Welcome Friends in Recovery. My name is Carol R and I am Nicotine Addict in recovery. Through the years of my recovery and online type sharing meetings, I have developed this website and would like to pass it on to others as a token of my 12 Step Work. Please talk over any of these suggestions with your sponsor or another Nicotine Anonymous member. If you do not have a sponsor, you might want to start looking for one. Meanwhile, make meetings until you find one.  In all honesty, there is no Pre-Quit instruction or even a step called Pre-quit in Nicotine Anonymous. This is just my way of working the steps and my suggestions to others. Your sponsor may suggest other ways of working them through their experience.  You will have to go with your gut feelings as what will work best for you.

I found my journey to nicotine freedom the most rewarding thing I’ve done. My quit date is 2/14/98 from nicotine and 2/4/98 from smoking. I tried many times before I was able to succeed.  My first year was a roller coaster ride, my emotions went from the depths of despair to the highs of a pink cloud within a few hours. I hung on to anyone who would listen to me in my tormented ravings. Nicodemon had his way with me but because of my Higher Power, NicA and the fellowship I share with my NicA family he soon tired of me.

I will only suggest that you follow the suggested program of Nicotine Anonymous.  I found in Nicotine Anonymous everything I needed in order to get on the path to recovery. I can share only my experience, strength and hopes with you about how I did it. I know I had a hard time with finding my answers in the beginning. I was confused and frustrated with many failed attempts of quitting. If you are like me, you will need to do 3 things and that is to be willing, open minded, and honest with yourself. 

Recovery is not easy, but it is doable, as you will find out from other members.  One day at a time, one hour, one minute is how I did it. If you relapse don’t beat yourself up, but keep coming to meetings. No one will throw you out or tell you that you can't go to meetings because you are smoking. All it takes to be a member of Nicotine Anonymous is a desire to stop using nicotine.

I started with the tasks below.  Save all your work and use it as a journal.  Journaling is a great tool to use in recovery. You will be able to look back on your progress. 

I ordered all the material I could get my hands on, I also had meetings at my local hospital and gave the literature I ordered out to friends who wanted to stop. I went to online meetings also. All it takes to have a meeting is two people with a desire to stop using nicotine. Most city radio, newspaper and television stations will advertise Nicotine Anonymous meetings for free. A suggestion would be calling and telling them about being a member and wanting to start a meeting. Look up your area’s intergroup and get some support from them.

1.  First read Introducing Nicotine Anonymous and answer the questions they list.

2.   Read To the Newcomer, and Sponsorship in Nicotine  Anonymous ; and read Sponsors & Write Before You Light

3.   Nicotine Anonymous has no opinion on nicotine replacement therapy or any medical intervention. If you choose to go that route, it’s okay. You are still welcome in Nicotine Anonymous. I used the patch for 10 days on my last quit in 1998. It was the best I could do.  I consider my quit date the date I stopped smoking, but for the purpose of nicotine anonymous it is the day I quit using nicotine.  This link may help you figure out if you need replacement therapy >  Fagerstrom Test . If you decide to go in that direction, or feel that you need other support aids read this > Smoking Cessation Therapies , also read To the Dipper and Chewer . To stay on nicotine replacement or to continue to chew or dip is really not an option for smobriety. Our goal is to become nicotine free. So a quit date will be required.

4.     Please order the "Nicotine Anonymous: The Book" at http://www.nicotine-anonymous.org/store.php 

5.   Read The Twelve Steps of Nicotine Anonymous And The Twelve Traditions of Nicotine Anonymous        

6.  Take a Smoking Inventory for several days > MY SMOKING LOG   to find patterns and triggers.

7.  Make a 2-column list. One column with "Triggers" and the other with "Counter Actions".  Review your Smoking Log and find your Triggers then review Things to do after quitting or make up some of your idea's for counter action. Just be sure it is something that you will be willing to do instead of smoking, I shared it with my sponsor and saved one for later to reflect back on.  Keep adding to the list through out your recovery process.

 

Triggers	Counter Action
Drinking Coffee	Drink half de-cafe or drink juice first
Waking up first thing in morning	Take shower just as soon as I open eyes. Ask God to help me stay smober.

8. Start doing some practice quits or alter your smoking... with your counter actions.

9.   Make a list of 10 reasons why you want to quit and the benefits of quitting.

10.    Set your quit date.  You may want to talk over with some one about the date you choose.  My quit date was one that was very personal to me, although I listen to what others had to say. It was me who made the final decision of when that was to be. When I felt I could meet the challenge. It's come, come to, come to believe I could do it.

Your Friend in Recovery,

Carol R.

Here are some steps to help you prepare for your Quit Day:

§         Pick the date and mark it on your calendar. 

§         Tell friends and family of your Quit Day. 

§         Get rid of all the cigarettes and ashtrays in your home, car, and place of work. 

§         Stock up on oral substitutes -- sugarless gum, carrot sticks, and/or hard candy. 

§         Practice saying, "No thank you, I don't smoke." 

§         Set up a support system. This could be a group class, Nicotine Anonymous, or a friend or family member who has successfully quit and is willing to help you. Ask family and friends who still smoke not to smoke around you or leave cigarettes out where you can see them. 

§         Think back to your past attempts to quit. Try to figure out what worked and what did not work for you.

Modified and taken from Guide to Quitting Smoking.