just dropped!

[nsd_user663_51263]

30 odd years of smoking and 3 weeks in to probably my hundreth quit and I think the penny's finally dropped, well something's just clicked into place for me and I know that for sure.

I still find it quite hard to come on here and post, probably because my posts always seem so uninteresting compared with everyone else's that are always so full of positivity and humour. I've always been a bit of a miserable quitter, hence the reason for my many failures I guess!

I do do a lot of reading on here though and your posts are so inspirational to me. In particular two stick in my mind: One was from someone who said we should think of quitting as a sort of recovery process - and I'm sorry I can't remember who said it. The other I read today and it was from Kit Kat explaining perfectly about the 'just one' syndrome that I've been a prisoner to all these years. He described the whole process perfectly to me and I could identify so well with every word he said. The 'buzz or hit' feeling we experience hit a nerve though and made me realize what an addicted prisoner I'd made of myself over the years. Suddenly I asked myself what is this buzz, what have I actually been poisoning myself with all these years and why the hell have I been doing it at all!

I know that I've got a lot to prove and a long way to go but I will do it this time. I've finally admitted that I've allowed myself to become addicted to smoking and I don't feel good about myself at all.

But all of these realizations have strengthened my resolve even more and I think I've had some sort of awakening at long last.

I hate to sound so serious all the time but there again smoking has always been such a serious issue with me, or the fact that I've never been strong enough to stop doing it.

Thank God for this thought provoking forum and the people on it who've helped me open my eyes at long last.

This will be my quit, I know that for sure now.

[nsd_user663_61170]

Hi Linda.

I used positivity for my quit even when I was going through rough times, and felt as negative as you could possibly feel.

Thinking to my self I can't do this I need or have got to have a cigarette.

Then it's a battle between negative thoughts and positive thoughts in your head, and you can only think of one at a time.

So keep persevering with the positive thoughts you can do it

[nsd_user663_62463]

Great to hear Linda. I am with you all the way. This is the first time i have ever quit, and it will be the last. At the end of the day, we choose to smoke to feed an evil addiction - now we choose not to smoke. We are not missing anything, I know for sure.

I just read Allen Carrs book about stopping smoking, and now my ex- addiction is completely clear to me. If you havent read it, i strongly advise to do so...its fantastic!

Lets all be super happy. We have stopped smoking, and from now on choose not to smoke. We are now free to enjoy our lives as we were designed to do, not poisoning ourselves for absolutely zero benefits.

Have a lovely weekend

Andy

[nsd_user663_62023]

I think it's funny what strikes a chord in people. You just never know where it'll come from. For me it was NOPE that initially kept me quit. I suppose that's why the forum is so successful: there are lots of different chords and we eventually find the right combination of chords to overcome the years of programming.

Glad you've found yours Linda.

[nsd_user663_59644]

Morning Linda, Ido so love your posts, it's so obvious to us all that smoking is such a terrible thing! However stopping smoking and realising that for a moment in time we don't smoke, isn't that great a moment where we don't smoke, and all of a sudden our moments last longer and longer, until we just don't smoke.

Your are doing it now, so please post as you needed or want, your going for the final quit, you can do this :)

Your are doing this, so for me that's amazing

I do look forward to your future posts, just keep going:cool:

[nsd_user663_60964]

Linda, don't ever feel that your posts are uninteresting or negative. They're quite the opposite and like Tracey I love reading them.

So glad you've found your 'quit mojo'. I do really believe it happens that way- suddenly something in your brain switches and from there onwards, whilst it isn't easy, it becomes eminently achievable. I think this is your forever quit and I shall be cheering you home to the Penthouse before you know it.

[nsd_user663_51263]

I do so appreciate all your replies and they really do spur me on to do this.

Reading the tips and posts on here are a massive help to me, I'm reading Allen Carr (again) and doing all I can to encourage and keep myself committed to this quit BUT I know deep down that all it needs is a bit of staying power and a lot of willpower.

This really is something I've been putting off for years, or starting and then giving up on - crazy!

I'm finding I'm having good days now with hardly any cravings but there are others when I have to literally breathe in through gritted teeth, hold my breath and count to ten in order to get through them. It sounds really mad but it seems to work - til the next time but I'm not letting them beat me.

Like I said, I'm actually happy that I'm tackling this problem at long last but I know I've got my work cut out for a while yet.

This forum is becoming my safetynet though.

xx

PS Apologies to Mrs KK (I thought is was her other half who who wrote that meaningful post I mentioned) but thanks to her for sharing it with the forum when she did. Good to know that it's still working its magic - it certainly made me wise up. NOPE is another good one I'm taking on board too from now on.

[nsd_user663_62534]

Great to hear Linda. I am with you all the way. This is the first time i have ever quit, and it will be the last. At the end of the day, we choose to smoke to feed an evil addiction - now we choose not to smoke. We are not missing anything, I know for sure.

I just read Allen Carrs book about stopping smoking, and now my ex- addiction is completely clear to me. If you havent read it, i strongly advise to do so...its fantastic!

Lets all be super happy. We have stopped smoking, and from now on choose not to smoke. We are now free to enjoy our lives as we were designed to do, not poisoning ourselves for absolutely zero benefits.

Have a lovely weekend

Andy

I am in the middle of Alan Carr book yes i would recommend it.