Guess who quit smoking the other day?

Moi!

This past Friday. I'd had some strange symptoms on Thursday and took my bp with my little digital wrist cuff a bunch of times -- and the results were NOT good. In fact, it scared the beejeesus out of me. We're talking stroke territory.

Friday morning, same thing. So I smoked my last cigarette and quit. 10:57 a.m. No choice.

But, here's the funny thing, and the main reason I'm even posting about it (and the other reason is to share what's helping me).

Are you ready? I was using the b.p. wrist cuff incorrectly and my bp, while not great, was definitely NOT in "stroke territory." IOW: I inadvertently tricked myself into quitting smoking! Bwaahahaha. I am cracking myself up over this little prank I accidentally pulled on myself.

This is probably about the 4th or 5th time I've quit for any length of time (twice for over a year each), and this time I think I'm going to make it stick -- tho I have to work on the motivation for that a little bit more. I definitely know some things not to do (e.g., don't EVER smoke "just one" again -- nosirree, just like an alcoholic, don't do it).

Two things that are helping me tremendously are an herbal program I bought several years ago and had some very good success with (tho obviously didn't stay "quit" that time). Even tho they're about 4 years old, the herbs still seem potent enough and are doing very well for me. It's a three-part set of herbal formulas from Viable Herbal Solutions. www.viable-herbal.com Do check the precautions (if you check out the herbal program) because there is a high blood pressure contraindication on these herbs -- I'm not using one of the three forumlas but have cobbled together some of the herbs in that forumla myself, avoiding the herbs I know are ill-advised.

I have had virtually NO cravings for the tobacco itself -- IOW, no real withdrawal as we most often think about it. That is remarkable to me and I absolutely credit the herbs. I have had what I'd call "habit" cravings -- "Oh, damn, I can't sit down for a few minutes and relax with a cigarette." Or "Damn, here I am driving, driving, and can't smoke." Or, "Okay, now that I've eaten...." But these really are fleeting. Of course I also make it a practice not to DWELL on these thoughts and feelings and memories of having a cigarette, and that helps (by contrast, writing about all this does not).

The herbal program also has a little aromatherapy component (so that makes it 4-part), and that does help the few times I've tried it.

And the other thing that's been really helpful, for dealing with all the emotional "stuff" that's surfacing (and there's been quite a bit of it), is EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique): www.emofree.com I've promoted and sang its praises before, it's been invaluable for dealing with this.

Today was my hardest day so far -- for some reason the closest to having real "cravings," the most persistent "habit cravings" and some of the suckiest emotional junk (altho yesterday was pretty ugly too, "life isn't worth living" and all that, LOL). Today it was, however, real clear to me that what I was going through was really classic "addiction" withdrawal stuff, probably less dramatic than a lot of addictions, but interesting to observe, nonetheless.

It's pretty funny that you duped yourself into quitting. My daughter quit - again - last week. Her friends are her support network when the cravings start. She was off the things for over a year until this past summer when she started again. I'm not yet ready to give the damn things up but I wish you well.

I had my last smoke on Election night. They called Ohio for the idiot and I quit...

I used Zyban (actually the generic, Wellbutrin) to quit, and it helped me a lot with the cravings. My biggest issue with it was it raised my blood pressure. I went off it earlier than they suggest, but I've not had any problems since. My BP is finally coming back down to something resmbling normal.

There really IS an emotional component to quitting, and it is freakiy unless you are expecting it. I chose to quit--but I still felt a sort of sadness at not being able to ever have another cigarette. The only thing I can tell you is that I just accepted that the smoker Laura was gone, and I mentallly waved goodbye to her.

I also found that a lot of stuff that I'd kept buried emotionaly came to light for me in that period right after I quit. I had no idea how much smoking sedated me when it came to anger and anxiety.

You can DO this, and you will emerge much healthier and happier when the withdrawl is passed. The physical stuff is over in about 78 hours. Give yourself about two weeks before you really expect the emotional stuff to lighten up, however.

Brightest blessings to you, and feel free to PM me if you need or want to vent. I do understand!


Laura

...and good luck!I know you can do it..... :)


:hug: :loveya:
DR

I know that's a difficult thing to do, as I've seen many friends go thru it. Seems like the herbal program will be very good. How funny that you tricked, or somebody tricked you, into doing it! LoL.

Eloriel, now is the time.....and you can do it!

Just think...by January 1st you already will have succeeded with a most excellent New Year's Resolution! :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

Keep your eyes on the prize at ALL times.

:hug: :hug: :hug:

DemEx

:thumbsup:

:hug:

Congratultions are in order to your inner trickster! You've been punked.

I have played those hilarious tricks on myself too.
I used to smoke a long time ago. And while it seemed to have a calming effect it also always felt like I was pushing things down with the smoke. But I thought the ciggy was my friend who would console me, or be there to witness my contemplations and draw them deeper into me as I drew each smoke-filled breath. It was also my reward and my timer. When I completed a portion of some task I would then have my smoke and examine what I had just accomplished.

But I eventually grew tired of it all....the look, the smell on my clothes, the irritation in my eyes, the feeling in my lungs and the feelings pushed down.....and I simply quit. It wasn't hard at all because I was DONE with them. Never looked back.

However, I did gain some weight which I've only now grown tired of hauling around. But now that is being shed as well.

Your trickster set off an early warning alarm. Now THAT's a friend...and one that can bring levity to boot! Laughter at ourselves and our all-too-human condition is so healing.

the heat from the cup is great and it gives you something to do orally AND with your hands (like cig). Plus, you get to choose WHAT kind of tea you feel like.

Some REALLY good comments. And yes, DemExPat -- congrats to my Inner Trickster. I'm still giggling at the whole thing and can't wait to tell my doctor (just happen to have an appointment on Friday -- which will be one week).

I really feel so blessed to be doing so great re no tobacco cravings. And I live with 2 smokers! I'm doing really good with the emotional stuff too -- trying to handle it when and as it comes up. (Boy, I've really had some good cries in these several days. LOL.)

What I'm going to have to watch is the eating. I noticed yesterday that it was very easy to confuse the desire for a cigarette (physical OR psychological) with "hunger." Today, I noticed that line a little bit blurrier, or maybe quite a bit blurrier. I'm going to have to be very clear on that issue.

Again, thanks for all the advice and well wishes. Means a lot.

i quit smoking about 10 years ago using accupuncture. amazing and quit first try (with accupuncture). Have never gone back.

and now I'm caffeine free.

now if I could just get over the sugar addiction,

now where is my fudge....

ms

was shown the eft/emofree website i think 3 yrs ago by a holistic dentist in maryland

i didnt know you were a smoker so im really glad for you and know youll do great. you sound ready and willing and i wish you only the best with that. im so thankful i never smoked but i know it can be really hard to give it up so im proud of you. your body gave you the go ahead with the bp reading!

take good care

Don't be discouraged if you fall off the wagon. Get right back on it no matter how many times it takes. I finally was able to stop when I made up my mind never to have "just one this time" or "just one puff". This was before nicotine patches became available without prescriptions, so it was pretty much cold turkey. You can do it. :-)

Sorry, on edit it's thirteen years, not twelve, that I'm nicotine free.

Good luck. I hope the third time is the charm for you as it was for me. I started when I was 16. I quit when I was pregnant with my son. Started again when he was two. Quit for a year the following year. Quit for good when he was 11 and nagged me into it.

I went cold turkey in July of 1990. I wouldn't recommend going that route but it stuck so I'm not complaining.

how's it going??

Just checking in :)


:loveya:
DR

Just checking in myself.

I've been doing great with the not smoking. Almost NO urge for tobacco -- and the very very few times I've had even moderate cravings, I've use the little aromatherapy ampules to very good advantage.

However, for whatever reason, I've been tremendously depressed off and on. No "highs" at all. LOL -- my general mood has been neutral (at best) to horrid, so bad that the only "high" I've experienced is a small gloat that I don't have smoker's hack like my two family members do. And interspersed with being no fun at ALL has been a periodic (once or several times a day) nerves all a-jangle physical/emotional thing with tears at the ready for whatever happens, similar to what happens when your blood sugar is in the basement or lower. (I've also had a bit of anger surface and a few other emotional things I used to suppress, but these have been more manageable).

Between the two of them, it finally got so bad I went to see my chiropractor today. L-Tyrosine to the rescue, should get the seratonin ramped up a bit and a few other things as well. I felt better as soon as he identified the stuff I needed, and couldn't wait to get in the car, tear open the bottle and take my first dose. I'm slightly better already.

I really have no idea if this were smoking cessation-related or not, but it must be somehow because that's when it started. It's certainly not like anything I'd experienced when quitting prior to this, tho.

Meanwhile, my b.p. this a.m. (heheh, taken the right way) was 123/88 -------- can you believe it?? WooHooo!

He said I was doing well with the detox (thank you Herbal Solutions) and agreed with what I'd picked up on intuitively, that I should stay on the initial formulas a while longer (before going on the Maintenance).

The one thing I'm having a little trouble with -- and am getting annoyed about -- is the MEMORY of smoking as a little relaxing / be good to myself ritual. As an example, I hastled with feeding the various animals in the rain and muck and cold this late afternoon and once I walked back into the house, the immediate instinct was "Ahh, I'll sit down and relax a minute with a cigarette." Well, I don't actually want the cigarette, but I sure as hell wish I could find a nice suitable something (other than meditation or some variation on that theme) that seems indulgent and is relaxing too to take its place. Obviously want to stay away from food "treat" or rewards.

Anyway, thanks for asking.I'm really pleased and grateful to be doing so well and for the most part, so painlessly.

I just made a pot in fact :)

The one thing I'm having a little trouble with -- and am getting annoyed about -- is the MEMORY of smoking as a little relaxing / be good to myself ritual.

I remember that. But the thrill is gone. As you say, you don't really want the cigarette, Even if you were to smoke it, it wouldn't be satisfying.

I like the herbal tea suggestion. Maybe you can transmute those feelings to the herbal tea.

Since it's a "be good to yourself" act, maybe you can do things like take a few minutes to read a poem or have a tangerine or do some aromatherapy.

When I quit smoking I literally walked around with a black cloud over my head for weeks. I could actually see the cloud and I can see it now, just as if it were yesterday. And I quit smoking 23 years ago!

I know now that the cigarette was a way of suppressing emotions. With that cigarette, I could take a boring call from a "friend" and listen to someone chew my ear off about their bad day, bad luck, bad whatever. After I quit smoking, I learned I didn't have to listen to anyone dump their negative emotions on me. I dropped a lot of friends and I don't regret it a bit. That was about the time the Internet was just picking up speed and I learned I could have online friends that shared my interests instead of friends who were GF (geographically feasible).

I only smoked 10 years but it took everything I had in my power to quit. It still remains one of the most significant things I've ever done in my life. After I quit, I became a cessation facilitator for American Lung and I helped thousands of other people quit, too.


Cher

or even green tea. And I might do that occasionally. But there are problems with that. One, while I approve of herbal teas wholeheartedly, I'm not really that much of an imbiber myself. Two, while it doesn't take too long to brew a cup, it's still much less "immediate" than a cigarette, and so doesn't really fit -- and in fact by the time or even well before the water's hot the urge is gone (happily).

Still worth considering and as I said I'll probably do it now and then or perhaps once a day.

I can understand the cloud, Cher. And absolutely understand how smoking helps suppress emotions. In fact, I had an incredible demonstration of that a number of years ago when I was trying unsuccessfully to quit. Something happened at work that made me absolutely hopping mad -- furious, ready to stomp someone furious. As soon as I got outside and took my first puff, my anger was gone. Poof! (Well, not gone, probably, just nicely suppressed.) It was a startling revelation of just how that works.

So cool you served as a cessation counselor! I'll bet that was an interesting experience.

My partner so far has been unsuccessful - I refuse to hound him about it - it's gotta be his choice and desire.

should he decide to do it, I heartily recommend those herbs. They've been absolutely wonderful for me. Virtually no cravings -- just the desire for the ritual. I'm amazed at how easy it's actually been. I feel really blessed.