My First Step
Well, today was my 1st step in quitting !…I have picked a day, Monday. I've done this before several times and managed to go back to the smoking but this time it's different. I have to !!!!! My blood pressure has not been stable, the Dr was not pleased and wanted me to start some medication. I have always been healthy and never suffered from blood pressure before but the last year has been horrendous and my smoking has increased. My son was diagnosed with cancer, he is married and has 2 little boys, everyone's lives have been turned upside down, stress levels to the max hence the smoking increase. But I have to do this for me ! I am going to use the patches, change my habits and get moving, get healthy. I have a choice my son does not. I don't kid myself , it won't be easy. The stress part will be the hardest, maybe I could take up drinking instead of smoking (just kidding) So everyone please wish me luck, some of you are just like me, some have succeeded or at least almost there. I CAN DO THIS thanks Jenny
Hi Jenny, I really feel for you. It's going to be difficult in times of stress but yes you can do it. I've also picked a stressful time to quit & like you was smoking a lot more & health suffering, but I've made it to day 19 and there's nothing reeeally that a cigarette will do to stop the stress anyway - that's just a lie, it actually makes it worse. I do wish you all the best. Stay strong & focused on what you want!
Thanks Bronte, I really need to hear that, I am not alone and even with all that is going on with my life "I have to do this for myself " Good luck with your quitting, I am looking forward to day 19 as at the moment it feels too daunting, keep up the good work!
No, your definately not alone at all. It is daunting at first, but one day will just lead into the next and so on. I'll give you a few of my tips for stress later today, I've got to run off to watch kids cross country, arghh a social event with no cigarettes, I can do it!
Hi Jenny, just getting back to you with a few tips. Had a bad day yesterday but back with it today. So...... I found that replacing my morning coffee & cigarettes with an hours walk really helped, instead of wallowing in misery on my back step for an hour I'm out being healthy and active (changes my frame of mind) get's me thinking positive. This was a big 1st step for me. I also have a piece of paper next to my bed to write down my progress of how I'm feeling each day, it's encouraging & makes me happy when I get to write down what day I've just achieved, also reminds me that not all days are bad, I've had many good ones. It's something I look forward to doing each night when I make my cup of tea & settle down with my book. This is another great thing I do instead of once again sitting on my back step this time at night with my scotch and many many cigarettes. I'm now so much happier just snuggling up in bed without stinky smokes. I love it & can't wait to get there each night, so relaxing. Refreshed in the morning! In the first week I bought chuppa chups, chocolate & eucalyptus lollies for a treat instead of a cigarette because I had a really irritating obsession to have something in my mouth. I did a lot of cleaning, getting really organised now. I was constantly looking at this website and adding how I was feeling, reading others experiences helped greatly.
I have finally made 3 weeks today and couldn't even make myself want one today. The thoughts just weren't there. However, yesterday I was nearly tearing my hair out. It doesn't make any sense but if you feel you can't make it through a day just do something to change whatever it is like sometimes I just googled effects of smoking, looked at all the horrible pictures on the internet, read back on my list of benefits & reasons why I quit, did some gardening, cried.....ummm & cried.... burried my head in a pillow, screamed.... anything but buy a packet and give in. Coz you know, tomorrow's another day, a different day! You'll get through it. You've got to have a really good reason and keep that in your head, your brain does all sorts of things to make you forget why but you have to keep on top of that demon voice & tell it to go away and take it day by day or minute by minute if you have to. Just don't give up giving up & if you do, well...so what...just start all over again. Enough of my rambling, If tomorrow is still the big day, good luck, it's the 1st best day of the rest of your life....it's hard but I know you can do it. keep smiling :)