BECOME A HAPPY NON-SMOKER. I AM. Hoping it may work for you!
I have posted my story on how i quit in less than 2 weeks. Now i want to share how i did it and hope that it will work for you.
UNDERSTANDING THE MINDSET/ WHAT IS A HAPPY-NON-SMOKER? / GETTING RID OF THE CRAVINGS
I try to explain the mindset you need to achieve, understanding what nicotine has done to you and how you can let go of the cigarettes and the cravings. It was a lenghty piece i wrote under "cravings" . It is further down the comments than my original posting of "Spice Up the Cravings, but all of the posts made there are worth reading to further understand.
I achieved this , and so can you. Please let me and others know if this halped you in any way. Thanks!
Hi Happiness, non smokers feel normal without cigs whereas smokers feel abnormal without cigs. It takes a while for an ex-smoker to cross back to feeling normal without cigs. Physical withdrawals are bad enough but all of a sudden you have free time that you don’t know what to do with because in the past during this time you smoked. Additionally one part of you brain keeps saying just one puff will won’t hurt your chances of a successful quit whereas your common sense portion of the brain says NO because you will be right back where you started. The good part is that as the time goes by it gets easier to control your cravings. Whatever works for you but don’t give in to the temptation. The funny thing is that I don’t hate the smell of smoke of cigs but the smell out of a smoker’s mouth is pretty neuseating now. Stay strong and you’ll succeed. NOPE - not one puff ever because one puff will get you right back where you were. Furthermore, gotta watch out for stress factor because your mind tells you that your true and faithful “friend” will calm you down and help you through the rough patch but in reality the original problem will remain but now you have your smoking problem back. I am cheering for your success Happiness. Stay free and happy and smoke free. All the best.
Hi Safe
I am glad you took the time to read my story. I did not dwell on how we need to fill that imaginary void in becoming a non-smoker. I filled my days in another quit forum that pretty much only dweltt on it and coping with cravings, and choice of NRT. They did not have open minds enough to explore a different way of thinking outside of the box. I don't think i mentioned that i actually quit my job just prior to quitting, so i had a really big REAL void to fill.
I now spend my days trying to help others achieve what i did. I finally found a few others here that have had similar experiences to mine. Hopefully quitters will realize we speak the truth and go on to be Happy Non-Smokers like us. If you believe that nicotine altered you mind, did nothing for you, you would not crave it for what reason would you crave it? It did absolutely nothing but cause misery. The cigarette held you back from doing things, if you still prefer to spend your time sucking on a lollipop or
putting a pen in your mouth,or blow through a straw rather than go and enjoy a movie, your child or grandchild's pageant, or play, a swim, knit, crochet, woodworking, playing cards etc....no one is stopping you, it is still a valid quit. I am trying to get you to see that if you want to succeed at something you have to put something in to get something out . You are here to quit smoking. Is it too much to ask you NEVER TO SMOKE AGAIN? Is it fair to be constantly hounded by our mistakes with cravings? Especially for those who now realize the truth and want to be truly free.? Free from cravings forever so they can be happy with their decision to quit smoking? Open your minds and you can become a Happy-Non-Smoker.
Hi its me again Safe
I did read about your 600 Day quit and left you congratulations yesterday. Are you playing devils advocate with me? If anyone is a candidate for being a Happy Non=Smoker you and Robn (who may be already) should understand the concept even more than most. Red was so excited to share with the lot of you why he had no more cravings after 3 weeks. He found the Mind set. His friend has also found it. There are a few on this site .... maybe even you?
Thanks for filling in the gap that i missed
Thanks for the warnings and well wishes too, but you know as i do i have no fear of relapse because there is no more little voice. I know the truth. The truth will set you free!
Hi Happiness,
Red and Robn and some others achieved full quit status by controlling their own mind. They told themselves that smoking is something they don’t want. I admire their willpower and I wish I could say the same for myself but I can’t. I have to keep saying to myself NOPE. By reading stories on this site and I constantly remind myself that I will not light up ever again but I fully realize that a situation may occur when I will want to light up. It maybe stress, social situation or whatever. However, I don’t have the need to smoke now unlike when I was a an active cig addict. We are all coping with this addiction the best we know how and I believe there is no right or wrong way but whatever works for you. I think you are doing absolutely the right thing by sharing you experience but keep in mind that to become a successful quitter your mind set must be correct, that is your desire to quit need to be greater than your desire to smoke and the same goes for every smoker who wants to have a successful quit. Stay string and all the best.
Hi Safe
I thank you so much for responding and explaining your position. I am sorry that you haven't achieved the"full quit status''. Again, on the other hand you are giving hope to others that it is possible to be not just a non-smoker which is great, but also a Happy Non-Smoker. Happy being that we don't have to worry above cravings because we are acutely aware of what nicotine has done to us, and don't want it in our lives to control us any more in ANY way. Hence, we don't feel deprived of the cigarette/nicotine but utterly sure that we will never let it back in to control us again.
It is your choice as to which status you choose. Even if you should choose to have this cravings which are only slight and almost imperceptible for most as a reminder that you could slip and use them as a safe guard in your mind is fine. Power to you for knowing you have control of it. Cravings are really not an issue if it gives you a sense of control.
There is a gentleman on here who is purposely abstaining and has for 50 years. He fights the cravings hour by hour . He abstained for the girl he loved and married. He must do it for a reason. Maybe it is to prove to her or himself how much he loves his wife. Maybe he revels in holding the power over the little nicotine monster. Maybe that is the feeling he craves now. Good for him.
You are correct in saying we must be prepared because the danger in becoming a Happy non-smoker is that we may forget about that little nicotine monster and what we have achieved over time. We will not smoke because of a craving though, it would be in a social situation probably involving alcohol. If we let ouour guard down, be too are vulnerable.
Red and I are alike. I did not come to this site for support, but to share what i learned to help others. Red did the same. I think we will both be here a long time as long as we feel we can help others to achieve what we did. We can help them to the portal, it is up to the person whether they want to step through.
I am glad you have made your journey of over 600 days now Safe2017. You are indeed and inspiration. I enjoyed your posts and getting to know you.
I see some real bonds here between some, real caring, concern and friendship. Coming here helps me to fill my time, keeps my fingers, busy, reminds me how lucky i am, and this not only hopes others i hope, but does remind me and will help to always remind me of my journey and how insidious s nicotine truly is.
We first started smoking years ago to "fit in with the crowd". We did not commit to smoking forever. You have given up smoking, not your friends. I still( and did after 3 days quit) go out on breaks with my poker buddies. A non-smoker seemed kind of wistful that the smokers seemed to have such a camaraderie . Non-smokers are welcome to join us. We don't stand about talking about Smoking for heavens sake. Stretch your legs, come out and get some fresh air. Nice to know that some kinda envy the smoker, as much as we envy them. They don't smoke, they have better health and no cravings to deal with.
Key to happiness is having a positive outlook. Not just about smoking, but everything in life.
Just read yr post “happiness” you speak from the heart and yr words are very very helpful.....thank you x