I should proofread. Excuse the occasional missed letter. My keyboard sticks and I have a Chihuahua on my lap!

I have gone thru the same thing-I know many here have! I am back on day 1- been smoking 46 years and am beginning to feel some health problems. We have to look at this thing for what it is- a terrible addiction and our enemy. We can help each other. Stay close to this group and when u r ready, take it minute by minute. I am alone with health issues also but I know the smoking has helped keep me isolated. I've decided I want the winter of my life to be fun- senior center for lunch next week? sure, why not!!

Non smokers treat smokers like we're something to be avoided. I'm tired of staying away from certain people or gatherings because this has become more important to me.

Are you using any quit aids?

Welcome to a great group of quitters. Smoking was my escape from chronic pain for many years but you know what I discovered???? Even after the cig is gone, I was still in a lot of pain. I had a great 6 month quit going and thought I was finally 'in control' of my addiction..WRONG...I had one that led to 2 that led to a full pack in 5 days. After smoking and feeling guity about it for 9 months, I came back here and was welcomed back with open arms. I followed all the advise and stayed strong and am now going on 2 years smoke free...you can too. Read as much as you can from old and GoodPosts, plan your quit as suggested in the excellent old post "25 helpful Ideas to Quit Smoking" and sign on with us daily. We will help in any way we can.

Thank you so much. I'll start reading everything!

agree with everything alredy said. welcome cherry & just keep trying. i am 2 weeks today. i am using the patch & gum & it really helps me. it takes that horrible edge off.other aides are available, just dont stop trying to quit. all the luck to you!

Cherry, I've only been here a week and all the reading material they suggest on the "good posts section" and their positive comments have helped me.

I'm going to visit my granddaughter, so a few hours in a plane, few more in an airport and not wanting to smoke in front of a five year old has helped.

read everything here, so many have made it and I plan on being one of them.

Good luck (and yes, i do feel like i've lost a 'friend'

{Polly

If you had been quit for 12 years I am sure you know all of this, but here is the link to maybe refresh the memory of why one quits.

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

P.S. Welcome to the group!

Welcome Cherry!! This group was exactly what I needed in the first few months of my quit. i found support. great info, and the best people I have ever had the pleasure of knowing. I will post an old post someone added to the board at one time that I think we all can relate to. Read and get yourself ready then just sign on here and all the support you could want will be here. Good luck I will post separately.

How do you feel about a friend who has to go everywhere with you? Not only does he tag along all the time, but since he is so offensive and vulgar, you become unwelcome when with him. He has a peculiar odor that sticks to you wherever you go. Others think both of you stink.

He controls you totally. When he says jump, you jump. Sometimes in the middle of a blizzard or storm, he wants you to come to the store and pick him up. You would give your spouse hell if he or she did that to you all the time, but you can't argue with your friend. Sometimes, when you are out at a movie or play, he says he wants you to go stand in the lobby with him and miss important scenes. Since he calls all the shots in your life, you go. Your friend doesn't like your choice of clothing either. Instead of politely telling you that you have lousy taste, he burns little holes in these items so you will want to throw them out. Sometimes, he tires of the furniture and gets rid of it too. Occasionally, he gets really nasty and decides the whole house must go.

He gets pretty expensive to support. Not only is his knack of property destruction costly, but you must pay to keep him with you. In fact, he will cost you thousands of dollars over your lifetime. And you can count on one thing - he will never pay you a penny in return.

Often at picnics you watch others playing vigorous activities and having lots of fun doing them. But your friend won't let you. He doesn't believe in physical activity. In his opinion, you are too old to have that kind of fun, so he kind of sits on your chest and makes it difficult for you to breath. Now you don't want to go off and play with other people when you can't breathe, do you?

Your friend does not believe in being healthy. He is really repulsed by the thought of you living a long and productive life. So every chance he gets he makes you sick. He helps you catch colds and flu, not just by running out in the middle of the lousy weather to pick him up at the store. He is more than creative than that. He carries thousands of poisons with him which he constantly blows in your face. When you inhale some of them, they wipe out cilia in your lungs which would have helped you prevent these diseases.

But colds and flu are just his form of child's play. He especially likes diseases that slowly cripple you - like emphysema. He considers this disease great. Once he gets you to have this, you will give up all your friends, family, career goals, activities -EVERYTHING. You will sit home and caress him, telling him what a great friend he is while you desperately gasp for air.

But eventually your friend tires of you. He decides he no longer wishes to have your company. Instead of letting you go your separate ways, he decides to kill you. He has a wonderful arsenal of weapons behind him. In fact, he has been plotting your death since the day you met him. He picked all the top killers in society and did everything in his power to ensure you would get one of them. He overworked your heart and lungs. He clogged up the arteries to your heart, brain, and every other part of your body. In case you were too strong to succumb to this, he constantly exposed you to cancer causing agents. He knew he would get you sooner or later.

Well, this is a story of your "FRIEND" your cigarette. No real friend would do all this to you. Cigarettes are the worst possible enemies you ever had. They are expensive, addictive, socially unacceptable, and DEADLY. Consider all this and never take another puff.

Cherry, one thing that really assisted me in changing my mindset was Allen Carr's book The Easy Way to Stop Smoking. I actually got the CD set on ebay and whenever I feel a bit down, I have a listen and it really does help. He just gives you different positive ways to look at the whole smoking situation that really make sense.

Thanks...I'll look for it!

Hi Cherry and welcome. Do some reading on whyquit.com because knowledge is power when you are fighting this addiction. research the quit methods and choose one that is right for you. I used the nic patch because it is subsidised in my country. It really helped me quit and it gave me a chance to deal with my psychological addiction to smoking. Choose a quit date and come here each day for pledge and rollcall. Quitting isnt easy but its doable and your lungs will love you for it
Hugssssssssss Deb

Cherry, you said:
" Non smokers treat smokers like we're something to be avoided. I'm tired of staying away from certain people or gatherings because this has become more important to me.

Are you using any quit aids? "

One day that will make sense to you. I use to hate when my Grandma wouldn't hug me or people would give you that look as they passed you and you help that cig.

But 600 days today, it all makes sense. I never knew the overwhelming smell that nicotine leaves on your body & clothes! I didn't realize this for a god while into my quit. I guess it took my nose getting use to what clean air was suppose to smell like.

It really is awkward now to have to be around a smoker. It literally makes me nauseous. I love to visit our local Jockey Lot/ Flee Market/ HUGE yard Sale (lol) I feel like I walk 1/2 of the place holding my breath just from a smoker in front of me exhaling and it coming right in my direction. It is very unpleasant.

I hope you find your quit very soon~this is a great group and had it not been for a few of these great one, I may would have had quite a few slips! They are truly the best support group around!!