How Do Non-Smokers Handle Stress?
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I quit almost a year ago and mentally, it was very tough. Physically, I feel great! When I really feel the urge to smoke, the best thing for me is to crochet, preferably while listening to Dateline :laugh: . That way, I feel like both parts of my brain are occupied. Other than that, in the beginning, working out was the only way I could expend all that energy and be tired enough to sleep.
Good plan! Gave me an image of my son coming in laughing at me that I could hand write a letter and watch a movie at the same time... LOL! He said "Whatever works mom..."0 -
Congrats on quitting!!! It is VERY tough to do. I started when I was 12, quit when I was 25, and have been smoke free for 17 years now.
Drink OJ (pure) to help with the headaches for the first while.
Keep telling yourself how much better off you are not smoking until you believe it.
Think about how icky / dumb smokers look: I imagine a cigarette to be a baby's soother (dummy). Picturing all these adults sucking on soothers is quite funny.
As for stress - create other small rituals. Remove yourself from the situation (even if just to the bathroom), breathe, imagine the stress leaving your body as you exhale. Make a tea, call a friend, or anything else to distract you.
Good Luck!!0 -
It's been a couple of years since I stopped smoking. Honestly I can't remember how long.
When I would get stressed at work, I would get up and head outside and just take some 'me' time like I would have when I was a smoker.
I had a reward for quitting for 12 months that helped keep me motivated, but honestly after about 3 months the reward was just a bonus as pretty much all the urges were gone and I was enjoying being smoke free.
Don't get me wrong, if they could invent a cigarette that wasn't bad for your health I'd probably start up again, but I prefer my health over the habit now.0 -
1. Take a deep breath
2. Count to 10, slowly
3. Take stock to see if this has improved your outlook
4. Throw the stress inducer out the nearest window, opening it beforehand if absolutely necessary (for instance, if you'd have to clean up the broken glass yourself).
Sixty percent of the time, it works all the time! :flowerforyou:
LMAO! Taking note... remember to open the window first....0 -
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Congrats on quitting!!! It is VERY tough to do. I started when I was 12, quit when I was 25, and have been smoke free for 17 years now.
Drink OJ (pure) to help with the headaches for the first while.
Keep telling yourself how much better off you are not smoking until you believe it.
Think about how icky / dumb smokers look: I imagine a cigarette to be a baby's soother (dummy). Picturing all these adults sucking on soothers is quite funny.
As for stress - create other small rituals. Remove yourself from the situation (even if just to the bathroom), breathe, imagine the stress leaving your body as you exhale. Make a tea, call a friend, or anything else to distract you.
Good Luck!!
I didn't know that about the OJ, I drink it now to make sure my iron pills get absorbed into my system. Knowing it helps keep headaches away, I think I need a grove of orange trees in my yard! LOL! Loads of good advice here, thank you!0 -
trying to break so many habits at once is going to be tough! my mom smoked for 45 years though, and quit 15 months ago, and she has managed to keep abstaining (I am so proud of her)
at any rate, try to find a substitute like chewing gum, knitting, or something (focus on things that keep your mouth or hands busy)... now is a great time to take up a new hobby if you like crafts or something (I find sewing takes my mind off all my problems, totally zones me out)-- when you get the urge to smoke, go for a walk, or call a friend or jump on mfp and talk to someone
try out yoga, the concentration factors in yoga can really help you learn to cope with difficulties better
good luck, you can do it! keep telling yourself you can do it, don't be afraid to even say it out loud to yourself0 -
Oh My goodness, you are doing a lot all at the same time, yeah, I would be stressed too. Congrats on all of your successes so far, you first of all are amazing and are doing incredible changes in your life to get healthier. Myself, I quit smoking in 2011 due to medical issues, I had no choice. I had to have something to replace this hand to mouth habit I had formed, I knew what did not work for me in the past, gum, walk, call a friend, etc. Remember, everyone has their own way that worked for them. But when it came to that habit I found the best solution for me was to buy those thin coffee stir sticks (the red ones) and I cut them in half, because they were very long and put a bunch of them in a baggy in my purse and when I felt stress, I would pull one of them out and chew on it. Everyone would ask me when are you going to stop with those sticks? My answer, when I want to and it may be never, but it worked for me. That moment of stress could happen anytime, I was prepared with my red cigarettes, so to speak.
I have seen people use the just straws the same way, but it in half so it is not so long in your mouth. I found an old purse the other day and found a baggy of those red coffee stir sticks I cut up for myself. Good luck, you are doing fantastic! Never quit trying to quit, don't beat yourself up for feeling what you feel during this time. Feel free to message me anytime, It's not easy, but well worth it!
Ah yes, the hated hand to mouth habit (or disease as I call it) food, drink, smoke, ice whatever, can't sit still and just do NOTHING. Exactly! That's why I put this post up because the first week of chantix, I gained 10 lbs back of the 50 I had lost. I have managed to maintain my weight since then, but no more losing anything. It's been a true tug of war. coffee stir sticks may just be the ticket!
If you need something to do with your hands take up knitting or crocheting, then you are putting your nervous energy towards something useful.
Athough, they say knitting is supposed to be relaxing but I find it stresses me out sometimes! Start with easy things at first, like scarves. :laugh: 0 -
It's been a couple of years since I stopped smoking. Honestly I can't remember how long.
When I would get stressed at work, I would get up and head outside and just take some 'me' time like I would have when I was a smoker.
I had a reward for quitting for 12 months that helped keep me motivated, but honestly after about 3 months the reward was just a bonus as pretty much all the urges were gone and I was enjoying being smoke free.
Don't get me wrong, if they could invent a cigarette that wasn't bad for your health I'd probably start up again, but I prefer my health over the habit now.
I know what you mean, I found out I like breathing and also like not coughing all the time any more, sounding like I was hacking up a lung. It was awful, and is actually gone now!0 -
I work out...take deep breaths...listen to music...talk to a friend...have a cup of coffee...shop online...0
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Boxing, CrossFit, Head slamming into the nearest brick wall. Tequila!0
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trying to break so many habits at once is going to be tough! my mom smoked for 45 years though, and quit 15 months ago, and she has managed to keep abstaining (I am so proud of her)
at any rate, try to find a substitute like chewing gum, knitting, or something (focus on things that keep your mouth or hands busy)... now is a great time to take up a new hobby if you like crafts or something (I find sewing takes my mind off all my problems, totally zones me out)-- when you get the urge to smoke, go for a walk, or call a friend or jump on mfp and talk to someone
try out yoga, the concentration factors in yoga can really help you learn to cope with difficulties better
good luck, you can do it! keep telling yourself you can do it, don't be afraid to even say it out loud to yourself
I do catch myself saying it out loud, unfortunately one of my boys seems to be within earshot when I do this and I get these strange looks.... LOL!0 -
well I was a smoker,
I would say,..
BOOZE, lots of it.0 -
Boxing, CrossFit, Head slamming into the nearest brick wall. Tequila!
All I heard was TEQUILA!0 -
Running!
Or doing Kickbox Fastfix.
Or both!0 -
Back when I quit, someone made me something she called a "dammit doll" to beat up or poke with pins. If you go to Etsy and search 'dammit doll' you'll see lots of examples. I named her after my then boss, the "loathsome *kitten*." It helped.
https://www.etsy.com/search?q=dammit doll&view_type=gallery&ship_to=US0 -
well I was a smoker,
I would say,..
BOOZE, lots of it.
Damn! I heard someone say TEQUILA! again!0 -
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Gym0
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So glad you quit! I won't lie, it'll be weird for a while, but stay committed and you'll get through. Maybe try some yoga/deep breathing. I never smoked heavily and when I quit I only had maybe 8 years in so it was not so bad. My problem was when I went out for drinks, alcohol goes so well with a cigarette and the inhibitions go down. Sometimes I still want one with a bevvy but I remember how much better I feel since I quit.
You can do it! One day you will wake up and not remember what it was like to smoke.0 -
Allen Carr's book is really great.
When you smoke because of stressful situations you are only adding to that stress. It's pretty stressful thinking will this cigarette be the one that gives me cancer etc. That thought was always at the back of my mind when I smoked.0 -
Congratulations. I quit 30 years ago after 15 years of smoking starting at age 15. I relieve stress by deep breathing, meditation and exercise. Good luck.I have now been officially "QUIT" all the way for 74 hours, or 3 days and 2 hours... LOL! I have smoked for some 30 years....0 -
For me, preferred methods of stress relief:
-exercise (a long walk in the woods does wonders)
-read a book (usually fantasy type)
-sex (if hubby is home and willing!)
-a nap (sometimes I'm stressed cuz I'm tired!)0 -
Most stress is self induced. I like to try mental and physical exercises to get my stress levels down.0
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Depends on what is making me "stress", I guess. Some forms of stress is easier to manage than others. When it is something that I can step away from for a moment, that makes me feel better and view things from a fresh perspective when I come back to it. If it is the kind of stress that lingers, like a pending problem that needs to be solved in the long run, like paying off debt, I focus on the solution, I make a plan and I execute it. If it is stress within a relationship, I write/journal. Overall, what keeps me sane is being active. I may be running or cleaning house or running an errand. And when none of that works..... I have to SIT down and be still, meditate on all the good things in my life.... and allow myself to feel thankful for it all. Reading inspirational literature also helps me cope.0
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Kickboxing! It's fantastic, fun and addicting. It will make you laugh at treadmill cardio.
But I never smoked.0 -
I look at pictures of cute animals on Pinterest or find something funny to focus on for a couple minutes. If you need something more physical, maybe taking the long way to get a drink or water. Or call your grandmother or favorite aunt or someone and chat for five minutes. These are all things I do when I need a quick break in the day.0
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Congrats on the stopping.:flowerforyou:
I quit smoking over 16 yrs ago after smoking for a little over 31 yrs.
Stress relief for me is to take a little walk and think about that beautiful vacation spot you would love to go to but haven't been (even if that place doesn't exsistexcept in your own mind ) and let your mind go there.
And if that doesn't work --about 15 or 20 shots of a good quality bourbon should do the trick.:drinker: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:0 -
hey i just quit smoking about 2 months ago and i was worried about the stress part of it all too .. i smoked for 20 years prior and after about 2 weeks all of the triggering "stressful" moments didnt really happen much .. as as time has gone on i dont really notice it .. i think the "stress" was needing a cigarette because i find myself under pressure and i DON'T need a smoke to calm down .. what i did was try not to over think the "i am stressed and i need a smoke" if i let that thought linger i would have a miserable day .. i also drank water .. a big ol cup of water because smoking would give me a reason to take a break so i would take a break and go to the sink and stand there drinking water instead of smoking .. now a couple days after i quit a nig ol drama fest happened with my daughter and i actually made it thru that without smoking .. i cant chew regular gum because of false teeth so i chewed that gum that doesnt stick to dental work .. i cant think of the name .. and sucked on sugar free hard candies .. and alot of hard candies gives you bad gas just so you know .. also i did gain about 10 lbs but it has since came off without much extra effort just try not to eat in order to replace the need for nicotine just remember after 3 days it is all mental it is no longer physical addiction so you have gotten past the worst part and just take it one day at a time .0
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Smokers, when they have stressful moments will simply light up, feel the endorphins flow, feel better and carry on... What in the world do non-smokers do? I have now been officially "QUIT" all the way for 74 hours, or 3 days and 2 hours... LOL! I have smoked for some 30 years.... What do I replace the nicotine with during stressful times when a cig would make me feel better but I refuse to do that any more?
I am quitting smoking, getting healthier, dieting, trying to break my ice chewing habit due to low iron and refusing to buy any more soda - ALL AT THE SAME TIME. Any advice would be so very much appreciated!
So how do you non-smokers cope with stress that used to use cigarettes as your crutch as I did?
First off....LOVE THE PIC.....
SECONDLY...a good laugh
In all truth, when I quit smoking, I replaced it by praying (if this is for you). I also found it very helpful to have fresh Veggies and a tall glass of water handy. I also picked up on reading a good book. For me, I felt the need to keep my hands busy at first....ie: snacking on celery, carrots , a toothpick, ( anything healthy) and in reading whatever caught my interest, this kept my mind off of “ needing “ to pick up a cigarette. Don't get me wrong, its' wasn't easy...but mind over matter, and my determination is what went a long way.
It gets easier, and before you realize it....voilà cravings are gone.
Best Wishes0
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