20 weeks
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 fine for me to smoke if I needed to. Fact is, I didb't need to. We will always need to deal with stress, to deal with immense grief and horrible anxiety. Now that we have chosen to quit, we need to acknowledge that it is all awful but a cigarette is not going to change that. I didn't choose to smoke.
Now, I walk whenever I can to try and alleviate stress and, at night , I often have a glass or two or red wine to calm down.
At twenty weeks, I have no physical cravings for a cigarette - I just occasionally miss sitting out on the verandah, a glass of wine in hand and a ciggie on the go. That feeling of missing lasts about a minute and then, having resisted temptation, I can glow in the achievement of flicking the fags.
Thanks to everyone on this site who has been so supportive. People here generally empathise more than the people in my day-to-day world.
Good luck to everyone embarking on the early stages of the journey - it really is worth sticking at it. I just keep crossing my fingers that I will stay on track.
Hi Fullofhope. You said it! Life is full of ups & downs. These are not a reason to smoke, just an excuse to do so. You are too smart to fall for the excuse. Easier to deal with everything without nicotine. Problems do not disappear in a puff of smoke, as we know.
Hi Fullofhope, I just wanted to say a huge congratulations on achieving 20 Weeks. That is huge. Sounds like you have had a rough time of late and a lot to deal with but you have remained strong and that is a huge achievement. As your know I haven't been on the site for ages and we all know why that isn't. I wanted to thank you for the beautiful post you left for me. I wa s really touched by your kind words. Believe it or not those words have been on my mind and will most probably provide the impetus to come back. Life throws some serious curve balls some times and we just have to realise that a smoking is not the answer. Once again well done and thank you. X
Goodonya FOH - I am around 120 days, so about 4 full months in too, so know the feeling, but is sooo much easier to resist now, and after doing the festive season without fags, I am so glad I quit..
Keep at it all you guys, and know that it is really worth it once you have quit for a short period of time - it really does get easier to resist, the longer you stay quit..
way to go, great job, I think its game over for you, you've got this licked...And to get Nannette out and about.......WOW
Amazing Fullofhope. You should be extremely proud of your achievement especially under what sounds like a great deal of stress. You are right having a cigarette will not change anything and the stress of life will still be there whether we smoke or not. By choosing to not smoke we have said "up yours" to this addiction taking ahold of us again. Good luck everyone and stay strong
Wow - the band is back together! Thank you all for your encouraging words and for continuing to take an interest in your fellow travellers. All power to us.
Well done-Fullofhope. Keep up the good work! Keep going into your new journey. Enjoy the many benefits of being a NON-SMOKER. Best wishes! STAY QUIT!!
Congrats Fullofhope - that is awesome!! Thank you for your posts, I enjoy them. I am inspired and will continue on my journey.
Yay! Well done,like Nanette I've had a few "life" issues.Let me tell you smoking doesn't help,but with the support of every one here and experiences like yours I'm getting there😊 xx
Full of hope - you're killing it. Lovely to see the old bunch commenting. Without you I wouldn't have made it this far. I just stalk you all occasionally cos I like to say hello to my cyber friends.