I’m 30 years old, I’ve been active duty for 10 years, smoking since I was 14, vaping since 21. Over the years, I noticed my run time and stamina had greatly declined, and, stupidly, I chalked this up to age alone. I’m having labored breathing just going up a couple flights of stairs. A few months ago, I went to the clinic for a routine dental exam, and they took my vitals. BP was 137/86, resting heart rate was 88. Doc said it was a little high but nothing to worry about if I just in get some moderate cardio and healthy eating. I went on my way, cut down on energy drinks and some bad foods (it was winter, sue me), and about a month ago, I go in for an annual physical. Vitals taken again, this time BP was 144/95, heart rate 102. I was diagnosed with hypertension, and doc immediately put me on these god-awful meds that make me feel catatonic, depressed, and like I’m going to fall asleep at the desk. I couldn’t live like this. If I was going to change ANYTHING about my routine, it sure as hell wasn’t going to be taking a pill every day the rest of my life that made me feel like I’m at my lowest. I had indulged in alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine for as long as I could remember, so I started small. Caffeine. Went from 3 BANGs per work day to 2 cups of hot tea or black coffee a day. Next up was alcohol. I went from 4-5 drinks of hard liquor every night to 2 glasses of red wine. It’s been about a 1.5 months, and these have worked out great so far. The last step was going to be undoubtedly the most difficult. I haven’t even started yet, and it’s already haunting me. It’s the one that’s been around the longest, like bug scratching the back of my subconscious. We’ve all heard and read horror stories about withdrawal; the headaches, the irritability, the insomnia, anxiety, and more. But then I thought of my wife and family. How many years down the road have I already wasted that I can’t recover. How many insufferable visits to doctors will I have to burden them with later on in life. And how could I have been so selfish and weak for so long, knowing damn well that I have the determination to make life better for them. So I HAVE TO improve my quality of life. I HAVE TO make it better for my family. I HAVE TO prove to myself that I have free will. And more than anything, I HAVE TO feel like I’m truly breathing for the first time.
