Comments on: Today is my Quit day - (yesterday)

By: Raleigh Missy

Raleigh Missy — Sat, 31 Mar 2007 10:57:45 +0000

Hi Barbara,
You’ve raised an interesting, and important, point about stress being less
of an issue/trigger than you would have expected. I think from a purely
quantitative angle, actually working muscles i.e. moving furniture or
scrubbing out a bathroom will almost always generate much more intense body
cues than a tense situation. The most effective responses will always be
those that quickly and appropriately relieve whatever body cues are
present. Sounds like you’ve got a solid handle on those. Nice work.
As for…
Personally, I love to hear this. Means you’re really getting behind the
cogquit concepts. But I know of a few other online groups where this idea
of not ‘counting time’ would be incomprehensible bordering on blasphemy.
Well done Barbara.
Steve

By: Raleigh Missy

Raleigh Missy — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 20:27:56 +0000

6 days and another year quit?
I’ve marked it on my calendar.
nice work Pam :))

By: Raleigh Missy

Raleigh Missy — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 17:43:34 +0000

most stoves/ovens, microwave ovens, some cell phones, in a pinch an alarm
clock works too. any additions to this list?

By: Taylor Andre

Taylor Andre — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 08:51:49 +0000

You’re right, smoking was my response to almost each and every thing that I did
and it became a vicious cycle.
I haven’t done the notes and the timer but I will- I have been surfing ebay for
a timer. I’m in a very rural area and it’s quicker to purchase from ebay than
try to plan a day trip to Wal-Mart-
I have been trying to make a mental note to recognize the body cues- exactly
‘what is it I am feeling’ and put it into words (in my head) and then do
something about it- usually something physical. I’m off this week and I am
catching up on a lot of little things that have been neglected around the place
and around the house. So, I am getting lots accomplished besides quitting
smoking in response to the urge to smoke.
So far at least, the emotional chaos, confusion hasn’t happened. I just began a
regime of Vitamin B Complex and B-6 about a week before I quit- and I’m
drinking lots of water. Someone said that the b-6 and B Complex Vitamins + the
additional water was helpful so maybe it is or maybe it is just the power of

suggestion ;o) - and deeeeeeeeeeeeeep breathing.
Oh, I also purchased one of those nifty battery powered tooth brushes that I
brush with through the day- keeping my breath fresh (from the nasty tasting
gum).
I like the idea of the t-shirt! They’ve been after me for a long time to quit-
all I expect is for them to be supportive for the first critical weeks and I do
need something to remind them of that expectation.
Thanks Steve!
Sky

By: Raleigh Missy

Raleigh Missy — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 03:13:45 +0000

Anytime we hit stressful situations (teenage twins arguing etc) and turned
to light a cigarette, we were in effect backing away from the situation and
creating a small ‘breathing space’. Pretty much that same as heading to
town for a Dew, both are responses to the physical cues of stress.
Good work on recognizing the morning body cues as hunger. As one of the
HALT stressers, hunger is common and too often sneaks up on us.
If you were going through 2 packs a day, you were generating a LOT of body
cues. Some might argue that with all that nicotine, you were numbing just
about everything. I’d agree that you were probably keeping your body cues
from getting too uncomfortable, but that it was body cues that triggered
all 2 packs worth of the cigs you smoked.
The body cues that are associated with a sagging nicotine level are
primarily muscular and breathing. Sky, have you tried setting a timer and
making some notes? It’s a fast track way to be able to recognize not only
hunger and the other HALT stressers (hungry, angry, lonely/bored, tired)

but also the subtle body cues rooted in muscles and breathing. If you begin
to look at urges to smoke as body cues that need relief, and you’ve got a
very clear idea what those body cues are, you’ll be able to develop very
effective (even more so than a Dew) responses.
Given the number of cigs you smoked, even using some nic gum it’s
reasonable for you to expect to feel physically uncomfortable, mentally
confused, and emotionally chaotic. Add to that the internal struggle that
often accompanies ‘urges’ and your detox and initial recovery could be
quite a wild ride. However, if you can use the timer and get the body cue
part in hand, you’ll have taken a huge step in simplifying, and easing,
this quit process.
Good work on not letting the twin’s conflict get to you. Have you
considered a ‘quitters’ t-shirt? Maybe… “I just quit smoking. Piss me off
and you’re grounded for life.” or something along those lines.
Steve

By: Taylor Andre

Taylor Andre — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 18:22:00 +0000

LOL, Yup- it had it’s rough spots alright- my 13 yr old twins got home
from school in a bad mood, arguing which is usually enough to send me out the
door for a smoke but instead of that, I went to town and got a Code Red Mtn
Dew (which I love) and I’m ok, the 13 year olds have calmed down and I’m still
smoke free!
I never have been much of a gum chewer but I’m using that nicorette and it is
helping with the physical withdrawal symptoms but I’m never been much of a gum
chewer and my cheeks get tired so I’m not using that near as much or as often I
thought I might.
I was paying attention to the ‘craving’ that I had this morning which for years
I had handled with a cigarette but this morning- really paying attention to
exactly what it was that I was feeling- I realized it was HUNGER ;o) Coffee
took care of it just fine until I had time to fix a bowl of cereal and sit down.
So far, so good- ‘course the day isn’t over yet but I think I’ll make it
through it without a cigarette today and I am proud of having made the choice to

not smoke so far.
I smoked 2 packs a day for many years- hard to imagine not smoking. I am
looking forward to having time to spend more time outdoors, gardening, hiking-
all those things I enjoy doing and I will enjoy them just as well without
smoking. It’s pretty easy to not smoke in this area- in our small community
there aren’t any smokers so I don’t have to see or smell anyone else smoking.
The only store closes at 5:30pm- just another hour and that won’t be an option
;o)
Thanks for asking Steve, I appreciate it.
Sky

By: Raleigh Missy

Raleigh Missy — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 12:43:56 +0000

Hi Sky,
How are you doing with your quit? You should be into your 3rd day, many
find it to be the roughest day.
Can we help you in any way?
Steve

By: Taylor Andre

Taylor Andre — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 20:37:16 +0000

Sheesh, It’s been so long since I joined I don’t know where they are. I’ll
see if I can track them down. Seems like I joined in October or November-
that will give me a time frame to check out at least.
Sky / TX