My life as a smoker
I started smoking when I was 16 years old. It snuck up on me, as I always was thinking: "It's cool for now, I'm young, I'll stop in a year".
So, 8 years later I was still smoking heavily and secretly around my family and church. Some of my friends knew I smoked; my family knew as well, but I kept lying to them that I quit.
I guess the worst part of it all was the constant lying and sneaking around. Not to mention my breathing kept getting worse. I couldn't even walk upstairs anymore, and I used to be so active.
Why and how I quit smoking
I quit cold turkey.
I'd had enough. I've tried many times to quit smoking, but never made it any longer than two weeks. At a two-week family reunion, I decided to quit, with their support on my side. After the two weeks were over I was back home and I noticed how everything was triggering a smoking response. It was driving me nuts! It seemed as if everyone around me was smoking.
Then I remembered how after just a few weeks I regained so much more life. That thought and the fact that it only gets better keeps me going.
Advice
- Quitting only happens NOW.
- Cold turkey is a good way to get nicotine out of your body quickly.
- Never, EVER, NEVER NEVER smoke again. Nada. Nix. Null. No puffs. So many quit attempts failed due to this mistake.
- Don't prioritize weight gain over your quit program.
- Quitting with a friend helps.
- Live in a smoke-free home.
- Read about nicotine addiction. Read some more. And then some more. This forum really helps.
Terry Martin, Smoking Cessation Guide, says:
Congratulations, Adam. So much of what you say about quitting is true. It is a one day at a time endeavor. When we are able to keep our minds in the present moments of today we can manage the ups and downs that come with recovery from nicotine addiction much more easily.Keep working your quit day-by-day and you'll be looking back from the one year smoke-free mark faster than you think!
