Kate18

I bought stocks. My portfolio is up 35% in 14 months.

Your comment reminds me of something I learned from a bipolar researcher who published a medical report on Medscape--S. Nassir Ghaemi, MD, MPH, Bipolar Disorder Expert. He said that people who have recurring depression seem to record happy memories in a sort of neurochemical "bath" (I think that's my term, not his), and when the brain has that neurochemical state, good memories are easily remembered. When the person lapses into biologically induced depression, the neurochemical state does not allow the good memories to be recalled, or not easily. What is remembered are the memories that were recorded, so to speak, when the neurochemical state was a depressed one. So, the trick is, how to restore the neurochemical state where the good memories can be remembered. But this is a forum for quitting smoking, not combatting depression. Many smokers smoke because they are trying to self-medicate themselves out of depression

Hi Tara, looks as though your last post was about 10 days ago. Where are you now? Don't be afraid to say it if you're still smoking. Just keep coming back. Every day you post something about your journey means that you are thinking about it, trying to find your tipping point to becoming a nonsmoker. There is no judgement here. No judgement. Just support. Tell us what you're feeling and the reason you smoked each cigarette, if you smoked. Putting the reason you smoked helps to take it out of secrecy, put it into clarity, and diminish its hold on you.

Yes, good one! You've encapsulated the situation exactly.

The fact that I don't remember to post a pledge every single day is testimony that I don't think about smoking on those days. I can't even believe I ever smoked. And NOPE, yet another day. Stunning, peaceful photo

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I am deeply depressed and craving a cigarette. My sweet little dog, Sofia, was asleep, but has jumped off of the bed and followed me into the living room as though she knows that something isn't right. She was asleep on the bed, next to me. It is night here. I want a cigarette. I want a cigarette so badly. Alcohol does not numb the pain of depression. Alprazolam does not numb me enough to let me sleep through the bad thoughts. I just want a cigarette to comfort me. When I smoked, I felt as though I was at peace. If you are on the fence about smoking, if you feel blue and think a cigarette will help you...no, it will not. Quit smoking. If you are blue, you'll still feel blue. At least, you will not be setting yourself up for dreadful diseases caused by smoking. Don't smoke. In my worst hours, I will not smoke. I will not go out and buy cigarettes. I have committed to Not One Puff Ever. If you are on the fence, and using depression as an excuse to smoke, don't. But I am not smoking. Quit. You couldn't be feeling as depressed as I am at this moment and still be breathing. Don't let that be an excuse. I am not smoking. You should stop smoking and, "Not One Puff, Ever." Quit. No excuses. Quit.

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Hi @Tara smith, It's great that you keep coming back and keep up the struggle. I was a serial quitter for years, and haunted the forum. I knew that I had to find a reason that was stronger than addiction. In January and early February last year, I watched as the virus spread across the map in Asia. I used to work in an infectious disease clinic and I attended conferences. (I coordinated them.) In one conference about "the big one," that physicians and scientists knew was coming, the speaker showed a map of what the infectious disease medical community believed would happen when a pandemic first broke out and the pattern of spread. It looked to me as though Covid was the one they had expected, and the spread was just as they said. I knew it was only a matter of a short time before it hit the USA. What was killing people was the terrible lung inflammation and congestion. Clearly, as a smoker, and almost 70 at the time, I'd die. My kids would be devastated. That was my "why" bigger than addiction. I quit cold turkey. There were some times of craving, but I kept thinking of Covid, my lungs, and my kids. I also came here and posted an SOS a few times. The friends you make here can help save your life. A week after I quit, the first official case showed up in the US, about 30 minutes drive north of me. Find your "why" and you'll find your strength to quit and stay quit. Good luck!!!

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These are breathtaking. Thank you and keep them coming. NOPE

Breathtaking. So serene. NOPE

@cbdave, I love this picture. It would make a good jigsaw puzzle. Is this inland, or along the coast? And, NOPE. (I almost forgot)

NOPE My dog is watching to be sure I don't slip.

NOPE Really enjoy the pics, @Cbdave. Thank you for taking the time to post them. I need every bit of calm and serenity that comes my way.

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No matter how many times you've tried and failed before, take another chance on yourself. Dig in and find your great reasons why you want to quit. I was a serial quitter, and finally made it...if I did it...so can you!

Breathtakingly beautiful NOPE

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OK so it's not the one year or two year, but I'm so happy to see 1 year six months! (And a few days) Eating Hagen Dazs strawberry vanilla ice cream to celebrate.

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NOPE Where is this?

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NOPE Did you know...there is a fungus that can eat cigarette butts? Per Netflix documentary, "Fantastic Fungi." Let the feast begin

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