I need help: I feel like smoking makes me a better person
Hi kdwradio!
My daughter was 5 when I quit 14 1/2 years ago and I struggled like crazy for the first year of my quit. I worked the program to the letter and had my list of coping skills at the ready. I had a huge list of healthy things I could whenever I wanted to smoke. I stayed focused on my goal of quitting. I hated smoking so much and there was a lot of self loathing that came with it. Work the program and trust the process.
Years later I am proud of myself for hanging in there and making my life so much better. My daughter turns 21 this year and doesn't remember a time that I smoked...she can't picture it and neither can I!
My husband was my best quit buddy but he abandoned us 4 years ago, left us for another woman. He started drinking and smoking again too, still does. Then after that, I lost my job; my daughter and I were almost homeless. My world came crashing down in every way imaginable. I went back to school to finally earn my degree and I graduate this December. Oh, and I am nursing a broken shoulder right now, week 7. I wasn't even tempted to smoke through all of this. None of it is easy, but smoking is never an option for me.
Hang in there and do the best you can. Find some healthy things to do instead of smoke. Make a list and keep it with you. When things became unmanageable for me, I would take a hot shower and cry, grit my teeth, whatever it took, I just didn''t smoke. Smoking is a lousy addiction and remember NOPE, Not One Puff Ever.
Best of luck to you and take care!
Jen
