Cognitive Quit Smoking

Ian,
I don’t know if you remember me. We met on the About.com smoking
cessation forum. I want you to know I’ll have been smokefree one
whole year on Oct. 21,2003. To this day I still read your posts,
many of which are printed out and in my folder. Sometimes I repeat
your words to new members or those who are struggling. Your way of
looking at cessation clicked with me and got me through many
dark “moments”. Thank you Ian, for everything!
Gaylene (DADMONT) I LOVE TO BREATHE

Hello Pam and thanks for thinking of me. I lost my quit, but I’ve
not given up. Unfortunately this week was extremely stressful at
work and I wasn’t prepared with my ABC’s to handle the situations.
Just spent this morning re-writing my life statements as in my goals
in life, the positives and negatives affecting the achievement of
those goals and the tools I have to succeed in reaching them–this
cognitive quitting being one of those tools. Extremely ‘heady’ stuff
and took a break to check in here to see what was happening and saw
your message. What a wonderful experience to know that someone was
thinking about how I was doing! After this break, I’m going to spend
some time planning out more ABC’s using my lists so I’ll have the
plans in my mind to prepare myself for the situations that arise on a
daily basis.
Earlier this week, Steve recommended I use the timer exercise.
Wasn’t sure what that was, but I’ve done some searching around the
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To the new members we haven’t heard from for a while…. Lorraine, Brenda, Jerry
Suz, Dana, a_rch…… and the members who’ve been with us a while in the early
weeks/few months of your quits…. Linda, Carmen and others….. pleeeeeease
post and tell us how things are. Can we help?
Pam

Im not sure who sent it to me before but their is this reading when
someone quits smoking and their supposse to read 2 chapters of it
please send it to me Lee

Hi Everybody.
First welcome to all the newcomers. Lorraine I’ve read your posts and you are
doing very well. I’m impressed with your work.
Secondly, I’m in the process of moving. In fact tonight is my last night on
line for who knows how long. I’m printing my address book and if I get near a
computer I’ll let you know how I’m doing.
We still don’t have a place to live, but after my initial panic, I’m doing okay
with it. We will stay in a friends 5th wheel RV until we can find something.
All of our stuff (4500 sq. ft. houseful, plus barns, shops, etc) will go into
storage.
I’ve had a few smoking wishes in these last few stressful days, but I’ve ABC’d
my way out of them. There just aren’t that many actually to make me worry. I
don’t really think about it all that much. Once in a while I get a twang.
Take care everyone and be good to yourselves.
Namaste’
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As requested by Steve, the following are my lists. My first ABC,
with the mascara, went very well. I should have made an ABC for
grandbaby sitting as I was called upon to do that Tuesday evening
which wasn’t planned. Man, I had to fight off Warren big time after
that, but I was successful. Believe it or now, I made the ABC up on
the fly–not the best way to do it, I’m sure, but it helped me get
through the release of tension I always feel after being responsible
for the little ones.
Lorraine (45 hours nic free!)
List 1 Reasons to smoke:
Waking up
Drinking tea, beer (oh hell, any beverage!)
After eating
After shower/bath
Putting on make-up
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I’ve made my three lists, the first of which was easy because it
seems I light up a cig whenever the air moves! The
emotions/conditions and physical sensations were more difficult for
the very same reason. The exercise took me most of the day. I’m
sure the lists will change as I start to learn about myself through
this process.
My first ABC is simple, but it addresses one of my worst triggers.
A. Putting on mascara
B. I like to wear mascara, but can’t seem to get it to go on my
bottom lashes like the pictures of the models. In the past, I always
lit up a cigarette to calm me down. The nicotine probably did
relieve my nerves, but only because it was time for a fix. A
cigarette is no longer an option; therefore, I can either not wear
mascara or I can sit down for a moment, breathe slowly and take a
drink of water.
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Hello, I joined this group last night after learning about the
cognitive quit method on About.com. I recently lost both a 2 month
and a 2 week quit. The information at the cogquit web site seems to
offer me what I feel I need to keep a quit. I’ve kept journals
during both these “last” quits and I realize that it is my
reaction “behavior” during a quit that needs to be changed. What do
I do now? Do I just start with reading the introductory steps or is
there something more formal that I need to do? Any help would be
appreciated.
Thanks

Hello. I quit smoking on Aug. 14. I opted to use the patch for support with
the physical symptoms so I’d have all my energy freed up to fight the
psychological wars and, so far, things are going rather well. My urges are
easily battled and I haven’t slipped up yet. But it’s early days and, as they
say, ‘there’s many a slip twixt the cup and the lip’, so I’m certainly not going
to risk complacency.
I came to smoking as a thirty-year-old adult (idiotic, right?) and, except for
my pregnancies, have smoked a pack a day for over twenty years. Earlier this
year I found I had crept up to almost a pack and a half a day - a criminal cost
- so health and finances became the mitigating factors in my decision to quit.
Anyway, I’ll lurk around and see what I can learn. Perhaps, in time, I may even
be able to contribute something. But, at just under three weeks smoke-free, I
have no expertise to contribute yet.
Brenda

Hi everyone. I’m stressing here a little (or a lot).
A. Move not going well. Can’t find a place to live, complications, not getting
along with husband, on and on and on. Everything is just plain SHIT. My neck
and shoulders are sore to the touch. Can’t move my head very far. Antsy,
jittery, nerves jangled. Feel like screaming, exploding . . .
B. In the past I would smoke to calm down and refocus my attention. I wouldn’t
get so mad when I smoked. I could cover up my anger and settle down.
C. smoke
B1. I don’t smoke. I will step back and try to get perspective on this whole
relocation thing. It’s not the end of the world. I need to relax. I’m so
anxious for it to happen I’m wearing myself out. Slow down - forget about the
packing, loading, finding a home, etc., etc., for a while. tomorrow I have a
doctors appointment. I’ll go to my appt, then I’ll go shopping, maybe get a
haircut or something, I’ll do something to get my mind off all this turmoil. I
need a break from this work and from my husband. He (and his disease) have
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