ABC for nerves
A) Phone call, at WORK, from husband who must have fluid drained
from his heart sac as soon as I can get him to the hospital. I will
not be able to catch a train for 30 minutes.
B) I am nervous and a cigarette will calm me down plus make the 30
minute wait seem shorter for my train ride home.
C) I need a cigarette.
B1) Yes, I am nervous but this is not the first time we’ve gone
through this procedure. And I am very impatient. I want to be home
how so I can regroup before I drive him to the hospital. A cigarette
will not make the train get here faster. A cigarette is not going to
help the wait during the procedure. Deep breathing will calm me as
much as a cigarette but I won’t have the guilt later. Reading my
foundation statement will reinforce that this can pass without a
cigarette.
C1) I will deep breath and read my foundation statement as many
times as I have to.
I do not want to be a smoker….
December 1st, 2003 at 3:24 pm
Linda - a great ABC
I hope your husband’s treatment went
smoothly: take care both of you.
Pam
December 2nd, 2003 at 6:01 am
Linda,
I hope things went smoothly for hubby and you.
About the ABC, good for you! That you chose to step back in that
moment of ‘racing heart’ and think out a short “what’s the best way to do
this?”, I’ve gotta say I’m very impressed. If you continue to do that
simple act of stepping back and thinking before allowing yourself to act
and continue to choose the option that you know is best, I can tell you
that you are more than half way to permanently quit.
Please let us know how the hospital run went.
Steve
www.cognitivequitting.com