Recently after reading several post where I see people really struggling, especially early on, but then later in their quit too; I wondered how I could phrase something that I have found really worked for me.When you make that initial decision to quit it is usually for one of many reasons, some impulsive, but most good reasons. My suggestion is to do your research and reading, but hey that doesn't always happen. For me, my decision to quit was based on being sick and then frustrated with myself for getting out of a hospital and lighting up immediately after I was released. This was past stupid on my part, because I had stopped breathing and nearly stroked out, from smoking. I made a decision that day; that was it for me. Now I had no idea about what I was doing, really the last time I quit was ten years ago and only because they wouldn't do surgery on me unless I did. The doctor of course had given me Chantix to try and I did and I failed with it, it made me very sick, so that was the end of that. I was coming home and remembered someone gave me a box of NRT's, so when I got home I looked for them, found them, stuck one on. I then remembered this website and I got on here and asked for help after a few days, because I really wanted to stop, but my mind and body had other ideas, I needed help, but the one thing I knew was I was through with smoking. I don't mean I thought or maybe, I mean I absolutely knew and never in life could I have said that before. See somewhere up there in my brain that was fighting me, there was another part where the switch had been flipped, that kept saying I know it sucks, but hey you will never smoke again, never. Yep I know you are freaking and feel like screaming, go ahead throw that, but you will never smoke again. Oh there you go crying again, ok that's fine, but you will never smoke again. Oh there you are sitting with friends and there they go lighting up, but you will never smoke again. This my friends who are just starting is the real trick to quitting; your mind. Not the part that goes along with withdrawal, but that first part that talked you into doing it in the first place. When it talks, listen, when that switch flips and it will, if you stick to it, no matter how awful things get, who dies, who leaves you, who is sick, who lost their job, who is crying, depressed, whatever excuse , it will never be awful enough to make you smoke, because you will never smoke again. I think I finally realized yesterday after the week from hell and all these people sitting on my porch smoking, that I was fine; I realized I hadn't even noticed at first anyone was smoking, until I smelled it.I also knew I would never smoke again; I did not look at anyone and think wow wish that was me. Actually, I was thinking thankyou I will never smoke again.
