Now or Never
- My story is a little different than most. I didn't start smoking until I was 37 after my divorce. The love of my life, after 19 years together, told me he no longer loved me and left me for another woman. I went through a very rough time and started going out drinking with my friends and they all smoked, so I started taking hits off their cigarettes, insisting I would never get "hooked." My ex-husband was a smoker and I HATED it. Constantly tried to get him to quit. So for me to be a smoker was kind of surreal. My excuse was it helped with the stress. I moved to Florida and continued to smoke through my 3rd pregnancy and I'm ashamed to admit, but smoked in front of my daughter in the house and car and she's 10 now. I have been smoke-free for 2 days now and I KNOW I am going to continue to be a non-smoker for the rest of my life. I am on Chantix and cannot say enough good about it. I have no cravings or withdrawals whatsoever. Try it - it works.
- —Guest Pattie
This is The Last Time!
- I have tried SOOO many times to quit. I started smoking when I was 17. I'm now 25. I've used the gum and the patch and didn't think it helped. I also tried cold turkey a few times,but still couldn't completely let go of my old friend. It's like saying goodbye to a part of myself and becoming someone new,someone I don't know. I have never been an adult without cigarettes. It's scary. But I went to the doctor two days ago and now I'm on a drug called Zyban to help me. So far it seems to be working. I haven't experienced the anxiousness I usually feel when I quit. I feel positive and I really want to quit for good this time. I want to move forward! Wish me luck.
- —Guest Isabel
Co-worker Talking Through a Hole
- I had been thinking about quitting smoking for a while. But after 31 years, it seemed I was giving up my best friend. My friend that had been there for me every time I needed. That many years of smoking had really started to take its toll, I couldn't walk up stairs without exhaustion and trouble breathing. I am about to turn 50 this year, and yet my body felt like it was 90. But the last straw was when my co-worker stuck a voice box to his throat to speak to me because his vocal cords had been removed due to cancer from his years of smoking. The nasty smell coming out of the hole, and looking at him trying to speak to me was the final straw. That's it! No more! I've been smoke free now for three weeks and although it has been tough, I look forward to the day that I won't have to think about not smoking anymore, it will just come naturally to me.
- —sajensen
Lost my Mom
- I lost my Mom in November of 2008. As I watched her dying of Cancer (she never smoked), I felt so guilty for doing this to myself. I told myself I would quit. Losing my Mom (I was 44 at the time) and my best friend was devastating to me. It took me until January 2010 to finally have the guts to look at my beloved daughter (she is 10) and think about what I am doing to her. I quit 77 days ago, cold turkey. Every time I feel like smoking, which I still miss, I look at my daughter and that is it. I know that I will never be able to smoke again. My daughter kisses me again without making a face and I get lots of hugs from her with big smiles.
- —Guest Martina
My Husband's Look of Disgust
- I was a closet smoker. My bathroom was my haven because I did not want to smell up the rest of the house. My husband would come to the bathroom door to talk to me or give me the phone. The last few times he had a look of total disgust on his face at me. I knew it was time to quit right then. You see, I have always been a closet smoker, always ashamed, and always hiding behind a wall of smoke. I regret the last 20 years, thinking I was fooling everyone. I now understand that I was only fooling myself, and made a total ass out of myself. But now I look up, around, and I look forward to a smoke-free life. I have been smoke-free for 10 weeks and I have not looked this good or felt this good in years. My hands and nails are so clear. My breath is clear and so is my skin. I smell like Dove Pink Rosa soap and my favorite perfune all day. I love it. Being smoke-free and taking control is empowering. I highly recommend it. ANGIE
- —angieschizzy
Tired of Avoiding Friends and Family
- I never smoked in front of others. As a result, I found myself looking for reasons to be alone so I could have a smoke. Example, someone needed something at the store, I would go and say no worries, I'll go by myself. Wife and kids needed to run to the department store, asked me to go with them and I would say no, you guys go and have fun. So on and so on. I found myself distancing myself from friends and family just so I could have time to myself to sneak a smoke or two. I have had it. What's it going to be, a relationship with a cigarette or with real people. 1 month smoke free.
- —Guest Chris
Quit 18th December 2009 after 35 years
- I am 55 years old and have now been off cigarettes for three months. Had a pain when I was breathing, back in Dec, and admitted to A&E and CAT scan done which saw a "mark" on the lung. Eleven weeks later and another CAT scan and the doctor confirms that the mark on the lung is not a problem, but the fear of cancer meant that I had not smoked a cigarette for 11 weeks and I now consider myself as a non smoker. My doctor said that the pain I experienced was most likely from a virus, and to date the pain has not returned. Since I stopped smoking I feel better every day and can now walk up stairs without stopping for breath. I now happily walk rather than take the car when shopping locally.I know that stopping smoking is one of the hardest things that we will do in our life time,but it is worth it, and I wish everyone who attempts it the very best.
- —Guest Dannyboy
Dad's Lung Cancer Diagnosis
- My father who has smoked as long as I can remember was diagnosed with lung cancer this week. He has been such a big part of my life and don't want him to leave me now! It has been the worst week of my life and I can no longer continue to smoke so my boys won't have to go through this. Hope I can do this for my boys, dad and myself.
- —Guest leah
TV Commercial "My Time to Quit"
- I was tired of hiding the fact that I still smoked. Each time I smoked a cigarette, I had to find a place to wash my hands because the smell was sickening. Anyway, when I saw that commercial "My time to quit", I saw the look of freedom on those people's faces who were interviewed and I wanted to be one of them. My quit date was Jan 28th 2010 (40 days ago). I must say that I feel so much better. No more shortness of breath or ash tray smell. I have noticed an amazing difference in my skin also. I started my quit with nicorette gum because I was afraid I could not quit cold turkey. I stopped using nicorette after one week and have never looked back. Also, reading the stories on this site has been a tremendous help to me. I will never smoke again and I'm sure of it. Good luck to everyone who is coming along behind me and to those ahead of me too.
- —Guest David Tomlin
Couldn't Breathe
- I couldn't breathe, I was sick and couldn't breathe. I did not want to quit.
- —kwandrie
Can't Hold my Breath
- I remember a trip to Greece when I was a kid. I would put my goggles on and dive down in the ocean to watch the fish. I remember being able to hold my breath for ages. Then I started smoking at age 16 for 8 years, 5 of them extremely heavy. Last month I went to the ocean, and again, I wanted to dive and watch fish. But this time I was under the water for 10 seconds and it felt like I was going to die if I didn't get any fresh air. I hated myself for smoking. It's been one and a half months, and already I can breathe so much better. I AM NEVER SMOKING AGAIN!!! IT DESTROYS YOUR LIFE!!! This forum is a great help - thanks. :)
- —Guest adcoop
Time to Stop Killing Myself
- I probably started smoking when I was about 15. Can't really remember as it was so long ago. I was so fit and healthy back then and did karate until I was 21. I noticed the last year or so that when I walked the dog I would get out of breath quickly and I walk with other ladies with their dogs and it got embarrassing as they would notice it too. It became a bit of a joke as they knew I smoked, but I hated feeling like that. I have 3 kids and I would love to see them grow up and have kids themselves. I have lots of reasons but the main one is always to stop killing myself, slowly! I think that goes for the majority of us.
- —jacque.p
Pacemaker Implantation
- Started smoking 1974. Quit smoking July 17,2007 at 4:30 p.m. Pacemaker implanted one year before I stopped. Too bad it took almost a death sentence.
- —Guest Theresa
Too Expensive
- Because the state of NY balances the budget from the pockets of smokers. $2.75 tax/pack and increasing making a pack of smokes cost somewhere around $8. I know someone else also has this consequence from smoking... Gum disease. Three teeth are too far gone. Another 6 may be saved...or not. The bone loss is substantial. Those packs never said SMOKING WILL MAKE YOUR TEETH FALL OUT AND YOUR JAW BONES ROT! I'm 35, and have smoked for 20 of those years. Today is my 296th day without cigarettes. I still miss them but I'm glad I'm without them.
- —Guest Megan
I Felt Trapped!
- Since yesterday I have read all 174 responses for "What Was Your Last Straw." I quit smoking August 1999, and stayed quit until September 2000. I loved that I quit; I felt so in control of my life. However, I went on a cruise with friends who smoked and a few days into the cruise I started back smoking, thinking I would just quit once I got home. Well, I've been home for ten years. I decided that Sunday February 28, 2010 would be my last night of smoking. It's been three days and I've smoked two cigarettes. I know I can do this. 03/04/10-Mobay49
- —Mobay49
