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1. lynne77

   

   1 posts
   Registered:
   24 Nov 2024
   21 Dec 2024

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   I've been a smoker for over 30 years. I quit twice  for about 2 years each time but the death of a loved one sent me longing for the comfort of my "old friend". "I'll just smoke today to get me through this" I'd tell myself and slowly fell back into my old habit. 
   Even now... I'm determined to quit for good, gradually went from almost a pack a day to 2 or 3 a day trying to get to zero.
   Today I was determined not to smoke at all and I was doing great, wasn't craving it, felt good until I experienced emotional stress at work. 
   Then it's all I could think about and I broke down and had half of one.
   How can I break this "emotional stress" smoking?  I can't seem to handle stress without smoking! 
    
    
   
   
   
2. trish.

   

   1 posts
   Registered:
   17 Dec 2024
   22 Dec 2024 in reply to lynne77

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   Hello lynne77, 
   
   Thank you for sharing your journey and congratulations on all the progress you’ve made! It's positive that you recognize your triggers.  
   Managing stress in other ways is an important part of the planning process. Stressful situations are always going to be a part of our daily lives, so having some strategies in place can be helpful.
   
   Deep breathing is a great way to healthily manage stress. Can you, or anyone else, think of other healthy ways to manage stress?
   
   Warm regards, 
   Trish, Quit Coach