Tammy's Quit Smoking Story

"I love the freedom I have now."

Here it was, the morning of February 17, 2003. I needed gas in my car so I stopped at the local gas station to fill up and bum a smoke from a girl that worked there. I wouldn’t buy cigarettes from there because they cost a dollar more than what they would cost at the smoke shop in town. Guess what, I asked her for that smoke just so I could have one for my drive to town and she had quit just the week before, so I turned to a guy who was in there that I knew also….. Guess what, he had been quit for almost a month…. Sheesh, was I the only person in our small community that was still smoking????

I survived the trip to town and bought that stupid pack of smokes. When I got back home I came to my computer and started looking for information about NRT’s. The more I read about them, the more I knew that it wouldn’t be a great idea for me to use them. I’m that person that gets all of the side effects from all medications. Somehow I stumbled upon this forum. I started reading and laughing at some of the posts. Wow, the information that I was reading, and the laughter was so much like a family.

I finished off that pack by 5:00 that evening. I still tell myself how stupid I was to sit there in front of this computer and read all about the addiction to cigarettes and chain smoke until the pack was gone…… why the heck didn’t I just throw them away instead of smoking the whole pack? What a dummy I was. It was 8 days later when I first posted. I waited until I was positive that I was going to remain smober. I wasn’t sure until that day. After that first post I was hooked. Within minutes I was welcomed with open arms.

Best of all, this forum brought me out of my depression. I didn’t think I would really ever be able to laugh again and be myself again. It didn’t take long for me to feel welcome. I’ve been smober for over 18 months now and I’m still here. Of course I still miss my daughter and have my bad days, but not only did this forum get me smober, it taught me that it was okay to laugh and have fun again.

To all of you newbies out there…Quitting Smoking really will change your life in a positive way. I love the Freedom that I have now. I don’t have to always find time to smoke, or miss out on those little things while I’m standing outside getting my next fix. I love not having to wonder if I stink…….I still swear that I never smelled like all of those other people that smoke. LOL Back to fooling myself.

I’m grateful for this forum, our beloved Christine, and all of the people here that have a way of keeping us here. We’re not just online Chats…… We are all Best of Friends and Family. Hugs to all of you.

~Tammy~
(WRTTammy)