Hope the following is of help: I smoked from age 15 to 41 (now 66), 3 packs a day. as time went on I got bronchitis every six months. I used to wheeze and gurgle constantly, to the point where it waked me from sleep. I went to the dermatologist with a white patch on my lower lip. He said I was flirting with lip cancer. So I was smart: I moved the cigarette to the other side of my mouth. One year later, I found my self gradually beginning to accept the onset of death, as breathing got more difficult. I bought a new '84 300 ZX and vowed to never smoke in it, but that went by the wayside. I felt like a piece of meat marinated in nicotine.
One spring day I drove down a local farm road, sun shining, bales of hay in the field, took out a cigarette, and all of a sudden it hit me: LIFE IS WORTH WHAT GOD GIVES YOU. WHY AM I LETTING THESE F.....G THINGS CONTROL MY LIFE?
The next day at the Doctor, my bp was 170/120, I had the shakes, and all I wanted was to cut then ends off the pack of cigarettes, stick the whole end in my mouth, light the other end and suck in all that good essense. Instead, I got on Nicorette (prescription in '84) and Tenormin (the first beta blocker). I found myself reaching for a smoke, then realizing I should not do it, letting one second pass, and then reaching for a smoke again. That would happen times in 10 seconds.
The first 2 months were the most difficult. The cigarette was my companion for so long. There were no admonitions against smoking in work back then. After that it became easier. One of my friends who had given up cigarettes said that the tendancy to drink would increase. I cannot say he was wrong.
But after about 2 years, dreams about smoking started to disappear and I was almost fully normalized. Also gained about 30 pounds, which gradually disappeared.
Had I continued cigarettes, I would have been in the ground along with a teenage friend who I used to build cars with. He died at age 57.
Tobacco, believe it or not, is the most addictive substance. Hold on through the first month, and you will be OK, but you will need to exercise will power. I did need to carry a pack with me, just to know that if I broke down and needed a smoke, I would not be forced into a stressful situation. Never opened the pack.
Hope this helps. Think of your family and kids if you have them.
BernieK
Fuzz420;1286411 said:
Over the last several weeks/months i have been thinking about quitting. Well today is that day with the prices going way up.
Aside from the obvious health benefits, financially i REFUSE to pay $6+/- a pack to kill myself.
My goal is to quite cold turkey. No patches, no drugs, and no whatever else they make. Break this strangle hold of an addiction and start saving money and living a healthier life.