Hey everyone.
Feeling bad that Ive not checked in for a while but feeling warm and happy now that I have.
Ive done a quick check on my quit mates! Those with similar numbers of days to mine who have shared my journey by my side and my heart swells reading your blogs. Ive checked the elders and am warmed to find them standing by helping everyone along, reliable and informative as ever and very strange to see newbies going through those early days wondering if it will ever get better.
To my quit mates, you are becoming elders. I am so proud of you all and I am so very grateful for your friendship along the way
To the elders, well you are just amazing. Thank you for being there.
To the newbies, stick with it. Blog, read, ask questions and share with the community. However many days you have, be proud of your quit and believe all of those who tell you it will get easier. It does!
How am I doing? I can honestly say that I barely think about smoking now. I chatted with a collegue today who has been quit 5 years and still chews nicotine gum. Im glad I went cold turkey in the end and got it over with, he s still trying to figure out how to come off the gum! But, whatever works for the person is whats important, he doesnt smoke anymore which is great.
Ive had so many tests for my breathing and throat problems since I was last here which fortunately have all been negative. The final diagnosis was anxiety which i believe was heavily linked to my quitting smoking, but a small price to pay for the dramatic improvements in my physical health. I am trying various holistic treatments with some successes to address the anxiety.
All in all, quitting smoking is the hardest thing I have done in a long time, possibly ever. I massively underestimated my ' emotional /psychological' addiction but would I do it again?
Absolutely, in a heart beat.
I am so proud that I havent smoked for 194 days and I have no intention or desire to smoke again.
I thank you all for being here for everyone who needs you and I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for holding my hand through my quit
Xx nicki xX
