Smoking Addiction & Recovery Support Group
The CDC claims that nicotine is a "very addictive drug" that can be "as addictive as heroin or cocaine." Nicotine is typically eliminated from the body within 2 to 3 days, however, physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms may last for much longer depending on the individual. If you are trying to kick the habit, this community is dedicated to giving smokers the...
I have been a smoker on and off for about 20 years. I started when I was around 14. Both of my parents smoked so it was easy to get them. Besides, back then all you needed was a note from your "parents" at the gas station to purchase them and they were only about .75-1.00 a pack!
I quit for 4 years between my first pregnancy and 2nd child. Then I took that infamous "One Drag" off a friends cigarette and that was all she wrote!
I tried to convince myself that I didn't have a problem. I hid my smoking from my husband and children for years and only smoked when I was at the bar or with friends who smoked.
My Mother was a very heavy smoker, anywhere from 2-4 packs a day. It's funny how she always stank like smoke and yet, I never thought I did when I smoked! Anyway, I literally NEVER saw my mom without a smoke in her hand.
She was diagnosed with Heart Disease and COPD about 7 years ago. Shortly after she underwent Aortic Bi-Pass surgery and the doctor who performed the surgery told her that he wouldn't do it if she didn't quit smoking. She did quit, for the 7-10 days that she was in the hospital and recovering.
In November of 2005, Mom was put on Hospice Care and given 4 mos-1 year to live. Up to that point, we knew she was sick, but figured if she was still smoking, it must not be that bad. Even after she was put on Hospice, she continued to smoke. In fact, she smoked more!
None of us knew what to think.
COPD can be such a gradual killer that we thought even though she was on Hospice, she may have another 10 or 15 years! We were wrong!
My Mom died on November 10th, 2006. Even though COPD took her faster than any of us anticipated, it was still a slow and painfull death. The last year of her life was miserable. She couldn't leave the house anymore, she eventually couldn't leave her bed or even talk on the phone for any length of time without gasping for air or having a coughing fit.
And yet, she still smoked! The last 2 weeks of her life were spent in and out of conciousness. When she was alert, she would demand that we give her a cigarette and when she was semi alert she would "smoke" invisable cigarettes. She knew that smoking is what was killing her and yet it didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was the cigarette.
It was heartbreaking to watch someone die from an addiction they were powerless to stop.
It took me a year to the day to recover enough from my grief to finally see that I too was becoming victim to the Nicodemon. In the year after my mother's death I went from being an occasional smoker to a pack a dayer.
I finally took control of my life and in honor of my Mother I gave up the Nicodemon on the anniversary of her death.
I do not want to go through what she did and more importantly I do not want to put my family through what we went through with her.
Thank you for this site! And thank you for listening to my story! Maybe together we can beat the demon at the source and put Big tobacco out of business! I hope I live to see the day that they pay for all of the lives they helped to take!
Tamera
Quit Date: 11/10/2007
Smoke Free: 16 days
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 320!
Money Saved: $64.00
Days of life GIVEN BACK: 4
I quit for 4 years between my first pregnancy and 2nd child. Then I took that infamous "One Drag" off a friends cigarette and that was all she wrote!
I tried to convince myself that I didn't have a problem. I hid my smoking from my husband and children for years and only smoked when I was at the bar or with friends who smoked.
My Mother was a very heavy smoker, anywhere from 2-4 packs a day. It's funny how she always stank like smoke and yet, I never thought I did when I smoked! Anyway, I literally NEVER saw my mom without a smoke in her hand.
She was diagnosed with Heart Disease and COPD about 7 years ago. Shortly after she underwent Aortic Bi-Pass surgery and the doctor who performed the surgery told her that he wouldn't do it if she didn't quit smoking. She did quit, for the 7-10 days that she was in the hospital and recovering.
In November of 2005, Mom was put on Hospice Care and given 4 mos-1 year to live. Up to that point, we knew she was sick, but figured if she was still smoking, it must not be that bad. Even after she was put on Hospice, she continued to smoke. In fact, she smoked more!
None of us knew what to think.
COPD can be such a gradual killer that we thought even though she was on Hospice, she may have another 10 or 15 years! We were wrong!
My Mom died on November 10th, 2006. Even though COPD took her faster than any of us anticipated, it was still a slow and painfull death. The last year of her life was miserable. She couldn't leave the house anymore, she eventually couldn't leave her bed or even talk on the phone for any length of time without gasping for air or having a coughing fit.
And yet, she still smoked! The last 2 weeks of her life were spent in and out of conciousness. When she was alert, she would demand that we give her a cigarette and when she was semi alert she would "smoke" invisable cigarettes. She knew that smoking is what was killing her and yet it didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was the cigarette.
It was heartbreaking to watch someone die from an addiction they were powerless to stop.
It took me a year to the day to recover enough from my grief to finally see that I too was becoming victim to the Nicodemon. In the year after my mother's death I went from being an occasional smoker to a pack a dayer.
I finally took control of my life and in honor of my Mother I gave up the Nicodemon on the anniversary of her death.
I do not want to go through what she did and more importantly I do not want to put my family through what we went through with her.
Thank you for this site! And thank you for listening to my story! Maybe together we can beat the demon at the source and put Big tobacco out of business! I hope I live to see the day that they pay for all of the lives they helped to take!
Tamera
Quit Date: 11/10/2007
Smoke Free: 16 days
Cigarettes NOT smoked: 320!
Money Saved: $64.00
Days of life GIVEN BACK: 4
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I have been here before, a long long time ago and now I am back.Forgive me for not just saying what I want to say,even under a triple dose of antidepressants it is still raw and seeping and I am hesitant at revealing it as at least under the bandages around my heart I don,t have to look at how raw and wounded.My child was cleaved from my heart by his own actions. my child of ten,turning eleven...
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theatre and I are there already. I'm having a very berry tea with crackers, cheese and cherry tomatoes and she's having a joint with some beer and we're both on really comfy recliners on thick pile carpet. we need some help with the decor if anyone is around??
Sorry for your loss.
Liz:
Three months, two weeks, six days, 16 hours, 22 minutes and 49 seconds. 2253 cigarettes not smoked, saving $805.97. Life saved: 1 week, 19 hours, 45 minutes.
Glad you've joined us, Tamara. Keep up the great quit.
Shevie
Quit May, 2005
Thank you for sharing!
I lost my Dad to COPD and he quit 15 years before he died.
He suffered greatly the last few years.
How dumb is it that we know this and keep smoking???
I'm so glad you have quit.
Please don't smoke again. I care.
Barb
Tamera
I have been quit for 1 Month, 4 Days, 13 hours, 30 minutes and 22 seconds (34 days).
I have saved $141.01 by not smoking 691 cigarettes.
I have saved 2 Days, 9 hours and 35 minutes of my life. My Quit Date: 11/10/2007 12:00 AM