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Day1......Here I Go Again Cancel

1. shell1224

   

   2 posts
   Registered:
   14 Mar 2019
   14 Mar 2019

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   Hello everyone. Well this is my 2nd quit attempt of 2019 and I am going to beat this monster this time !!  I have smoked for my entire adult life, started at the age of roughly 18 and I am now 57 so yep a lot of years. I have decided the time is now, enough is enough. My first quit of the year was Jan 1st , I used the patch but only for the first 2 weeks then my mind was saying just stop all the nicotine. I lasted for another 4 weeks and then the dreaded "I can have just one" thought popped into my head. Guess what, there is no such thing as just one cigarette. Lesson learned ! I had a meeting at a local smoking cessation clinic today, I'm using the patches again but will be doing it properly this time. No rushing the process, to me its not a race and there is no way I could go thru the stress and anxiety of quitting cold turkey. Kudos to those you can but I know I would not be successful. I am looking at today as the 1st day of my new smoke free life. Happy I found this forum !!
2. clayzeegirl

   

   7 posts
   Registered:
   11 Mar 2019
   14 Mar 2019 in reply to shell1224

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   Hi shell1224,
   All the best to you. I couldn't do it without some support either.  I am using the patch.
   
   Think positive
3. treepeo

   

   832 posts
   Registered:
   29 Nov 2017
   14 Mar 2019

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   Hi shell1224,
   
   Well, if you're going to learn a lesson, that is a really valuable lesson to learn.  And one that we all have to be mindful of.  This addiction tempts us in every way it can, trying to get us to go back to our old ways.  So we have to remain vigilant and stick to NOPE, Not One Puff Ever.
   
   It's great that you found a smoking cessation clinic.  Hope it helps.  And kudos to you for giving this another shot.  I am sure you are going to be successful this time round!
4. atp

   

   501 posts
   Registered:
   31 Dec 2018
   15 Mar 2019 in reply to shell1224

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   Hey shell,
   
   I quit on Jan 01 as well. After many prior failed quit attempts this one finally stuck for me. Yes, I made the same mistake many times in the past "Just one  smoke won't hurt" and boom right back to pack a day. 
   
   This time though I took the time to learn about quitting, and really grabbed onto the phrase Not One Puff Ever. Simple but so hard, but that phrase and going on this site saved me a few times from starting up again. I used NRT's for 2 days and then went cold turkey. After a few weeks quit I started to value my quit and didn't want to slip or relapse as I didn't want to go through the hell of that first week of quitting again. 
   
   It really is the habit part that is hardest when quitting. Yesterday, after 2-1/2 months being quit I get home after stopping at the beer store and enter through the garage. I open up the beer and am fumbling around all the pockets in my jacket and pants, then walk back out to my van to open the door and stop - I was absentmindedly looking for my non-existent smokes!!! 
   
   Good luck with this quit. Learn from where you ran into trouble before and try to change that this time!
   

   Last modified on 15 Mar 2019 08:59 by atp
5. steven, quit coach

   

   40 posts
   Registered:
   12 Sep 2018
   15 Mar 2019 in reply to shell1224

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   Shell1224:
   
   Congratulations on deciding to quit, and thank you for sharing your story!
   
   I really like a lot of what you mentioned in your post: you "learned your lesson" from your last quit attempt, and are now applying that knowledge to this one. I also like how you mentioned "no rushing the process"-quitting smoking can be a process, with some setbacks/slips along the way, but as previously mentioned, these can make great learning experiences as well for future/present quit attempts.
   
   P.S. Love the confidence and positive attitude you bring ("I am going to beat this monster")!
   
   If you would like any further support in your quit attempt, please do not hesitate to call us at Smokers' Helpline 1 877 513 5333.
   
   Sincerely,
   
   Steven (Quit Coach)
   
6. shell1224

   

   2 posts
   Registered:
   14 Mar 2019
   15 Mar 2019 in reply to clayzeegirl

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   Hi clayzeegirl
   Thanks so much for the best wishes. You are so right, support is huge when we are doing what is probably one of the hardest things we have every done.  When did you start your quit and how is the patch working for you ?
   
   

   Last modified on 16 Mar 2019 11:12 by Missing user