Winning at Quitting - Gay and Mikki's Quit Story
From your About.com Guide to Smoking Cessation, Terry Martin: This article was written by two people, Gaylene(DADMONT) and Mikki(lvsprettyponies). They started their smoking cessation journey on the same day, and found each other at our support forum. They have become close friends through the process.
Bravo to the both of you!
From Mikki:
A year ago today, Gaylene and I decided to give up our cigarettes, found the forum, and discovered each other. We had both run into some lung problems and were scared. Scared of the problems, but, also it was SO scary to quit smoking. How were we going to get through the next hours, let alone a whole day(?), month(?), forever?? It was hard to even think about it.
We posted on the forum and found new friends. We could read advice from wiser, further along in their quit folks, or commiserate with people just starting out, like us. Oh, we were understood by our non-smoking friends and family too...("You quit last week, didn't you? Are you still having a struggle?...Geez, get over yourself.") LOL.
Those first days Gaylene was running around with a caramel apple sucker in her mouth, and I was drinking everything out of a straw because it felt about the same width as a cigarette. I had to get the 20oz mocha, and even with that, I could polish it off in ten minutes flat.
Gaylene came up with some great new forum verbiage. She started using "win" instead of "quit". We became the "blonde babes", and she referred to us as "warriors" who were conquering the evil cigs, which we still are. Gaylene also came up with "I love to breathe" for her personal statement, and boy do we! We're not lying in our beds at night with a funny(not to mention frighteningly scary) pressure in our chests anymore.
We stopped coughing and can walk up a hill without becoming short of breath. We can go to a movie or other non-smoking event without thinking with a "smoke calculator" (let's see, if I smoke right before I go into the show, the show's 2 1/2 hrs, ah oh, that's a long time, maybe more fun to rent a movie, then I can RELAX!!!).
Remember, every craving you get past will build your confidence. If I get a craving and can't take "to my bed" for example, it does help me to just take five, close my eyes, and take a few deep breaths. Just concentrate on slowly breathing in and out, and also count my blessings that I CAN BREATHE. Once you get past a craving, there is a feeling of euphoria that's worth all the misery.
I also plan a little quiet time before a stressful event, such as a gathering at the house or a customer at work. I used an hour a day to smoke...I've got that time to spare now. Helps a bunch!
From Gaylene:
This past year has been "interesting", to say the least! Mikki and I have gained the chance to save our lives, and found a wonderful friendship. On top of all the obvious improvements - breathing easier, better skin and smell, money saved - I feel calmer, less pressured to always be "doing". My typing skills have improved dramatically too!
I've spent time reflecting upon my life, my goals, my desires. Being thankful for what I have - not just in smoking-related instances. One thing that really excites me is the fact that when Mikki and I finally "met" on the phone, the first thing both of us noticed was that neither of us have smoker's voices. How cool is that?
My advice to new quitters or those who are struggling is this: accept the fact that you will be uncomfortable at times. Don't dwell on these feelings. The more you struggle, the harder it is. When an urge to smoke hits, let it slide on by. Think of cessation as a reward to yourself and your loved ones. Each time you come out a WINNER, you are getting closer to that mountain top that will set you free. Or, you can think of it as losing a link in the chain that binds you.
I say WINNER instead of quitter most of the time. I'd rather be a winner than a quitter! Think positive thoughts about cessation. You are choosing to be smoke free. Actually, you can smoke any time you want, but you would rather not. You are a non-smoker. Non-smokers don't smoke.
Using imagery has been a big help to me. I like to imagine myself smoking in a group. The air is clouded with smoke that is coming out of our mouthes and noses. We are hacking and wheezing. We have yellow teeth and fingers. Then with that nasty picture in mind, I like to imagine that I'm lying on green grass, gazing at the clear blue sky and taking in the fresh air. I can smell the nearby flowers. I'm totally relaxed. Which picture would you rather be in?
Please, don't ever give up on your quest to be smoke free. Every single bit of discomfort you feel is worth the outcome!
From Mikki and Gaylene:
We wish, with all our hearts, that you can avoid any lung or other health problems by ceasing to smoke. We would hate to think where we might be if we'd kept on smoking. We are so happy to report that we hung in there, and WE FEEL GREAT!
Thank you to our forum family, you are our dear friends. We're hanging in there, in great part because of you. What a great joy it is to pass through the 7% Club Gate! Yahoo!! And, now to buckle down to our next new day....
Gaylene(DADMONT)
Mikki(lvsprettyponies)
Bravo to the both of you!
From Mikki:
A year ago today, Gaylene and I decided to give up our cigarettes, found the forum, and discovered each other. We had both run into some lung problems and were scared. Scared of the problems, but, also it was SO scary to quit smoking. How were we going to get through the next hours, let alone a whole day(?), month(?), forever?? It was hard to even think about it.
We posted on the forum and found new friends. We could read advice from wiser, further along in their quit folks, or commiserate with people just starting out, like us. Oh, we were understood by our non-smoking friends and family too...("You quit last week, didn't you? Are you still having a struggle?...Geez, get over yourself.") LOL.
Those first days Gaylene was running around with a caramel apple sucker in her mouth, and I was drinking everything out of a straw because it felt about the same width as a cigarette. I had to get the 20oz mocha, and even with that, I could polish it off in ten minutes flat.
Gaylene came up with some great new forum verbiage. She started using "win" instead of "quit". We became the "blonde babes", and she referred to us as "warriors" who were conquering the evil cigs, which we still are. Gaylene also came up with "I love to breathe" for her personal statement, and boy do we! We're not lying in our beds at night with a funny(not to mention frighteningly scary) pressure in our chests anymore.
We stopped coughing and can walk up a hill without becoming short of breath. We can go to a movie or other non-smoking event without thinking with a "smoke calculator" (let's see, if I smoke right before I go into the show, the show's 2 1/2 hrs, ah oh, that's a long time, maybe more fun to rent a movie, then I can RELAX!!!).
Remember, every craving you get past will build your confidence. If I get a craving and can't take "to my bed" for example, it does help me to just take five, close my eyes, and take a few deep breaths. Just concentrate on slowly breathing in and out, and also count my blessings that I CAN BREATHE. Once you get past a craving, there is a feeling of euphoria that's worth all the misery.
I also plan a little quiet time before a stressful event, such as a gathering at the house or a customer at work. I used an hour a day to smoke...I've got that time to spare now. Helps a bunch!
From Gaylene:
This past year has been "interesting", to say the least! Mikki and I have gained the chance to save our lives, and found a wonderful friendship. On top of all the obvious improvements - breathing easier, better skin and smell, money saved - I feel calmer, less pressured to always be "doing". My typing skills have improved dramatically too!
I've spent time reflecting upon my life, my goals, my desires. Being thankful for what I have - not just in smoking-related instances. One thing that really excites me is the fact that when Mikki and I finally "met" on the phone, the first thing both of us noticed was that neither of us have smoker's voices. How cool is that?
My advice to new quitters or those who are struggling is this: accept the fact that you will be uncomfortable at times. Don't dwell on these feelings. The more you struggle, the harder it is. When an urge to smoke hits, let it slide on by. Think of cessation as a reward to yourself and your loved ones. Each time you come out a WINNER, you are getting closer to that mountain top that will set you free. Or, you can think of it as losing a link in the chain that binds you.
I say WINNER instead of quitter most of the time. I'd rather be a winner than a quitter! Think positive thoughts about cessation. You are choosing to be smoke free. Actually, you can smoke any time you want, but you would rather not. You are a non-smoker. Non-smokers don't smoke.
Using imagery has been a big help to me. I like to imagine myself smoking in a group. The air is clouded with smoke that is coming out of our mouthes and noses. We are hacking and wheezing. We have yellow teeth and fingers. Then with that nasty picture in mind, I like to imagine that I'm lying on green grass, gazing at the clear blue sky and taking in the fresh air. I can smell the nearby flowers. I'm totally relaxed. Which picture would you rather be in?
Please, don't ever give up on your quest to be smoke free. Every single bit of discomfort you feel is worth the outcome!
From Mikki and Gaylene:
We wish, with all our hearts, that you can avoid any lung or other health problems by ceasing to smoke. We would hate to think where we might be if we'd kept on smoking. We are so happy to report that we hung in there, and WE FEEL GREAT!
Thank you to our forum family, you are our dear friends. We're hanging in there, in great part because of you. What a great joy it is to pass through the 7% Club Gate! Yahoo!! And, now to buckle down to our next new day....
Gaylene(DADMONT)
Mikki(lvsprettyponies)
Source...