My journey so far....hope that it helps others.....

[NoMoreCigsEver]

So here I am on Friday....bored out my head.......so I am going to write about my experience in the hope that it may help even one person, I spent years tied to cigarettes. I desperately wanted to stop, but time went by, making me feel weak, powerless, and beaten down, and then anger set it....which resulted in well you lot on here know what! LOL! My first step was to really want it and quit for me...not cos dad was hassling me...or co-workers were frowning at me smoking in the car park.....so i read up loads of ways to quit and tried cold turkey...sure there are articles advocating every way to quit and by all means read them all and then really go for it....we are not weak to be controlled by a small cig...look at it you can snap it with a flick....Quitting tobacco has empowered me much more than I imagined. Once I've tasted freedom that is like a drug, I refuse to let go of the freedom that comes from taking back the control that addiction stole from me. I am only on day 18 compared to others on here who have had a much longer quits but I am taking it one day at a time, everyone started at day 1, I now love that I'm not controlled by it.....it is one of the most hard things to do, imagine if we can conquer it...is there anything we cant do?????? Finally keep coming on here the cravings do come and they do come hard but distract for a few minutes...anything but not smoke....I like to go and beat my punch bag or go on a power/rage walk but it all avoids smoking.... and if you do give in to that voice no worries just go again...sure feel sorry but not for so long that you end up smoking a full pack...accept it and start gain but remember what caused you to do it and make a note of it to stop in the future....many of us take many attempts to smoke...each try is a learning process....and if you slip you haven't failed....THE ONLY TIME YOU HAVE FAILED IS WHEN YOU QUIT QUITTING......

[Veteran250]

A brilliant post NoMore....You can do this 👏👏👏👏 Be confident in yourself! 🚭😀

[NoMoreCigsEver 6 MONTH WINNER in reply to Veteran250]

Cheers chap

[NewKaren 13 MONTHS WINNER]

Great post NoMore 👏👏 well done.

Karen xx

[NoMoreCigsEver 6 MONTH WINNER in reply to NewKaren]

Thanks darling x

[Hidden]

Thank you, enjoyed the read a lot! All the best!

[Corrina125 LONG TERM WINNER in reply to Hidden]

Hi Frost do you have a quit date, if so would you like me to add you to our database and assign you with a badge?

[Hidden in reply to Corrina125]

Hi Corrina thank you! That’d be awesome, my quit date was May 7 25 days today! 💛💃🏻

[NoMoreCigsEver 6 MONTH WINNER in reply to Hidden]

Cheers

[Corrina125 LONG TERM WINNER]

Great post NMCE, it will inspire others, well done!

[NoMoreCigsEver 6 MONTH WINNER in reply to Corrina125]

Thankyou very much

[tom_wales09 19 Months Winner]

Well done getting this far NoMoreCigsEver. It is a process. An individual process. Like you and others on here say, its the way you look at it. If you can flip the way you think about smoking "shall I do 10 push ups with my favourite music on, or shall I go out for a smoke?" you'll be on a winner.

From years of smoking our minds have become mentally conditioned to fill a gap in time with a cigarette and think "well when can I sneak another one in" Because of this, when we stop smoking, for some, it can become an overwhelmingly emotional experience, as though they've lost their best friend and would do anything to have them back just for that few minutes of feeling normal again.

The thing is we must replace those moments with different activities to diffuse the cravings and thoughts of smoking. That takes motivation but it can come easily if you try. Like what you do, hit the punch bag for 5mins 👊or listen to a favourite song, go for a brisk walk outside, talk to a friend, call your Mum,.. The list is endless!!

Once we've mentally conditioned our brains to not want to smoke, just think of it, we'll be able to do virtually anything, anything that we put our minds to! How amazing does that sound? Just think of how cool that will be? A lot cooler and stronger 'I am the tough guy now' than sucking on the end of a cancer stick, thinking you're tough, but actually being controlled by a drug.. Mr Nic.

Me, I am just over 2.5 days in. I slept better last night than I did the night before. I went to the beach yesterday and it felt amazing. I am going to incorporate that into my activities list.

I only smoked 5 a day so it should be easy for me but I'm still addicted. I enjoyed those 5 a day. So I feel that there is something missing but it's filling the time up when I'd usually smoke with other activities.

So we're in this together and we will do this!!! 👊👍😎

[NoMoreCigsEver 6 MONTH WINNER in reply to tom_wales09]

Well written...lets kill this Mr Nic!

[Arizona- 26 Months Winner in reply to tom_wales09]

Great reply Tom-Wales 09 👍

Thankyou for the inspiration I really need it 😊

[jillygirl Administrator Queen Bee]

Thanks NMCE, very inspirational post, and so very true. xx

[NoMoreCigsEver 6 MONTH WINNER in reply to jillygirl]

xxxx

[Grimreaper 40 Months]

Great Post NMCE ...

great Post indirectly means you are doing wonderfully well and are very strong in your quit ...

keep it up 👍👏🏻👏🏻👍

[NoMoreCigsEver 6 MONTH WINNER in reply to Grimreaper]

Cheers mate 😊

[Arizona- 26 Months Winner]

Great post NMCE👍

You motivated me to stay motivated !!!!!

Thank you so much xx

[NoMoreCigsEver 6 MONTH WINNER in reply to Arizona-]

Glad to be of help we're all in this together 😎

[MountainFree 16 Months Winner]

You CAN and WILL conquer it. No matter what Old Nic throws at you and it will -seem like more then you can handle - you can do it. I am at day 123 and the other night Old Nic came at me with the anxiety only lasted a few hours but once I fought it off today I feel clearer and healthier then ever. Good Luck

[NoMoreCigsEver 6 MONTH WINNER in reply to MountainFree]

Thanks a lot. It is vital to stay strong as if we get weak Nic Demon will get us.