Never give up

My name is Helen, I am 51. This is my 6th or 7th attempt to quit.  I started at around 12-13 years and gave up at 21 when I married. I wanted to have children and that was my motivation at that time, but I drank.  At 36 I was introduced to pot to cut down on my alcohol intake.  Pot and alcohol became a problem, so at 40 I took up smoking to reduce the amount of pot i was smoking.

My life was out of control and I tried 2 episodes in rehab to break the "habit" of addiction.  The longest I lasted was 6 weeks. Each time I quit I felt I was missing out on something and usually just replaced the addiction with another vice, generally food or alcohol. I tried many ways to quit; nicotine patches, zyban, champix, hypnotherapy several times.  I started to understand my smoking and other habits were deeply ingrained in my subconscious mind and I had used them as a tool to cope for the majority of my life. When I felt uncomfortable with the people I could excuse myself to have a smoke, when I was alone my ciggies where my company. I considered them my friend and at times my only ally.  Rediculous I know.  

My last attempt was early 2012 with the help of Champix, I was half hearted and continued to smoke, albiet 1 or 2 a day, but I was still a smoker.  I stopped the champix and my smoking increased quickly. I needed to change my thinking so in early January I bought myself a hynotherapy tape on addictions and habits, which I played every night for 6 months. I did not try to stop smoking in this time I was just changing my thinking. I started Champix again 4 weeks ago and stopped smoking 15 days ago.  

I won't be cocky but this time I feel different, I don't feel I am missing out on anything, and I have not replaced it with anything. I have even stopped drinking which was not even in the plan.  So although there is no scientific evidence that hynotherapy works, I think it is my key to the permanent change of bad habits in general, and I would definetly recommend it.