I wish everyone who wants to quit smoking gets past the fear that kept me smoking for so long.

 

When I was a smoker and in withdrawal, I'd sit there and think 'no way can I quit, I would climb up the walls.' There will be times you have cravings at first, but it's so temporary. It's such a feeling of freedom not to be chained to cigarettes. A whole different life, really. It makes every part of your life better.

 

To think, I was scared I couldn't survive happily without smoking. Turned out to be quite the opposite.

Fear of the unknown, fear you will lose yourself.

 

You want to quit but you know it will change you and you're scared.

 

It ends up that you finally realize after you quit,

 

That you know yourself more than ever before,

 

And you realize it's the first time in your adult life.

 

The first time ever...that you know about you.

That is so true. After the physical withdrawals go away and the triggers calm down, it is really nothing at all to being a nonsmoker. These days I can overcome the random trigger by having a piece of sugar free gum. I wish I would have had the guts to quit years ago.

The world looks much better when you're not staring down the barrel of a cigarette into a cloud of smoke.

I understand the fear of the unknown, I really do.

 

But trust me, a life without cigarettes is so much better. The freedom you feel once you finally realize you don't need that cigarette is indescribable. It's amazing. You are no longer a slave to your addiction!

 

Cravings never kill you, but cigarettes can. Why not quit and find out for yourself how amazing it is to be smoke-free?

 

There are so many benefits to not smoking. You don't smell, you aren't sick all the time, you spend more time with your loved ones. We miss out on so much when we're smokers!

 

Start living your life today instead of being afraid of what quitting will do to you. There are no negatives to quitting. NOPE!

I was really really worried and scared to stop smoking because the cigarette had such a hold over me, a tiny tube of nasty chemicals that kills, that you set fire to and inhale its smoke, had such a hold over me I was so scared to let it go, but do you know something, once I overcame the fear and I face my cravings and deal with them as they should be dealt with a quick short sharp NOPE , it doesnt scare me anymore.  

How did I miss this little nugget?

 

Nice post Ava....it's all about the fear..every single excuse we ever had for smoking was fear based.  

 

Funny though...the only courage you really need to have is the first step.  Putting down that final cigarette and make the commitment to never take another puff.  No Matter What.  Minute by minute....you simply don't smoke.  You don't smoke for the next hour.  you don't smoke for 2 hours....then a few hours goes by...you've done it.  Time for bed now..you are a bit tired and even lightheaded (from that sudden burst of oxygen your blood has now received since you smoked your final cigarette)  but you made it.....on to day 2........Nothing to fear...you got through day 1.....you can get through any day.

That is so true. After the physical withdrawals go away and the triggers calm down, it is really nothing at all to being a nonsmoker. These days I can overcome the random trigger by having a piece of sugar free gum. I wish I would have had the guts to quit years ago.

 

It's easy when we are quit to keep looking in the rear view mirror. It's easier if you know where you've been. You have stories to tell that everyone can relate to, they've been there too and nobody wants to go back.

 

But trying to drive while quit and navigating by looking forward through the windshield is a lot harder isn't it? We know where we want to go but have limited experience.

 

We make a lot of judgement calls based on what people ahead of us have told us happened to them.  A lot is taken on faith.

For sure, for me it seemed like smokes was "my only friend" after all no matter what it was always with me convincing me that quitting sucks no matter whats the reason for doing so. That I didn't care if I died early as long as i could smoke etc. Then near the end of my first yr of freedom I realized what a load of "shit" ole nicodemon convinced me to believe & now heading towards 2 1/2 yrs free & the pluses keep happening I no longer RESENT QUITTING. :rolleyes:  :rolleyes:  Its sad the POWER that 3 " of burning paper had on us. :( 

Same here! I thought I didn't care if it killed me too. The junkie thinking was real strong in me. Now, I can see objectively what a waste it all was.

Same here! I thought I didn't care if it killed me too. The junkie thinking was real strong in me. Now, I can see objectively what a waste it all was.

yes but as you wish for others you finally saw the glorious light ava.