Newcomer

[rdizzy]

Whoa! Is this awesome that such a site exists? I thank my Higher Power that I came across this site this morning when I was researching Nicotine Anonymous meetings that are NOT in my area.

The name's Ryan, you can call me rdizzy, rdiz, or asshole it's all good. I'm a recovering drug addict I've accumulated 7 months worth of 24 hours and am a grateful member of A.A. and through the grace of my Higher Power and 12 steps the obsession and compulsion to use drugs or drink alcohol has been lifted. The issue I present to you today is mine of nicotine. I CANNOT STOP SMOKING, holy **** kicking this habit is worse than cocaine, alcohol, and pcp combined. In the past I have accumulated 11 days, 3, 4, 8, and most recently another 3 days in which I celebrated with a Newport 100 and dammit I'm sick and tired of smoking. I keep falling flat on my face. I've tried the patch, the gum, and now I'm on the Chantax pill which works absolute wonders I have been able to cut down from a pack a day to 2 a day and sometimes zero! But I just cant seem to get over the hump of 1-3 days, I just want to be free from this slavery.

I try the serenity prayer, the one day at a time, chewing a ridiculous amount of regular gum and candies, working out, and applying the 12 steps in my life to nicotine and most recently hitting my knees talking to my higher power to remove this obsession and compulsion to smoke. All of these work but I just always screw it up.

I need some experience, strength, and hope that it gets better and can be done, I've been in tears over my nicotine addiction I just want it to stop.

I am grateful I found this website and I hope somebody and help a lowley coffee drinking, red bull slammin, newport smoking, recovering drug addict like myself. Thank you!

Signed,
Grateful

[yukonm]

:329:

There are alot of members here who are stuggling with their addition to nicotine, read the posts for thier experience, strength and hope. Keep coming back!!

[CD BUCKBERRY]

rdizzy,I quit smoking with chantix it is the only thing that worked for me.You have to stay away from groups of smokers.It rings that cigarette bell in your head.Good keep trying.

[rdizzy]

Tonight I'm going to my first Nicotine Anonymous meeting, I sure hope it's an active one I got the meeting list off of their website. I just can't take it anymore. The chantix works wonders and does it's job but it's me that winds up smoking that one cigarette that sets me off. The 12 steps worked wonders for me in my drug and alcohol addiction when nothing else would.....why I have been so stubborn to admit I need 12 steps to quit smoking is my ego.

[Jimbo12345]

I'm new as well (the name's Jim, you can call me Jimbo). I'm on day 3 of my most recent quit (cigarettes, that is, never had a problem with drugs or alcohol). Here's what I did, and why I think it's going to work - first, every time you try to stop, take notes. Note what set you off to light up again - were you with friends, driving, after a large meal, drinking alcohol (you really shouldn't do that!), etc. For me, a large meal, alcohol, and first thing in the morning were my worst times when I tried to quit before. Also, the idea of seeing quitting as something that means forever (it's difficult for me to see the concept of "forever"). So, what I did this time, and why I've gone more than a day without smoking (which I haven't been able to do in quite some time), is I did research and made preparations. Right now, I'm not quitting forever. And (sorry everyone), I'm not quitting just for today, one day at a time. I decided to try a 30-day trial of not smoking. I'm on day 3 of a 30-day quit. I'm telling myself that four weeks from today (28 more days), I can go ahead and buy a pack of cigarettes, and smoke one, or the whole pack. Just don't smoke for the 30 day trial period, then go ahead and smoke again. Now, when I get to the end of the 30 days without smoking, I simply may not want one. Or I may buy that pack, consume it, and decide to do another 30 days (that's my intention at this very moment - I'll let what happens in 4 weeks take care of itself). So having a proper mindset helps (that's the benefit of one day at a time - you should know that from your other recovery).

Also, I've gone out and bought food for small meals, that way I don't eat anything large that makes me want to smoke. I've gotten rid of all the alcohol in the house, so no breakdowns due to beer drinking or whatever. To handle first thing in the morning, I walk 2 miles on my treadmill, drink plenty of water, and take in a few calories (toast with jelly, etc.) to get my blood sugar up after the 8 hour fast of sleeping. Make plans and preparations in accordance with your triggers, then you'll be ready to handle them.

And read whyquit.com - that's the best education regarding quitting smoking out there. That will tell you that after 3 days - just 72 hours - you will be nicotine free. Yes, you'll still have cravings, but those will pass and get fewer and farther apart. By not partaking in any nicotine, you will recover. After your body cleans up and the physical withdrawal goes away (takes about a week or so), it's all a psychological game after that (that's why I'm telling myself that it's just 30 days - it's not forever, just a month - I can do that standing on my head).