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Addiction??understanding it will help replace your fears

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Addiction??understanding it will help replace your fears

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 251

I knew I was an addict because of my compulsive gambling. So I was dealing with that already. I knew I was an addict with smoking but I treated it differently than my gambling. I realize now addiction is addiction, no matter what it is. I found that quitting smoking is a heck of a lot harder than quitting gambling. The similarity between quitting gambling and quitting smoking is the depression one gets into when you do quit both of them. But I was more resentful in quitting smoking than gambling. Now I see and understand that it's all to do with the addiction itself. It's part of a learning process for me. Quitting smoking has been a real education for me. I'm learning about my limitations and my expectations. I realize that I can be a very impatient person, expecting things to go right from the start. Withdrawal from smoking has been a real test for me more so than gambling so I realize that smoking has a tighter grip on me than anything else. I'm 11 days smoke free now, but I know that it won't take too much stress to set me off into a tailspin. That's what addiction does to a person...it makes us vulnerable and that's what we have problems accepting. How can we be so vulnerable over something so petty as quitting smoking? But it's not petty...it's a monumental climb over the top to freedom. One thing that has helped me some is my attitude towards both of my addictions. I know they are very much a part of my life and I have to adjust my thinking in accepting that I do have addictions and to make the best out of the process of quitting. Anyway, food for thought I thought I'd share with you all. Ginette [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]12/9/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 11 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 385 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $170.17 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 16 [B]Mins:[/B] 34 [B]Seconds:[/B] 38

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$60,838.00

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Days: 847 Hours: 6

Minutes: 4 Seconds: 40

Life Gained
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6404

Smoke Free Days
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160,100

Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 925

Knowledge has replaced my fear in every phase and aspect of my life...I don't think I'm alone in this based on all the insightful responses to this old post. Today my Mother reached out for knowledge to understand her fears of cancer. She is one strong woman and she made me aware of how I've dealt with the unknown in my past. We are all afraid of the unknown. When I've been afraid, I've always searched for knowledge...because with knowledge comes truth...and the truth shall set us free. :) Yippee, I am free! Pat [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/28/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 326 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 13,040 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $4,564.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 38 [B]Hrs:[/B] 13 [B]Mins:[/B] 7 [B]Seconds:[/B] 19

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$129,696.00

Amount Saved
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Days: 871 Hours: 15

Minutes: 26 Seconds: 45

Life Gained
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6755

Smoke Free Days
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324,240

Cigarettes Not Smoked

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3875

Bump [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 217 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,425 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2,289.35 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 26 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 31 [B]Seconds:[/B] 49

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3207

Lady, i apologise for my misquote... should have been "overcoming my triggers" [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 191 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 7,640 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,298.80 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 26 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 15 [B]Seconds:[/B] 5

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3207

Thanks for the bump, Ladycigevictor [quote] It's Happy work. I celebrate my victories over triggers..... [/quote] Yes!!! Yes!!!! A thousand times Yes!!!!!! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/22/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 191 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 7,640 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,298.80 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 26 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 9 [B]Seconds:[/B] 32

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 8760

Thanks for the bump! Danielle, Bilingual Support Specialist

17 years ago 0 +0 / -0 925

bump [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/28/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 244 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 9,760 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $3,416.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 28 [B]Hrs:[/B] 20 [B]Mins:[/B] 30 [B]Seconds:[/B] 12

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$129,696.00

Amount Saved
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Days: 871 Hours: 15

Minutes: 26 Seconds: 45

Life Gained
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6755

Smoke Free Days
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324,240

Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 848

Hi Pat - once again, you are providing simple but deep words of wisdom to help new quitters. You are really amazing and I'm so glad you've been there to help inspire, support and cheer me on. (((MUSHY MAGIC HUG TIME!!))) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]3/29/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 72 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 864 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $293.76 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 17 [B]Mins:[/B] 16 [B]Seconds:[/B] 16

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$120,734.35

Amount Saved
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Days: 6554 Hours: 18

Minutes: 52 Seconds: 19

Life Gained
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45863

Smoke Free Days
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412,767

Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 925

Your kind words are truly humbling coming from such an "AMAZING" group of quitters. Thank you one and all. I wish there were time to reply to everyone individually...so many great comments! Joe, a special thanks for starting the ~knowledge replaces fear~ tag line. I've been using it since the day I joined this site and it's gotten me to where ever it is I am at today. It's the most valuable tool I have as a quitter and has helped me "evict" addictions from all areas of my life. Thanks for the well wishes...the surf is great...how's the golf? [quote] So many try, as we have, maybe several times, but cannot release the grip of their drug of choice. [/quote] I was one of these people. I lived with and in addiction. I was afraid to quit and move on. I had no knowledge. Now I do. I am no longer afraid. I am free. To stay free, I must not forget. Not.One.Puff.Ever. :) Pat [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]1/28/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 130 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,200 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1,820.00 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 15 [B]Hrs:[/B] 9 [B]Mins:[/B] 31 [B]Seconds:[/B] 19

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$129,696.00

Amount Saved
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Days: 871 Hours: 15

Minutes: 26 Seconds: 45

Life Gained
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6755

Smoke Free Days
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324,240

Cigarettes Not Smoked

18 years ago 0 +0 / -0 238

Hi Pat, that was an excellent post! The funny thing is, that I work in a drug & alcohol treatment facility & am around "addicts" every day but I never considered myself to be one of them, until just now. I AM!!!! Just like jeanigirl, I lied about how long I've smoked. If asked, I would say 10 years but in truth it was more that 30 years. I figured that if I said it enough, sooner or later I might start to believe it. I wasn't fooling anyone...not even me. NO MORE! I AM SOOOOO DONE WITH IT!!!! Yes, I am standing on the highest mountain & yelling, I AM FREE :) Keep the quit [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B]4/2/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 66 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,650 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $542.52 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 7 [B]Hrs:[/B] 1 [B]Mins:[/B] 13 [B]Seconds:[/B] 0

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Addiction??understanding it will help replace your fears