Steve,
Thanks so much for reviewing the site and sharing your opinion. I
think you have read more of it than I have!
I’m further into my quit than I honestly thought I would ‘make it’ to
when I started and just want to thank all here for the wonderful
feedback and support. Two weeks today and counting!
Chelle
This ‘poll’ is being taken on the quit smoking site at about.com
“At what point do you “have it made”?”
three months?
six months?
a year?
two years?
never?
I wonder how this would be answered here. How do you folks think this plays
out?
Steve
Hello Everyone,
Joining this list is another step for me on my journey to quit
smoking. I’ve purchased some great books, and I’m in the process of
educating myself (though - all my ex-smoker friends say I’m nuts -
they say “sheesh, just quit already”). I’ve made two attempts in my
smoking career (over 20 years) - one was when I was pregnant
(managed with a butt or two during those 9 months), but I started
again soon after I quit breastfeeding. The other was 3 years ago -
it lasted a month (I tell you - I was in total depression over not
being able to have a cig - twas scarey).
So, here I am again with the idea in my head. This time though, I
want to prepare myself correctly so I have a chance to succeed. I
set a tentative date of August 1st (it’s the day my boyfriend leaves
to the states - he’s a smoker, and - I think it may be easier
without that distraction).
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Hi all,
Still here, Day 9 today. Feeling like things are getting a bit rough,
but I’m hanging in. I know that cog quitting is supposed to be an
alternative to just ‘hanging on’ and I was doing well thinking things
through. I think I am letting myself feel sorry for myself, you know
the ‘it’s not fair’ feeling. I feel a general low grade anxiety
almost all the time. Nights are still the very worst, and with the
weekend approaching I was hoping for some reinforcement from my
newfound support group. I am holding my foundation statement to
heart. And one of you had a post that voiced my opinion EXACTLY - “I
don’t want one cigarrette, I want ALL of them” I have played this
little phrase over and over in my mind, and it has helped. I know
that a cigarrette is not the answer, it’s just that I’m still looking
for the right answer! Feeling better, now that I got that off my
chest, promise to send more positive thoughts soon.
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Hi, I am new, and I am a very disgusted smoker. I am a 39 year old
female and have been smoking most of my life. In the last year, I
really notice a difference in my looks. I feel it is making me SO
UGLY, not to mention how much I smell. I hate this because on one
hand I am addicted, on the other hand I am disgusted. Also, I am a
closet smoker which makes it worse. Every time I quit, I get SO
TIRED, and HUNGRY which always sends me back. I even got gastritis
last time because I ate every 1/2 hour. I have tried all the devices
that help you quit. I cant tolerate the zyban. 21 mg patches give me
too much nicotine, the gum makes me burp, I smoke while I wear the 14
mg patches. I want to be free of this bondage!!!!!!I want to know
what “Cognitive” Quit smoking is
Need input, Steve, or Pam or …………………anyone……….
!!!!!! 
Have been doing really well I thought…………..trying gradually to
turn a C.T. quit into a cog quit…………..(and thinking that
gradually I was tuning in to the process)
Recently - for no reason that I fathom………….back has come -
during the late evening hours with nothing else to distract me………a
feeling that what I REALLY NEEDED in order to get to sleep was a “you
know what”……………….
Tried to think what had changed - and the only thing I can think of is
that up until a few weeks ago I was riding pretty high - congratulating
myself on how well I was doing……..and no way would I have allowed
the thought of changing this …………..
Now I find - no more congrats from anyone (LOL) Those who are
still smoking avoid the topic - and those who are non-smokers (and have
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I used to have these in the early weeks/months, and know that other
ppl here have experienced them too. I found this info on a smoking
cessation site and thought it might be of interest here :-
Dr. Terry Rustin, author of Keep Quit says, “Dreams are a natural
part of sleep: they occur every ninety minutes or so throughout the
night and are associated with rapid back and forth movements of the
eyes beneath closed lids. Scientists call these episodes REM (rapid
eye movement) sleep. Dreaming sleep is disrupted by addicting drugs,
especially alcohol, Valium, cocaine, marijuana, and nicotine. In
early recovery from addiction to these drugs, there is usually an
increase in the intensity and frequency of dreams, called “REM
rebound”.
These dreams may be vivid and threatening; they are often about
using the chemical, and the dreamer may awaken believing the dream
was real. The dreams often recur, night after night. Since many of
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I’ve been to cognitivequitting.com and have read about behavior
modification. Yes. It all makes perfect sense, so I’ll give it a
try. I haven’t quit yet, but I will. I’m not prepared to set a quit
date at this time. If/When I decide to set a quit date, I will
probably keep it private. It feels like too much pressure when other
people know that I am “supposed” to quit on a certain date. I’ve
tried that and failed, feeling that I had not only let myself down
but everyone else as well. Publicized quit dates do not work for me.
Now a bit of personal stuff. I have been a smoker for far too long –
40 years to be exact. It’s time for me to quit. In a sit-com the
other night, I heard a young woman say to an older man, “You’re too
old to smoke.” So! It has come to that, has it? While I don’t think
people should smoke at any age, I suppose it is especially dangerous
for us oldies to smoke, what with our risk for heart attacks and
strokes and all those other fun things.
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OK — I signed in here, but I don’t see any information
about “Cognitive Quitting.” Am I missing something? Am I stupid? Is
there a “how to” page? Will someone please clue me in! Help!
Been kinda lurking lately. A bit crabby. It’s most-likely weather-related. We
had 91 a couple weeks ago, the kids ran through the sprinklers, I peaked at my
133 perennials coming to life, my annuals were in bloom… life was
fantastic…. but the past week SUCKS! It’s been 30 to 40 degrees, snow
predicted tomorrow, when the average is 62. My kids have been back in winter
coats, and my plants are wrinkled and sad. I should be happy I work in my
sanctuary greenhouse (which I am - it’s gorgeous) but the back-biting and gossip
is ridiculous. And to top it off, I’ve had the a doosey of a cold, achy
muscles, lots of snot, etc. for the past 3 days. Okay, done with the violin.
The good news is, last week I went out with my gal pals for cocktails, two
bought smokes and puffed away, and it didn’t bother me. My clothes stunk when I
left the bar though. I will however, still have to watch my liquor intake at
these occasions…. after the 2nd wine, the Marlboro pack laying on the table
was summoning me a bit. Other then that little twinge, my urges have been
minimal and predicted.
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