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Quitters Are Winners: Quitting Smoking
Quitters Are Winners: Freedom From Nicotine
QAW is a support group dedicated to helping those of you who use tobacco products understand and overcome the addiction and to providing emotional support for those of you who have already made the break. Cigarettes have been our focus, but we’ll address all tobacco products.
Come join us; we’re a feel-good group. You’ll find no condescension or sanctimony here.
Latest group announcement
WELCOME TO QAW
some things about this group:
we are supportive, but not enabling. we are caring without creating co-dependencies. we are effusive without being melodramatic. need help? we're here for you. need advice grounded in experience and education? you're in the right place.
i want you to become strong and GET OUT THERE AND LIVE your life to the fullest! replace cigarettes with LIFE.
the computer is a wonderful thing and so is the internet, but it will never replace the real world. we are your support system here and we can give you virtual hugs, but i hope you will find people in your lives who can wrap their arms around you and hold you when you need comfort and support.
group members help each other, and the leader should most often sit back and allow the group to become independent from him/her. so, know that i am here for you and i will post when i think it is necessary or when asked, but i will not push myself on you or compete for attention.
also know that there is not ONE way to quit. there are certain substitutions that i think prolong the habitual addiction. i have not said anything before, because whatever helps you is what is important. i have always advised you to check with doctors and pharmacists, because of contraindications. some forms of quitting may not be good for some people.
i am happy to be here for you and i hope this group has helped you in your struggle.
namaste, prism
about 1 month ago
Recent Messages
July 3
For those still contemplating quitting - this just might be a great weekend to go for it! Your own personal fireworks - no more smoking! For those of you still in the process of making it part of your PAST life - how are you doing? Tough days? Good days?
I guess we will have a mix for quite some time. Don't forget to take deep breaths, suck on tootsie rolls or straws; go for a walk; get your mind engaged in a crossword puzzle, brush your dog for 10 minutes, brush your teeth for 2; take a well deserved nap or turn on your fav' tunes and dance like nobody is watching - because we aren't!
The short of it is that like many of you, I'm working on this day by day and believe that with consistent focus on the right steps - ALL of us can become non-smokers!
I guess we will have a mix for quite some time. Don't forget to take deep breaths, suck on tootsie rolls or straws; go for a walk; get your mind engaged in a crossword puzzle, brush your dog for 10 minutes, brush your teeth for 2; take a well deserved nap or turn on your fav' tunes and dance like nobody is watching - because we aren't!
The short of it is that like many of you, I'm working on this day by day and believe that with consistent focus on the right steps - ALL of us can become non-smokers!
Quitting....
Hi all. I am new to the group. Yesterday I decided to quit smoking (pack a day habit for 40 years) because my doctor said I had COPD. I figured that out before he said it (I am a retired nurse) but I decided I want to stop killing myself so I can be around for
my 2 Shih Tzu dogs.
Cold turkey is hard....as you all know, I'm sure. I printed out some of the things that are in the group files to re-read as they left a strong impression on me. I put away the ash tray, the lighters. I have what's left (3 cigarettes) of my last pack.I made a vow
to buy no more. Got through after dinner, got through morning coffee. Had 1/2 cigarette an hour after breakfast. I know the cravings will lessen. I know I need to find other ways that aren't killers to deal with the anxieties I feel. I also feel that I am losing a friend (that's the addiction talking) when in reality I know that I am stopping a
killing thing.
My question is, how do you all deal with the feeling of anxiety? Any words of encouragement for me? I want to do this, I need to do this. I know others have done it, and I am praying that I can do it too.
Thanks for listening.
my 2 Shih Tzu dogs.
Cold turkey is hard....as you all know, I'm sure. I printed out some of the things that are in the group files to re-read as they left a strong impression on me. I put away the ash tray, the lighters. I have what's left (3 cigarettes) of my last pack.I made a vow
to buy no more. Got through after dinner, got through morning coffee. Had 1/2 cigarette an hour after breakfast. I know the cravings will lessen. I know I need to find other ways that aren't killers to deal with the anxieties I feel. I also feel that I am losing a friend (that's the addiction talking) when in reality I know that I am stopping a
killing thing.
My question is, how do you all deal with the feeling of anxiety? Any words of encouragement for me? I want to do this, I need to do this. I know others have done it, and I am praying that I can do it too.
Thanks for listening.
Any Buddy Here?
Was hoping when I joined, I'd find some "buddies" who were in the same space I was.....quitting! No one seems to have posted in a while except for me and a nice
lady I know from another group, Ksilla.
KSilla, how are you doing with the quitting issue? I'm going into 72 hours with no smoking, cut down a day, then went cold turkey.
It's just me and my two dogs here....don't know anyone that well, and I'm not the sort that just goes out and makes friends. Made most of my friends at work, but now am semi retired, and the work I do isn't in hospitals, it's visiting nursing, so one doesn't
tend to gether together with the coworkers in the same fashion.
Not complaining, just explaining.
It would be great if someone would pop on and post now and then....it's harder to do this when it's done all alone. I'm sure my dogs are very happy, however. : )
lady I know from another group, Ksilla.
KSilla, how are you doing with the quitting issue? I'm going into 72 hours with no smoking, cut down a day, then went cold turkey.
It's just me and my two dogs here....don't know anyone that well, and I'm not the sort that just goes out and makes friends. Made most of my friends at work, but now am semi retired, and the work I do isn't in hospitals, it's visiting nursing, so one doesn't
tend to gether together with the coworkers in the same fashion.
Not complaining, just explaining.
It would be great if someone would pop on and post now and then....it's harder to do this when it's done all alone. I'm sure my dogs are very happy, however. : )
Independence Day
I thought today how interesting that Friday is the 4th of July celebrating Independence Day in this country.
There might not be a better time to begin YOUR independence from smoking! Looking for the perfect start date? Just think how cool it would always be to tell everyone that you quit smoking on the 4th of July - INDEPENDENCE DAY.
Some people can just pick any old day and start a new lifetime of non-smoking but others really need to make it a special event (which it is) - I vote this Friday for those ready! Light a firecracker; light a sparkler; light a fountain - but maybe THIS 4th - you won't light a cigarette.
My best to everyone as we all continue improving our lives day by day; step by step.
There might not be a better time to begin YOUR independence from smoking! Looking for the perfect start date? Just think how cool it would always be to tell everyone that you quit smoking on the 4th of July - INDEPENDENCE DAY.
Some people can just pick any old day and start a new lifetime of non-smoking but others really need to make it a special event (which it is) - I vote this Friday for those ready! Light a firecracker; light a sparkler; light a fountain - but maybe THIS 4th - you won't light a cigarette.
My best to everyone as we all continue improving our lives day by day; step by step.
EEEEWWWWWWWW
Just watching a friend digging around in her ash tray for the longest butt the other day was the best non-smoking aid I can think of. Yuk.
Pat yourselves on the back!
In reading the posts I find myself beaming with pride, like a mum with a new baby.
You folks are awesome. Quitting a bad habit is not only hard, it's stressful, and you're all doing so well.
Just remember, that even if you "fall off the wagon," occasionally, don't beat yourself up over it. Think to yourselves, "I had a weak moment, it's over, and I'm going to try again." Feeling guilty is counter-productive and useless. Some of us are trying to break a life-long pattern, and that's never easy. Just the fact that you persevere the best that you can is a step in the right direction.
So, sparkle on you guys, you're doing great!
You folks are awesome. Quitting a bad habit is not only hard, it's stressful, and you're all doing so well.
Just remember, that even if you "fall off the wagon," occasionally, don't beat yourself up over it. Think to yourselves, "I had a weak moment, it's over, and I'm going to try again." Feeling guilty is counter-productive and useless. Some of us are trying to break a life-long pattern, and that's never easy. Just the fact that you persevere the best that you can is a step in the right direction.
So, sparkle on you guys, you're doing great!
How Cool
To see everyone jumping on board the smokeless train so to speak. I'm entering month 4 of not smoking my pipe and I will confess some days it still drives me crazy.
My tools to NOT smoke? First of all I tossed my pipe/ashtray etc...so I would have to go buy everything new again; I chew gum; I exercise a LOT; I do cross word puzzles; I have toothpicks handy and straws; I take LOTS of deep breaths to side track my mind.....
In short folks, there is no one best way to quit this awful habit - the best way is whatever works for each of us. And if for some reason you slip - that's all it is - a slip. Pick right back up where you left off! Stay determined, stay focused and at some point we can all proudly say, "no, I don't smoke."
My tools to NOT smoke? First of all I tossed my pipe/ashtray etc...so I would have to go buy everything new again; I chew gum; I exercise a LOT; I do cross word puzzles; I have toothpicks handy and straws; I take LOTS of deep breaths to side track my mind.....
In short folks, there is no one best way to quit this awful habit - the best way is whatever works for each of us. And if for some reason you slip - that's all it is - a slip. Pick right back up where you left off! Stay determined, stay focused and at some point we can all proudly say, "no, I don't smoke."
four months
Well I have reached the fourth month without a single puff. That is 2,400 cigs that I have not smoked and 512 dollars that I have not spent on cigs. Don't miss them and don't wont them. Believe me when I tell you that it will get easier it will. After four months I don't even remember what it is to smoke, I never thought I would get to this stage, but I am and if I could do it cold turkey after 25 years of smoking anyone can, you just need to want it and belive in yourself and you will do it.
Over a year now
I quit smoking on May 12, 2007. I have not had a cigarette since then. It has not been because I have not wanted a cigarette. I quite often feel the need to smoke, I quite often reach for a cigarette only to realize that I am not smoking right now. But I do not. Thanks to this group, Chantix and my own stubborness after 40 plus years of smoking, I did quit.
thanks group. It was not easy. It still is not easy, but I persevere.
LaVerne
thanks group. It was not easy. It still is not easy, but I persevere.
LaVerne
Struggling
Well I finished my 12 weeks of Chantix last Friday - and it worked terrific. The only problem is that a few days after stopping that, my mind started working overtime on smoking. After 3 months of NOT smoking my pipe I know the chemical side of the addiction is flushed out but my mind is still way too active. I even bummed a cigarette from someone at work this week and I haven't smoked THOSE in years.
Ok everyone - any tip you can give me to keep my mind any more busy than it is? I suck straws, chew toothpicks, write blogs and short-short stories, do crossword puzzles, exercise - I'm exhausted but the moment I let my mind relax..........
??? Mike
Ok everyone - any tip you can give me to keep my mind any more busy than it is? I suck straws, chew toothpicks, write blogs and short-short stories, do crossword puzzles, exercise - I'm exhausted but the moment I let my mind relax..........
??? Mike
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Pookie
5 days ago
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Fluffy Lee
5 days ago
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yep, glad I ...
4 months ago
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Cold turkey ...
4 months ago
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snoozing
7 months ago
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My new fridg...
10 months ago
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