Cognitive Quit Smoking

I’m a new member, & have tried a number of times to quit , but am
trying once again . I really need to for a couple of reasons….
mainly because I have neuropathy, ( damaged nerve endings ) & my
neurologist says this adds to the problem . Also, I have a problem w/
chronic migraines, & smoking aggravates this condition as well. I also
have a boyfriend who’s father died of cancer & mother is on oxygen due
to smoking & he fears for my health . So I definately need to
suceed … I’m just nervous about being able to because of the strong
cravings & failures I had previously. Patches didn’t work for me
before, but i’m going to try them once again anyway , & any helpful
hints or comments from the group would be most appreciated. Thanks so
much .

Dear Everyone,
I want to recommend to everyone who has just
quit — or is getting ready to quit — to make a
list of all the positive reasons you have for becoming
a non smoker — all of the positive beautiful benefits
you will have once smoking is out of your life.
So it is not that you are depriving yourself –
instead you are inspiring yourself to move forward,
in a beautiful direction towards a healthy self,
with clean lungs that work, free of the habit, free
of being a slave to tobacco.
Making such a list for me was my very first step,
and this thinking is still important for me… not to
be motivated by fear, but by inspiration. I made
some very detailed lists at the beginning.. every
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Hi Steve & Pam, I have read the information and for the most part have
trouble identifying body cues. For the most part not sure the
differance between severe pain cues and not smoking cues.
I am planning for my quit to be on Saturday and want to put as much
info in my little brain as I can get. After 41 yrs I am having a rough
time with it. I have had 2 almost 3 month quits in the past 2 years
and need to get by that and have total quit forever.
Thanks to all for messages posted and support given
((((((((((((GroupHug))))))))))))))))
Bill

A bit hello to you all, and thanks for the info. I have read it and printed
it off, and will need to read it some more for it to sink it, all seems as
clear as mud at the moment, but hopefully if I keep reading it, will sink
in.
I stopped smoking on the 7th January, 2006 using NRT, and after the first 2
days have found it getting hard. I think the smug attitude of I am quit
smoking wears off after the first 2 days and the enthusiasm wanes somewhat.
I quit a couple of years ago, using NRT, and then come holiday time, thought
I could just have one as I was on holiday, and it would not affect me, and
to my peril found out that you cannot “just have one”.
–
Aileen

Hi everyone, I am a 53 year old man who is having trouble quitting and
the hardest thing that I have to get through is the severe chronic pain
I have. I want to quit but I can get so far and then go for a few days
with no sleep because of the pain and the next thing I know I am
reaching for a smoke to take my mind off the pain and at that moment it
works.
If anyone has any suggestions please let me know. Hope to be able to
share with anyone I can.
Have a great day and be safe.
Bill

Good morning everyone!
I just realized that today marks day 700 of my quit! Don’t ask me
why it occurred to me…but I wanted to stop by and tell everyone
who’s just starting out that you can succeed at this effort. I had
3 support systems in my success; this group, it’s common sense
approach to quitting, and Steve & Pam; the patch; and the support of
strangers on Quitnet.com, where I first learned about Steve’s
approach.
I know so many things now that I didn’t know before this quit.
Number one is that even a successful quit of over 5 years is no
match for the “I can just smoke one cigarette” mentality. It isn’t
true! For me, smoking is a brainless addiction that takes over my
life, and I avoid it at all costs. (I had already quit for 5 1/2
yrs when I picked up the habit again and smoked for six more years.)
Another one is that even if smoking doesn’t kill you, the effects of
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Hi
My name is Chrys
I haven’t quit yet but aim to on the 11th January, I need some help
please. Where do I find the tools for Cognitive quitting.
I’m scared of quitting, I’ve tried before and each time I have caved in
and lit up because I can’t stand the withdrawal symptoms.
So if anyone here can give me some advice how to beat this thing I
would be so grateful.
I HAVE to QUIT NOW and FOREVER as I have trouble breathing and every
morning I cough and splutter. I am so scared of dying but am so
addicted to cigarettes and feel helpless and hopeless.
thanks in advance if anyone has some advice that will finally get me
off smoking.
Peace and Love

Hi there,
I am just popping in to say hello.
I am now quit 13 months, and a much happier person.
I was reading the comments about certificates., etc., on reaching
certain milestones, and would like to put my thoughts forward on this.
If you stop smoking and are using the “hang in there” technique, then
the amount of time that passes from your last cigarette is important
to you, but to me that is as if you are denying yourself a pleasure,
and because we know we shouldn’t really be smoking, feel a sense of
smugness at our ability to “not smoke”
With the cognitive quitting it is a totally different approach, it is
recognising that the body wants other things, and while we were
smokers we interpreted the body signals as cues to have a cigarette,
when that wasn’t what we wanted.
Once the nicotine is gone from the body, it is a matter of retraining
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Remember…we were talking about “satisfaction” ABCs a few days (weeks?) ago? I
think Carol started the question. Well
I still think it’s possible (and necessary too!) to do an ABC and here’s my best
effort at it. I wrote the basic ABC last
spring (and it worked just dandy), but have worked on it and thought about it a
bit more tonight.
A) It’s a beautiful spring day and I have the time and opportunity to relax out
on the patio, take a break, and soak it all in. In the past, a cigarette would
have been part of how I enjoyed this time. It would have been part of sitting
quietly and enjoying the environment. Sort of passively and pleasantly observing
it.
B) It’s hard to identify any physical sensations in this situation—it’s not
the usual. Or is it? For one thing, it’s as though my senses really don’t need
to actively take anything in—it all just washes by me—the light, smells,
sounds—all of it—just washing over me. I want to just let my eyes roam, or
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Hello, have to say that I have had a bit of difficulty understanding
moving thru this website. I was hoping that I could get some history
or background infomation on the originators of this site. Have been a
member of Quitnet for 24 days and have 28 days smokefree cold turkey.
I have had cognitive relapse therapy for alcohol over 7 years ago.
Also have had some refresher courses on addictions. Have never heard
anything about the timer exercise. Not sure this would be for me but I
have had no relapse or slips in the 7 years I quit alcohol. Find that
I’m using a lot of what I have learned in combination with some of
Quitnets ideas. I do not accept everything Quitnet has to offer. From
what you have read here do you think I could benefit from this
program?
Thank you, Roy from Largo,Florida