Where desire is educated, motivated, and supported.
Freedom has daily limits on the number of new members granted posting privileges. Our objective is to serve visitors as well as those granted group posting privileges. As with any live clinic support group, controlling the number within the group allows for meaningful interaction, focused learning and qualilty support. Limiting group admissions gives all readers the opportunity to see the types of questions and concerns being raised by new quitters and to share in the support and insights provided by longer-term successful quitters, without overwhelming the group. In that we do limit the number of new members, we ask that you not apply for membership unless you are truly interested in active participation within the group.
Welcome to FREEDOM! If you're starting a new or recent quit - within the past 30 days - and are quitting tobacco cold turkey (without the aid of any product, medicine or procedure), then you are in the right place!
If you are not yet ready to give up all nicotine, or refuse to see it as a true chemical dependency, we strongly recommend that you locate and join another program. If you can break nicotine's grip via any other program or method then your glory is just as great as that experienced by any of our members.
Within 72 hours of ending all nicotine use your blood will be 100% nicotine-clean. It is then when chemical withdrawal symptoms normally peak in intensity and then begin to gradually decline.
Freedom's online educational experience involves two steps. First, 72 hours of reading, learning, and nicotine cleansing followed by admission into our 100% nicotine-free member forum. Our relapse policy allows only one membership per lifetime.
Our site is set up to be more of an educational forum than a traditional Internet based support site. It is important to note that all visitors have complete access to all of the materials we have at Freedom and www.WhyQuit.com, whether they become members or not. The only thing members can do that non-members cannot is post messages to the group. Again, whether you join or not please know that we exist to provide you with the information needed to quit smoking and to stay quit!
In that most of our smoking life has revolved around regular mandatory nicotine feedings isn't it time to dedicate ourselves to understanding why? Don't feel alone if you've been hooked on nicotine for years without ever fully understanding why. Think about it. What learning takes place by slapping on a nicotine patch, chewing nicotine gum, sensing the bliss of Chantix, Champix or Zyban dopamine enhancement; by being hypnotized, sucking a lozenge or being stuck by a needle? When did we take the time to master the core principles associated with nicotine dependency recovery?
None of our prior efforts failed because we picked the wrong date or because of poor planning. They ended in relapse because we put nicotine back into our bodies. Yes, we are true drug addicts who lived from fix to fix, dependent upon a drug that permanently enslaves the brain reward pathways of roughly 90% of all regular users. By contrast, only about 10% of regular alcohol users and 15% of powdered cocaine users become chemically dependent. Yes, we are drug addicts in the truest sense, slaves to a master more addictive than heroin!
Freedom from Tobacco is a cold turkey quitting group. There must be at least one place on earth where nicotine has no voice, a place where those serious about freedom can take comfort in the fact that those supporting them are serious too. That place is FREEDOM. Freedom's adversary is nicotine and it is unwelcome here in any form or amount.
In the past, it's likely that you fought your addiction in total darkness. By learning "why" you reach for each cigarette, "why" quitting seems difficult, "how" to effectively cope with the symptoms of withdrawal, and "how" to forever avoid relapse, you'll turn on the lights and this journey will be like none before. Keep an open mind because for many here at Freedom, this has been their easiest withdrawal ever. Are you ready for step one?
~ Step One ~
The First 72 Hours
A nicotine clean body (minimum of 72 hours) is neccessary before applying. We've put together in the above link a basic roadmap of sorts to aid new quitters in navigating the first three days of ridding your body of nicotine.
The core of Freedom's educational experience is what we fondly refer to as "Joel’s Library," a collection of 95 short articles written by Joel Spitzer, a full-time smoking cessation counselor of over thirty years. It may take a day or more to read them all for the first time, but by doing so it will provide an excellent nicotine dependency recovery foundation that may help save your quit and very possibly your life. Joel recently added Joel's Video and Audio Quit Smoking Lessons to the library.
Aside from Joel’s Library, members and staff have also indexed articles under twenty-one different Message Boards. To see the newest messages posted to all twenty Message Boards at once use the View All Topics link at the bottom of the list of Message Boards. Our members will be posting messages and encouragement to help you through your first 72 hours so be sure and spend some time reading under View All Topics.
In reading individual Message Boards, we highly recommend Advice 4 Newbies which is loaded with scores of powerful and thought provoking articles to help guide you through the first 72 hours. If your motivation needs a boost visit WhyQuit.Com .
~ Step Two ~
Applying for Membership at the End of 72 Hours
If you have quit tobacco cold turkey and have remained 100% nicotine free for 72 hours you qualify to apply for group posting privileges. Remember, we only accept applications from recent quitters -those who quit within the past 30 days - and we only take a limited number of new applicants at any one time. Also, be cognizant that we have guidelines about acceptable screen names used by our members. Click here to see Freedom's screen name guidelines.
Your application MUST INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING FOUR ITEMS OF INFORMATION (highlighted in red) in the provided MSN message box. (Each MSN membership application contains a space for a "message" which will appear when you click on the link below.)
1. I affirm that I quit tobacco cold turkey without the use of any pill, product or procedure, and that I have not used any tobacco for the past 72 hours nor any quit smoking pill, product or procedure for the past 30 days.
Note: Products include ALL quitting products, pharmaceutical or otherwise, and include but are not limited to the nicotine patch, nicotine gum, nicotine lozenge, spray and inhaler, Zyban, Wellbutrin (if for cessation not chronic depression), Chantix and Champix. Procedures include ALL quitting procedures including but not limited to hypnosis, acupuncture, laser therapy, or chemical injections.
2. The date I stopped using all nicotine was .
Please state the above date in the MMDDYY format
3. My e-mail address is .
Please be sure to PROVIDE AN ADDRESS THAT YOU REGULARLY CHECK.
4. I have read and agree to abide by Freedom's Relapse Policy and Courtesies and Rules.
(click each to read)
We're sorry but all applications will be denied unless they expressly state the above language.
If you apply for membership without providing the above information, or apply before you have completed 72 hours nicotine free,we will feel badly but have no choice but to deny your application. Upon denial you will receive two letters, one from Freedom and one from MSN. Please do not get discouraged by the denial letter that MSN automatically generates as it's beyond our control. Thanks for your patience!
If you are not accepted to the group we want you to know that you still have access to all of our educational resources, and if you have questions or concerns that you cannot find answers to on the board you are free to write us at managers@whyquit.com and we will address your questions via email. You may also post questions at AskJoel.
Remember, there is only one rule that we need follow in order to remain nicotine free for the remainder of our lives:
No Nicotine Today! Never Take Another Puff, Dip or Chew!
Click Here To Join Now
managers@whyquit.com
Last updated on 04 18 2008 by rs
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