Welcome New Ex-Smokers

Congratulations on taking that all important first step with cessation - stubbing out the last cigarette and getting started.

Chances are you don't feel 'ready' to quit, and are experiencing a mixture of difficult emotions about it.

Try to relax.  You've found the best place for help. 

Getting Started with Cessation

Park yourself in front of your computer and read everything you can on this forum board. We encourage you to take the initiative to introduce yourself and post often. Sharing your journey with your new quit buddies and offering support to each other really helps.

This thread will serve as the meeting place for those of you who are quitting now, and when the month ends, we will move your 'home base' thread over to the Quit Buddies Unite folder, where you can continue to support each other. 

You can also return to the Introductions folder where you'll find the new Monthly Ex-Smoker thread for those coming along behind you.  Share the tips and encouragement that helped you during month one.  Not only will this help others, it will strengthen your resolve as well.

Start your reading here:  Homework for New Ex-Smokers

Additionally, the folder headings in gray on the left of the page under DISCUSSIONS house different topics.  Click on the gray heading to view the conversations held within.  When you finish with a folder, click on the drop down menu under DISCUSSIONS and select ALL to see all of the folders again.

Introductions/Newcomers Nook
A good place to start with numerous threads from new ex-smokers.

General Chit-Chat 
This is where you will find the daily NOPE thread.  NOPE stands for Not One Puff Ever, and members pledge NOPE on a daily basis.  Give it a try - you will probably find it helpful and empowering.

Quit Support
This is a good place to post for help when you need it ASAP. 
 
Dots(Weeks) and Stars (Months) Milestones and One Year and Beyond Milestones 
Read the accounts of people who are winning with cessation in these folders.

Quit Buddies Unite 
This folder is the home base for the groups who quit together.  This thread will move to that folder at the end of the first month.

Quit Smoking Library
Here you'll find member stories and links to important articles that will inform you about what to expect from smoking cessation.

The next 4 posts will give you additional info on how to navigate/post here.  Please read them and let us know if you have any questions.

Forum Navigation Basics

1. Take a look to the left at the DISCUSSIONS section to the left of this page

• Click on the drop down menu in grayed area immediately beneath it.
• If you click on All you will see all the folder categories; folders like, Introduction/Newcomers Nook, Quit Buddies Unite, Forum Navigation and Rules, General Chit-Chat etc. When you scroll down the system shows you if there are new messages (bold text) in the thread. 
• Hierarchy of threads (discussions) within a folder: threads are sorted within a folder by the latest date/hour of a post within thread. If you click on a thread without a new message the system will take you to the beginning of the thread.
• When you click on the drop down menu you can also select things like

Unread to me (messages to you waiting to be read).

• When you log in to the forum, the "DISCUSSIONS" section will show the "Unread Msgs" category at the top of the discussions area. Beneath the "Unread Msgs" title will be all the folders containing unread messages since your last visit to the forum, starting with the Introductions/Newcomers Nook folder. When you scroll down to for example the "Quit Buddies Unite" folder if there are no new messages in your quit buddies group it is not going to be at the top of quit buddies unite category. Continue to scroll down past all the quit buddies folders that have new messages (they are in bold text) until you find your group.

2. Click on the drop down menu on your profile picture/avatar at the top right of the page. Review the content of each one.

• My Profile Photo ( you can add or change your avatar or photo)
• My Profile
• My preference
• My Account
• Help
• Logout

3. Please familiarize your self with the Help button contents

This is where you can browse Delphi FAQs for general information, or post a question in one of the Support Forums, where Delphi staff, volunteers, and knowledgeable members are happy to lend a hand. You will also find "How To" guides that are fully illustrated tutorials that show you exactly how things work on Delphi forums

4. When you click on a folder heading like "Quit Buddies Unite' to read or post, the gray drop down menu under the DISCUSSIONS section changes to "Single folder". Once you've finish what you're doing in that folder to see all the folder headings again, click on the gray drop down menu under DISCUSSIONS and click on ALL which will bring up all the folder titles.

5. Education about our addiction and the cessation process is a major component of a successful permanent quit. Take a look at the articles in the link below they were written especially for new ex-smokers.

Homework For New Ex-Smokers

http://forums.delphiforums.com/quit_smoking/messages/3435/1

Personal Signatures

As you move through the forum, you'll notice that a lot of people carry a variety of images in their personal signatures.

There are 3 levels of membership at Delphi forums - DelphiBasic (free), DelphiExtra ($19.95 per year) and DelphiPlus ($4.95 per month). Only the two paid tiers (DelphiExtra and DelphiPlus) allow you to carry a signature field that you can customize with graphics. The two paid subscriptions also allow you to browse forums ad-free.

You can take a look at a comparison chart of the plans here:

http://www.delphiforums.com/plans.ptt

Graphics and photos can be added to the body of your messages in the DelphiBasic plan. Follow the instructions below.
 

How to: Insert an Image

Please feel free ask any question and to join in any discussion on the forum that interests you.

How to Post a Message:

There are two ways to post messages: Replying to a message in an existing discussion or starting a new discussion.

Replying to a Message

You can reply to a message someone else has posted by clicking the reply button on  the post you are reading. It contains a white left facing arrow and the word  Reply  located at the bottom right of the post.   You can also reply using all or selected text from the post.  To do this:

• Before clicking on the reply button highlight the specific text from the post you want to respond to. This text will be carried onto the beginning of your reply post.
• Type your message
• Preview or Post your message using the buttons below.

Addressing Your Reply:

Your message will automatically be addressed to the person who wrote the post you're replying to.  If you want your message to go to someone else instead, or to ALL members in the thread,  click in the field next to the "TO"  at the top left of your edit screen.  You can choose ALL or a member from the drop down list  by typing in the member's ID. Their name should pop up on the list.

Starting a New Discussion:

You can start a new thread by:

• Clicking on the "New Topic" button that appears at the top of the main forum page to the right across from DISCUSSIONS.  
• Type in the name of your new topic subject.   
• Leave the TO   showing  ALL
• Select a folder where you want your post to appear.
• Click on the down arrow across from Folders.  
• Scroll down and click on the folder where your post will appear.  
• Type your message.
• Click on Post

How to Send a SOS Request for HELP!

If you at anytime need cessation support you can start a new discussion in either the  "Introductions/Newcomers Nook" or  "Quit Support"  folders.  See instructions above for Starting a Discussion.

Note: You can find the new topic area from any place on the forum by scrolling all the way to the top of the page.

How to Bookmark a Thread

To to bookmark a message:

• Go to the bottom of the post you want to bookmark.
• At the bottom right find the "Reply" button.
• Hover your cursor to the left of the "Reply"  button
• Find the "Bookmark this message" symbol  just to the left of the "Reply" button.
• Click on the bookmark this message button.
• You will receive a pop-up message that will say

To find your bookmarked messages

• Look to the left at the DISCUSSIONS section.
• Click on the drop down menu in grayed area immediately beneath the word DISCUSSIONS. 
•  You will see a menu that contains items like, "7 Days back", "2 Days back", "Unread Msgs", "Unread to Me" etc.  Look all the way to the bottom, the last item has the book mark symbol  and the words "Bookmarked Msgs"  your saved bookmark messages will appear here ...........just click on the one you want to view and it opens with your post. When finished reviewing, click on your browser back arrow key to go back to where you were. See example graphics below.

How to Follow a Discussion

Want to know if someone posted in your buddy group? Get email notifications on any specific discussion you wish to follow.

1. Click on your profile pic in the upper right hand corner.
2. From the drop-down menu select “My Preferences”
3. Scroll down to “View Zeta as Classic”
4. Check the box before “View all Zeta forums in Classic”
5. Select “Update”
6. A box will appear “Success”. Click “OK”.
7. Return to About Smoking Cessation Forum. Note: It will look vastly different.
8. Select the “Messages” tab to show the folders.
9. Go to the Discussion you want to follow.
10.  Select “Subscribe” in the upper right directly across from the Discussion name.
11.  Select how often you want to subscribe. Then click “Subscribe”.
12.  A Subscribe box will appear. Click “OK”.
13.  If you have other Discussions you wish to follow, repeat Steps 9 thru 11.
14.  Select “My Preferences” at the top of the screen.
15.  Scroll down to “View Zeta as Classic”
16.  Check the box so it is now empty
17.  Select “Update”
18.  “Success” box. Click “OK”.

Hello .  Day 1 here.  I am much more prepared for this quit than in the past.

I took a lot of time the last several days reading the newcomer articles and information and getting my toolbox ready.   

 I read my journal from my last quit in 2016 .  Powerful stuff.   I know journals are a place to vent and say whatever you need to , but there was too much  negativity in it.   Quitting smoking is a good thing !!!  

                            Lisa

Lisa,

Hi there! I’m happy to see a new face/name here. I’m about to reach my one month quit on Saturday, so I’ve been hanging out in the January quitting thread.

Day one was definitely the roughest for me. I really wasn’t sure I’d make it throughout the whole day. I hope you did and that tomorrow you can be excited about it! I’ve been staying close to here and asking for help or pats on the back when needed and it’s made such a difference. 

Jenny

Hi Jenny,

Navigating sites is not one of strengths I'm trying to get back to January thread as you call it read the site how to navigate and have little understand and little patience right now I am glad to see your doing well. I am iundated with inundatrd with issues right now. Some of which include a recent biopsy results still being checked for cancer and culture results indicting a need for more IV antibiotics to treat deep neck infection that started four years ago with a spinal infection after an epidural. A recent culture for  a fungal infection previously cultured as result of all the previous ABX shows it's still active the fungal infection is resistant to antifungal drugs. More abx will worsen this My  infectious disease Dr did not get back to me yet regarding a plan my spine surgeons nurse told me Dr will get back to me today possibilty exists infection is active in the bones of my back. Dr who took biopsy confirmed when I asked. More ABX will worsen fungal infection Taking more fungal medication while taking more heavy abx, to me is not an option because A.) they almost caused a heart attack last time.and B.) they obviously didn't work last time. I am trying not to hide facts from my mother but also do not want to worry her.  My Wife appears to be nonchalant enough to causee concern enough. The pains have been increasing steadily for months indicating infection is active in the bones of my back. A hearing is scheduled Feb 7 workers compensation that I have no Attorney to represent me on. The epidural that was given six years ago was treatment for a work related injury. My death is iminent and I know it. Smoking or not unfortunately will have little impact on my survival or length of it at this point under these circumstances.and I'm sorry to say I let the Marlboro man's lassoo grab me I came here hoping to be a success and inspiration to others and have failed by sucombing to the way I have always dealt with stressful situations. There's a lump on the back of my head and neck, it developed with the onset of the spinal infection my spine surgeon says it's an enlarged lymph node. My infectious disease Dr says radiologist says it's a lipoma has been throbbing again causing a considerable amount of pain in my neck.I have pain in every part of my body. I'm not giving up but things are looking pretty hopeless for me. Using pot to lessen pain is a few weeks behind me will continue to be behind me I am grateful I have that achievement because I know I cannot ever completely stop smoking without quitting the weed. Since I do not have the time or patience to try to figure out what thread is to get back to January conversations, would you please inform others that may have sent me questions or words of support , that have not responded because of an overload of issues on my plate.  Now I've got a blazing headache too  I knew it would happen after pushing these little letter buttons and the bright screen.  I was serious when I said I will either permanently quit smoking or die trying. As I said, I have great respect for people that successfully quit permanently and people that never give up trying.I have great empathy for people that never put forth effort to quit because I know how easy it is for nicodemon to manipulate our mind into not thinking there is not a big problem I hope to be back soon but with the myriad of worsening pains I am having and facts about my microbe friends the realistic side of me says I may not. Stay on track be proud your month of a new way of life it is a major accomplishment and by knowing this, let this thought smother nicodemons thoughts. Stay on track you are doing wonderfully. Mike

Mike,

I’m so incredibly sad to hear of all your struggles. I can’t even imagine what you’re going through. I don’t understand how some of those problems work, but it sounds like you don’t have a lot of hope to cling to. I’ll be hoping your doctors find a way to at least decrease your pain. I also hope the cancer results come back negative! A miracle would be top of the wish list.  

I think you’ve spread inspiration here, even if you’re back to smoking now. With all you’re going through, you’ve tried. While not making it shows how strong a grip the nicodemon has, the fact you’ve still tried shows how desperately  so many people want to free! 

If you’re ever up to checking in, I know a lot of us would like to hear how you’re doing, smoking or not.

Jenny

Jerthie and Erika,

I can’t seem to find the January thread and Mike asked I let you guys know about his update, so I’m CC-ing the 2 of you on here. I’m not so great with site navigation myself.

Jenny