Things Im learning while quitting smoking .

AnthonyG · Senior Member

Things Im learning while quitting smoking .

elizabeth · Member

Anthony,

I admire the strength it takes to quit the nicotine! I'll be rooting for ya every step of the way!

This is something that I must do as well, because smoking is quite literally killing me...and I'm terrified at the very thought of doing ANYTHING without that pack of smokes in my pocket...

DeanC · Guru

Hang in there Anthony. Hey google Staying sober-Terri Gorsky or PAWS Post acute withdrawal syndrome, and apply it to yourself and your smoking. It's the same stuff, drug withdrawal, endorphin shortage, lack of natural stress relieving capability (because you let nicotine do it for you all these years). So you need to
to learn stress relief techniques like Breathing exercises (google for it) and excersizing to release/replace endorphins... No the enemy

Hang in there bro, you're worth it. "I want to live"

LeeU · Guru

Yeah..what Dean said! Nicotine withdrawal is as potent as cocaine withdrawal except it lasts a lot longer. I have just about 25 years continuous clean & sober time..every drug except crack, which was after my time LOL (thank God) and heavy duty on the booze. Smoked a pack & a half a day. Had 8 years off cigarettes, no desire to smoke, and picked up one night for absolutely no reason--was absolutely astounded to find myself back to the pack plus within 2 weeks...3 more years before I could quit...12 years off that time...then relapse & smoking worse...then a series of a year or so off, a year or so on, 6 months off, 6 months on. This time it's been about 2 1/2 years (didn't note a date) and I feel (know I am) as vulnerable as ever, tho I have no conscious desire and am blessedly not getting the disordered thinking right now.

Ya gotta stop wit da "sicko me, I'm weak" s**t. What do you say when you hear a fellow NA-er or AA-er say that about his or her addiction. Kinda contradicts the first step a bit, don't ya think? No difference with the drug nicotine. Give yourself a break...this is possibly the hardest drug to get clean from and requires eternal vigilance. I use a treadmill and a short, effective breathing/meditation technique to get me through when I start to "feel" that particular monkey trying to claw up my back again. Hang tuff-take care.

cleanNOTsober · Veteran Member

Which is why I am writing my Twelve Steps about my smoking (and the upcoming "quit" date). I haven't done anything on my Step 3 since 6 March because I am waiting for word from my sponsor on writing the Steps solo. And solo is because my sponsor never smoked. There hasn't been anyone (yet) that I have found in my Area who has done the Steps based on their smoking, so I've yet to find a "sponsor" to do this.

Mind you, I have written the Steps on a few different things that were causing unmanageability and insanity in my life, but always thru the guidance of a sponsor. If my current sponsor gives me the go-ahead, I will continue in my Step work, altho I might just re-start them at Step One on my stop date.

It's a bugger, smoking. I am a 40+ year vet of the habit, and have tried to quit more times than I care to think about. NA and the Twelve Steps have shown me that I can do it! I will do it! God willing, and Just For Today.

Hey, good on ya, Anthony!! You are an absolute inspiration for me! Your words give me hope that I am on the right path. Thanks...

-- Edited by cleanNOTsober on Thursday 26th of March 2009 12:11:42 AM

LeeU · Guru

Hi all. For me, working "the program" on not using nicotine is no different than for any other drug-but the withdrawal and vigilance to head off relapse were/are much, much harder than some of the others. But it's still "just" a drug. Smoker's Anonymous is nice if available in the area, but NA's got me covered in any case!

Sponsors are not required for me to take the steps. Don't misunderstand, I'm not suggesting that good sponsors aren't essential...just that the lack of one shouldn't prevent me from doing what I need to do when I need to do it. Same with writing out the steps..may be helpful, but is not required nor always necessary.

I guess what I'm saying is if it's time for you to deal with the 3rd step in order to proceed to your quit date, maybe it's not really about "waiting" on the sponsor. Maybe you're just plain terrified of quitting (& not making it). I know I always was. And I know if I am unfortunate enough to pick up again, that same terror will be greeting me when I want to quit.

The only thing I am sure of is that if I were to pick up again, it wouldn't take that long before I was coughing, reeking, tired, out hundreds of dollars a month, and totally hooked. God I pray never having to be in that place again. Nothing taught me more about the absolute power of that first use (drink, toke, hit, huff, puff, snort, swallow etc.) than f*****g cigs. My prayers are with you both.

-- Edited by LeeU on Thursday 26th of March 2009 07:09:01 PM

BigV · Senior Member

Right on Anthony you go man !

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