Cognitive Quit Smoking

I’d like to share one way to think about cravings that I find helpful. The
idea is to remember the reality of impermanence, and to reflect more
specifically on death. However, I find it very easy to slip into distractions
and
forget reality—forget that this is my chance to be alive—right now—this
moment. My time in this body on earth is limited and I will die at some unknown
point. We know that all things, whether bliss or suffering, will pass.
Once I remind myself of the impermanence, not only of the craving itself,
but of my own life, then the delusion that my behaviors in this moment will
have no consequences is broken. The whisper of “if you just have xyz you will
be
forevermore satisfied” is revealed as the lie that it is. Then I can
wholeheartedly agree with my foundation statements and recognize that this
moment,
which might be a moment that holds a crave, is my life right now. And then I
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I woke up today absolutely knackered, I can barely lift one foot in
front of the other, and have a gorgeous booming cough and I’m
absolutely thrilled…I’m coughing because I’m healing, not because
I’m smoking…woohoo! Today calls for thick blankets, a couple of my
favourite movies & lots of chai!
To everyone who is quit…well done, kudos!! To everyone working
towards their quit…brilliant, the weather on this side is bright &
sunny!! To everyone reading & not yet sure…keep doing the work, it
works!
Slan!!!
Gayle

Hi everyone! I’m new to the group, with my quit date set for Feb
4th/05 which is my birthday, so I thought it would be a good quit
date.
I’ve been a smoker for about 26 years now and for a long time wanted
to quit,but having previous failed attempts. Anyhow, here goes!
Talk to you soon,
Bethany

Hi everyone…….
This is the very first time ever posting on a web site, so please
forgive me if a spell everything out like I am writing a book!
I quit smoking on Sunday, Jan 30th. I would very much like some
extra support as this is feeling extremely impossible at times.
The main problem is that I am taking this year off with my last
child, I have three children…13, 5 and 1 year. I get very stressed
out trying to be the perfect super mom and have always enjoyed
rewarding myself with a little outdoor cigarette break. I am feeling
completely out of my element here….not like myself, trying
desperatly to not smoke. So far, I am not having so many physical
reactions, but I simply cannot get motivated to DO anything. Again,
I am just not feeling like myself. I should probably say that I am
33 and have smoked for approximately 16 or so years. I starting
having terrible panic attacks in October with rapid heart beat,
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Thank you Janice, that is very kind!
Hi Patty!
Well before I found the group, I had begun a by the clock smoking,
where I’d make myself wait a minimum amount of time. Then I found the
group and with Steve & Pams help, began my timer logs. With the
timer, I began to identify my biggest triggers for smoking. I then
wrote ABC’s for them & did them! So over the two weeks I began to
respond more appropriately to my bodys needs and stomp some of those
triggers with new options. Every day, right thru the day I kept my
journal nearby, recording new triggers that might come up, how the
options worked, what new options I could add to the ABC’s.
Then, I began to isolate the smoking after the first week. From
smoking anywhere in the house I chose one room (I used the kitchen as
we haven’t a table there so I had to stand) and when I smoked, I
smoked….no reading , drinking, anything. I wouldn’t even let hubby
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Hi all,
I smoked my last one about 30 minutes ago, a bit more
maybe. I have no more left anywhere - I’ll clean the
butts out of the places when I get home.
I feel really good about this, it doesn’t seem hard,
hard, hard. It only seems hard.
I was doing the timer thing and recognize my need to
uncurl and stretch every hour or so. I can go get
some tea in the kitchen. I also know that the little
frustrations of being interupted by the phone, or
being cut off in traffic and so on can get to me, too.
Mostly the timer was doing some interesting stuff. I’m
still trying to be aware of my physical feelings. This
is very important to me.
Anyway, I was at lunch when I did this last smoke and
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All the best today, Gayle! I remember bringing my quit date forward as I
was anxious to get on with it. Once I’d done some work (like you) it just
no longer made any sense to keep on smoking.
Let us know how today goes - maybe I’ll meet you in Chat later on today as
you’re in my time zone (I’m usually spark out when its chat time)
take care,
Pam
Gayle wrote :-

I moved up my day, instead of Monday I went ahead & quit today. I
was ready, so why not eh?
Doing fine actually, checking in quite often to see how I am
feeling, mostly I find the cravey feeling creeps in when I am either
holding my breath or breathing shallowly. (I noticed, when doing the
timers & ABC’s I tend to hold my breath out alot) I am using the
patch system, I think I mentioned this before. I am determined this
is my last quit, any tool available to me to keep that determination
I’ll use…LOL!!
So here’s to day 1!!!
slan!
Gayle

I told Steve I would post this but forgot!!! About day 4 of the
quit I had a horrendous day and kept thinking “it’s supposed to be
getting better, not worse”. Next day I realised that I was in the
grip of PMS - the quit had taken up my mind and I forgot to check
the calendar. And it also occurred to me that with the large number
of women on this site that some discussion on the relationship
between hormones and quitting might be useful. For me, it did not
replace thinking about all the body symptoms - the stresses and
strains at a physical level - but when I realised that there was
another stressor - the dreaded hormones - it made me stronger to
just hang cool until it passed over. Being 47, I would love to hear
from peri-menopausal and menopausal women on what they did when they
realised the hormones were just putting on that extra pressure.
Here is my ABC:
ABC PMS
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Hi there,
We’ve got a lot of new quitters. Don’t be afraid to post some of your timer
data or ABCs here. We’ll make some suggestions if necessary and make sure
you’re getting the most out of your efforts.
Steve