Second Attempt
Hi, I had been smoking for about 15 years. My health started to deteriorate, trouble breathing and diabetes. I tried to quit myself by reducing the amount I smoked. Didn't work. I contacted quilting and started on the patches. They really helped me along with the regular phone calls from the lovely people at quit line. I successfully quit after about 3 weeks from when I started. I had been smoke free for 1 year. My breathing was better and my diabetes was under control.
Recently tho I have had major stress and a mental breakdown to deal with and found myself smoking again. So once again I'm on the quit journey. With the help of quit line and patches I know I will be able to quit again.
Thank you for reading my story.
Nrt's like the Patch only help you to lessen the need for nicotine gradually. Had you joined our group before you might have changed your way of thinking and known that smoking does absolutely nothing. It certainly does nothing to relieve stress, and instead is the cause of lots of stress in our lives. Stress as to the guilt we feel about smoking yet defend at all cost to save face. More guilt as to the money spent on destroying our health. Shame of our addiction and how we are quickly becoming the outcast in social circles. Shame that we feel we are too weak to overcome this.
Knowledge is power. Changing your way of thinking makes quitting permanent rather than just marking time and feeling like you are missing something. You will stop craving what you do not want. Desire more that life has to offer. You are worth it. You enjoys being a non-smoker so don't have that fear to contend with. We fear the unknown. We resist change.
Unfortunately we will always be addicted to nicotine and having just one is unlikely.......having just one leads to having thousands. Face the truths. Accept the truths and find your way back to freedom!
I might add that cutting down naturally by being Mindful of every cigarette we light while changing how we think of smoking is beneficial. Smoke in private as to make it less powerful. See how boring it is. Smell the foul air and taste the poisons within. Think what you could be doing and what you are doing.
No matter how much one smoked, most is gone after 8 hrs of sleep (in which we did not have cravings btw) so cutting down to the point that we count the minutes that we can light up only serves to make nicotine even more powerful in our minds. Use the mind in the most beneficial way and learn to thing differently. You will be amazed at how easy quitting smoking can be.
Hi Zoetic and welcome. Welcome to your new QuitFam,.. a support system that will stand behind you and cheer you on.
Honestly, I think most of us have had to attempt quitting more than once. I'm embarrassed to say, that I have had attempts in the double digits! What makes this time my final time? Something happened. I was really READY and I heavily rely on this community in which gives me inspiration.
Anyone can quit. It will happen once you realize you CAN get control over this addiction. It is up to you to make the final decision and it looks like you have decided to plow forward. Good going!!!
You will not regret this Zoetic and this site supplies so much education, inspiration and encouragement. Read new posts, old posts, post your own progress or even your non-progress. Maybe someone can relate to your post and give you tips from their personal experience. Use the search tool as well and you will hit upon a post that "hits home".
You have come to the right support system. Support is powerful and will help you with your passion to quit. Make this your LAST quit.
You will learn to handle how to de-stress WITHOUT smoking a cigarette. You will learn the truth,... smoking causes stress,... You will be so proud to get through a stressful situation WITHOUT having to light up a cigarette. Once you get through a stressful situation the first time, you will believe you don't need to smoke with every stressful situation. It's only in your mind. You only "think" it is helping you through. Work on changing your thoughts and you will succeed.
Everyone on this site is behind each other. We all want EVERYONE to quit!! Hang with us and we will hold your hand. Stay positive, strong and focused. You CAN do this!! Others have!!! Best,....
PS - Happy Thanksgiving! Where I am, it's Thanksgiving day. Have a great one! I hope each of us can write a huge list of what we are thankful for.
Hello Zoetic and all the wonderful people on this feed. Happiness is right. You are NOT DEPRIVING YOURSELF OF ANYTHING WHILE NOT SMOKING. You are feeling wonderful because of that clean air in your lungs instead of that terrible, stinking stuff. The thing that deals with stress is YOU not nicotine, and your mind has tricked you into believing that it's the nicotine that helps. Like you, most of us here have quit and restarted and then finally quit. Be kind to yourself and look to your healthy, energetic mindful self to get you through.
Hi there zoetic good for you on never giving up on quitting smoking for good. Sorry to hear you have gone through a breakdown and so happy to hear you are emerging through the other side of it with a whole new strength. It's AWESOME to have you with us😊♥️🙏