NO NICOTINE (Cope)since 2/19/09

[scott_vt]

It is hard to quit right now for me.



He slid on the gravel, went across the other lane, hit the guard rail and died right there.

.

Good Afternoon Bill,
My prayers to you and your family, that is way to young to pass on !

David,
Keep at it buddy, one day at a time !

 

[DocHeb]

I am sorry about your brother. I had read a post about somebody's brother who died, but didn't remember that it was in the nicotine addiction thread. My reference to 140 mph motorcycle riding was to point out a dangerous behavior that folks would probably agree was dangerous. I was not in response to, nor a reference to, your brother's untimely death.

 

[woodchuckie]

I quit smoking about four years ago after smoking for over thirty years and was smoking a pack a day at work(too many breaks) and less at home as I never smoked in the house. I was swimming each day before work to try and counter the effects of smoking. As I got older my cholesterol slowly rose as did my borderline high blood pressure. That and the fact that my first grandchild had gotten old enough to ask about what I was doing. When I decided to stop it was the day our boy scout troop was going summer camp for a week and I had about 10 cigarettes left in a pack and decided not to buy any more. I finished that pack that Sunday afternoon and never looked back. I can truthfully say that I haven't wanted another one since.

I still ended up needing blood pressure medicine and cholesterol medicine just last year.
BUT I am now up to swimming freestyle for one hour and don't get out of breath. That's fifty laps in a twenty-five meter pool.
I don't spend any time trying to figure out how to sneak a smoke at work at home or camping with the grandkids. I actually forgot to take a lighter to start the fire on our last campout. No more standing in cold or rain just to smoke at work. I can smell a smoker as soon as they walk up to me. That smell is what my wife had to put up with from me. I save 1500 dollars a year. No floor full of ashes or holes in the seat in the car and I can ride with the windows up in the winter time.
I had tried lots of times before but this last time I had enough reasons to quit(now seven grandkids) that it was easy for me. Only time will tell if I'll have any health problems later because of the smoking.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

I went into a store to buy a can and couldn't find anything I went to my local store and they were totally sold out. That's when it changed for me, I went from needing it, to being angry at it and quit again. That was the first time that I quit angry. I can't say if it was at myself, or who, but it was different then the other times.

This is almost the exact way it happened for me. First time I quit out of anger because of the store being sold out.


I admire you for putting it out here on the forums. Even if you slip up, be honest about it and move forward. Odds are that you may have to try again and again to quit. Just keep at it and endure the mental torture that your brain will put you through. It's worth it!!!!!

I think putting it on the form will help me win this battle. I started not to post but then decided there may be something to these support groups

Eddie

I don't know how to do the multiple quote replys so I replied within your quote.

Thanks for sharing your experience, looks like you won the war and I'm still fighting the battle; but this time I think I am going to win!

 

[LMTC]

Your body is simply trying to survive. Part of the addiction means that your body/brain have been conditioned to the substance to the level that missing it registers as a survival threat....just like going without food or water for a long period. Once you get past that point the cravings will likely be less. Look for excuses to avoid situations you associate highly with that habit. Look for alternatives and diversions....try to think of some in advance, just as you would plan an emergency response to other threats (fire, injury, etc.) and be prepared to use them. Maybe a snack you enjoy, a particular activity, a brisk walk, a phone call to someone who will pump you up about your decision to stop using. Best of luck.....it's tough, but you're reading about lots of folks like yourself here that made it...you can too.

 

[greenmule]

I quit drinking beer for a little over a year about 3-4 years ago or so. Just decided to stop to see what would happen![drunk enough beer to float a battleship],every body saying on tv and such that if you drunk x amount you was an alchee etc.

Well one hot summer day after not drinking a drop [and hardly ever missing it],was weed eating and thinking boy wouldn't that first beer taste good now! said to myself why are you punishing your self for,you're liable to die tommorow.

Went and got me some good cold coors light,ummm. Still drink beer now.Ain't quit again,just wanting to know if I could I guess.

 

[IH3444]

Coors light? Isn't that a soda pop? Try a nice stout dark beer, or two. Now that's beer.

 

[greenmule]

Yeah,thats what I've been drinking for past 7-8 years I guess,pretty good beer,

That dark beer is just for people who drink beer as a part time hobby,once you get up to a semi pro like me,you don't mess with that stuff.

Just don't want to turn pro..yet anyways.What would that be,40 ounce malt liquer,and mad dog?

 

[IH3444]

OMG that's funny. Went over to a neighbor's once to help out. About 9:30am. He was drinking a beer and offered me one. I told him it was too early in the morning for me, I don't start drinking until 10am.....

 

[woodchuckie]

I ran into a neighbors wife at the hospital the other night and she explained that her husband had started drinking again and had been in the hospital all week. He was unable to walk. He use to drink that beer for breakfast also. He didn't really function much before he started drinking again. He's a heavy smoker also. Those two vices seem to go together.