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January 25, 2012 by Anacondahead
Sorry to the old timers out there - you've seen this letter many times but I want to put it up again for the newbies. I saw several posts today about smoking family members - what a pain! This letter may help.
Dear______,
I am about to make a huge change in my life for the better. I am going to quit smoking.
I have a quit plan that I am confident with and I want to let you know what to expect for the next couple of weeks. I also want to give you some ideas on how to help me. Most people do not realize it, but nicotine is one of the hardest drugs to stop, even harder than heroin and alcohol.
Everyone reacts to the withdrawal symptoms differently and during the first two weeks, don't expect much from me. I will not behave like my normal self. All of my energy will be focused on fighting the physical and mental cravings of smoking. I may cry, I may yell, I may ignore you. Worst of all, I may be hurtful to you, but I want you to know that is the nicotine talking, not my heart. I WILL apologize afterwards, once the poison has left my body and my mind has cleared, but for the moment, please, PLEASE remember that I love you, and do not hold my actions against me.
My mind will play some very cunning tricks on me to try to convince me to start smoking again. It’s a very nasty addiction. I may rationalize that "now is not a good time to quit". I may talk about feeling a sense of emptiness and loss. My body may develop aches and pains. I may not be able to sleep. I may act like it’s all your fault. If I do, I apologize now because I don’t really mean it.
I am doing this for me, not for you. In this one important way, I have to be selfish, so that I cannot give the nicotine a reason to put the blame on anyone else. You must not feel responsible for my discomfort or depression in any way. Even if you feel you can't stand to see me this way, whatever you do, do NOT tell me it's okay to smoke just to stop the pain. You need to be strong when I am weak, so please do not agree with any rationalizations I may come up with. I am counting on you.
Here are some things that will help me:
I hope you will find these suggestions helpful because I know that you are behind me 100%. No more second-hand smoke for my loved ones and pet(s). I will be free from the prison that smoking creates for us. I will be free of the smell of stale tobacco. I am looking forward to living my new smoke-free life. I will be around longer for those I love. Not smoking will begin to improve my health immediately.
Thank you for loving me and helping me through this.
Love, _______
Nanalori If you are viewing it through a computer, it's easy to print. Do you know how to copy and paste? If so, just copy it and paste it into either an email to yourself or into a word document. If you don't know how to copy and paste, let me know and I'll walk you through it. OR, even easier, just highlight it and right click your mouse, then select print (with my computer I can also just click CTRL P after highlighting.)
Nanalori,
Giulia's directions will probably get you what you want. You can also choose to print out first to pages of the PDF.
If you go to Actions in upper right and then View as PDF from drop down menu, it will load in a new page as a PDF. Then you can Ctrl + P and then select to print pages 1-2 to get @anacondahead's post.
I created a copy of the letter as a Document.
Mark
EX Community Manager
Thank you! I’m not a newbie yet I’ve never seen this. A million thank yous! I love it and plan on sharing it with several people in my circle who don’t smoke and because they don’t, don’t understand exactly what is happening and will happen. I’ve quit smoking many times. Now I want to quit and stay quit. To do this, I’ll need every ounce of strength I have, plus some I may need to borrow from those closest to me. This letter puts all my thoughts and feelings down in black and white. So again, thank you.
Leesaaskin Glad you found us. And it's a super big compliment I'm sure when you when you stop by and tell others that something is helpful.
Mark
EX Community Manager
Thank you for sharing this amazing letter. I really needed to read today and sending off to hubs...
Non smokers have no experience with this addiction. So it's understandable that they really don't "get" what we go through. They don't feel it. Giving this letter to those we love, not only is a personal acknowledgement to ourselves that we have this addiction, but it helps to promote a commitment within. For you don't give this letter to someone unless you really are committed.
It's so great that you, Leesaaskin and sweetplt have discovered it and find it helpful! Glad.
I love this. I wish I could hand this out. I’m just supposed to be tough and get through it. My will power comes from trying to prove people wrong, they all think I’ll smoke again.
I did print it and gave it to my son and he hung it on his refrigerator❤️
Nanalori So glad you were able to print it out! And that your son cared enough to put it on his fridge. He's obviously on your side. Like we are are here!
Yes, I am blessed to have my kids support. Im glad that I was able to give my son a copy of letter because it gives him knowledge on how to support me. I also have a copy for my daughter, whom also will be supportive of my decision. Thank you so much for sharing n caring