1000 days quit! - Always be on your guard
Everyone's quit is different in some ways and in others we all have the same battles to fight.
As I reflect on 1000 days quit, I was lucky that my quit itself was unplanned which is not the norm. However when I did decide to stay off cigarettes after returning to familiar routines, the cravings flooded in but I had a streak to protect as a motivation.
I still get distressing dreams that I have started smoking again. These dreams refuse to go away and is a sign that I really can never drop my guard and take the quit for granted
Best wishes to all of you and thanks for your stories that keep me motivated to stay quit
Congratulations, Aniruddha, 1000 days is no mean feat. I only had those dreams to begin with, but it didn't worry me unduly I knew the subconscious was delivering these to me. It is, as you say, a long time to be getting those dreams still, I can only say I have to keep up the Mantra NOPE (not one puff ever) this is my safeguard.
Whatever your position you have done well to get to this stage, notch up another 1,000 days but come back anytime.
I am so glad that you are still with us Aniruddha and doing so well. I did not plan to quit either. When you saw that you could go without on your vacation, you believed that you could quit, much as I did when I joined a site after waking and not having that intense need to smoke.
As you well know, I advise all our members to join us from time to time and remember their reasons for doing so. Helping others is great too. Be proud,, you are walking the path to a better future for you and being a great example for your son.
Hi Aniruddha, it was nice to hear your success story. And thanks for sharing about your dreams. I too get those distressing dreams after quitting for 7 months and I was thinking the other way that slowly i am loosing the grip. But your views on those dreams changed my perspective. Thanks a lot and best of luck!
Hello Aniruddha:
Just to let you know this is my fifth or sixth time quitting for a reasonable length of time, and even months and years after quitting I would dream that I was smoking again. I was always so upset with myself because, it's so damned hard to quite.
To give you a time frame, I'm 72 years old and I started smoking with a friend at 16. I used to be only a social smoker, because I grew up on a farm, but when I turned 18, when I went to secretarial school, hated it, got depressed, started skipping classes and smoking. I got thrown out of secretarial school, but by then I was smoking a package a day.
I went back to another secretarial school, graduated with honors, went to work, met my ex-husband. He was a two package a day smoker and we smoked together for 3 1/2 years. We quit together when I was expecting my daughter.
For 16 1/2 years I never smoked. I was one of the fittest women I know. For strength and stamina, I ranked in the 96 percentile on a police test held at a local fair. I was never a police officer, but a writer. I published three novels under my own name when I was 37. I would run 5 miles a day, and work out at the YMCA 3 times a day. Rejection as a writer is always hard, but it's especially hard after you've been published. Four rejections later, I thought I wasn't working hard enough, so instead of taking breaks running down to the end of the street and back, I made a conscious effort that I was going to start smoking again. Fast forward I smoked off and on for 15 years. Fast forward to 50 and more disappointment and depression, and I ran away to Taiwan for a year.
I lived on the fourth floor of an apartment -- no elevator -- and had to quit smoking. I quit for 3 1/2 years, and during that time I often had dreams about smoking and feeling terrible because it had been so hard to quit.
I came home to a new neighbor who also smoked. Again I became a social smoker, smoking with her. She moved away, and again I quit for about ten years, but one day I came home from walking the dog and a neighbor on the other side of me was sitting and smoking. I asked her if I could bumb a cigarette, then asked her if she had anything else to smoke meaning marijuana. Turns out her partner had pot.
I was hooked again and over the last four years, I've quit off and on for those four years -- sometimes up to a month.
But today is 38 DAYS without a cigarette and I am so grateful for this group. Happiness and you others -- I keep remembering the acronyms. NOPE: Not one puff ever; or the old saying "A puff away from a pack a day" -- which turns out to be a cumbersome acronym: AFAFAPAD. nope is much easier to remember and I thank whomever passed it on.
38 days today thanks to you all. And you never stop dreaming about smoking cigarettes. Trust me because tobacco with everything they add to it is even more addictive than nicotine. Maybe now at 72, I'll finally have the wisdom to quite forever. Certainly hope so.
Congratulations on your very last day 38, perhaps? And thank you for your interesting journey to read.
I'm also having vivid dreams with myself smoking. Only about once or twice a week and I am claiming some gratitude afterwards, because, it was just a dream!
Nice job Aniruddha:
1000 day's smoke free does sound nice!!
Congratulations Aniruddha! 3 years and how they pass so quickly. I remembered you well despite the date stamp.
An unplanned quit and wonderful memories of your vacation with your son. It's funny what causes us to just one day make the most wonderful changes in our lives. I am honoured to share this special day with you .
Last post indicated that you were well and happy, and in fine shape. Enjoy the wonderful life that you have chosen for yourself. We deserve it.
Why not post your story and help others on their journey. It will be a wonderful read.
I just wanted to let you know i responded and to congratulate you. Now I see you did update your quit a few months back. I am sure you could give tips and thoughts and you have earned your bragging rights my friend. I hope those dreams are subsiding now. I don't thiink they mean anything, here you are months later.......very happy i am glad to see. Keep in touch. It is always nice to get updates.