the jaywalker
1 posts
Registered:
01 Sep 2018
01 Sep 2018
in reply to
marianne, quit coach
Hi there: I am now 3 day without a cigarette. I am a recovering alcoholic. I have 2 years and 4 months of sobriety. I have worked the 12 steps a number of times throughout that time. I sponsor men in the program and help them to recover from alcoholism.
I quit tobacco once before during this time and was able to make it 15 days. I used the patches, and the gum. In hindsight, it wasn't the physical cravings that got me. It was, what we call in the fellowship - unmanageably. This is where I start to go a bit crazy and think that my life is unmanageable, even though none of my life circumstances have changed. I feel restless, irritable, and discontented. I feel like things are falling apart. I get very anxious, depressed. Then the obsession of having a cigarette starts to enter my thoughts. I feel as though the only thing that will give me any ease and comfort is a cigarette. It is an incredibly uncomfortable place to be, to say the least. I am not sure if 'normal people' feel this or if I am just more prone to this highly uncomfortable state due to having the disease of addiction.
This time I plan on using the patch, the gum, and the 12 steps to combat this addiction. I am certain that if I am able to stay spiritually fit, stay in the present moment, and use my higher power the obsession for this horrible substance will be removed. The physical craving is the least of my worries this time... It's the insanity!
Good luck everyone and happy 24!