Triggers?

[Dot]

So here I am, trying to make a little quit plan. I usually smoke unconsiously...if they're within reach, I chain smoke, and have been doing so for about 50 years. In trying to list (and avoid) my triggers, I only come up with two major ones...Anger and Fatigue. (And I have an abundance of both!). Perhaps I can hide from the world and avoid the anger.....the fatigue is another story. Maybe I can just pop sleeping pills for a couple of weeks!

What were your major triggers, and how did you handle them?

[Don]

Boredom, idle hands=devil's workshop....

Depression....

Victory over a problem....

Cigaratte romancing, life felt complete by smoking...

Social situations, drinking....

Morning Coffee!, oh what to do without the smoke??

I kept as busy as possible or slept as much as I could get away with.
Laid low and didn't socialize much.

[slim]

ah yes...Triggers

I would wake up in the MORNING, pour the COFFEE and start smoking...usually 2 smokes per cup which I would have 3-5 cups per morning. So when i quit i got up and took a shower before anything else...and that slowed down the coffee and thus less triggers. I think we all should consider changing our routines some to begin the smokefree version of yourself. makes sense doesn't!

A JOB WELL DONE...that was a good one! Sit back and admire your handywork while taking deep drags on a marlboro light....a tough habbit to break for me but i made it thru somehow. I tryed to keep busy during that time rather than sit back and "think" about what a wonderful job I just did. Smokers like to sit back and think don't they....it's a lie. An excuse to have a smoke is all. You can think better without putting nasty stuff in your lungs ....really. I do it now! Very cool stuff

LEAVING THE OFFICE...was a big one....get into the car and reach for a smoke immediately. I kept reaching for a while after quitting but i had no smokes to grab. :-) For me not having the smokes available was a good thing for me. GET RID OF ThEM! They Stink!

TIRED...oh yes...a tough one...don't you know that smoking wakes you up and gives you energy....LIE! It's a habbit is all and the beast calls you when you tired or angry. I did get alot of sleep during the early days....quitting was a priority! I also drank water and ate carrots over smoking. You will have to find something to replace the smoking habbit that hopefully is healthy for you. Eating tons of candy and chocolate probably not the best thing. But still better than smoking!!!!

DRINKING A FEW BEERS...harmless for about 4 or 5 gulps and then you want to light up..don't you. Well, like Don, I gave up drinking for a few months....no big deal in the long run. I stopped putting myself in situations that cigarettes would be readily available. Why go thru that sort of trauma.....who needs that when your changing your life for the better. Today i can drink with my friends socially, i can go into a bar, i can do anything and smoking isn't an option. Nor do I even have cravings in a bar drinking a beer. amazing isn't! Smoking is history! :-)

ANGER.....THIS IS A QUIT KILLER!~ I think we all have smoking triggers when we are angry. In fact i use to chain smoke when angry and i thought it would calm me down.....NOT! Listen to me when i say....it's a bad habbit!!!!!!!!!!! when you get angry do something else....reslove that smoking isn't an option....take a walk....do yoga.....drink water....scream into pillow...ride a bike anything but lighting up. Not easy but doable....just ask Bub.

Good luck Dot with your plans and do share them with us when your ready!
We wish for you smokefree breathing....it's time isn't?