I was a cigarette smoker from the age of 16. Though, I did not really get going with the habit until the age of 18 when I could legally purchase the packs myself. I typically smoked 15-20 cigarettes a day. I would smoke mindlessly. I wouldn't really crave one but I would light up anyway. Chain smoking was a bad habit of mine when I was in social settings with other smokers.
A little background
I have always known that cigarettes were harmful to your health. I used to hide my grandmother's packs of mini cigars until she'd get angry with me. I hated sitting near smoking sections in restaurants and public places. I would be disgusted with amount of ash and butts lying around the streets, yards and sidewalks. One thing that bothered me more than all of it was the scent. Even as a smoker myself, I could not stand the scent of someone who had just smoked. Their breath, hair, clothes, homes...it was just too much. I was unaware of how much I hated this until I became a hair stylist. People would sit in my chair and immediately I was smacked with the scent. I suddenly became aware of my own cigarette stench after each break I took. My clients and customers never said a word or made a gesture about my scent, however. I'm not sure if I had succeeded in concealing my scent or if they were just very kind to me.
The last couple of years I realized I desperately needed to give up this filthy habit to save myself from more damage. I am 26 years old now and would like to have a few years of quitting under my belt before I hit 30.
Attempts to quit
I have attempted to quit several times in the past. I attempted cold turkey methods in the beginning and never made it more than 48 hours. I tried quitting with patches and gums. I tried to replace cigarettes with Lemonhead candies and peppermints, to no avail. I knew I needed to quit, but I hadn't really prepared my mind for being a non-smoker. When I was around 20 or 21 a good friend of mine had quit and I was inspired to give it another try. This time I used an electronic cigarette that I ordered directly from China. I loved that thing. It was small and shaped like a black cigarette. The end would light up blue from each puff. I thought I was so cool. Nowadays, vaping has become a massive culture. My little black e-cig from China was nowhere near the monsters they have created today.
This attempt lasted me about six months. I was so proud to be a quitter. I felt like I had some control over my life. Until I found work at a salon that I would later call home. My best friend, was the manager, and on my very first day of work she took me out for a cigarette break.
I lost all control and gave in...
I spent the next 5 years smoking and thinking about how bad it was for me. My boyfriend, was also a smoker. My brothers were smokers. My friends were smokers. It was everywhere around me. I knew I wasn't going to be able to quit without help. I went to my doctor and was given a prescription of Buproprion. It is a generic form of Wellbutrin, which I had heard was helping people quit. I took this for about three or four months. After a month, I was ready to start quitting. I lost my urge to smoke as much and suddenly didn't care if I had one. However, if you love yourself, then I do not recommend this method. The side effects were so intense that I do not think it's safe to take such drugs. I woke up with a new pain in a new place of my body every day. My jaw was constantly clenching tightly and I couldn't stop it. My body trembled all day long. It scared me, so I stopped taking it.
For another six months, I was a non-smoker.
That was until I began hanging out with my best friend again. I enjoyed our cigarette talks and suddenly felt I wanted to be a smoker. So, I picked up the habit again. This time, however, my boyfriend did not. He had quit with me and wasn't interested in starting again. I admired his willpower and remember wishing I felt the same way he did. I can now finally say I do.
The last time
I chose to change my way of thinking. I knew I didn't like cigarettes. I feared for my health and I wanted to stop, but I didn't know what to do. I turned to the internet and found a book I once owned and never finished. It was The Easy Way To Stop Smoking by Allen Carr. I listened to the audio book version on Audible.com. You can continue smoking while you read it (or listen) and it really helps change the way you view cigarettes, the tobacco industry, and other smokers. You will not want to keep smoking afterwards. I do highly recommend that everyone struggling to quit give it a read (or listen).
I'm not here to advertise the book, but simply give you my story. If you or someone you love is struggling with nicotine addiction (or any addiction, really) the only way they (or you) will ever truly quit is to accept it themselves.You cannot quit successfully if you are not truly ready. I'm not talking about a weekend spark of inspiration and saying you'll quit Monday morning. No, you have to want to be a non-smoker. You have to know that cigarettes serve no purpose in your life. You don't even crave them when they are gone. Every cigarette you put out is your last cigarette. The moment you're done, you've become a non-smoker.
When you are truly ready to accept that you are a non-smoker, then you can set a date or pick your last cigarette.
Final advice
Take care of yourself. If you want to quit, don't get mad at yourself for your past failures. There is nothing wrong with you. You're not quitting because you hate yourself, you're quitting because you love yourself and the people around you. Get a good support system, there are apps and online forums to track your progress and stay in touch with others. Your family and friends will support you, even the smokers.
For the first few weeks, you should keep yourself busy. Find other things to do to keep your mind off of going out for a cigarette if you're having trouble getting over it. Going for a walk, drinking water, reading some articles or a chapter or two of a good book, are good ideas. I know some people that use adult coloring books to pass a few minutes of time easily. I frequently passed time on Pinterest. Pinning really distracts me from everything though so I have to be careful. Another great idea is to journal. Keeping track of your feelings, mental state, physical health, and progress is a great idea.
I hope that you find your health and happiness.
XOXO
Captain O'Reily
Buy me a cup of coffee. ;)
