I wanted to thank everyone for their support. This is exactly why I posted to begin with. Thank you especially to Brenda and geminigypsylady. Brenda, for giving me the green light to vent as I wonder sometimes whether starting this conversation wasn't a bit self-important and I was over estimating whether or not anyone would relate or care for that matter. Geminigypsylady, for giving me someone to relate to. I have heard that nicotine is harder to quit than heroin, I'm not sure if that's true...I haven't felt like death would be better than quitting or feeling like mugging someone was a good idea to get cash to get a cigarette. Still, it has proven to be a rather formidable opponent. I think the biggest obstacle has been the legality of cigarettes. Quitting heroin brings with it the decreased chance of arrest and overdose but quitting smoking...especially for someone who is only 26, doesn't have any immediately apparent issues. Of course, if I didn't believe in the benefits of quitting smoking I wouldn't be here. I did get a response that I don't see listed here in the thread that said that 'there is no such thing as cutting back' in response to me touting the fact that while I haven't quit I have cut back a great deal. To that person I say you have obviously never had to approach something that is so difficult that you have to take it in a step by step manner. This is why cutting back is absolutely the first step on my way to quitting. I agree that this is no substitute for quitting but it is a heck of an alternative for the time being to smoking a pack a day. Anyway, to wrap up on a positive note, I reached an all time low of 4 smokes in a day, definitely a milestone for your truly. Thank you again to everyone who posted, even the less than supportive ones, as they give me more resolve everyday to continue down this path. Good luck to everyone and please keep the comments coming as they give me the support that is so lacking in my everyday life. Thank you.
