The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
i decided to quit my disgusting habit of 12yrs. yesturday was my first full day without smoking in a LONG time. i felt fine. i felt a few times during the day when i would normally go outside to smoke, but i quickly remembered that i didn't have any smokes. for me it's not the quitting that is hard. i am confident that i will quit. but i don't have the confidence that 2yrs from now i might be at a cookout, friends house, or club and fall to the temptation b/c those around me are smoking(even though most of the people around me don't smoke--but it just takes one person for me to ask to bum a smoke and then it starts again). i seem to have a cycle. i smoke for a year, and then i quit for a year or two. then i start back up again. people may think it sounds silly..."if you quit and are doing well then why start up again?" the answer is that i don't know. most of the people around me don't smoke and i don't think that they "get it". those of you that smoke and have had a similar cycle know what i am talking about.
the truth is that i like smoking! i'm not sure what it is about it that i like. maybe i like the alone time i get to go outside by myself to smoke. i do other things that give me that alone time(go to the gym, talk to friends,...). i don't think that it is about the smoking. i think i just like the habit. maybe i should come up with a better/healthy habit. i have two desires to quit #1=my daughter & #2=my son. my kids deserve it! they are only 1 and 4, but i don't want them growing up watching mommy go outside to smoke (rain/shine/snow). i also know the health effects, and don't want to realize that it's too late when i am lying in bed with an oxygen mask and dying. i want to watch my kids grow up, get married, have kids...i don't want to miss all that b/c i chose to smoke. that is selfish.
i know that it is in my best interest to quit while i am still young(26yrs old). so here i go!! let's hope this time is for good.
What often happens, Flint, as it did to me, was that after I quit smoking (23 years ago) I became intolerant of the smell of smoke and became allergic to its presence. I never realized my clothing, my house, my car, and everything else smelled so disgusting until after I quit. Maybe that will happen to you, and you'll find that you will never have the desire again. In the meantime, congratulations! That's the first of two #1 things you can do for yourself to see to your health. Tied with keeping a healthy weight. Then comes the avoidance of all the red meat and fat, french fries, McDonald's breakfasts.....YIKES!! I'll not even go there. LOL!!
Hoping for you with all my might, Diva
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"Speak your truth quietly and clearly..." Desiderata
I just quit recently as well.....as we speak..er, as I type lol, I am on day 12!!!!!!
You can do this flint, if ya need someone to chat with about it, message me
I smoked for 8 years, started kinda young just like you, I just woke up one day and said the heck with it, I dont wanna spend any more money on smokes, so I got some gum instead
Congratulations Flintfeet! So happy for you. Unlike you I don't find it easy to quit and even harder to stay stopped. I've smoked for 21 years and only tried to quit 3 times all in the last few years. Never lasted more than 16weeks...so I'm impressed you can stay stopped for as long as you do. Every day without a cigarette is a success. Be proud of your achievements.
I personally haven't enjoyed smoking for years, for me it's purely addiction and habit. My last attempt inspired my friend to quit; she stayed stopped, I didn't. So at least some good came out of it. I was surprised to realise that not everyone was supportive of my quit attempts and some outright tried to sabotage me. If this happens to you, try not to let it affect you. Your 'recovery' is your business. It was tough but yet another aspect of my learning.
I was never one to smoke in celebration like I've heard some do. I smoke to 'fix' my feelings, to keep my nicotine levels up (I am evil when I'm withdrawing) and out of habit. I found ways to change the habits and put healthier ones in place, I've used nicotine replacement products to address the addiction and ease myself through withdrawal but the beastie that gets me every time is emotional crisis. When I'm hurting and feeling desperate I feel I need a cigarette. Absolutely pathetic! I also feel a hypocrite as my A used the 12steps and program to kick his addictions but can I do it? Nope. I guess I haven't hit my bottom. I also have met many in the fellowships who successfully quit smoking by applying the program. I hope that's encouraging.
My last quit attempt I was really ready and wanted to stop not felt I should. My health is already poor not because of smoking (yet) but it certainly doesn't help. It all just fell into place for me and I really thought this was my breakthrough. Lo and behold at 16weeks a crisis. I recognised it and did what I could to prevent a relapse but 3 days later I caved. The problem is court orientated (these things drag on forever) and is still ongoing so I haven't tried to stop again but will. What I'm trying to say is that you need to recognise your patterns, your reasons, your triggers. The things that trip you up. You can see a cycle already. Knowledge and understanding will strenghten your efforts. Each time I try to stop I get more awareness, break through a little more denial and get closer to success. I was told "never quit quitting; the more you try the more likely you are to succeed."
I also know I have to stop for me. Children are a powerful motivator, as are the health and financial benefits. There is a lot of help and information available out there. Use whatever works for you. You deserve it. Treat yourself from time to time with the money you save and congratulate yourself for every cigarette you haven't had. Don't worry about the cookout/event next year, just be aware of it as a potential trigger, it's just a day at a time. I feel strange making suggestions as I'm still smoking but I learnt a lot from what others told me of their achievements and relapses. I wish you every success.
One day at a time as with all our other challenges. Quit for good. Too many health risks. Life is very good not smoking. I quit in 1981 after 12 years of smoking. Never thought I could do it but I did with the help of a class (Smokenders). We analyzed why we smoked, changed our habits, found a highly personal reason to quit, and set a date.
