you know i worked health care as well. and while i knew the facts, i still didn't apply it to my life. it is very easy to have the knowledge... it's much harder to apply it to one's own life.

you know what it can do to you. you just have to make up your mind that this is something that you really really want to do and then make the decision to do it. make a list of reasons of why you want to do it and read it every day. Once you make that decision to quit, it will seem like a weight has been lifted. quitting is hard.. i won't lie.... but with a positive attitude and and great support system it is possible and you will be amazed at how much easier life is with the decision made to quit smoking rather than thinking about it.

Hi sassybabe11, I agree with sambod. It is very hard to quit, you have to have the determination and it sounds like you have lots of good reasons to quit. It could be that you need something to replace the hand to mouth habit. I know this doesn't exactly go with beer (and I am not suggesting you quit drinking) but maybe you could try some suckers. When you feel the urge to bring that hand to your mouth, the suckers are an excellent stand in! I smoked for 40 years and quit cold turkey and with the help of MY" drug" of choice, (in other words, no gum, no patches, no drugs),Tootsie Pops. I am not saying it will work for you as every quit and person is different. It could be worth thinking about.

Welcome to the group! :)

Deb

thanks for comments i just am tired of the constant termoil around this bad habit/addiction. i guess i need to just start every day reading about this topic and pray for help with this. can apply the 12 steps to any addiction. the cig companies getting rich and knowingly assisting those of us addicted to get that way is also frustrating. i am weak to the first signs of withdrawal because partly i see it as a treat for working hard all day. that is part of my justification.

http://www.dailystrength.org/groups/good-posts

this is a group that we post articles on. it should help. you need to find something to replace the reward at the end of the day. The turmoil you speak of will stop once you make the decision to quit. it's the addiction that is keeping you from making the decision, whispering about how hard it is..... really, when you make the decision, the addiction loses control.... the addiction is going to do everything it can to keep you from quitting. but i think you are ready to do it. we will be here to help.

I also agree with what was posted. If you really want to quit...you will..there really is no magic to it..you just quit.

I also agree with what was posted. If you really want to quit...you will..there really is no magic to it..you just quit.

I work in health care and I agree with you and sambod. But I also agree with Grannie. You just tell yourself NO MORE... It is not easy, in fact it is very hard, but are you going to let fear stop you? There is no physical pain,,,, just allot of mental games. Keep saying no. One minute, one hour, one day at a time. Slowly, it gets easier, and one day you blink and realize days, weeks, months, or even years have gone by. .
You CAN do it. You just have to start saying 'no more'

Hi

Beer is a trigger for me too, so for now, no beer either. But,,, my biggest trigger is one I can't avoid, FOOD. My routine eat, smoke, snack, smoke, meal, smoke, coffee, smoke,,,, so for now I'm eating and planning what to do as soon as I finish to replace that delicious moment of peace.

Hope you find your time,.Alma

It's a weird thing how we can know the dangers of smoking, be scared of them, but still puff on. I suppose that's part of the definition of addiction. I've always been an extremely health conscious person...who smoked. Sometimes when I think about the fact that I smoked (& for as long as I did, 24 years), I am HORRIFIED. I mean I actually can't quite believe it. Interestingly, that doesn't stop the occasional thought from popping into my head that I *need* to smoke or that it would be a good idea...I work hard not to entertain those ideas anymore.

I don't know if this will help you, but what helped me mentally, was to accept that there would be difficult moments. That there might be times quitting felt like torture & that I decided in advance, NO MATTER WHAT, that I would endure & not light up. I was able to make this decision based on the fact that I have quit a few times in the past. I know for sure that the tortured feeling passes & that there is freedom on the other side....so if you don't, please take my word for it.

Do as much as you can to make it as easy as possible for yourself. You have to decide for yourself what those things will be. For me the focus on being controlled by addiction was a big one as well. I think the trick with that is not to beat yourself up over it & just get on with getting free.

I would stay away from as many of your triggers as you can...can you give up the beer for a few weeks????? I would. Just know we are with you and each of us have been exactly where you are now....it DOES get better..I never even think of smoking a cigarette..I even picked up one of my daughter's and it felt so foreign and completely wrong for me. Lots of luck, let us know how we can help.

Hugs from afar,Mayberry