Stories & experiences

mchldnzngr
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Stories
14/11/2020
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Quitting again after a relapse

Posted in Quit experiences 20 Nov 2020
4 Comments

I quit for 5 years no smoking or tobacco products. I felt great, didn't drink that much and was breathing alot better. It seemed that all at once stressors were getting to me and I wasn't seeing a therapist at the time. So I started drinking heavily again and smoking about a pack a day. That lasted for 7 years. Now I'm off the sauce, made up my mind to stop again and in the event of stressors, I will make sure to discuss it with a support group or therapist so I don't have to poison myself with anything, that includes negative thinking/emotions. I was going to wait until Saturday to stop, but I said, "what the heck, let's make it early and quit on Thursday, why wait?"

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4 Comments

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  • Happiness November 20, 2020 | 4:56
    That's right, Why wait? Waiting only serves to give you time to change your mind and cause self doubt. You are doing the best thing and you have done it before. You already know what to expect and have some knowledge of nicotine. We hope you will adopt the mantra NOPE...Not One Puff Ever, as you know first hand where it leads.
    Congratulations and welcome. Smoking never eased the stress either btw. Fiction and crap we have come to believe as an excuse to not quit.
  • softly40, Mid North Coast November 20, 2020 | 7:55
    Welcome mchidnzngr, I have been were you are now, except I only needed tomatoe sauce. One thing you need to do is practice NOPE (not one puff ever) every day this does work and helps you not to relapse again. You are way ahead in strategies, but this time you need to make it stick. Many others will give you support along the way on this website. Keep reading and re learning new things. Stay in touch.
  • Swapnil November 20, 2020 | 8:38
    Hi mchldnzngr, your last line tells all about your spirit. You succeed in your last attempt and it was just the stressful situation wich made you smoke aagain. Just keep in mind that there were stresses when you was smoker and it(smoking) never helped you to relieve those stresses, it never helps. All non-smokers handle their stresses without smoking, and you know that as you was a non-smoker for 5 years.
    Wish you the best luck for smoke free journey.
  • Decaff November 20, 2020 | 12:01
    Hello mchldnzngr as a recovering alcoholic (36 yrs sober in AA) and a ex-smoker (9 1/2 yrs quit) who relapsed time and time again always caving in when stressed I know where you have been and where you are now.

    Congratulations on not waiting until Saturday but quitting on Thursday.

    I would say to you - don't take the first puff and you can't get hooked again.
    Don't lift the first drink and you won't get drunk again.

    Be good to yourself mchldnzngr rewarding yourself for every milestone you reach : 1 day; 1 week; 2 weeks; 1 month etc.

    Feel stressed and tempted - walk; take a shower or a bath; come on here and tell us what is going on with you. Read lots on here.

    Change your routines - if you used to light up first thing in the morning - pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea or orange juice and come on here. Shower immediately instead of waiting until after breakfast.

    Go to any and every lengths not to take that first puff and first drink of alcohol.

    Believe me when I tell you mchldnzngr if I can do this anybody can - especially you - you have experience and know how much this is worth doing.

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