Hello Fellow Ex-Smokers and Newcomers,
It is my opinion that aside from the physical cravings for a cigarette, the most strongest and hardest urge is the psychological urge to smoke. It is during these times that I remember that just a few weeks ago I was laying up in the Intensive Care Unit of a hospital due to my chronic emphysema(I had my last cigarette on February 14, 2009. I went into the hospital on February 16, 2009). I had had previous hospital admissions due to my emphysema, but this one scared me 'straight'(my motivation).
Although I had 'quit' smoking on the 14th of February, I can't say for sure that if it hadn't been for the respiratory distress and subsequent hospital admission, that I would still be smoke free. However, as stated, this time I was scared straight.
The rise in the cost of cigarettes has never deterred me from purchasing and smoking cigarettes. It only made me angry at the Federal government for raising taxes on cigarettes. Therefore, I wasn't able to use price raises as a means of motivation for me to quit.
Presently I am using the nicotine patch in my effort to quit cigarettes, however, psychological cravings still occur from time to time. As I commented to someone during an earlier posting, I am learning to flow with the 'tide' of the cravings, and not 'fight' against them. I accept the fact that I am addicted to nicotine, and I surrender to that addiction.
A 'tool' which I find helpful to me during these times, is to chew on a piece of gum. I choose regular gum but, of course, for those of you who are more health/dental concious, I would suppose that you would prefer sugarless gum.
I was a smoker for the better part of at least forty(40) years. As of today, I have not had a cigarette for 1 month and 20 days! Doing it one day/moment/second at a time. Whatever you have to do to quit, do it!
We are here to support you.
