Smoking with Cigarettes - NOT Cool

[packajodi]

"I don't want to be a smoker anymore and I'm trying real hard not to be."

My Very First Pack

I remeber the first time I saw my older brother with a pack of Newports.  I told him he was stupid for ever even thinking about smoking with cigarettes. I always though he was smarter than me but now I see the truth, this makes me the smart one from here on out. I was sure to tell him he was wasting his money trying to be cool and for who?  I COULD NOT for the life of me figger out why he would buy something that would kill him, he was already in with the cool kids. 

I wasn't cool at all, I had no friends and I didn't smoke like everybody in my family, I was proud of that but no one cared.  I tried to make friends but I was too shy and what would I talk about? I did have one line, it was "what time is it" after that I had nothing.

Trying to be cool

My cool just fail into my lap on day on the way home from the store.  I found a pack of Kools 100s on the side of the road in a bag.  It was like magic, I was just hanging out not smoking but passing out smokes, that's the secret, it's a ice breaker. I felt very cool, to go from not even being looked at to being asked you for something, it was a game changer, even if it was just a cigarettes, there still asking ME -  THAT'S POWER. so I though.

I had friends now and they was all like, "I didn't know you lived over here, have you been in the house all this time".  It even got to the point where they would come to the door and ask for a cigarettes but then my money ran out, I was cool no more.

- TO BE CONTINUED -

[YoungAtHeart]

You have come to the right place.  Most people here have felt exactly the way you do!

This is a commitment - but first you need to educate yourself, then make a plan and get ready, THEN set your quit date, then DO it!    Everyone here has found Allen Carr's "The Easy Way to Stop Smoking" to be an invaluable tool.  It is an easy, entertaining read that contains a wealth of information on what nicotine addiciton does to your mind and body.  Here is a free PDF link:

http://media.wix.com/ugd/74fa87_2010cc5496521431188f905b7234a829.pdf

Also check out the 10 step lesson at quitsmokingonline.com, and read the links here on this website and the information on whyquit.com.  Investing time in this will empower and excite you about quitting smoking!

Once you have done the reading, you will be ready to make your quit plan which will include which quit smoking aid you will use, if any, and the crave buster things you think will work best for you.  You will then get all this in hand.  You might also try the disengagement exercie suggested here on the site.  There are lists of 114 things to do instead of smoke a cigarette on my page - so I am sure you will find some good ideas for what might work for you.

I like a quote from Henry Ford, "If you think you can or think you can't, you are right."  Forget all of the brainwashing and your addictive mind that are telling you it's too hard.  You CAN do this!

We can help!  Be sure to read all you can of the blogs here...and participate.  This is a wonderful community and we all want you to be successful

Nancy

Quit 7/4/12.

[mary242]

Nancy.....what a blessing you are to us all on this sight!  Listen to Nancy and you will be successful in quitting!!!! Be strong, its not as hard as you think!!!   Mary

[brian123]

Congratulations on the fist step, the desire to quit and become a Non Smoker. 

You take it One Day at a Time. 

You must do this or you will end up like me and I would not wish this for anyone.

I started smoking at age 14.  At 40 I quit for 10 months and then like a fool lighted up.  I am now 44 and on more lung and respiratory meds than I care to think about.

I have COPD, lung nodules benign after NEEDLE biopsy two years ago, PAIN in lungs all the time, real pain. 

Solu medrol injections for pain and to help me breathe.  Fortunately I don't have major breathing issues and inhalers help much.  But I have very real pain in both lungs.  No supplemental oxygen yet.

I'm telling you this because I care and I don't want you to end up like me.

Read the blogs here.  Learn about what you will go through the first few weeks in withdrawal.  You will make it if you know what to expect and how to best take care of yourself in withdrawal. 

Get prepared for the strong, very strong lightening bolt cravings with chewing gum, breath mints, ice cubes and more.

It isn't easy at first but you will make it and you have to.  Don't destroy your lungs. 

It's a major task in pain just to take a deep breath and taking a shower wipes me out energy wise for the rest of the day.  I only shower twice or three times a week.  My life is pitiful. 

I'm gearing up for another quit. Smoking is not a habit.  Smoking is a serious life threatening addiction and a real killer.

Good for you for being here.  But your title should be 'Want to quit, need to quit and will quit!'.

So your first step is to read and spend time here reading all over.  Don't get afraid.  Get educated about the withdrawal so you know what to do.  Then do it! 

I'm cheering for you. Ask anything you want about quitting. You can do this.

[jojo_2-24-11]

Have you set a date or quit yet?

[Nyima_1.6.13]

Read,read,read...knowledge is power and power IS cool!