How Do Non-Smokers Handle Stress?

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Replies

  • k9runner1963
    k9runner1963 Posts: 108 Member
    I never smoked so I'm not sure but you're changing a lot in one go I must admit, think that will make it harder for you. Not impossible, just harder that's all.
    But I would recommend maybe getting some boxing gloves and a punchbag. Failing that a husband who you can use for support / punchbag. :)

    I seriously love the punching bag idea, that may be the very best answer yet. I could get in some seriously good shape too as time goes by. Thanks!

    The boxing is great! I joined Title Boxing almost a year ago and I love it! When I've had a bad day at work, I take it out on the bag. Go home stress free! Walking is another good option. Good luck!
  • NonnyMary
    NonnyMary Posts: 982 Member
    I did crafts, like embroidery, which is totally great.

    When you are trying to follow a detailed pattern, with pretty colors, and you make pictures with pretty threads, and your mind gets really into it, you really lose sight of things around you.. and also since you dont want your hard work and beautiful artwork you are making to be dirty with cigarett smoke, and greasy hands are a bad thing, then you wont want to do things that will harm your hard work.

    Plus when you do crafts like that, it releives stress because you are focusing on the artwork you are making, and your mind loves it. so relaxing.. its like the same feeling when you watch a great movie that takes you to another place and you really get into the movie, so that you dont even realize the time.
  • BurningAway
    BurningAway Posts: 279
    My newest addiction is Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, also going to the gym and punching the **** out of the bags. That relieves SO much of my aggression as well as my stress try it out you may love it :).
  • CandelLife
    CandelLife Posts: 127 Member
    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.

    I'm looking forward to that day!
  • CandelLife
    CandelLife Posts: 127 Member
    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.

    I know what you mean! I don't know how I managed to get through 30 years of smoking on top of asthma with how bad my breathing and coughing was to be told now that my lungs sound clear plus when they checked me in the hospital during my breathing treatments, not lung cancer -- they said it was what I was smoking, those cheap filthy clipper cigar things that are just like cigarettes but worse. Of course I didn't believe them, they were lying to me just so I would quit smoking! LOL!!! That's what I honestly thought!! Shaking my head at my own foolishness!
  • CandelLife
    CandelLife Posts: 127 Member
    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 exsist:smile:except 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:

    I think maybe I might take up drinking again after all this wonderful advice! LOL! (JK)
  • CandelLife
    CandelLife Posts: 127 Member
    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 .


    Thank you! I've caught myself "reaching" for them and they're not there, then shake my head (literally) and remind myself, I don't do that anymore and I am ok with that. I say it each time. Then the tense feeling goes away just like that. It proves I really can ignore it and carry on now. You know, I think maybe I got this LOL.... I needed to realize it and this post has helped me work through that, and all of you and your great help!!!
  • pseudomuffin
    pseudomuffin Posts: 1,058 Member
    I quit smoking by replacing cigarettes with an e-cig vaping rig :) I'm on pretty low-nicotine e-juice right now but it helps with the want to stress smoke and you get your oral fixation taken care of with a very similar motion.
  • running_free_1984
    running_free_1984 Posts: 115 Member
    Running! More running! ... Beer :D
  • CandelLife
    CandelLife Posts: 127 Member
    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 Wishes

    Yes, praying is for me and I seem to be doing a lot of it lately, mostly asking for patience and perseverance. I really like the water idea!
  • CandelLife
    CandelLife Posts: 127 Member
    I did crafts, like embroidery, which is totally great.

    When you are trying to follow a detailed pattern, with pretty colors, and you make pictures with pretty threads, and your mind gets really into it, you really lose sight of things around you.. and also since you dont want your hard work and beautiful artwork you are making to be dirty with cigarett smoke, and greasy hands are a bad thing, then you wont want to do things that will harm your hard work.

    Plus when you do crafts like that, it releives stress because you are focusing on the artwork you are making, and your mind loves it. so relaxing.. its like the same feeling when you watch a great movie that takes you to another place and you really get into the movie, so that you dont even realize the time.

    I can tell an artist when I hear one ;) And yes, similar to movies as well as diving into a good book. Great advice! Thank you!
  • DamoniqueW
    DamoniqueW Posts: 147 Member
    I quit a few months ago and it helps me to listen to music and take a walk. Sometimes I think about lighting up but I've come so far. I don't want to start that habit again. Good luck!
  • CandelLife
    CandelLife Posts: 127 Member
    I quit smoking by replacing cigarettes with an e-cig vaping rig :) I'm on pretty low-nicotine e-juice right now but it helps with the want to stress smoke and you get your oral fixation taken care of with a very similar motion.

    I have an e-cigarette and cartridges in my purse still from another time when I tried that. The problem is, I need to throw it away because using chantix I have gotten the nicotine out and using e-cigarettes or gum or patches, will put nicotine back into my system so I can't use those. The nurse practitioner suggested that very thing but agreed it would hurt my progress because I used the chantix to quit.
  • SailorKnightWing
    SailorKnightWing Posts: 875 Member
    I've never smoked, but I tend not to get stressed very often. When I do, I take a nap. Calms me right down.
  • mamosh81
    mamosh81 Posts: 409 Member
    i also just quit i bought me green smoke ecigs you can get them without nicotin they have helped me so much
  • CandelLife
    CandelLife Posts: 127 Member
    I quit a few months ago and it helps me to listen to music and take a walk. Sometimes I think about lighting up but I've come so far. I don't want to start that habit again. Good luck!

    Congrats to you!! I want to say "a few months" too :) and then "a few years"....
  • holliebevineau
    holliebevineau Posts: 441 Member
    Can You do push ups? Push ups release endorphins like crazy.
  • DragonSquatter
    DragonSquatter Posts: 957 Member
    I used to eat junk food when I got stressed. I do not recommend that.

    Now, I like to listen to music, read, and sometimes I do some hatha (stretching) yoga. Other times, I just get in the car and go somewhere. A change of scenery can do a lot of good to put things into perspective.
  • CandelLife
    CandelLife Posts: 127 Member
    i also just quit i bought me green smoke ecigs you can get them without nicotin they have helped me so much

    Without nicotine? So does it help only because you get to do the act of inhaling smoke?
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,992 Member
    Exercise or some self pleasuring usually works.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness industry for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • atb0821
    atb0821 Posts: 458 Member
    Exercise, alcohol, medication.
  • CandelLife
    CandelLife Posts: 127 Member
    Can You do push ups? Push ups release endorphins like crazy.

    Not currently due to medical issues being handled right now. But I'll remember that for later!
  • Lonestar5775
    Lonestar5775 Posts: 740 Member
    I have never smoked so I cannot comment to that urge or craving. I do think the difference is in the mind though. As a non-smoker I just learned to deal with problems to the best of my ability. If I fail, the world is not going to stop turning. All you can do, is what you can do, and no more. That's probably not much help but I know you can get through quitting if you set your mind to it.

    Think about it this way. You wake up some night, the house is on fire. Pretty stressful right? You wouldn't stop and light up a smoke, you would get your tail out of there doing what you could on the way. Life is the same, you handle what you can and get on with it. The comfort of a cigarette, beyond the chemical addiction, is in your mind.
  • Joannesmith2818
    Joannesmith2818 Posts: 438 Member
    I read. It takes my mind away to a better place!
  • Cheeky_0102
    Cheeky_0102 Posts: 408 Member
    I did my best to replace smoking with something more productive; 5 minutes on the treadmill, get up and fill my water bottle (ie remove myself from where i am, perform a task)

    I find $1 scratch tickets redicuously satisfying, but that's more about my urge to buy candy or junk food. I still get to go into the store, i get to look around, i leave with something that leaves me no better off than $1 worth of junk food would.
  • Factory_Reset
    Factory_Reset Posts: 1,651 Member
    I like sex and candy

    They help me
  • Cheeky_0102
    Cheeky_0102 Posts: 408 Member
    I'll also add that when i did quit smoking, I had a bag of precut veggies (broccoli, carrots and cauliflower) at my side constanty... i would eat like 5 cups of raw veggies a day! not that easy to digest, but it took away that urge to put something from my hands to my mouth
  • g33kmommy
    g33kmommy Posts: 104 Member
    It used to be eating. That's why I got where I was.

    Now? I just log on to my PC or game console and game it out for a bit.
  • CorvusCorax77
    CorvusCorax77 Posts: 2,536 Member
    run run run run run run run run run run
  • rosiemay3
    rosiemay3 Posts: 12
    When I can, which is actually most of the time, I sort out whatever it is that's making me stressed. If it's uni work, I do the work rather than worrying about it. If I have a problem with someone, I'll speak to them rather than stressing over it. Usually, problems are better solved than avoided (even though it seems easier to avoid them). If I can't solve them, then I'll speak to a boyfriend/a friend/my family about the problem, watch a funny/interesting TV show or film to distract me, take a bath, go for a walk, just anything to distract me :)
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