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16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 406

Pete,

Diva has provided you with good insight. Considering that you have many other things to contend with, it would be helpful to manage them carefully with your doctor. And you don't have to go full force with the quit, but take small steps.

Karen, Health Educator

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 910

Hay Pete,

Well I have quit smoking. I quit smoking over two years ago. It was HARD! I quit smoking when I was ready. I knew it was time! And I think this is key. I knew I wanted to quit. Sure part of me still wanted to smoke lol. And in those first few days I would have rammmed my head in the walls for a drag! But deep down I wanted to quit and I KNEW I was ready. I think this is so importnat. And I quit at a moment in my life where I was doing well. I did not quit qhile I was down and out. I worked hard to get well then I quit. And now I am depressed again but am making sure to stay away from the stuff lol. Quitting was too hard to start again! But if I can do this anyone can! Anyone! I don't have particular strengths or anything. I just think if you try to quit before you are ready you are setting yourself up for a hard time. I do think you should quit, really. but timing is everything. But I know, when the time is right, you can and will do this!!!

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 201

room in the boat for me? i was born smoking (or so it seems) i was smoking and drinking coffee with my mother when i was 13. i've quit 4-5 times, the longest being for 6 months. restarted after my son got in car accident (he's ok). restarted after my cousin died. harder to quit than heroin, i believe it. those bastards made it so! i think to quit now with so many other things going on would be damn near impossible for us. here's what i do: buy a carton a week, give to husband, who gives me one pack in the am before he goes to work. that's it - down from 2 packs a day to one. at least it's something. pete, i hear you about being set up to fail. how many times can you get knocked down and still get back up?

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 1044

Pete, I'm with you. I also have those debates not only with myself but with my physicians. I have them all on the same page (re: earlier post). My psychiatrist, as a physician understands the importance and believes I should quit smoking. He doesn't think that at this point, I need to make that kind of change or focus. My focus should be on handling my depression the best I can right now utilizing a variety of techniques - this website, therapy, medications, exercise, etc. I will say that these things have helped me cut back alot. I know right now, I don't have the ability to quit. However, I will say that I have aspirations, hopes and have actually joined the other site for) for quitting smoking connected to this one. They send me very helpful hints and I am hiding them away because I know I will do it one day! I don't talk in the forum yet, I've not quit!

Pete, I think it is an individual choice, trying to quit (slowly) may give you some insight as it did for me that it wasn't the best option for me at this time or that IT IS! There were a couple of short periods of time in the past (5 years) where I did attempt to quit with his approval however; I would need to refocus on depression issues. I was a non smoker for a while before the depression. It felt GREAT!

Good luck and I'm looking forward to hearing others responses to this question as well. At least I know I have one more person in this boat! Thanks!

16 years ago 0 +0 / -0 3043

I smoke, and have done for most of my adult life. I know that for myriad reasons I should try to stop, but at the moment I'm caught between two views.

Stopping smoking, apart from the health and lifestyle advantages, would provide a much-needed boost to my self-esteem and self-respect, would be a real big positive achievement, might help me be more socially confident and drop the 'outcast' self-image that I seem to pursue all the time. I'm sort of a 'secret smoker', and to get that destructive daily lie out of my life would be great.

But.. is this the time? Whilst I am fighting depression and social anxiety, with a stress threshold down to zero, and on medication, should I be taking on a task that, short term at least, will put my body through chemical changes and subject me to more stress, draw on my meager reserves of strength and will? For all its ruinous qualities, smoking does provide me with a crutch, a small relief from stress, a breathing (coughing!) space. And if I fail, it's one more thing to beat myself up about, one more proof of my weakness, inability to succeed at anything, and general worthlessness. Shoukd I be taking on another battle right now? The rewards would be so great, but I don't kid myself it would be easy, it's such an ingrained part of my lifestyle.

Anyone here been in a similar situation?

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