Readers Respond: Our Reasons to Quit Smoking

Responses: 131

For me, it was an increasing inability to breathe properly. I was experiencing early symptoms of COPD, and 45 years old, that scared me badly. I knew the condition would only worsen unless I found a way to quit smoking.

What Was Your Last Straw?

I Want Control of My Life Back

I was so tired of nicotine "controlling" my life! What I did when I woke up, how I handled daily stress, basically my crutch for everything! I know I am stronger than this addiction and LOVE the feeling of being back in "control" and back in charge. I quit 11/19/09 with the help of the patch and am 6 WEEKS STRONGER as I type this. It is SO wonderful to not have to "hide" my old nasty habit. I'm gaining respect of ME back and learning a whole new way of dealing with life's little challenges as well as how to reward myself and take the time for me! THANKS everyone on this site and BEST wishes to all!

—Guest My3KidsMama

Money

I'm kicking it due to the cost. The cost of my 2 packs per day has been making my life unmanageable. True, there are more virtuous reasons to stop and there are always ways to order cigarettes online cheaper from the Native American reservations; tax-free from overseas, etc. However...what does it say when we're willing to go to these extremes to support the habit? It says we're just as bad as junkies. This is not my first attempt either. I also have 6-1/2 yrs clean and sober. I am involved in 12 step recovery. The real last straw this time was the way I felt after my last shipment of cigarettes was stolen off my doorstep - I acted like someone just killed someone I loved! I felt angry at the world! I was plotting ways I could get the money to get more. I was behaving like an addict. I never even went through this when I turned over the illegal drugs and alcohol to God / my higher power. This is the hardest thing I've ever had to do. Nicotine should be classified as a narcotic.

—SoberMike68

Like a Zoo Exhibit

Like many people, I had no one reason to quit. It's more like an accumulation of facts: I had smoked for 42 years; it was getting hard to breathe; I was waking up coughing, etc. Then this October we went to NYC for grandson's birthday. They live on 17th floor and had small patio where I would go outside and smoke. During the party there were probably 15-20 people there, and I was the only one who smoked. so there I was, out on the patio, being seen by those on the inside and looking for all the world like some exhibit in a zoo. "This, I thought, is truly pathetic." I quit a couple of weeks later. It's been almost 7 weeks now. It's very hard, but I really hope that this quit lasts. One thing that has been a tremendous help is the time I've spent here on the forum. From day one, people have been there to give me support and advice.

—JaxBrad

Sick and Tired of being Sick and Tired

I decided to quit after a close family friend died from lung cancer. I keep his picture around my house to remind me. I developed a bad cough and it was so nagging it wouldn't go away. I was also tired of smelling my car, my clothes and my home up from cigarettes. I have smelled other smokers that come into my office and I thought to myself that I don't want to smell like that. I'm recently separated and want to start dating at some point, so I thought it would be a perfect opportunity to quit now. I am trying to focus on "non-smoking" things to do with "non-smoking" friends too. My only obstacle is to try and not gain weight through this!

—Guest Mel

Beating Nicotine Addiction

I quit smoking cold turkey for a month when I was 22, and I remember the withdrawal...and thinking how nothing that hurt this badly could be even remotely good for my body. Two years later, I'm on day four smoke free. When I want a cigarette, I remember that it is not my logical, sound mind telling me to smoke - it is the addiction!

—dealbreaker

My Mom

I lost my mother to lung cancer on October 25th of this year. I wasn’t ready to lose her. I watched the strongest woman I have ever known in my life wither away. I tried to take care of her as much as I could and my sister tried even more but neither of us could really take care of her in the one way we wanted to. We couldn’t make her better. It killed my mother to have us taking care of her in some ways I think. As I said she was always the strongest person I have known and she always took care of me. While my mother certainly died with grace and courage the reality is there is nothing pretty or romantic about your life ending with lung cancer. Telling myself we are all going to die someday doesn’t work anymore as a reason to continue smoking. I don’t want to die the way she died, gasping for breath. I don’t want to put my loved ones through what I went through and every time I lit up after she died the picture in my mind would turn to the look in her eyes during those last minutes.

—Lakasha

Stomach Aches

I recently quit for about two weeks. Then, I had a very stressful situation in my personal life and used that as an excuse to resume my habit. I now have serious stomach cramps and fear that I am ill. This is the last straw. That, and my skin is aging faster than my age, and I could breathe much better for two weeks and now I'm back to huffing and puffing. This is it. I can't take the smell, how my breath smells, and how lethargic I feel. Every day, I hate it. Make a vow to quit, then start again. I tell myself when the stress is over, I will quit. I know that I'm fooling myself. Besides that, I really, really cannot afford it.

—loveto

My Mom's Failing Health

The day my mom's husband sat me down to discuss my mom's ailing health. My mom has been a long-time smoker, and several years ago she developed COPD. While still an awful disease, it didn't provide the wake-up needed for any of us to quit. Fast forward to now, my mom has now developed emphysema as well, has a whole in her heart and one lung only operating at 15 percent. Doctors estimate that she will be on oxygen within 4 months and must be scanned regularly for lung cancer. My mom is in her early 50's, but with such horrible breathing problems, she is capable of the same activity as maybe someone 20 yrs older. She has been advised by her doctors she MUST quit smoking. Seeing this, I knew this could be me 30 years down the line, so I am now on Day 4 of no smoking, and I feel great. I feel I am supporting my mom as well, by quitting myself I am showing her it is possible, and will be able to give her tips on her journey to becoming an ex-smoker.

—Guest Samantha

It Was Just Time

I will be 40 in February and have smoked since I was 13. It's just time to quit! Today is day 9, I'm having a tuff time no doubt, but so far have been able to stand my ground. I hate being weak, I keep telling myself that I'm not a drug addict! I'm praying a lot too.

—Guest VIcki Q

Money, Money, MONEY!

I've been faithfully tracking my finances with software for the past year. When I ran my year-end reports for the various spending categories, I saw that I have been throwing away an average of $300 PER MONTH on cigarettes! Holy cow! Why am I supporting Big Tobacco? And don't I pay enough taxes? So I QUIT as of today, 11/19/09, the Great American Smokeout. BTW, I'm kicking a 40-year, 1-2 packs a day smoking habit. If I can do it, ANYONE can do it!

—Leenite

Clean and Crisp

I smell so good. I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders. My energy is way up and I never feel run down like I used to every second of the day. I don't cough anymore and I run 4 miles now when I could never get past 2. I smoked a pack a day since i am 14 and I am now 42. So much was wasted on smoking. Don't dwell on the paste, just look at the future...Smoke Free.

—Guest Fresh Air

Grandkids

My grandson wanted to know why I smoked. I didn't have an answer, so I decided it was just time to quit been putting it off for years now.

—sandrabell

Tired of Being Left Out...

My last straw was when I finally realized that the reason I was not being included in lots of social outings was probably my smelling like a cigarette factory. Unpacking my suitcase at my daughter's house was embarrassing,because everything smelled smoky. Now I feel more positive and likeable.Therefore,I am! Yeah!!

—otherg

Starting a New Job

I had quit for a year and a half, but started again two years ago, with just one puff on a night out.... Since then I've felt guilty and when I did an interview for a new job, I promised if I got the job I would definitely quit. I did get the job and so I quit one week ago. I start my new job on Monday -- smokeless!!!!

—Guest Irma

I Quit For an Easier Life

I finally quit because I was exhausted from talking about quitting, and then quitting for a little while and caving. I decided how much easier it would be, to just get on with it and do it, and not have to spend any more time in a pointless circle feeling like crap.

—sbsb56