Did the idea of quitting ever scare you?

[cynatnite]

It scares the hell out of me. I'm afraid of failing and being weak. I'm scared I don't have the willpower to see it through. I don't want to tell anyone here at home I'm going to try and quit. If I start back or never try in the first place I'll still feel like the first class failure. I know I have to quit. It's my life if I don't. I truly believe that, but if I stop, then start again I'm not sure if I would try to stop again.

I've tried quitting before and have only managed to do a day or two without. During this it was hell and all I thought about was smoking. No matter what I did either having a cigarette or not having one was on my mind constantly. It was an obsession.

I know things I have to do that'll help. No more coca-cola. Love the stuff, but I smoke more when I'm drinking one. Sweet candy and chocolate brings on cravings. Sitting in front of the computer does it, too. If I'm too much there I smoke like a train. I'll have to change many aspects of my life.

Don't get me wrong. I know the benefits for myself and my family. This just scares the hell out of me.

I've got a date in mind already and I think I'm going to use Smoke Away to help me along.

I would really like to know if anyone else has felt this way.

[Autonomy]

1. I am wearing the patch as I type

I had quit once before, for 3 years, and it took about 1000 tries before it took. And yes, the idea of quitting still scared me up until about a week ago when I quit this time around. There's no reason to fear, really. It won't kill you to try quitting. Sometimes it just takes several efforts before you get sick and tired enough of smoking to make it stick this time.

[Lowell]

2. Hang in there

It gets easier with time. I tried to quit about a hundred times. The first week is always pretty awful. This last time I used the patch. It killed the cravings, but I was still addicted to nicotine.

The longer I didn't smoke the less I was tempted while I used the patch. When it became time to taper off and quit using the patch I was again racked with the cravings, but I hadn't physically smoked in three months by then. It took some will power, but I just couldn't see myself starting again. Now its been a while and I've finally beat the habit, but still think about it now and then.

I avoided those activities that triggered the urge. I stayed out of watering holes, began drinking decaffinated coffee and took a lot of walks. I'm still working on it, but haven't fallen off the wagon this time. Good luck.