Been Lurking
Thanks everyone for your good wishes! So far, so good.
I had a couple of times last night when I wanted to run up to my mother’s,
sobbing, and beg her for a cigarette. She would not have refused even
though I told her not to give me one under any circumstances!
Instead, I read my foundation statement and my ABC’s and that worked. I had
already realized I reach for a cigarette most times to keep my tired body
sitting or standing instead of going to bed. Last night, without a cig to
keep me up, I went to bed…………slept 9 hours straight. That’s a
record for me. I just might take a couple of naps today like I am supposed
to.
But first, I want to clean a little, get the smell of smoke out of here.
I love reading everyone’s posts…………the ups and downs……..the
triumphs and the temporary setbacks. They all give me courage. What a
great group!
Sheri
December 30th, 2003 at 3:15 pm
Hi Sheri - its developing that ’step back awareness’ which is the
key to a cognitive quit. You said
supposed to.
As smokers our response to every uncomfortable feeling was to light
up a cig - remember H.A.L.T. (hunger, anger, loneliness, tiredness).
If we can do what you did very effectively i.e. identify what
exactly it is we’re feeling, and treat it appropriately, we’re more
than half way permanently quit.
I think you’ve made a great start - well done :))
Pam
December 30th, 2003 at 10:30 pm
Sheri, I have been thinking of what I want to say and it sounds right
in my head but I’ve erased it from here a few times. Here I go again.
I feel so lucky that I was composing my own, along with blatently
copying other peoples, ABCs before I quit. I had my ABCs with me at
all times because the first week, heck, any one could be needed at
anytime. I hope this is making a little sense. The first couple of
days when I wanted a cig I read an ABC and did what I said I was
going to do. I did not walk the first day when I woke up but started
it the second day. It was like I was a robot (probably a poor choice
of words) but I got up and read my ABC, got dressed and walked just
because I said (ahead of time) that that was what I was going to do.
Every time my habit popped it’s head up I thought about how I was
really feeling and what my body was telling me. And I behaved in a
new way. Well, except for last Sunday! Alright…I still need to
work on my bowling alley ABCs as well as my I need a day off from
thinking ABCs.
Pat yourself on the back today!
Linda
January 2nd, 2004 at 11:19 pm
Just had to reply………………………………..
I have had no great urges to clean……………..
(in fact the only REAL urge (with the exception of the BIG one)
has been to just go back to bed and stay there)………….
I can relate to those tears, though……………….
And it seems - almost exactly -
as if someone has taken away my favourite toy - and is refusing to give
it back to me…………..
I got really maudlin last night - and wondered if it was possible that
it was written somewhere that we needed to shed a tear for every
cigarette smoked…………….if so I have a few to go………….but
would shed them gladly…….
You can tell - I am still fighting this fight at an emotional
level…………….
<cognitive comes next
Jean
January 5th, 2004 at 12:54 am
In a message dated 01/02/02 18:07:28 GMT Standard Time, katie@… writes:
Katie Lou
Tell me how ‘feeling trapped’ feels and what benefits you would gain by
having a cigarette:)
Indi
January 7th, 2004 at 3:38 am
In a message dated 01/02/02 19:39:25 GMT Standard Time, katie@… writes:
I had lots of those Katie Lou so know exactly what you are going through:)
Trust me it gets a lot easier if you do as you are told and practise those
abc’s. - honest I wouldn’t lie about a thing like this.
But you still didn’t tell me how it feels!!!!! What does the ‘uncomfortable’
feel like????
Its hard I know but its worth it.:)
Indi