My name is Betty2, I am 55 years old, have been smoking for 29 years (started smoking at age 26), and I have been *trying* to quit for the past 28 years, LOL!
I quit *again* on September 4, 2006, and I do believe THIS time I'm going to make it! I joined this group for moral support through the *bad hair day* times that still come once in a while, and also to help give support where someone else needs the help!
I am disabled, live on an *extremely* LOW fixed income, and cigarettes were costing me about $150 - $200 a month (depending on pack or carton purchases...I remember when they were only 35 cents a pack, LOL!)...that really caused a HARD pinch in my budget.
Over the years, I have tried nearly EVERY *trick* out there to help me quit...but NONE of them worked! The last 2 weeks of last month (August), I ran out of money and couldn't even find any one else TO *bum* a cigarette from! But, as SOON as the 1st rolled around and I got my check...I ran right out and bought a pack of smokes! After nearly 2 weeks withOUT...I near about choked myself to death with the first cigarette, and it tasted *NASTY*! I think I smoked about 2 smokes a day (down from nearly 2 *packs* a day) for the next 3 days, and they were all NASTY! So, I threw the remaining pack in the garbage, and haven't looked back!
I'm also out of money this month, and even through the *nagging* cravings I still get, I just think about the taste of the last few I smoked...and the cravings go away!
I know I'm going to make it this time, because those cravings are becoming fewer and farther between...and they aren't the *nagging* wall climbing, break down the will power ones that I've always had in the past!
I also raise Cockatiel Birds...I have 17 at present with more babies to hatch! They help keep my hands & mind occupied, so it makes quitting easier, too!
For YEARS everyone has been telling me that I wasn't *ready* to quit, and WHEN I WAS ready...it would be *easy* to quit! But, I always said..."I DO want to quit, but I just can't cut it"! But, I have about figured out THIS time, that *THEY* were ALL right!
I'm always looking for new cyber-friends! So, IF there is anyone here that just wants to *talk away* those *nagging* cravings that come & go...I'll 'be around' here