Quitting Smoking One Day at a Time...

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Thursday, June 5, 2008

My Dirty Little Secret...200 Days Off Cigarettes and I Ca't Seem to Give Up My Fake One!


When I started using Chantix to help me kick the habit, I used to have major anxiety attacks when I would get in the car to drive. For me, driving without lighting up was like breathing and getting no oxygen. To help me get over this problem, I got a ceramic cigarette that is normally used to sneak a toke of weed. I keep it in my car and when the cravings really start, it helps me to just hold it and inhale "air." Yes, imagine it....a girl driving down the street listening to loud music.....smoking air. I know, it s0unds weird but it make the driving experience SO much easier to handle. I figured I might as well come clean and tell you all that I still have my fake cigarette and still use it from time to time! I know, I have been off cigarettes for over 200 days and I still need my "security cigarette" on long drives; particularly when I get stuck in traffic! Yesterday, I was driving down the street puffing on my ceramic cigarette and someone in the next lane looked at me like I was crazy! Well, it may have looked a bit weird but at least I wasn't smoking the real thing! I do not know if you guys still have any major triggers left and what you do to deal with them but I thought I would ask. I guess I should not beat myself up too much over it but I am wondering if I am ever going to feel "normal" driving without a cigarette.
Peace,
Diva

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Diva, I say if it works, there is no harm. I don't think my continuing to take deep breaths is any different really. In fact, I think it was last weekend, but I was walking and went past a guy walking his dog and smoking a cigarette. It smelled so good to me - always does, even now - and a little further past him, I brought my fingers to my lips as if I was taking a puff and took a nice deep breath that I blew out as if smoking. Surely *that* is no different from your ceramic cigarette. People can say whatever they want, but I know what works for me and what is a step backward or into danger, and this is neither of those and is instead a substitute that I lean on less and less and less.

Do what you know works for you. :)

Buffy said...

Hi ya Diva,

Firstly...thanks for dropping by my blog and for your words of encouragement. it's always nice to know that someone else is sharing the moment too!

As I said in my post...I'd kept my opened packet of cigarettes in my hand bag for fear of a major anxiety attack. And I knew if it was to happen anywhere it would be in the car! But out of the blue I handed them over to someone who needed them...and I knew I didnt!

I'm still on the Zyban pills so I dont really crave the smokes at all at present...not sure what will happen once the pills stop.

Maybe I'll be emailing you to find out where to buy a ceramic cigarette...or maybe you wont need yours!