So glad I found you!!

[gr8ful & thankful 56]

Hi everyone! I am a dual diagnosis--depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia and have been in recovery from alcohol 22 years, stopped Klonopin and other psych meds 7 years ago, gave up all caffeine five years ago and now I'm facing quitting smoking for the umpteenth time. I am having so much trouble giving up the cigarettes( even though I'm smoking only a 1/2 pack a day) but as we all know, addiction and alcoholism are progressive diseases. I am in a stressful household at the moment (husband with health issues and a gambling addict) and a son who has OCD. Through the years I always had the caffeine and nicotine to be my pals when I gave up everything else. I gave up caffeine and REALLY made the cigs my best friends. Now that I am on allergy meds and an inhaler I have tried to quit smoking and the depression from it almost makes me suicidal! I have tried to concentrate on my 12 steps, but given that I have concentration problems from the fibromyalgia, I'm trying to find a better way to work the steps. It would be wonderful to get some suggestions to help me to "keep it simple" and help me get over the insanity of this habit. If anyone can help an old AA---Al-Anon veteran start her life over again, I would really appreciate it. Thanks so much--Gr8ful

[janbear]

:47: gr8ful and thankful, Nice to meet you. I have tried to quit smoking several times over the years unsuccessfully. I do know of some who have been sucessful in quiting by placing smoking in place of alcohol using the twelve steps. "We admitted we were powerless over smoking, and that our lives become unmanageable." That is how they kept it simple.
Please make yourself at home and look around the board. I look forward to getting to know you better. :42:

[Doraine]

Take it 1 hour at a time or less if you have to.

[Kai Stevens]

Hello, I'm Kai, a grateful alcoholic and bi-polar complicated by a seizure disorder. So, glad that you made it here.
Wellbutrin (sp?) has been popular to help stop smoking. It is a very mild antidepressant and antianxiety. So, you might talk to your doc. It could really help through that first month or so.
I understand a little about the stress. My oldest boy, 17, is schitzo-affective and my daughter, 12, has depression. I have a very close friend with fibro??????, I know that alone is very stressful.
Keep coming back. There are tons of people here who can help with anything.
Love ya later. kai

[zoomie]

Hi I too smoke and one day wish to give it up,so I don't have much to offer except for a hi and welcome!!!

[Misselle]

Welcome, Gr8ful! I quit smoking ten months ago, but I had to because I was pregnant. Now I am still dealing with BIG urges, so I totally feel your pain right now.

We look forward to getting to know you!

Nicole

[admin]

Good Morning Gr8tful, :46: I smoke also and wish to give it up some day. I have heard of others doing what Jan said, using the steps to help them stop smoking. Also joining a support group for those who are and have stopped smoking helps. Please feel free to come here and share with us. We also have an Online Journal/Diaries forum here that some use in their recovery. Feel free to start your own journal also. Just know that we are here for you. :42:

Love,
Tammy

[Aprilskyzz]

Sorry, but I cannot give you much advice at all. When I gave up the drugs, the smoking increased for me and i am struggling to cut down right now. I know taht being new to recovery, it is not a good choice for me to try to quit the cigs. I am struggling with not taking the pain meds right now and I have to concentrate on that before I even consider to quit smoking.

Welcome to our family. Sorry that I could not be of much help. Best wishes to you.
April

[cassie]

Hi Gr8tful
I am cassie, recovering alcoholic. My hubby smokes and he has explained how hard it is to quit. My prayers are with you. That old saying comes to mind - "I know God won't give me more than I can handle - I just wish he didnt' trust me so much."

I am glad you found us - the support and friendship from this group is awesome. So please keep coming back.
cassie

[peajaye]

Hi Gr8tful--I love your userid.

I try to encourage anyone who is endeavoring to quit. If I can do it, anyone can. Here is my story:

I quit smoking on my 7th aa birthday which oddly enough, was 12 years ago today. I cried a lot. I had quit umpteen times. The last time I relapsed on cigs, I smoked for another 3 years. What I discovered though in that experience was that I knew exactly what triggered my picking up the cigs and that was my insecurities. (my story, maybe not yours) The REASON I wanted so desperately to quit was because I knew that no matter what I did or said, I loved nobody and nothing MORE than cigs. They were my first love and I knew that God ought to be. I knew that God would love me no more if I didn't smoke, but I love myself better. I know exactly how hard it is. Nothing I have done in life was harder. Like Doraine said, sometimes I had to take it minutes at a time. A craving only lasts no more than 90 seconds, so if I can distract myself for 90 seconds, I am good until the next craving hits. I better stop because I can go ON and ON, it is a subject I love. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk about it.:1:

[gr8ful & thankful 56]

:47: gr8ful and thankful, Nice to meet you. I have tried to quit smoking several times over the years unsuccessfully. I do know of some who have been sucessful in quiting by placing smoking in place of alcohol using the twelve steps. "We admitted we were powerless over smoking, and that our lives become unmanageable." That is how they kept it simple.
Please make yourself at home and look around the board. I look forward to getting to know you better. :42:

Hi Jan & thank you so much for your warm welcome. I just went to my second (well actually 3rd ) Al-Anon meeting tonite--my 1st was in 1991 and was also welcomed warmly. We worked on the 8th step, and it is a step I have trouble with--making amends. I am learning once more to forgive myself for relapsing via smoking and it has given me the courage to start over again, so in essence I had to make amends with MYSELF. I really do look forward to participating on this wonderful board in days to come and thank you so much for its creation!! Gr8ful:29: :D :29: :D

[gr8ful & thankful 56]

Hi Doraine--I know about this method quite well, and when ever I quit smoking, my body says hurry up, but my concentration says forget it! Thank you so much for your words of encouragement--Gr8ful

[gr8ful & thankful 56]

Hello, I'm Kai, a grateful alcoholic and bi-polar complicated by a seizure disorder. So, glad that you made it here.
Wellbutrin (sp?) has been popular to help stop smoking. It is a very mild antidepressant and antianxiety. So, you might talk to your doc. It could really help through that first month or so.
I understand a little about the stress. My oldest boy, 17, is schitzo-affective and my daughter, 12, has depression. I have a very close friend with fibro??????, I know that alone is very stressful.
Keep coming back. There are tons of people here who can help with anything.
Love ya later. kai

Hi Kai--Isn't this a wonderful world to have two, as they say, co-morbid disorders?? I love it when actress Carrie Fisher (who also is bipolar) says, "Oh this is nice! We have bipolar on this side with his little friend (addiction & alcoholism) over here!" I love picking diseases on certain days myself when I'm under the weather. But kidding aside, I did try Wellbutrin 5 1/2 years ago for smoking cessation and had such a horrible allergic reaction (with the epinephrine shot, Benadryl, and Prednisone for 2 weeks), so off and on I have quit cold turkey. That's the thing, I get quit, but never stay quit. Allergies and fibro are such a drag at times that sometimes it's hard to get to meetings. Add my son's issues and my husband's in the mix and you get me feeling like this--:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: !!. Thank you so much for your kind welcome and I really do feel right at home here. Take care--Gr8ful:D

[gr8ful & thankful 56]

Hi I too smoke and one day wish to give it up,so I don't have much to offer except for a hi and welcome!!!

Hi Zoomie--We'll fight this thing together, OK? Thank you so much for your wonderful welcome!! Gr8ful:D

[gr8ful & thankful 56]

Welcome, Gr8ful! I quit smoking ten months ago, but I had to because I was pregnant. Now I am still dealing with BIG urges, so I totally feel your pain right now.

We look forward to getting to know you!

Nicole

Hi MIsselle--I wish that I had quit smoking 19 years ago when I was pregnant with my son--so stupid, but evidently it wasn't in God's time. I cut way back but resumed after the birth. Thank you also for your wonderful welcome--Gr8ful:D

[gr8ful & thankful 56]

Good Morning Gr8tful, :46: I smoke also and wish to give it up some day. I have heard of others doing what Jan said, using the steps to help them stop smoking. Also joining a support group for those who are and have stopped smoking helps. Please feel free to come here and share with us. We also have an Online Journal/Diaries forum here that some use in their recovery. Feel free to start your own journal also. Just know that we are here for you. :42:

Love,
Tammy

Hi Tammy--Thank you so much for your wonderful support. I think I will take you up on the journal idea. I am looking forward to joining a stop smoking group 2 or 3 towns away and also a smoking cessation and stress management group on Sept. 7th. Shucks, I haven't been this social since I was in high school!! Gr8ful:smile:

[gr8ful & thankful 56]

Sorry, but I cannot give you much advice at all. When I gave up the drugs, the smoking increased for me and i am struggling to cut down right now. I know taht being new to recovery, it is not a good choice for me to try to quit the cigs. I am struggling with not taking the pain meds right now and I have to concentrate on that before I even consider to quit smoking.

Welcome to our family. Sorry that I could not be of much help. Best wishes to you.
April

Hi April--I know exactly what you are going through and a big hug goes out to you right now:42: God bless you for thinking of me at my crossroads in life--it's hard to change anything in your life, but hard to kick a tough one at 50 years old!! I will say a prayer for you this evening and always. Thanks so much for your warm welcome. Gr8ful:smile:

[gr8ful & thankful 56]

Hi Gr8tful
I am cassie, recovering alcoholic. My hubby smokes and he has explained how hard it is to quit. My prayers are with you. That old saying comes to mind - "I know God won't give me more than I can handle - I just wish he didnt' trust me so much."

I am glad you found us - the support and friendship from this group is awesome. So please keep coming back.
cassie

Hi Cassie--Thanks so much for a warm welcome from a sister in recovery. I heard from an elderly nun when I was 12 years old that God only gives us what he thinks we can bear. Who knew 38 years ago that saying would be in the annals of my life?? I can always quit, but it's the doggone DEPRESSION that comes with it, like a black dog. Hopefully this time, with the help of my psychiatrist I will have a modicum of success. Everyone--support groups, doctors, therapists, AA, NA, Al-anon--all have been terrific to me. Now, I have to learn to be good to myself. The little girl under the booze and chemicals (or even food because I'm a chubbette) never really learned how. I look forward to speaking with you again--Gr8ful:D

[gr8ful & thankful 56]

Hi Gr8tful--I love your userid.

I try to encourage anyone who is endeavoring to quit. If I can do it, anyone can. Here is my story:

I quit smoking on my 7th aa birthday which oddly enough, was 12 years ago today. I cried a lot. I had quit umpteen times. The last time I relapsed on cigs, I smoked for another 3 years. What I discovered though in that experience was that I knew exactly what triggered my picking up the cigs and that was my insecurities. (my story, maybe not yours) The REASON I wanted so desperately to quit was because I knew that no matter what I did or said, I loved nobody and nothing MORE than cigs. They were my first love and I knew that God ought to be. I knew that God would love me no more if I didn't smoke, but I love myself better. I know exactly how hard it is. Nothing I have done in life was harder. Like Doraine said, sometimes I had to take it minutes at a time. A craving only lasts no more than 90 seconds, so if I can distract myself for 90 seconds, I am good until the next craving hits. I better stop because I can go ON and ON, it is a subject I love. Feel free to PM me if you want to talk about it.:1:

PEAJAYE--Howdy Hi!! You and I have sung the same tune--Crying, and not by Roy Orbison! I have never cried so much or wanted to stab anything that came in my path so much than when quitting smoking. I become almost like an animal. I get physically ill when I quit. All I want to do is sleep and eat and God forbid you bother me at all. I am so angry when I quit--like why should I quit? I'm over 21 and who's gonna stop me? I say all this while I'm wheezing, hating the world and myself the most. I can't even concentrate on God because I'm mad at him for giving me a family of ancestors who were alcoholic, drug-addicted or smokers and caffeine addicts with combination manic-depressive, anxious, obsessive-compulsive personalities!! And not to mention some were food addicts also with morbid obesity. And here I think, "A real nice bunch, huh?!! Then I realize that I'm one of the lucky ones in this day and age that has the opportunity to go into recovery by just saying, "I cannot do this alone--please help me!" This is where I think I have been going wrong with the smoking--shouldering this by myself. This is a wonderul website and so glad I joined. I would love to talk with you sometime and can't thank you enough for your warm welcome--Gr8ful:42: