Wow! Luna, your story is absolutely remarkable...and relatable! I can see now what you mean by stocking up on the kleenex! Thank you so much for sharing that post. I will refer to it many times, I'm sure.

Luna, for some reason I couldn't open it. It directs me to a site that comes up blank. I am eager to read it! :)

I am 36 years old and have tried quitting numerous times just to find the withdrawals unbearable. I have set a quit date of August 8 (my birthday). My husband is a non-smoker and has always ridden me about quitting. He doesn't understand why I can't just stop and seems ignorant to the highly addictive qualities cigarettes have. He has given up his "support" of me trying to quit because I have failed so many times. To be honest, a lot of the reason I am scared to quit is because I don't want to let him down once again. I hate that something so nasty "controls" me. I am constantly washing my hands, chewing gum, etc. because the smell of cigarettes on others nauseates me. I don't know where I am going with this post, only that it's my way of getting out my feelings. Does anyone else feel they don't have good support behinid them? -- Banagrace [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 8/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] -7 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 0 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $0 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 0 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 0 [B]Seconds:[/B] 0

Thank you very much for your words of encouragement. I am so glad to meet someone who has gone through the same thing with their spouse. I am glad my feelings of anger are normal and it's ok to seek the support elsewhere.

Try away. I tried at least 10 time over a two year period. Cold turkey, patches, gum, lozenges. My friends were tired of hearing it, too. I finally told them that I would not tell them that I quit until I got 30 days. Well, I think all those times I tried to quit were practice. I was trying to determine the best way to quit. I had to get over the fact that sometimes people quit, like Peter Jennings, and still die. I decided that death with dignity is worth something. As for planning, I found it did not work well for me. Just caused anxiety. However, in may ways I did quit for my 45th birthday. Right before the start of the All-Star Game I ran out of cigarettes and said that's it. I had enough. I did want to be smoke free on my birthday, the 14th of July. Also, had to tell some of my friends right away because I was hanging out with them for my birthday, and I got very sick--vomiting, heart palpitations, and insomnia. Maybe this doesn't sound too encouraging, but I was so physically ill that I did not recognize that I was craving anything. I got through it. I just simply do not want to smoke, and no one has ever died from nicotine withdrawal. You will live. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 7/11/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 30 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,208 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $222 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 33 [B]Seconds:[/B] 10

HI Banagrace, You have support ... you can have and get all the support you need right here.. come here often .. make sure you get all your quit tools.. they also have a messenger here you can keep on your desktop to IM other members.. and someone is always here to listen .. to respond You have come to the right sight.. go back and read some of the post .. and thats basically all you need to do read .. read..read.. post.. post .. post... I been there and a lot more of us have been there go back and do the research and you too will know what you are going through .. you are not alone... good luck to you P.Loving "How can you move into the future if you are still living in the past" Leave the cigarettes alone... move into the future... and move on ..without them. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 7/2/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 29 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 889 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $114.55 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 3 [B]Hrs:[/B] 3 [B]Mins:[/B] 22 [B]Seconds:[/B] 9

Congrats on setting a Quit date!! you can do it!! I to was scared to quit as well. 39 years old, smoked 24 years, never tried to seriously quit. I really wanted to quit, tired of being tied to it. For me the first week was hell, 2nd week better 3rd week great and still going great. Started drinking herbal tea at work, never drank tea before. It really helped Don't be scared to quit, be excited about it ;p If I can do it, you can to. :) [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 6/5/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 56 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,190 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $518 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 8 [B]Hrs:[/B] 0 [B]Mins:[/B] 45 [B]Seconds:[/B] 1

I am 40 and I too tried quitting many times and always gave in due to the effort it took everyday not to smoke. My husband is a non smoker and always got disappointed with me when I failed. He would throw "the kids want their mother around" line at me which only made me mad and smoke more. Even when he supported me with words of encouragement, I still got angry because he had no idea what I was going through or feeling. I told him that the next time I try to quit, I would appreciate it if he didn't say a word to me, good or bad. I didn't tell anyone I was quitting this time although I think my husband knew. We only talk about my quit when I bring it up, he says nothing to me and I really like it that way. It is a struggle but I am so happy I've stayed quit this long and do not plan on ever going back to day 1. It has gotten easier and I no longer think about cigs all day long. Take the chance - it's the best thing you can do for everyone, most importantly yourself. D2Q [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/29/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 63 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 1,273 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $189 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 5 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 24 [B]Seconds:[/B] 5

46 years old and was a 3 pack a day smoker, my husband quit with me, but our quits are much different. He doesn't want to talk about his quit at all---I wanna talk about it a lot. He has been easy going...I've been a big pain in the butt! In any case, my quit family is here...you got a great support group here! :) Post whenever and about whatever!

Welcome to the SSC. Congrats on your decision to quit smoking. Knowledge is power, so get prepared. Get prepared for your mind to deal with emotions without the mask of a drug. Know that the nicotine in cigarettes has caused you to be physically addicted. Take comfort in knowing the physical withdrawal will stop approximately 72 hours if you can resist nicotine products. Be fully aware that your life routine will have to be experienced without smoking cigarettes for you to be quit. So throw them away. Do not save any. What is your routine? When do you smoke? Make a list of your triggers (when you would normally smoke). It is better to think about all of these things ahead of time so that you can go into battle prepared. Replace your bad habit (smoking) with good habits. Read about healthy ways to deal with stress/emotions and start practicing your new coping skills. Get yourself ready physically by walking more, take in more fluids, get plenty of rest and avoid becoming overtired. Tell people around you that you�re going to quit. Get yourself a Quit Buddy who will be there to provide you personal quit-smoking help and support. Fight the urge to protect yourself from looking silly if you don�t make it all the way. Believe in yourself from the very beginning. Make it come true. If you don�t make it this time, what matters is that you get back up and try again. Also, don�t forget to make rewards a part of your plan. Quitting takes a lot of work, so you want to make sure you give yourself credit along the way. Keep a list of rewards you look forward to - it will help keep you motivated. Watch out for alcohol, social situations, other smokers, weight gain, and bad moods/depression. These things can make you fall off the Quit Wagon. Like I�ve said � be prepared for these things. We�ve quit. You can too. We�ll be here to support you if you need us. I look forward to celebrating your milestones with you. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/12/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 80 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,428 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $320 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 6 [B]Hrs:[/B] 19 [B]Mins:[/B] 23 [B]Seconds:[/B] 26