Someone started a thread asking if this whole quitting process was in our heads. Why does it seem that people consider it a bad thing for it to all be in our heads? Does that mean there is something wrong with us if it is all in our heads? From the very beginning of this journey, my husband who quit the same day I did, stated that this whole quitting thing this is all in our heads. I totally agree with him ... this quitting process IS all in our heads. I think that realizing this is a GREAT thing. Because if we know where the problem lies then we know where to take the battle to! How awesome is that? The only camoflauge our enemy has on is our own denial. Bust that down and it is Nicodemon arse whoppin' time! Now I am not saying that we do not go through physical withdrawal. We do. But physical does not last long unless we ourselves draw it out by our own choices. I am not saying that our bodies don't go through a change, they do. I am also not saying that we may not be left with health issues due to our self-abuse. But none of these things cause craves. What causes us to crave is in our minds. Our self-talk/thoughts contribute to how we feel. We need to identify the thoughts that cause feelings for a death stick. Some of these thoughts are subconscious (usually have to do with past memories) and other thoughts are our own self-talk. We really need to pay attention to our self-talk because if our self-talk isn't doing anything positive for us, then we need to start learning how to turn it around so that it does. Situations or certain settings can bring about subconscious triggers/memories. Emotions (due to memories) can bring about triggers as well. Triggers will lead to craves if we do not change our thinking. So if we learn how to identify and modify our thinking ... we can retrain our minds so that triggers do not equal cravings. Nicodemon is no match for emotional coping skills. If you want to change your life, change your mind. (Take what you like and leave the rest.) Fondly, Free [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/12/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 168 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,054 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $672 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 14 [B]Hrs:[/B] 4 [B]Mins:[/B] 10 [B]Seconds:[/B] 4

Thanks for the Post Free, I have been one of those people who have said "It's all in your head". I believe that once I took control of my way of thinking it changed my life and has kept me quit. I have also had craves and desires but like you said it only lasted a few seconds. It was when my mind let its guard down those thoughts and feels were allowed to creep in. I also believe that my quit has made me a stronger person. My mind is stronger and things I believe in, I believe in strongly. Thanks for the post. You make some very valid points. Alley [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/30/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 211 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,751 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $833.45 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 17 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 40 [B]Seconds:[/B] 25

Well said Free! ;) 4my2girls [b][i][color=Maroon]What Consumes Your Thoughts Controls Your Life[/b][/i][/color] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/5/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 236 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 7,095 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $771.72 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 19 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 45 [B]Seconds:[/B] 44

Awesome post, Free. I agree and there's a book by Alan Carr, Easy Way to Stop Smoking, that echoes what you're saying. Sounds strange but it's not easy to overcome our own minds. Especially when we've got outside influences constantly reinforcing the misconception that forces beyond our control effect our feelings. (Thus NRT, which I've always suspected somehow benefits Big Tobacco.) Thanks for this gentle reminder that much of what we complain about is truly "all in our heads". (Of course that doesn't make quitting any easier, we come-back kids know that!) mc [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/31/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 422 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 6,338 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1688 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 41 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 37 [B]Seconds:[/B] 59

This is a great topic of discussion! We all have the right to an opinion and some may disagree, but in the end we are all here to help one another move forward :) Take what you need and keep it close :) Keep Strong, Josie _____________________ The SSC Support Team.