giving up is hard to do. (Smoking Addiction in general)

Member Name: mykp

Product:	Smoking Addiction in general
Date:	02/07/01 (93 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Nicotine rush

Disadvantages: You stink, its expensive, screws up your health

I was a late starter with cigarettes.

I was 24 before I really had my first cigarette and it made me cough and choke, as I recall it felt hot down my throat. It wasnt a pleasent experience for me, but I tried it again. and again and again until I could smoke a whole cigarette without choking or wretching.

So why did I leave it so late?

Well, nearly all my friends smoked and I had resisted the temptation for a very long time. Although one friday night my mates and I where in the local Ale house and the beer was flowing quite nicely and one of my friends offered me a cigarette. Curiosity getting the better of me I accepted and he lit the cigarette as I inhaled.

COUGH! Urgh! was my first though. All my friends laughed. So I took another drag. I could feel myself wanting to throw up but I held the feeling and pushed it down deep inside.

Things kinda led on from there and slowly I started to smoke more and more until I was actually going to the shops and buying my own. This is when you realise your addiction.

Years went by and I carried on smoking, much to the annoyance of my parents and girlfriend of the time.

In 1998 I decided enough was enough and I said I was going to give up. How can I do this I wondered.!

Unlike others who have tried patches, inhailers, chewing gum. I took the direct method. Dont buy them. Hard to do I know, but I forced myself to give up, taking the money I would have spent on Cigarettes and putting it into a jar.

The craving never went away for the first few weeks but I never gave in even when others commented how uptight I was all the time, but the longer I went on the more money filled up my jar. At the same time a few of my friends where trying to give up as well, but they surcame to their craving and they ended up smoking again.

The main thing that helped me give up smoking was to stop myself doing and going to places where I would normally have smoked,
like the pub or certain friends houses.

Eventually the craving subsided but I wasnt ready for the withdrawal symptoms that followed. My throat became sore, I coughed up very strange colours of Phlem and I felt angry all the time. But I still carried on not smoking.

Its been nearly 3 years since I have had a cigarette but I still have the occasional one, usually with a beer or wine. Spending time with friends is the hardest time.

Things I dont miss are the smell, sorry smokerers, you stink. As did I, I am sure. Another thing is my wallet is a bit fatter these days.

Its not easy giving up smoking and the hardest thing for me was I missed the comforting of having that stick in my mouth and as a resuly I seem to have eaten lots more. Lots, lots, lots more.

I just hope I have the same willpower for my latest diet.

© copyright 2001, Mike Porter.

Summary: