Add me to the "loved to smoke" and "they'll take my last cigarette out of my cold dead fingers" group. It may take a while, and some work, and some thought, to realize what you "loved" about smoking. What you loved was the relief from withdrawal that the cigarette gave you.
The other things?
1. Me time ... you can still have that, just without a cigarette. And only when you really want it, not interrupting conversations to go smoke.
2. Break time. You should still have your breaks, without smoking. Something you enjoy, a cappucino or frappe or just some candy and conversation.
3. Reward time (chore completed, job well done, etc.)... still available, find something healthier than smoking (i.e. ANYthing but smoking) to reward yourself with. Nothing wrong with chocolate or chips.
4. Social time. You may have to forgo sitting with the smokers for a while, but just a while. After some time, being around smoke/smokers won't trigger you to want to smoke, but at first it is certainly a danger. Esp. if the social time involves alcohol (#1 quit-killer than I know of). Again, alcohol can be re-introduced slowly and carefully after the initial quit starts, if that's your thing.
What else do you love about smoking that you can't still have only without a cigarette in your hand/mouth? Figure out how to still have them and not smoke. In time you'll appreciate not smoking, and that's a guarantee!
COPD? I have it too. It will continue to get worse if you continue to smoke. Its progression will slow or stop with the cessation of smoking. You might not breathe better than now, but hopefully it won't get worse, and if you protect yourself with immunizations, then possibly hospitalizations for pneumonia and/or bronchitis won't be part of your yearly agenda.
Best to you!! Give yourself this gift of becoming a nonsmoker, its one you won't regret!
