Stories and experiences by: Fullofhope

It was two years ago last week that I had my last cigarette and I cannot quite believe that I've made it this far. Nor can most of the people around me. Last night I dreamt that I had smoked. In stressful situations I still think of a cigarette. On Friday nights, I think, 'wouldn't it be lovely ...'. However, each of those instances last somewhere between 10 seconds and 60 seconds. A deep b...

I came home tonight and thought, 'thank God it is not this time last year - that was such a hard night'. It is a year since I smoked my last cigarette and I am so glad I can say that. Whilst my close friends have been incredibly supportive, it was the extraordinary contributors to this site who showed me the path, cheered my along the way and gave me the determination to keep on going. I don't...

I am now nine months down the track and cannot quite believe that I have achieved this or that I was ever, even a smoker. What reminds me of it is the almost daily wish for a ciggie. But that passes and life goes on ... a little bit heavier, a little bit richer and without the constant humiliation of being a pariah. It does get easier - that is for very sure. But it is never easy. There a...

I do come back here from time to time because there is no-one in my immediate life who smoked and so no-one who quite knows what it is like to give up. That's why I celebrate half a year here. First up, it is sooooooooo much better than when I first quit. When, occasionally, I have an urge for a cigarette, I am dismayed because that urge still exists. But then I remember how it pounced and p...

Not quite half a year - but 20 weeks seems worth celebrating. I have been through an incredibly challenging time over the past four-six weeks and there have been so many friends who have said (with love and kindness), 'I wouldn't blame you for smoking'. One day, just before Christmas, after having spent 10 hours, supporting my family, in Emergency at the hospital, I told myself that it would be...

The great thing is that I had to look up and check how many days I was at. It feels good to be chugging on, nicotine-free, and still on track. I went for a rigorous walk today, up some steep hills, and although I was breathless, it felt like I was cleaning out my lungs. Whilst it is definitely easier, it remains a challenge. I am going through some torrid times at the moment and the temptation t...

I am off on a holiday and, for the first time, I had to experience the disappointment of packing and getting ready without the prop of a cigarette. That made me a little bit sad. But, also, I am not worried about a long flight without nicotine, nor being in a country where smoking is even harder to do than in Australia. Let us be under no illusion - this is very hard but there will be great ...

Just hit the thirteen week mark and glad that this was a reason to celebrate. There have been some relatively easy weeks for a couple but the last three days were horrible. It just seems unfair that I can still go through such a bad trot after all this time. I agree with others on this site - there is no 'one size fits all'. We all started smoking for different reasons and we have all decided...

Well it is Friday afternoon and now almost 82 days (I am not going to stay up until midnight to complete the 24 hours and say I have legitimately accomplished 82 days). Part of me thinks 'well that wasn't so bad, was it?' and the other part of me says 'well why do I still want one when I arrive home with nothing particular to do'. I am not teary like I was 4-6 weeks ago and it can really be...

I woke up this morning after a reasonably late night last night (no ... very late night) and I just couldn't get over how good it was to have quit smoking. It felt so great to be able to be amongst non-smokers and not be the only person who needed to duck out. It felt so good to stay with non-smoking friends and not have to explain that I needed to go out for a ciggie. I think waking up this m...