Post by Ann on May 26, 2004 12:24:37 GMT -5
Two years is not a surprise landmark for me. Once I had one year, I would have been desperately disappointed to have not gone on to two and I will be disappointed if I don’t now get to three and beyond.
No, the important ones were one week, one month and 100 days. In that spirit, I have tried to remember what the early days were like and just to let those of you know who are just setting out of port on this voyage, there is nothing remotely impossible about quitting.
This was my approach. Everyone will have their own unique forms of attack and I make no claims other than, so far, it has worked for me.
Alert your nearest and dearest that the rational and decent human being they once knew is away for a while. He will return as a kinder, gentler version of the old model but in the meantime, a permanently pre-menstrual, snarling impostor will take his place.
A month ahead of time, set a quit date. Preferably a personal landmark. I used the day I turned 40. Time to start acting like an adult I thought.
Start toying with notion that you really are going to evict something from your life, which has been there for you through thick and thin. This should start a gentle rumbling apprehension in your stomach but fear not, the day of reckoning is still a way off.
Start to educate yourself about addiction in general and nicotine addiction in particular. The Q has plenty in the resource guide. Discover as much as you can about how your body reacts to smoking and what sort of mutiny it will stage when you stop. Figure out whether you want to use nicotine replacement and/or Zyban or go cold turkey. The pros and cons of the methods are all well documented and the subject of vigorous debate at the Q.
About three weeks to go.
Redecorate the privy. You will be a constant visitor flushing the system of rivers of drinking water and seated in idle speculation musing on the whereabouts of your solids.
Start switching to brands of cigarettes you are unfamiliar or really never liked much. Try and delay the "must have" ciggies such as after a meal by 15 minutes. Identify these trigger moments and replace the cigarette by brushing your teeth followed by a strong mouthwash.
Start the re-education of your mouth. It is used to trigger moments being followed by a wave of thousands of chemicals delivered in plumes of acrid smoke. Get it used to something else.
If you smoke after sex, just do that straight away; there can only be so much martyrdom on the quit trail I think.
One week to go.
The butterflies have been replaced by mighty turbines churning in the pit of your stomach.
You must now come to terms with the uncomfortable truth that half measures are not going to cut it. in the next little while and you must psyche yourself up much in the same way you might before a competitive sporting event.
One day to go.
An eerie calm has descended on your soul.
From that point, go into tunnel vision and simply do not smoke, whatever.
No excuses, no rationalizations, no justifications, no cigarettes.
Bleat plenty at the Q.
Do not expect the outside world to know or care about your battle.
After a month, the world returns to focus (a bit). Plop yourself out of the tunnel bloodied, enlarged yet unbowed and well on the way to an epic victory.
Always remember two things. You are not alone and millions, yes, millions have successfully quit. There is not a reason on earth you shouldn’t join their ranks.
There is only one absolute that you have to keep - don't smoke. If you obey that one simple edict, you can not fail.
Chris
found on Quitnet
No, the important ones were one week, one month and 100 days. In that spirit, I have tried to remember what the early days were like and just to let those of you know who are just setting out of port on this voyage, there is nothing remotely impossible about quitting.
This was my approach. Everyone will have their own unique forms of attack and I make no claims other than, so far, it has worked for me.
Alert your nearest and dearest that the rational and decent human being they once knew is away for a while. He will return as a kinder, gentler version of the old model but in the meantime, a permanently pre-menstrual, snarling impostor will take his place.
A month ahead of time, set a quit date. Preferably a personal landmark. I used the day I turned 40. Time to start acting like an adult I thought.
Start toying with notion that you really are going to evict something from your life, which has been there for you through thick and thin. This should start a gentle rumbling apprehension in your stomach but fear not, the day of reckoning is still a way off.
Start to educate yourself about addiction in general and nicotine addiction in particular. The Q has plenty in the resource guide. Discover as much as you can about how your body reacts to smoking and what sort of mutiny it will stage when you stop. Figure out whether you want to use nicotine replacement and/or Zyban or go cold turkey. The pros and cons of the methods are all well documented and the subject of vigorous debate at the Q.
About three weeks to go.
Redecorate the privy. You will be a constant visitor flushing the system of rivers of drinking water and seated in idle speculation musing on the whereabouts of your solids.
Start switching to brands of cigarettes you are unfamiliar or really never liked much. Try and delay the "must have" ciggies such as after a meal by 15 minutes. Identify these trigger moments and replace the cigarette by brushing your teeth followed by a strong mouthwash.
Start the re-education of your mouth. It is used to trigger moments being followed by a wave of thousands of chemicals delivered in plumes of acrid smoke. Get it used to something else.
If you smoke after sex, just do that straight away; there can only be so much martyrdom on the quit trail I think.
One week to go.
The butterflies have been replaced by mighty turbines churning in the pit of your stomach.
You must now come to terms with the uncomfortable truth that half measures are not going to cut it. in the next little while and you must psyche yourself up much in the same way you might before a competitive sporting event.
One day to go.
An eerie calm has descended on your soul.
From that point, go into tunnel vision and simply do not smoke, whatever.
No excuses, no rationalizations, no justifications, no cigarettes.
Bleat plenty at the Q.
Do not expect the outside world to know or care about your battle.
After a month, the world returns to focus (a bit). Plop yourself out of the tunnel bloodied, enlarged yet unbowed and well on the way to an epic victory.
Always remember two things. You are not alone and millions, yes, millions have successfully quit. There is not a reason on earth you shouldn’t join their ranks.
There is only one absolute that you have to keep - don't smoke. If you obey that one simple edict, you can not fail.
Chris
found on Quitnet