Cognitive Quit Smoking

Just thinking about probably my biggest fear/challenge just prior to
my quit. I did not know how in the world I would drive to and from
work (30-40min. each way) without smoking….I was very nervous and I
can remember Pam asking me just how smoking helped me drive. Well she
put the question in such a way that when I really thought about it,
smoking made me a worse driver actually. I ABC’d this and posted it
for feedback, and decided in my ABC that what my body really needed
in the morning was to wake up and be alert. I was tired! and the cigs
helped me wake up. Well, so did coffee, and I thank my dear father
for this one, which made an emormous difference in the morning. See,
I would make my coffee in a travel mug and enjoy it while I was
driving to work. I had one hand on the coffee mug and the other hand
on the wheel - no hands to smoke with! I was also lucky in that I
could drink coffee early in my quit and it was not a trigger, not
like beer that I did give up for awhile.

On the drive home - I decided in my ABC that I was really bored,
tired, and wanted anything to distract me from the long drive and
smoking was what I automatically responed with. So I was bored and
needed “help with the drive”. I decided to buy some books on tape and
have some mints in the car to suck on while I listened to my books.
WOW, now I had a plan and once I started using my mew ABC I was
amazed - YES, there is a life of driving after quitting. I simply
addressed what my body/mind REALLY needed and it was NOT a cig. Now,
can’t imagine driving while smoking - I am such a better, safer
driver now that I am not watching out for hot ashes everywhere in my
car. Oh and Pam’s great suggestion, which I did and still have, is
dried lavender in my “ashtray” - I mean my “herbtray” Hope this
helps someone out there - You CAN drive a car and NOT smoke!
Take Care,
Lauren

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 22nd, 2006 at 3:53 pm and is filed under . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.