Breath deep & watch the sunset
I don't know why but week 5 is proving rather difficult. My brain has actually been telling me and very nearly convincing me that I NEED cigarettes to get through the stress. This is a little different from the beginning where I was just winging to myself saying I want one, I really desperately just want one. I'll do anything, pleading....It's changed tactics, trying to rationalize with me, the voice has been rather forceful like it's losing the battle & is trying anything to get me back. It's literally making me say to myself, Oh no, I actually really do need them & I start to believe it to be true - I had myself convinced that there's nothing I can do about it & that I just need a packet to get through this. I've been overwhelmed & stressed this week so I think that's what is causing it. I just still can't believe the thought processes we go through. Whatever the process though, it may as well give up because I'm not giving in. I'm much smarter and I know how to deal with it now. Whilst going through all these terrible thoughts today, I deliberately sat down and watched the sunset when I desperately wanted one just as I would have sat there normally with a drink & a smoke. I just wanted to feel the difference, during that time I wondered why I thought I needed it so much, there's just no logical explanation. I happily sat & watched the sunset just as I would have normally for those 5 minutes but with nothing in my hand or mouth, breathing fresh air instead of chemicals & relaxing the same without it. I still don't understand it but I think I'll just stop trying to understand and be happy that it is finally losing it's grip on me. I know the more I stand strong the weaker it becomes! Pretty happy about that. I feel next week will be a better stronger week. Pretty happy about that too. I feel amazing right now that I didn't give in!
Well done, Bronte! No, you don't need cigs ever!!! You are doing amazing!!! Keep up the good work!!!
I think to beat our addiction we must first truly understand our additions. First of all we are addicted to nicotine and not the act of smoking its self. A cig is just a vessel to deliver the nicotine to our body’s so we associate smoking as feeling good but in reality it doesn’t. If there was no nicotine in the tobacco it would feel YUK. Like when your near a camp fire and breath in a woft of the smoke, it horrible. So for so many years nicotine has tricked our minds into believing that smoking feel so great, it going to take some time to re-program our brains to see the reality that it not so great. Every time I hang for a smoke I tell myself, “snap out of it idiot, it’s not real” then I think of something else like a funny scene from a movie, a song that makes me feel good. I try to think of things that bring emotions out in me, that distracts me from thinking about smoking. Each time I do it, it get easier, its almost becoming second nature now
Thanks Jojie! That's good info DoneSmoking - makes sense, it's really good to get different views and you've helped me understand the addiction a little better. Oh god.....realization, I'm a drug addict, arrgghhh. No I'm not, not anymore!
That's a nice tactic, a movie or a song, I shall try those. Not sure about the song though, I associate most music with smoking. hmmm ok I've got it: "this is gonna be the best day of my life". You are doing amazing, I've no doubt you'll achieve your goal of quitting for good. A snipit of lyrics to get us going:
I had a dream so big & loud
I jumped so high I touched the clouds
Wo-o-o-o-o-oh x 2
I stretched my hands out to the sky
We danced with monsters through the night
Wo-o-o-o-o-oh x 2
I'm never gonna look back
Woah
I'm never gonna give it up, No
Please don't wake me now
oo-oo-oo
This is gonna be the best day of my life
My li-i-i-i-fe
I am reading a book "The Easy Way" by Allen Carr. It also explains our Nicotine addiction and why our subconscious has been sucked in by the tobacco industry. It makes sense and is making my journey very easy so far. Would highly recommend it :)