Hey everyone!
I'm about to try and quit smoking (again), and I'm looking for a bit of encouragement and support.
I first started when I was around 15 or 16 (I'm 28 now). From then, until I was around 24, I smoked around 20-30 a day. Since the age of 24, I've had the desire to quit, and I've tried many times. I've tried cold turkey, patches, lozenges and e-cigarettes. On the e-cigarette, I lasted about a year without a single real cigarette, but eventually I fell back into my old ways. I've even managed months on end when the only time I would have a cigarette was when I've had a drink. Problem is, smoking like this always leads back to me smoking full time. I want to quit altogether so badly, but as soon as I get stressed or have a couple of beers, I smoke. I recently moved to Austria, and it's even more difficult here because cigarettes are so much cheaper, smoking in bars is allowed, and it seems like everybody smokes! I know that I need to take the plunge and learn to drink without smoking, but it's so much harder than it sounds. If I'm out at a bar, and I can't have a cigarette, it just occupies my mind and puts a downer on my evening. And then, inevitably, I will either go and buy some or borrow one of the many smokers that I'll probably be with. To anyone that doesn't smoke, this probably sounds a bit silly, but it's such a struggle.
I'm desperate to quit because, well, we all know the health implications, financial implications etc. I want to lead a more healthy lifestyle and not waste so much money on this ridiculous habit! I hike a lot and I've started playing squash, so I'd really like to kick the smoking and improve my fitness.
Thanks for reading, I hope you're all doing well with your own efforts
