Take 20...

[NicMensinga]

Hi everyone.. Just wanted to share my smoking story. I started 25 odd years ago at the age of 16. Both my parents smoked. In the house, car etc so it was just part of life I thought. I first wanted to quit when I was about 28. It was hard when I was in my 20's as I drank alcohol/partied quite regularly and it just came with the territory. I think my first stint of quitting was at the age of about 32. That lasted for 2 or so years.. Every time I had major stress or trauma, I would start again. Or too many drinks & I would suddenly be having 'just one'. Soon I was back on the smokes daily. 

I have lost count of how many times I have tried to quit. Cold turkey, patches, hypnosis...

I recently lost the love of my life in a tragic motorbike accident. He was only 39.. It was also I crime as a driver had run him down. Before the accident I was only smoking here and there with a drink as my partner was good at the social smoking thing. He would just hide them when we had finished a few drinks. After he passed, I started up again daily. It's been 8 months now & I have had a week or two here and there where I have worn a nicotine patch and not smoked. I desperately want to stop as it's only making me feel more anxious and depressed. I am constantly told by friends, therapists etc to keep smoking but I am so over it controlling me yet again.

So I had my last smoke this morning and have put a patch on again. Feeling much better already and have had more energy today!!

Has anyone here quit whilst going through major trauma? I figure there's always going to be stress in our lives and if I can do it now, I can do it anytime. 

Thanks for listening

[NicMensinga]

Thanks a lot  Yes I am glad I joined and have some support!!

[SunshineRobin]

I need all the support that I can get! My quit date is May 13th & it is

going to be very hard!

Sincerely,

Robin

On Tue, May 7, 2019 at 12:54 PM anaussiemom <communityadmin@becomeanex.org>

[elvan]

The more prepared you are, the better and you have a LOT of support.  We all want you to succeed, we all want to help you in any way that we can.  Stay close to the site, it saved my quit more than once and keeps it going strong.

Best,

Ellen

[SunshineRobin]

Thank you Ellen, I so much appreciate the help & support because I sure

will not get any from my husband! He expects me to fail & is not shy about

telling me that even though I have told him numerous times that yelling at

me just makes me want to pick up a cig. (& I do). I try to tell him that I

need support but it does not seem to kick in!

So I really do look forward to the help you can provide. Thanks so much!

Robin

[elvan]

SunshineRobin Please read everything you can about nicotine addiction, recognizing this as an addiction is a huge thing.  Go to Whyquit.com and read the stories there as well as the blogs here.  When I first quit, I came here first thing in the morning and last thing at the end of the day, I read and read and read, I commented, I blogged, I asked for advice and I listened when it was offered.  I felt like I was welcomed with open arms and there were people here who made me believe in myself whenever I doubted that I could do this.  I had a HUGE incentive, I got very, very sick and I almost died, it was pneumonia that exacerbated my COPD, I would not wish COPD on anyone.  It isn't just the shortness of breath, that's bad enough, it's the overwhelming fatigue, the lack of energy to complete things that I used to be able to do with ease.  I am SO SORRY that I ever smoked, that I stole time from my kids when they were little so I could step out for a smoke, that I am stealing time from them now that they are adults because I have most definitely shortened my life.  I quit so many times in the past, starting when I was 20 and I never made if for any real length of time.  THIS quit has been going for more than five years and it is because of this site and the education I got here, the support from people who knew EXACTLY where I was coming from and where I was going.  My own commitment kept my quit growing and still does.  I still come here pretty much every day to pay it forward...so to speak.  There were so many amazing people here to welcome me, some are still here, some have moved on but are still smoke free.  This site plants the seeds and offers the MiracleGro that is needed for our quits. You cannot spend too much time here or do too much reading.  This link will lead you to some amazing blogs Best of EX , I would recommend reading JonesCarpeDiem‌'s blog /blogs/jonescarp.aka.dale.Jan_2007-blog/2011/06/26/what-to-expect-in-the-first-four-months   I would also recommend having your husband read Letter to a Loved One   Who knows, perhaps he can LEARN to be supportive.  In any event, we are here and we all want to help you in any way that we can.     PLEASE read YoungAtHeart‌'s response to the beginning of this blog.

You CAN do this and it gets easier...I promise.

Ellen

[shashort]

HI SunshineRobin  Welcome to this wonderful site. This is a great site and support group. Trust me you don't have to quit alone, we all have been where you are and ready to follow and help you through your journey. Read and learn all you can. You CAN do this.  I was 3 years on May 13th I quit so have to say great quit day!  The beginning days may be a bit bumpy but hang on tight and you will get through.  Come here anytime and if you need help write a blog and title it HELP and you will be amazed how quick people come running.

[DonnaMarie]

Hi there NicMensinga,

So sorry to hear about your loss, but what a wonderful way to honor your love, by quitting smoking.

This site has helped me quit a few times and stay quit this time.

Nice to see you here and hope to see more of you.

And the same to you SunshineRobin‌. Here's hoping this is your new home online. You're welcome here day or night. 24/7.

Donna

Day 146