New member
Hi - I just joined the group, I was directed here by someone on
another Forum who thought this group might be more ‘me’. I’m tired
of trying to quit and failing, have run out of ways to tackle this
quit, and feel like its time to do something different or else I’ll
keep going round in circles. I envy people who manage this, I
wonder what it is I’m missing. I’ve smoked for about 30 yrs and
it’s time to call it a day before my health starts suffering. I
don’t know how I’ve got away with this for so long. Lots of
questions - I hope I can find some answers and something to work
with.
I live in Ireland (UK) but returning to the mainland sometime later
on this yr, husband, mortgage, 1 child, a good sense of humour (but
a short temper, I’m told! I deny that..)
Look forward to hearing some more
Katrina
September 26th, 2004 at 5:54 am
Welcome Katrina!
I’m glad you found this group, its a great source of ideas and
encouragement, and quitting cognitively is very effective. There are
people here at different stages in their quits - some who’ve been
quit for yrs, others maybe just a few days - or maybe like you
planning to quit. I’m one of the rookies here!
I’m in London - where are you planning to move to when you return to
mainland Britain?
Good luck - I think you really have found the right place to be.
Look forward to getting to know you
Jan
— In CognitiveQuitSmoking@y…, “katrina_105″ <katrina_105@y…
September 26th, 2004 at 8:24 pm
Hi Katrina and welcome
Hope you’ve had chance now to read over at www.cognitivequitting.com
and get a feel for what we’re about here.
I’m 4 months quit now, and I was just like you described, searching
for that ’something different’ to help me quit. I found it here,
and I hope you will too.
Soon as you’re ready, start asking all those questions, and you’ll
get all the answers.
Carla
— In CognitiveQuitSmoking@y…, “katrina_105″ <katrina_105@y…
November 3rd, 2004 at 5:26 am
Dear all,
I’m very, very tentatively joining this group while still smoking and enjoying
it but knowing I shouldn’t. For some reason I can’t access previous messages, so
it would be nice to hear from some of you and see how you cope with not smoking.
J
November 13th, 2004 at 9:02 pm
Hi Gord,
We won’t tell them. 
Seriously though, 999 times and you’re having a rough time at 5+ months
Welcome to the group. Have you got your permission slip from that other
group to be here? just kidding
means maybe it’s time to step outside that box and do something different.
Emotions are by far the most common trigger. The physical manifestation of
our emotions is so close to that of the physical sensations that were
connected to nicotine maintanance, that we have automatic responses already
in place. The only way to disconnect those auto responses is to begin to be
aware of which sensations we’re feeling at any particular moment and what
caused them. At that point, different responses begin to be self evident.
My suggestion to get you going would be to start to journal the
emotional times. Make a list. Are there reoccuring events? Make note of the
situations and particularly where and how you feel the emotions from a
physical perspective. Most of us believe we would be more in control of our
lives if we had more control of our emotions, and we probably would. It’s
just that, I for one, will most likely aways being playing catch up with my
emotions. I don’t honestly expect to ever really have ‘control’ of them.
But I can certainly gain quite a lot of control over how I respond to the
physical aspects of my emotions. In order to do that, I need first to
become aware of what they are and when I’m experiencing them. Give that
list a shot and see if it doesn’t start to create a change.
Good to have you with us,
Steve
February 24th, 2005 at 1:24 pm
I am a new member. I think I am doing this correctly, finally. I
have fiddled around with my quit for almost a year. Thanksgiving,
2001. I chose 10/19/02 as my quit date. I wanted to share it that
date with someone else thereby I hopefully will have more respect for
it. Well, half way through day 3, again. But am glad to be part of
a group.
April 8th, 2005 at 5:56 pm
Just saying hello - I managed (finally) to subscribe to this group
I’ve smoked for more yrs than I care to remember. I’m 50 now, and I
today. I’m on day 3 of my quit, and the old brain isn’t functioning
too well. I’m tired of trying to quit and failing, and am pretty
excited about finding a logical way to tackle this. Thankyou Steve
for pointing me in this direction last night
want the next 50 to be nonsmoking ones. I live in England in Exeter,
and work in Personnel. I’m divorced with a grown up family and love
my independence! With more cash to hand I’m hoping I can do some
more travelling.
More next time,
Jane
April 9th, 2005 at 1:18 am
Tomorrow, Nov 29th, Jean reaches 11 months quit. Congratulations Jean
April 9th, 2005 at 8:33 am
thanks Steve - but I was a day ahead of myself…………….
Surely would not have done it without the input from people
quite date 31 December…………so guess 11 months as of
Saturday………..
here……………
Have read as some of you here now in the group are
struggling………………
and wished I had some magic input………………..
Best I can do is say I am living,. breathing proof that quitting is
possible………..
Good luck to all
Jean
April 10th, 2005 at 6:18 am
:)) Pam, I think you folks are on the ‘wrong side’ of the Atlantic all
the time, just that sometimes it’s later than other times.
April 10th, 2005 at 1:33 pm
Hi folks,
ABC’s are, in a nut shell, a graphic representation of how we
experience an event, make or associate some beliefs, and then, based on
those beliefs, react. It’s simple really. We can use the ABCs to ‘diagram’
our smoking behavior and by extension, the urges we’ll have to deal with
when we quit. Warren only ever chooses that which makes the most sense at
the time. If you’ve ever seen Disney’s ‘The Sorcerer’s Apprentice’, Warren
would be the broom. That’s a perfect image of Warren; he has a job, knows
only that job, does it exactly the same time after time, and does it no
matter what. Warren does what he does because a cig has always worked.
Every time we lit up and felt a change, and there’s IS a change with every
cig smoked (nicotine is a central nervous system stimulant and every
inhalation creates a physiological response … heart rate, hormone
secretion, constriction of blood vessels, and others). We were experts at
‘dosing’ ourselves depending on how we inhaled a cig (deeply or shallow)
and that depended on our perceived ‘need’ at that moment. Every time we lit
a cigarette and felt a change we revalidated that a cig was the ‘correct’
choice so it’s no wonder Warren constantly and consistantly choose a
cigarette response. (BTW, Warren also chooses other things. For instance,
it’s Warren who notices a full bladder and sends us to the bathroom. His
job is taking care of ALL the little automatic behaviors.)
Back to the ABC’s…. because Warren functions automatically and we’re
trying to find a way to influence his choices, we need to find a way to get
in step with him so we can provide new (current and rational) options for
response. One way to get ‘in step’ with him is to use our knowledge of
routine events and how we’ve always behaved within those events. Two common
ones are driving and starting the day.
The old pattern was:
A- Driving over to a friend.
B- I need to smoke a few now so I’ll be able to ‘get through’ the visit
without too much nic withdrawal discomfort.
Based on that B (belief), Warren’s choice was invariably:
C- Smoke several
In order to change that to come in line with our current quit goals -
A- Driving over to a friend.
B- I used to believe that I needed several to keep me going. My foundation
statements state that 1-I don’t want to be a smoker, 2- there is no
situation where a cig is appropriate anymore, and 3- I can handle the
discomfort. I do feel the physical sensation of some tension in muscles.
Maybe a bit of apprehension about the drive and the demands driving places
on my body and my mind. I can breathe, listen and sing to the radio, drink
the water or fruit juice I brought. There is no compelling reason why I
‘need’ a cig, or several, to enjoy this outing.
Based on that revised and very conscious B:
c- I now have a number of alternative thoughts that require Warren and I to
choose our reaction. It’ll be…. maybe breathe, or drink, or sing, or do
nothing but be aware that we really don’t need a cig.
Warren will follow where you lead. He’ll go where we ‘think’. The key
is preparing new rational thinking and placing it in our mind so we’re
ready to use it. I suggest setting up an ABC that will be used within 24
hrs. That means planning for an event that will happen within that 24 hrs.
The reason is that we’re trying to reroute automatic behavior that’s been
established over years. If the event we’re trying to catch is too far down
the road, our ABC will too likely be forgotten until it’s too late to
really affect the choices Warren makes when the event occurs. Fresh in our
mind is always better, otherwise the old thinking will happen and the first
clue we’ll have will be an urge to smoke. One good way to be prepared for
a drive is write this ABC out now, long hand is probably best as that will
imprint it on your mind, and put it on the car dashboard so it’s right
there when you start the car. That way you’re reminded and prepared to
think differently.
The ‘morning wake up routine’:
A- Time to get up and go.
B- Nicotine and caffeine is an effective combo.
C-I’ll smoke one or two with my coffee.
can be changed to:
A- Time to get the day started.
B- In the past a coffee and cig or two was my option of choice. Based on my
current goals and foundation statements, coffee and cigs are not
acceptable. Alternately, a shower first thing, some OJ and breakfast will
provide more effective longer term energy. That’s a better way to start my
day.
based on those changed beliefs:
C- I’ll shower first, eat second, and by dealing with the very sensations
that Warren would be responding to, I’ll preclude the need for that morning
cigarette.
Write out this ABC and put it next to your alarm clock. Try it.
Steve
April 17th, 2005 at 7:31 pm
thanks, Caisy………..
Jean
will watch for YOUR milestones………
June 1st, 2005 at 3:13 am
Hello all I am a new member . I read some of the recommended files
and I still unclear on the ABC’s. It seems that you go thru 3
options for the action and how you feel. Maybe someone can explain
this a little more. I am Two days, 6 hours, 18 minutes and using
Zyban which may be altering my thoughts.
In any event, I have decided to quit after thinking about this and
planning for some time. My primary reasons are my future health and
being there for my young son. Unfortunately, I relapsed after quiting
for 3 years!! 12 years ago. I realize that smoking is an addiction,
and one puff will send me back. So regardless of what happens in my
life, I will not smoke to deal with it.
Thanks,
Angela
November 9th, 2005 at 11:37 am
Hello!
I’ve just joined this group today. I’m planning on quitting smoking
very soon and glad to have found this site. I’ve got tired of
failing at this within a few grim days, and Steve tells me it can be
made a much more simple process. I’m eager to learn more.
I’m working on my lists now which I understand is the first step in
this process.
I look forward to getting to know you.
Di
November 14th, 2005 at 2:50 pm
I have been reading info on this sight and think it can help me. I
have been on other quit smoking sights. I have been quit 54 days,
but am still feeling a little rocky in my quit I would be glad to
hear any suggestions that you have that might help me.
Thanks
FE
December 4th, 2005 at 8:29 pm
Hello all,
I stopped, ( I’m no quitter! lol! )smoking almost 8 mos ago. I
have joined your group after talking w/ Steve or rather watching
Steve in action over at quitnet. I have stopped smoking long enough
that it is comfortable now. This has become easy and effortless.
That’s not to say I don’t have days when I really *wish* I was still
a smoker! On the whole this is an easy, almost effortless way to
be. My user id on the ‘Q’ is ca-girl if anyone here “knows” me…
BTW, steve, did you get the paper I e-mailed you?
December 5th, 2005 at 5:31 am
Hello to all. This group was recommended by a good friend. I am on
day one for the 6th time since February and really need to get a
handle on staying quit for life. Longest quit-74 days, last quit 44
days. I WANT to quit and I need to quit for my health. I am ready and
willing to do whatever it takes to quit for life.
Linda
December 5th, 2005 at 10:02 am
welcome Linda. you’ve come to the right place for a comfortable and sustainable
quit for life. Follow Steve and Pam’s instruction, do your homework and your
quit will be much easier. We don’t hang on and struggle with not smoking, we
just don’t smoke anymore. It’s not that easy but it is certainly more
comfortable. It does take work. I’m at a little over two months and feeling
very good. this is the best present you can give yourself. take good care and
we’re all here to help you if you need it. Besure to check out the websites in
Pam’s message.
good luck
Carol
March 10th, 2006 at 2:15 pm
I just found Steve’s site and this group today, and glad to have
found you. I’m hopeful this is the method which will help me quit
for all times.
I did read some confusing explanations of what this is all about and
how to do an ABC over at Quitnet, so I was glad to get the story ‘as
it is’ over at cognitivequitting.com today.
Am doing my lists for Steve….. I’ll send those on to you Steve a
bit later on, or tomorrow. I’ve sent you my IM details in an email
and it will helpful to chat, I know.
Glad to have found this group
cheers
Camilla
April 24th, 2006 at 8:56 am
Hi, I am a grandmother of 7. I have been smoking for 40 years I am on
oxygen from a lung operation. I know I need to quit. I loved the
story about “Warren” I have been a Warren my entire life. I seem to
need someone to show me. I generally stick to something until it is
done. I am having great difficulties in getting the idea of why I am
lighting up. I know it is from responses such as boredom, habit, and
emotions. That is not my problem. My problem is dealing with it. I
hope this group can offer some suggestions.
I do all kinds of needlework and live alone. I can’t get outside much
right now. I do good to get my trash out and my housework done. I
have a neighbor who gets my mail and helps bring in my groceries and
oxygen tanks. I think I need a “map” to get me started. I hope to
find it here.
Thanks.
Cecile
May 13th, 2006 at 11:12 pm
Hi. My name is Paula, and I have been smoke free for 3 days. It is not much,
but it is 3 days into the rest of a smoke-free life. Any tips on how to deal
with daily stressors? These seem to be the only thing that triggers my
‘lighting-up’.
Ms. P.
May 15th, 2006 at 11:36 pm
Hello Everyone;
I would like to introduce myself.
I am a very new member to this
group. I only just signed up today!
My name is Lynn,and I have been Quit
smoking for a little over 15 Months.
I am thus far pleased with the new found
sense of freedom that my Quit has awarded;
and I thought it would be a great idea to
join your Cognitive Quit Smoking group,as I
hope to learn more about what it really
means to apply a cognitive approach.
I am from Chicago,Illinois and I so look
forward to being a productive member of
this seemingly fine group. I look forward
to chatting with some of you from time to
time maybe. Thanking you in advance for having me!
(Windy City,,Chicago; Lynn)
June 6th, 2006 at 5:51 am
Hi everyone!
My name is Brenda and I have been smoking for 24 years ARG. I spent the weekend
gearing up for last night to be my last night as a smoker (a group of us went
for hypnosis) I don’t think it took which of course made me more determined to
succeed. I went 14 hours - ok 7 of them were sleeping but half weren’t,
smokefree. At 8 am this morning my 17 year daughter (licensed for 10 days) was
in a car accident. I rushed over there - the sight of all the emergency
equipment is enough to freak you out! No serious injuries - car totaled - DD to
hospital via ambulance - enough said - when we eventually got home found out
there was serious complications in cousins delivery and the baby was airlifted
to another hospital. I am a Realtor and have 2 really iffy deals that I’m
dealing with and am really stressed. I plan on listening to the cd again tonight
and starting over but I have way less enthusim and strength than I did 24 hours
ago. I am going over the site again, but boy I sure could use some resolve.
“If you want to change your life, change your mind.”
~author unknown~
June 19th, 2006 at 11:15 am
Hello,
My name is Harley. I stopped smoking yesterday. I’ve yelled at my
dog because her squeaky toy is annoying (but it really is). I
haven’t gotten any work done at all today and just want to go to
sleep. I guess I can expect this kind of ‘fun’ for a while.
November 5th, 2006 at 4:48 pm
Hi All,
New member here, Kimberly. Just joined and
just quit.
November 6th, 2006 at 5:23 am
Hi Kimberley - welcome to the group.
If you haven’t done so already, head over to Steve’s site at
www.cognitivequitting.com to read all about this approach to
quitting. From there you can access the ‘Getting Started’ page,
which explains how to get started on a cognitive quit. Ask any
questions you’d like, and we’ll be glad to help.
Tell us a bit about yourself? Have you quit before, and how are you
approaching this quit?
best wishes,
Pam
December 8th, 2006 at 7:39 am
Morning everyone,
I have been coming here for a while but just recently joined. Am
looking for all the help I can get. I have tried to quit smoking
sooooo many times. I am 5 days into my quit this time. I am on the
14mg patch and for the most part am doing ok. I have a cognitive
moment to share that I just had over the last 24 hours. This is a
post that I made in another forum while asking for help with “ALONE
TIMES”. It has haunted me in all my past quits and I think coming to
the realization of why being alone was such a trigger for me is going
to make a HUGE difference. This was my realization post………..
This behavior started WAY BACK WHEN I was young and hiding to smoke.
You brought back so many memories…..which is good, because I have
been racking my brain as to why this is such a HUGE trigger for me.
Up until your post, I was thinking this behavior had only started
everytime I had been trying to quit and I would tell people I quit
only to find myself sneaking around…..when actually, this thing
goes WAY BACK. When I first started smoking, I used to hang out in
the local school yard at night and on weekends. I would grab my
cigarettes from my hiding places (I had many) and I would stuff them
down my pants (oh my God) ….this is so cool because it feels like I
am having a breakthrough here…..anyway, and then I would run to the
school yard and meet up with all my friends and we would smoke like
crazy….and then at the end of the night, we’d all put them down our
pant legs again, go home, hide them, and make believe nothing went
on. We did this for YEARS! I probably did this for 3 or 4 years!
EVERYDAY! No wonder it is so ingrained. Then there were the woods
that we would go through to get to and from school, and we would
leave early in the morning so we could get our fixes…..and oh my
God, I am really having a memory now…..No wonder I did so poorly in
High School…..I had to cut classes to GET MY FIX!! (tears…..)
In a million years, I would have never thought this. I have been
blaming those terrible years on so many things…..never once did I
give it a thought that cigarettes were a part of
that……..UNBELIEVABLE!!! wow….too much. And there was so
much “excitement” to that. The “getting away with it”, all that
stuff. unreal. And the car thing too! Once I got my license, we
would all jump in the car with our cigarettes and ride around and
smoke to our hearts content. (my parents smoked, so the smell never
made much difference)
I have not yet had a chance to work on my new response to it, but at
least I know what it is and where it comes from. Thanks to the
cognitive website for explaining so well about the HABIT and for the
tools to change this behavior…..Wish me luck….smile.
Cheryl~
December 8th, 2006 at 3:01 pm
Hi Cheryl
Welcome to our group.
I think some of us share similar memories and experiences of our early
days/years as smokers. There was a sense of freedom whenever we escaped the
structure/authority of school and parents and were able to ‘be ourselves’
either by ourselves or with friends.
You wrote: “I was thinking this behavior had only started every time I had
been trying to quit and I would tell people I quit only to find myself
sneaking around”. What were you trying to find when you were “sneaking
around”? Was it a sense of freedom? Of getting away from authority or maybe
responsibility? As much as you may have been seeking some particular
sensation or condition, what physical sensations in the moment were you
trying to change?
Lots of questions I know. But you’re already thinking along these lines.
Hanging at the school yard and later riding around in the car eventually
changes to life as me live it today. But our urges for certain states of
being that we perceive as comfortable is something that’s a constant. What
state of being are you trying to attain? I think that an ABC to deal
with ‘alone times’ can only be constructed after we’ve defined those times
a bit more clearly. Have you tried working with the timer exercise or
using timer exercise type questions to examine your ‘alone times’?
Steve
December 9th, 2006 at 5:31 am
Hi Cheryl,
Cheryl, you call it relief and I’m sure it was. A cigarette, particularly
one inhaled deeply, provided ‘relief’ in about 8-12 seconds. A dose of
nicotine cleared the head and improved mental acuity if only for a short
time (actually it was very likely more the remission of the fog that
results from a lowered nicotine level rather than an improvement above our
norm), it results in the release of sugar into the blood stream which
energized and ‘relieved’ tired or tense muscles, it was a couple of deep
breaths (smokers are one of a small group of individuals who breath
properly i.e. with their diaphram… athletes, wind musicians, babies, and
smokers when they inhale deeply), and it modulated mood/emotion. So was
smoking a cigarette relief? Absolutely. However, was smoking integral to
our concept of relaxation? Probably. What you’ve described above… work
breaks, alone in the car, grabbing a moment of ‘alone time’ at home… all
of that is how you would relax. One of the more common questions among
recent quitters is “How will I be able to relax without a cigarette?”. I
know it will sound over simplified but the fastest way to begin to learn to
relax without a cigarette is with stretching, deep breathing, and awareness
of exactly what you’re doing and why. Which brings me back to the timer
exercise. The goal of the timer exercise is to increase our awareness of
the subtle body cues that we experience throughout a day. It’s those normal
everyday body cues that have always been connected to relief by smoking.
What I’m suggesting is that you work with the timer for a day or two
because I have a hunch you’re not as aware of your body cues as you may
need to be. And then begin to put together ABCs that will address the body
cues you’ve identified via the timer.
One ABC might look like this…
“While I’m working on task X, and certainly when I finish, I’ll want to
take a break. From my timer notes I know that…”
A- I get tense in my shoulders and neck and my breathing is shallow because
I’m hunched at my desk and my posture is/has been lousy.”
B- In the past I “would go outside, butt in hand, sit down, and this great
sense of “relief” would come over me”. Now I know that what I was really
doing was relieving my body cues. When I take a break from task X I will go
some place where I can do some simple stretches to relieve my muscle
tension and stiffness. I’ll do some deep breathing to calm and refocus my
mind. Maybe I’ll get some fruit juice for an energy boost.
C- When I take a break I’ll stretch, breath, get a healthy energy boost.
Steve
December 9th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
I have an upcoming situation that I could use some help with.
Several months ago before I quit smoking or even planned to quit, I
scheduled a weekend getaway with the ladies at my cabin up north.
Since I quit smoking about 2 weeks ago I have not gone to a bar or
had more than 2 glasses of wine. Drinking and smoking have always
been definitely related to me. Now, I really want to go on this trip
but know that Friday night they will want to go out, and I’m not
sure how to handle the situation. Because I haven’t been in the
situation I don’t know what my body cues will be, but know that my
mind will be screaming “Have a smoke, it tastes so good with a
drink”.
I’ve thought of stepping outside and taking a couple of deep
breaths, bringing a smooth rock to rub so my hands have something to
fidget with, and of course if it gets too bad leaving. I’ve also
questioned whether I should even go or not, but really don’t want to
punish myself by not going. None of the women I am going with smoke,
so I am not too worried about the rest of the weekend, just the
night at the bar.
I am so anxious about it that it is making me crazy! This is always
where I would fail in the past. It would be so hard for me to think
about drinking without smoking that I would convince myself that I
could smoke when I was out. My mind would say “just smoke when you
go out, and that will be no problem”. Of course then I would want to
go out all the time, and next thing ya know I was smoking all the
time. I really do not want to smoke, but just can’t conceptually
grasp the concept of drinking and not smoking. I’ve read and reread
my foundation statement and rationally understand that smoking is
never an appropriate response, but I have a really tough time
actually believing that I can drink without smoking. I just don’t
see it happening. At the same time I think if I can’t get a grasp on
how to do it, I will end up smoking again because I enjoy being able
to go out and have a couple drinks every now and then, and I don’t
want to have to give that up. Any advice??
Thaks - Amy
December 10th, 2006 at 4:12 am
Hi Steve,
Hope you can help me with this one..
Now almost 22 months quit… consider it very comfortable, 99% of the time
now I don’t even think about smoking..
The only time I ever consider it, doesn’t have physical clues, more
emotional..
It seems that most of women from the younger generation of our rather large
family, smoke. At family gatherings, you will notice the eyes hint
“?outside”, and they will all slip out for a smoke…. and it usually is a
fun time, One daughter has a zany sense of humour, and her astute comments
usually have us laughing…. and getting closer to each other.
When I first stopped smoking, I didn’t go out with them, but I missed the
camaraderie, and now join them again, but it really is a time I have to
really fight the urge to smoke “just one”. I have to keep reminding myself
of my foundation statements, telling myself I really don’t want to smoke
again. ABCs have taught me to take a drink, and something to nibble with
me, to keep my hands occupied, and to stretch my neck, because the
tension that is generated by the urge tightens my neck and shoulders..
Luckily these gatherings only happen once every couple of months.
It has gotten easier over the months, and I have no doubt that eventually I
will be able to join them without any hint of a crave…. but I am worried
about an event coming up next week.
I am going away with both daughters to a tropical resort for a holiday….
they both smoke… and the last time I was there so did I.
I am worried that my whole holiday will be spent fighting the urge to smoke
with them….
Any suggestions????? Please?????
Thanks,
Ozipam.
December 10th, 2006 at 10:31 am
Hi Pam,
I think that sometimes working around a particular situation requires a
different perspective and not just a plan to respond differently.
It’s great that you and your daughters enjoy each others company to the
extent that you all do.
Do you struggle with urges to smoke every time they are smoking or is it
only those special times when laughter and closeness are shared?
And are you sure there are no physical cues involved? I’ve got 3 daughters
and I know that when we’re all together being a family I feel physical
sensations (abdominal and chest).
Steve
December 11th, 2006 at 1:00 am
Hi Pam,
Your post about your upcoming holiday with your daughters has been on my
mind. The dynamic by which you associate smoking with a particular state of
being that you experience when with them is interesting. It would appear to
have nothing to do with the mechanics of nicotine. That in itself is not
abnormal. But I’d like to be able to define the cues more clearly.
I’m anxious to hear whether….
Steve
December 20th, 2006 at 11:52 am
Hi,
I’m new here, and I love the support it helps me a lot.
It’s been two weeks, and two days since I quit.
My older brother is dying from lung cancer, which is a real eye opener when it
hits so close to home, so if nothing else I want him to know how he helped me,
and how I learned from it.
Quitting is so hard, but the alternative is worse.
Donna
December 21st, 2006 at 7:28 am
<< I’ll definitely check out the link, and I hope something appeals to me,
and I don’t spend the rest of my life thinking how I’m not going to smoke that
first one, but still thinking about it. Does the day ever come when you don’t
think about it more than you think about it? Does that make sense? I’ve also
been so weird since I quit, I don’t know how long I’ll be able to stand this,
unless this will be the new me, what a thought. LOL
Donna,
For me, amazingly, it has happened very
quickly that I think about it very little. I highly,
highly recommend taking advantage of Steve’s
coaching, and using the timer exercise.. for me
it took only a few days, and changes began to
happen very quickly, seemingly automatically.
It has been two weeks for me. I am just coming
out of the weird headspace and the rollercoaster
emotions.. though I am still more oversensitive
and touchy than normal.. but finding the cog
tools completely effective in getting through.
Warm wishes, Annie
December 21st, 2006 at 4:52 pm
Hi Annie,
I wish something would happen to me very quickly. LOL
Steve’s coaching, and using the timer exercise, are they in the link Getting
Started? I haven’t read all of it yet, but I’m working on it. As far as coming
out of the weird head space, I’m still there, and I keep hoping each day will
get better, and I’ll become more like myself, but it has yet to happen.
Donna
December 21st, 2006 at 7:55 pm
Hi Donna - the ‘Getting Started’ page sets out the steps to a
cognitive quit. If you haven’t done so already, print it out, read it
right through, and then begin work…… commiting to the Foundation
Statements and then starting work with the timer
The coaching is one to one support that Steve offers new quitters - I
help out with this too - I’ve been cognitively quit now a little over
4.5 years. When you’re ready to start work or have any questions to
ask, just email one of us off list.
Pam
Getting Started? I haven’t read all of it yet, but I’m working on it.
As far as coming out of the weird head space, I’m still there, and I
keep hoping each day will get better, and I’ll become more like
myself, but it has yet to happen.
January 24th, 2007 at 10:25 am
Hello I am a new member and had my last cigarrette yesterday evening.
Back in work now.
Pretty sure I will last until lunch time, but thats when it gets
tricky.
Any advice greatfully taken.
Neil
May 25th, 2007 at 1:34 am
hello all…I am 48 hours into my “cold turkey” quit smokeing forever,
lifestyle….I am new to the group but unfortunately, not new to
trying to quit. I have been a smoker for about ten years and in that
ten years I have made five real attempts to quit smokeing. I really
want to be done this time. SO, any advice, encouragement, cautions,
anything, anyone wants to share…I am open!
July 9th, 2007 at 6:48 pm
Hello, my name is Tammy. I am a stay at home mom, married with one
daughter, 4 years old. I smoked for 25 years an average of a pack a
day. I quit 24 days ago and I am FEELING GREAT about it. I had been
going to a public forum however found it “unsuitable” for me and need
to find the “right” fit. The word cognitive comes up a lot for me when
I describe how I view quitting. I look forward to sharing friendship
and support with you all.
Tammy
July 10th, 2007 at 2:13 am
Hello Tammy,
Welcome to our group.
Congrats on your 24 day quit. Are you using any NRT or was this a cold
turkey quit?
I use the word cognitive to describe the state of being aware of the
connections we’d created between our physical experience of life and a
cigarette. I’m very interested in how you view quitting since that
perspective has a lot to do with our chances for success.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Steve
ps- Out of curiosity, which public forum had you been visiting?
July 10th, 2007 at 12:13 pm
Hello Tammy,
Welcome to our group.
Congrats on your 24 day quit. Are you using any NRT or was this a cold
turkey quit?
Cold turkey: ) Tried hypnosis in “one” of my past attempts. Didn’t work: )
I use the word cognitive to describe the state of being aware of the
connections we’d created between our physical experience of life and a
cigarette. I’m very interested in how you view quitting since that
perspective has a lot to do with our chances for success.
Well, that is precisely how I use it: ) I believe I “conditioned” myself to
smoke and it is WAY more of a psychological battle than it is physical. Change
how you “preceive” something, it will change how you feel hence how you act; )
I do not feel I am an “addict” or a “junkie” to nicotine and have never been.
I quit many, many times in the past. Once I was 90 days in and went back, HOW
LAME and no, it wasn’t “caving in to a crave”, it was vacation *a trigger so to
speak* and habit!!!!!! I quit for all the wrong reasons in the past and didn’t
have much education.
Well, after going back to the nasties after 90 days I started “preparing”
myself for the next quit. I “re-conditioned” myself so to speak. I stopped
smoking at times I usually would. I cut WAY back. I started making smoking
more and more of a “chore” to do. I knew turning 35 my obgyn would make me
switch my birth control method if I didn’t quit smoking and I didn’t want to do
that, so I planned on quitting at the “latest” then. Well, that time came and
here I am quit, 24 beautiful days in: )Many talk about Alan Carrs book saying
similar things, I haven’t read it but it sounds kinda how I think.
This quit has been really great overall. Yeah, I have had moments, yeah there
are “triggers” but I have identified them and have ALWAYS dealt with them,
smoking is NOT an option. That’s it: )
Guess that is it for me, questions, comments?
Oh, the public forum I was in was Quitnet.
Tammy D24
Hope to hear from you soon,
Steve
ps- Out of curiosity, which public forum had you been visiting?