Well, folks.....this is my second attempt to stop smoking in the past year. Today is the day.
I quit for four weeks last September, and then started again. I could give all kinds of excuses as to why I started again; stress, weight gain, depression, more stress, yadda, yadda, YADDA.....but it all boils down to one reason: I was just looking for an excuse to start again.
This time will be different because I am seeking support. I hope to find it here. I hope you people don't grow weary of me, because I plan to post a lot. I may post once an hour to get me through these first few days. I'll probably be very gritchy (a cross between griping and bitching), so please bear with me. I'm sure most of you have been there, done that.
I'm not one to ask for help, and that's probably why I failed the last time. I find I must humble myself to ask for help, so I'm asking.
Please help me get through this.
And when I find I'm over the peak and in the clear, I'm sure I'll stick around and lend support to someone else who needs to rid themselves of this vile, disgusting, expensive habit.
Good for you and you've come to a good board. I'm on day 13 and have posted and sought help here each day. Even if noone responds to your posts - it feels good to get it out....
Hi April - I smoked cigarettes for years and had a difficult time (as you are) quitting. I stopped and started again several times before I was finally able to quit for good. I really feel that this time you will succeed! Just think about all the many reasons to get rid of this, as you said "disgusting" habit!
If you could stop for four weeks, then you can stop forever. Don't be concerned about weight gain. The weight will come off as your body gets used to being without nicotine. You will feel so much better and look so much better that the small amount of weight-gain won't matter. I didn't use nicotine gum or patches - I ate lots of carrots and celery and, yes, mints!
I kept telling myself that I didn't want my family and friends pushing me around in a wheelchair with my oxygen tank on my lap. My family would have resented having to do that, since I would have brought it on myself. Even if you were spared lung cancer, you would surely get pulmonary disease!
And businesses, hospitals, stores, friends, have made it extremely inconvenient to be a smoker. That's just a few of the reasons to quit...good luck!
Welcome to the board, and good thinking on quitting smoking....it will [definitely] be the best thing you could ever do to improve your health.
I know what you feel like failing your quit...I did that too...many, many times before. I had quit at least 1O times before...and 2 times, I made it past the 1 year mark. Imagine what a failure I felt like then. But I was still young then, 24 the first time I went a year not smoking, and I think 30 the 2nd time.....thought I had a lot of time left to remain healthy. (stupid to think that way!) Finally, 3 years ago, I decided I was going to quit, and make it for good, no matter what....I was ready!!....and ready to fight to get there, "NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES"....is what I told myself, over and over again.
I quit by using the patches first, and then the gum. (I would not recommend the gum tho to anybody, as it is very addictive too, and I [and my hubby] had a helluva time getting off of that) Some people here quit cold turkey, (I never could), some use hypnosis, Wellbutrin, (Zyban) nicotine replacement therapy, tapering down on their smoking until they're down to 1 or 2 a day, etc. You have to find what works best for YOU, April.
Susan saying she comes here daily is a really good suggestion....I did that too, for at least the first year...(I'm still here a lot)....it really does help you reinforce your resolve to quit smoking, (and keep it)...and like she said, "even if no one responds, it helps to get it out". She is so right....it's kind of like journaling...which can be so therapeutic. And mabent had some great suggestions too....that about picturing herself in a wheelchair w/ an oxygen tank on her lap, being pushed around by family members...that was good. I did that too....whenever you want a cig, think horrid thoughts like that....it's quite a diversion....and so true, that that may really be the case someday...if you don't quit now.
Keep hanging around here, April, and we'll all try to help support you all we can. You CAN do it. You did do it for 4 weeks..so you CAN do it!!!
Susan - Wow! Day Thirteen!! WOO HOO! That's fabulous! Thanks for the encouraging words. You're correct....even if no one responds, at least I can journal here. In fact, I've opened a new thread where I will journal daily about quitting and how I feel.
mabent - you bring up a good point about failing health and being a burden on family members. I would hate that. I would really, really hate that. Especially since I would have brought it all upon myself by not taking action and quitting. Thanks for your encouragement.
Deda - I, too, tried the gum to quit once and it was simply vile. I hated it and just used it one day and then switched to the patch. I can do it this time. I'm sure of it. I didn't have support last time from people who knew what it felt like to quit (no one else at home here smokes), but I found you wonderful people and I know that I can do this!
"NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES"....is what I told myself, over and over again.
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