What if…….?
Day 12 of the quit, and tonight was the first time I’ve been in a
pub since I’ve quit. What if the smell of the cigarettes sets off a
craving? That was what faced me, and I thought I’d better prepare
for it.
.here goes (I planned this one out while I was getting ready)
Activating event as I see it is being in a pub enjoying a glass of
wine and good conversation with friends. My belief has been that
the only way I’ll really enjoy myself is if I can have a cig to go
with these, resulting (C) in me lighting up - and probably getting
through about 10 cigs in the evening.
OK. New beliefs: I can enjoy the conversation just as much without
smoking - I don’t need lungs full of carbon monoxide to take part in
it. The glass of wine tastes just as good without having to stop to
take drags of a cig. If I’m not smoking all those cigs tonight I’m
not going to have the usual bad headache in the morning so I’ll
enjoy my Sunday more.
Instead (C) I’m choosing not to smoke - I’m going to savour the wine
and the conversation instead, enjoy hearing my friends - and hubby -
saying `well done’, and feeling good about myself.
And that’s what happened. Just had one glass of wine instead of the
usual 2 or 3 (took your advice there Steve), and then went on to
fruit juice (feeling tipsy has always been a big trigger to smoke)
Tell you what though - I hadn’t realised how strong cigs smell. And
my eyes feel sore tonight - can’t remember that happening before.
I think I did ok
Katie
October 19th, 2003 at 10:59 am
yep, smoke will burn eyes and noses and throats when we’re not ‘used’ to it.
www.cognitivequitting.com
and I’d say you did very nicely
October 20th, 2003 at 7:47 am
In a message dated 13/01/02 00:22:30 GMT Standard Time,
katie2905uk@… writes:
I’ll say you did - much more than ok - you did wonderfully well - I found
that first time I went in pub that when I came home I could really smell the
smoke on me, on my clothes and on my hair.
The next morning I woke up with some hoffific cravings - so be warned!!!!!!!
Indi
October 20th, 2003 at 3:51 pm
Thanks everyone for what you’ve said here! I read on another Forum
(not a patch on this group!) that this was called the ‘Bar Exam’
warned!!!!!!!
Nope, it didn’t happen Indi. Maybe doing that ABC made the
difference, because I knew in my mind I didn’t want a cig last
night, and that was just as valid this morning. It was great having
a strategy in place - in the past I’d just be overwhelmed with a
crave to smoke and no reason not to just say ‘to hell with it’ and
light up. Oh I’m not saying I’ve ‘cracked’ it, I’m still the
rookie round here with a lot to learn, but thinking ahead like last
night paid dividends alright.
Katie