Cognitive Quit Smoking

Today is my 6-month quit anniversary (and my sister had to remind me)…if 6
months feels this good, I can only imagine how great it is to be free for a
whole year or more. I joined a “spinning” class at the gym 8 weeks ago after
gaining 10 pounds and feeling that I needed “something of my own” (smoking
used to be that “thing”). The immediate benefits were that my lungs are able
to handle vigorous bike riding–something that would never have been possible
if I were still smoking. More importantly, it has helped incredibly with any
post-quit depression or mood issues. I now insert exercise as the “c” in my
abcs and it works. I, who hate exercise, am recommending it
wholeheartedly—the more aerobic and challenging, the better (can’t believe
I’m saying this). It’s nice to see your effort pay off. Take care! PegS
P.S. Amy–I also started at 17 and quit at 40—”postponing” smoking with
preganancies, etc. etc, etc… Don’t be afraid, this really does work if you
give it the best effort possible…. Here’s to an easy transition to
nonsmoker!

Hi everyone. I was told about this group through a friend who quit
smoking more than a year ago. I read a little bit of it, but
couldn’t quite find the time to keep looking into it. I even printed
everything out, thinking “When I have time, I will sit down and read
this, and figure out how to quit smoking” Well of course, time went
on, and I seemed to be scared to read it. Scared of quitting.
Scared of failing, scared of the whole uncomfortable process.
I am 40 years old. I’ve been smoking since I was about 17. I’ve
quit a couple of times before, but never felt like a ‘nonsmoker’.
The easiest quit was when I found out I was pregnant with my
daughter. I was sick anyway, so not smoking was tolerable. However,
as soon as I had that baby, I was smoking again. My most recent quit
was about a year and a half ago, and only lasted about 3 months. I
hadn’t prepared well enough, and kept thinking I could be a “casual”
smoker. I hadn’t cemented it in my mind that what I wanted was to be
(more…)

Ion: So very sorry for your loss—especially the line where you wrote “i
can’t change this situation, but i can choose how i react” — no truer words
were ever spoken. Bless you for sharing. PegS

i share this here especially for new folks this program works, do the
homework, let pam and steve guide you. ride it for all your are worth.
i share this not to complain but to share cogquit works even in the
midst of a thing like this….
my dear friend Joe he is like a little brother or son to me died
tonight, he took his own life. i cry for him, he had hard time in
nasty divorce and in chronic back and neck pain. he has two little
girls, some things are just so hard.
it was the kind of phone call no one wants to recieve. he called me
ma all the time, always brought me flowers or some little thing on
mothers day. oh crap this hurts. my joe he hurt so i so hope he
doesn’t hurt now.
a half hour before i got the call i posted in quitstop
Committ to the Quit/on being tough minded
May 10, 2003
(more…)

Hello,
This is the first time I’ve ever been part of any kind of newsgroup,
so if I’m breaching cyber-etiquette by not “lurking” for long enough
before my first post, please forgive me; writing this post is a very
helpful thing for me at this moment, which is late afternoon/early
evening of day 4 of a quit that comes after more than 20 years of
pretty heavy-duty “pulmonary indulgence”. I hooked up with this group
after running into ddsteve in a quitters’ chatroom, where he told me
about the Cognitive approach, which is a lot more in line with my way
of thinking than most of the other quitting forums that I saw on the
‘net, which basically seemed like networks of Sufferers in Hell,
consoling each other to a certain extent. I’m finding it very helpful
to think of this whole thing more as a behavior pattern than a
chemical addiction. It’s admittedly that as well, but we ain’t talkin’
about some kind of tied-to-the-bed, sweating, screaming jones here…
(more…)

Steve, I understand how “quiet” makes you wonder, but guess what!
I’m still here and not smoking — just extremely busy with stuff.
Much to my surprise,though, I am handling it. And even more
surprisingly, I’m not having cravings. But, that usually is the way
I start out when I quit. I get so energized by the mere fact that I
am on a healthy path and as each day passes, I feel even better.
But, things are not perfect. I had a surprise attack Saturday
night. And am struggling for the ABC for this one. It’s a rough
one. EXAMPLE: Spent Saturday with husband shopping, buying things
for upcoming H.S. grad party for our daughter (who is a GIFT to
us!). Then, while the 3 of us were out to dinner, spent the time
discussing the plans, what else to buy, etc. Noticed she was very
quiet. Stopped in Target to pick up a few more things. Bought
something that was in her school color WHEREUPON, she burst out
crying right there in the store, WHEREUPON, I burst out crying right
(more…)

Emotions:
1. Angry
2. Overweight (having a “fat day”)
3. Frustrated
4. Sad
5. Nervous
6. Scared
7. Love
8. Hate
9. Despair
10. Joy
11. Boredom
12. Happy
13. Confused
14. Anxious, stressed
(more…)

Just celebrated 5 months smoke free and very greatful. I was at the
hockey finals grandaughter’s team made it to the last two teams to go
for gold 6 to 3. she lost, and still proud she made it that far it
was her first time!!! very proud granny ion!!!!
while there many relatives around going out for smoke breaks, it was
a nice thing to not have to run out and smokebreak during game didn’t
miss a thing!!!!! cogquit is working very well, did not miss the
break or wish for it, just very content being smokefree.
still doing abc and think things through now instead of just being
mindless or impulsive, all my events i think by abc and choose my
responses, this has proved to be very freeing.
i consider it to be a sacred thing the gift to choose.
thank you
ion

Hi all
today I had such a crazy day that I don’t know how I survived it without
smoking. Luckily Warren wasn’t trying to offer smoking as an response… may be
I didn’t give him time enough. but maybe I just I was faster than him today. We had a Fire Alarm (luckily false) in the building and normaly after I dealed
with it and cleared the alarm I would go for a smoke to calm down and relax from
the stress. But I sat down insteadt and made an ABC.
Here it is:
A that was stress I am glad its over but my heart is still going fast,my thought
are still flying
B now its time to go for a smoke and relax from all the stress this will bring
my heart rate up to normal
C go and smoke
B1 no I don’t smoke no matter what so let sit down and observe what physical
sensation I can feel my heart still going fast, my thought are puzzled, my
(more…)

Hi all,
here are another day of timer exercise:. I noticed sometimes they are no
physicall sensation. Is that possible or am I missing some important things?
06:00h wake up time — body feels heavy, all muscles feel tense, head
feels heavy I feel like smoking — response is stretching and making coffee
and breakfast
07:00h reading e-mails — feel nice and relaxed body feels kind of light
and the muscles are no longer tense
08;00h arriving at work and doing patrols — shoulders feel like they are
heavy like pulling me down, my feeds feel like they have weight on it
09:00h in my office doing computer work — shoulders still hurting,
difficulties to concentrate, — - I guess time for a little snack and
orange juice
10:00h working on computer - no physical sensation
11:00h still working on computer - no physical sensation
(more…)