Cynthia's Story
After smoking for
close to fifty years, my initial reasoning for stopping was
at best a little off to the left, I stopped smoking because
I wanted to gain weight....The delusion that since I had been
in a 12step recovery program for over 26 years, would make this
a piece of cake ,was quickly shattered. I
joined QuitNet and basically was holding on, some 26 years of
recovery was not helping me at all.
It is important to
mention that at this point my job began to become a daily mine
field that I kept trying to navigate. I began talking with Steve
and he suggested some breathing techniques and I started trying
to work those into my daily routine. I think one day out of
sheer desperation, I contacted Steve because I realized I needed
more help and direction if I was going to do this. This for
me is when my quit actual began in earnest.
He immediately got
me to become pro-active in my quit, no hanging on allowed here.
When I initially began the timer work it seemed awkward and
silly but changes started to happen almost immediately... The
timer would go off, and I would check how my body was feeling,
where was the tension, how was my breathing, and I would write
down what I was aware of, take some deep breathes, stretch and
re-set the timer. After really only a day I began to realize
that I was not having the horrible cravings. Actually I was
paying attention to what my body really needed, food, drink,
a walk, stretching, rest. I was learning how to step back and
refocus.
Day after day he
coached me and explained how I could do this and what he said
made sense. The craving for a cigarette changed to a craving
for a deep breath or a stretch. It also became apparent that
this had far more value than just stopping smoking. I began
to use it to control and focus myself at work and in other stressful
situations. The mine field at work, though still there, became
something that I learned how to deal with. The better I became
at focusing and acting, not reacting, the more centered my whole
life became.
The old adage of
"When the student is ready the teacher will appear" definitely
applies here. Cognitivequitting has changed my life. I not only
stopped smoking, but got this bonus of a new and exciting way
of looking and reacting to this journey called life
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Stephen Polansky All rights reserved.
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