Slipping up
I started smoking again 5 years ago after being smoke free for 15 years. I started smoking at 18 and quit at 28. At 36 I started again 2 years after my marriage ended and I was so sad and lonely. Then I married a man who smoked. I quit again when I was 39 and didn't smoke again until that marriage ended and I encountered a very stressful situation at work (bullying) that went on for about 18 months. During that time I befriended a smoker and I slipped into smoking again - just as many people might - 'one won't hurt'. I have tried on so many occasions until now to quit - cold turkey, hypnosis, nicotine spays. The longest I lasted was 7 weeks. I want to quit for all the usual reasons - health, cost, social ostracism. Am using this website because so far I just can't succeed and would like to join a forum of other people who are making the effort to quit. I would like their support and to give my support to them.
hey Daisy, i started back smoking again for pretty much the same reasons. Letting go of the cigarettes was also part of letting the pain go. They were my faithful companion throughout all the crap. But i realised as well as feeling awful i was looking awful because of the cigarettes so it was vanity that helped me stop! lol I'm just 60 days now,although i had a slip at around day 14 (which helped tbh) Just taking it easy at the moment as i am going through some anxiety inducing stuff and quite fancy a ciggie ...What helped me was having a focus which was a 10k run. Having a plan and something to work towards has been really helpful. keep using the site it's great.;-))
Hi Daisy..... i have statred the non smoking journey myself. After 30 yrs of smoking up to 50 a day. Day 6 for me....Its a tough nut to crack...but you've done it before you can do this again! Im using this site a lot to keep my self focused... keep going...stay strong. U can do this!!!
As smokers we believed having a cigarette relaxes us. How can that be when it elevates the heart rate? Hmmm. What were we thinking.
For a while I worked on my stress levels. When something distressing happened my mind went on alert and I would say to myself "Not now. Find something else to do." So, I retrained my brain to do some housework or go for a walk. Eventually I noticed a change. I don't reach for a cigarette as an emotional answer to stress. Posative self-talk.