[Rachael]

Good Morning my always supportive TOS family. I am attempting to quit smoking. I am on day 5, with only one cheat. I was trying the patch, had allergic reaction. I now have a pretty little rash from butt cheeks to knees....I am crabby and my arms are beginning to burn probably from the stress and being uptight. (<--thats putting it a nice way) I would much rather just be drugged until it was over. People don't get this you know that? It is hard to concentrate on quitting smoking if you go into a flare up. It may seem like I am making excuses to not quit, but it's true. It hurts. I managed to get through the holidays fairly unscathed, now, two days before I am to go back to school, I am in the start of a flare. UGGGGGGGGGGGGGG! I would honestly rather be drugged. Just tell me when the withdrawals are over. I could honestly rip someones head off......(and I am so not a violent person). My poor face has broken out so I look like a hormonal preteen.
Any tosers out there that quit?? What did you do? Could you just club me over the head and wake me when it's over?? (It's ok if you laugh at this post, eventually when my pain and suffering is over I will laugh at it too)

[dabbo]

I don't smoke, and thus can only offer support and wish you the best of luck with it. i CAN say that i wouldn't mind being clubbed over the head at times (or kicked in the shin, etc). at least it would be something different to think about....

[Jomar]

I think I've heard that the worst withdrawals are the first 2 weeks??

this stuff may sound weird - but I used it when My RSI was bad and it did help -here's a part about stopping smoking-
Smoking, OCD & phobias: Larry Gilbert contacted me recently and I asked him how he was doing with EFT. He reports the following. "I posted you sometime ago about using EFT to treat the violence at US Post offices. Your comment was to assign an official tapper at each entrance." (Note from GC: This suggestion was meant humorously.) "I am pursuing it never the less! They were not over enthusiastic so I did a stop smoking demonstration with employees and the HR officer was ASTOUNDED...I'm 2 for 2 on OCD hairpulling and 6 for 6 on phobias. I still use NLP to clean up the session..."

http://www.emofree.com/Addictions/sm...d=N_Jan05_Tip1

How to Handle Self Sabotage by Using EFT: Part 2 of 2: How to Create Antidotes to Your Negative "Tail Enders" Right Within Your EFT Statement - Affirmations are an often used means for personal change but sometimes they appear not to work. Why? Because of the "yes-buts" that can subtly follow the affirmation. We call these "tail enders" and they play an important role in how our lives unfold. EFT Master Pat Carrington brings this vital concept to our attention in this two part series. Pat is the originator of the popular EFT Choices Method, a variant of EFT that can be learned free of charge in an e-book available with each new subscription to her (also free) newsletter (see her website).
She has recently launched an EFT-based computer program The Key to Becoming Successfully Slender with EFT that can be used to address many other types of issues as well through a customizable feature. Pat administrates the EFT Certificate of Completion Practitioner List through her website. She can be reached through her email

hare's a link to the home page with more info- there is a free pdf you can download to try the techniques.{yellow button at bottom of the page}
http://www.emofree.com/

I just did the tapping part - i didn't do the chanting stuff.
but it's free and just might help a bit.

[Jomar]

Did you check online for help and tips about stopping - I found a few for you.
http://www.quitnet.com/
http://unr.edu/homepage/shubinsk/smoke.html
http://whyquit.com/
http://www.gosmokefree.co.uk/

wow there a tons of links I just took from the top of the list you might find some you like better.
google link-
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

[redjpwranglergirl]

Rachael,
I've never smoked either but came from a family of smokers, so I can only offer support too. But, both of my parents quit about 25 yrs. ago and my inlaws quit too and I always said that it would have to be a miracle if they ever quit since they were chain smokers. I know it's tough right now but you'll make it! I have every confidence in you- you're a strong person to have made it through pain in order to go to school,etc. Have you tried the gum or asked your dr. if there's anything else you could do temporarily to get you through this bad part?

[dabbo]

One other quick thought- are there any University Medical Schools around you? I have a friend who was able to get help quitting for free because the school was testing some method or the other.

[Rachael]

Dabbo...no nothing like that here. Jo55..looked over the info you left for me. My daughter I started watching a movie so will dive more into it later. You know what annoys me? I managed to get through the holidays by taking meds everyday, which I never do unless I am in a flare up, now I am having a friggin flare up because of being so tense and work up from not smoking. I have to go back to school on Monday and I wanted to do it and not be hurting. There is a new drug that helps you to quit called Chantix. Maybe I should try that. My point is, I would rather smoke, than hurt again. I know that is terrible, but for me and the big 7 smokes I smoke a day it's not worth it.........I think I will talk with the doc this week and see what he suggests.
Have I told you guys lately you are wonderful?? I can always count on you. Oh I had signed up for the quitnet site when I first decided to quit, problem is, how would they understand about the stress affecting a flare or not, you guys are the only ones that understand that. Even when the pain started again, all I heard what that was just an excuse not to quit. I smoke outside my home, I don't hurt or bother anyone but me, so I don't need any excuse to smoke, or not too, it's my personal choice. Does that make sense?

[camey]

used to smoke----bad habit----- I decided one day to just give it up! easy part--- hard part--dealing with the mind set that you need the stuff to get through the day---learning to use other things to combat the need for a cigarette---

1-in the morning I used to get up and sip coffee---(Notice the taste and how much better it is)

2. each time I wanted to smoke I took a piece of hard candy and or chewing gum and again I noticed the taste---

3. After Lunch---I walked and I began to feel less winded with each walk and noticed the different smells that I could now notice and with such precision-(closing my eyes and guessing the smells of different flowers and the fragerance was so much stronger than I noticed before.

4.I used idle time to clean out the things that I had been meaning to get to but didnt....

NOTE TO SELF: The physical addiction to cigarettes is six weeks and that seems like a long time but If you are on day 5 you only have 37 days left and thank god that it isnt a year or longer......

the key is to keep busy and you wont even notice that you miss it..... good luck and god bless... camey

[Jomar]

Yeah the avg stop smoking place wouldn't consider any condition like TOS or any other RSI or RSD etc.

But - smoking does interfere with your circulation in addition to the lung and other health things.

plus it depletes many of the needed vitamins for health and tissue repair - I could look it all if you want me too- I think the main ones-that i can recall- it's been yrs- C, D, E, selenium

and the cost of those things!!! ciggies--lol

just a little info you might not know...

[camey]

cancer This Is The Best Reason I Know Not To Smoke And I Have Seen Alot Of It. This Would Hurt Not Only You But Your Family....... And Extended Family.