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And I'd like you to know its really not as hard as you think it is. Yes, the first few days/weeks/months MAY be tough but they're doable. And maybe they won't be tough at all. Its all in how you look at your quit. I looked at mine like losing my best friend and I made my whole first year miserable because of that. Ironically my quit buddy who quit one day before me sailed through his first year and embraced his new found freedom. Regardless of our different mindsets we both succeeded in quitting. So how did two different people with two different mindsets both succeed in quitting such a horrible addiction? By sheer determination and the support we received from people who were not only traveling with us but had also gone before us and paved the way so that our trip might be a little easier. You can quit and we want to help you. Hope to see you on the board, i promise you won't regret it

G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.

NOPE…

NOPE!

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Great post Jillar. It's different for everyone.....

NOPE

NOPE!!!!!!

So true. And no two quits are the same. Setting and controlling the mindsets are key.

Freedom can be found in many Roads .... Some take the scenic route ....some take the highway route .... It doesn't matter ...getting there is priority....

NOPE!!!!!!

NOPE!!

Warning : this may trigger the thoughts of smoking to some people at a critical time but it may also be of help in a critical time . You are the in the drivers seat , put on your seat belt and keep your quit at all times . -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Shhhhhh . Quiet . Has one of these thoughts crossed your mind? Just one and no one will know. No one will ever know because I won't tell . Just one more cigarette to help me through this and then I’ll be faithful to my quit . I won't let it happen again . Or ...have you said... I’ll just smoke this butt . One puff off a butt isn't even a cigarette . It won't hurt . I did think those thoughts and they led me to smoking . I did have those thoughts again and they also led me to freedom . Those thoughts were a pre warning sign . The red flag my quit was in danger or warning to keep my quit and let nothing take it . Many times I didn't heed the warning and well you know what happened . I was driving down a one way street and things were going great in my quit until a bump in the road . Construction stalled traffic flow and put everything at a standstill . I had to be patient just a little while longer to get through but I wasn't . I was frustrated and angry and in a hurry and wanted my peace so said a few choice words ( under my breath ) said pee on it ? I did a U ee and took a detour the wrong way . That was my first mistake . Frustration grew into panic cause I had no map to follow , no idea how to get outta the mess I got in and well lo and behold there between the seat was a cigarette . It came out out of no where and I smoked . I was lost more than ever now .... the smoke didn't fix a thing . It didn't get me to my destination quicker or safer . I am the driver of my quit . You yours . We can go down one way streets if we want to . We can bend all the rules if we want to . We can get caught up in construction or keep going around the traffic circle going no where but continually starting over another quit ......or we can not smoke and never have another day 1 . I asked for directions at the next bump in the road , and followed them . A man there with a yellow vest stood with a sign that said WARNING . Danger ahead . I heeded those words . Well you know what happened ... Abby

I found myself surrounded by smokers last night, for the first time since I quit! Went out to a cafe to listen to music and people were walking past me smelling of cigarettes, then I went outside to chat to a friend (the music was loud inside) and there were about 6 smokers and packets of cigarettes all over the table. I was pleased that I only took a mild interest in it all and that it didn't set off some mad, frantic craving. It would have been too easy to ask for cigarette, but it didn't enter my head. It was good for me to confront this as I go to listen to live music whenever I can and there are always smokers where there is music, I find! Think I passed my first 'socialising' test quite well! Proud of myself!

NOPE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

G’day Yep. It was like losing a close friend. But I discovered pretty soon that friend wasn’t really the friend I thought they were. They were out to kill me. They were costing me more than I thought. But once in realised that it became easy to walk away. No friend of mine......

NOPE!

The man outside my door Outside my door I heard a man coughing , nasty cold he had , I thought But it wasn't a cold , it was smoking . I'd forgotten about that nasty cough , because I don't have it anymore . Outside my door I heard that man out on his deck often ... I noticed he was new to the neighbourhood ... He was needing to feed his addiction . I'd forgotten that constant need to go in and out .. I don't need to anymore . Outside my door I can smell the smoke , although its a distance away. Gosh it smells ! Glad I don't smell like that anymore . Outside my door I've seen some butts perhaps they've blown in the wind . I worry about fire . I'm glad my littering won't cause a fire cause I don't smoke anymore . I wonder does that man have kids ? I bet he's a loving father that got caught up in addiction . I hope he faces denial soon for him and his kids and like us won't smoke anymore . Abby

G’day NOPE .....Not One Puff Ever.

NOPE!

Once you realize the damage (physically, psychologically, and socialogical) that smoking does to you it will become clear that you can quit. Quitting may be difficult but with understanding and support, which you can find here, you will see that quitting is doable. Some hard work at times but the rewards are so worthwhile!!!!

Hi Abby, awesome read! Thank you!!

NOPE…

As many of you know I was officially diagnosed with severe emphysema and COPD after I had respiratory failure in January of 2020. Most of you also know that for years I was struggling with breathing issues that I was told was asthma. In the two years leading up to my respiratory failure I went from 110 pounds on a 5'5" frame to just 79 when I was admitted into the ICU. My prognosis at that time was pretty grim, get better or go home on hospice. But either way I was also going home on oxygen. Since then I have put most of the weight back on and continue to feel myself get stronger each day. So then what's the point of this post you may be asking and its this.... I found a great group for people with COPD on Facebook which is ironic because I never used Facebook pre pandemic but the group is awesome. So many people that can relate and answer the many questions those of us newly diagnosed have. Much like our community does. Here's the sad part, I read post after post from members of that group still smoking. Some are on oxygen and still smoke! I of course pass our site on to them and I hope they find their way here. Its just really sad to see. There's even a few who's Drs have refused certain procedures because they're smoking. Life saving procedures too I might add. COPD is a progressive disease with no known cure. It can be slowed with proper medications and quitting smoking. Sadly we can have it for years and not even know it until we get an exacerbation. Mine was thought to be asthma. My day consists of trying to keep my 50' oxygen tubing out of the walkways and from getting caught in the doors. I'm embarrassed to go anywhere because people will be whispering things like "that's what happens when you smoke" etc. My poor dog and cat also have to dodge it while I'm walking down the hall to feed them. Its no way to live. I'm not looking for any sympathy I just want to put a brutal face to this terrible addiction in the hopes it helps someone quit or keep their quit.....

That is awesome, Robbie. Well done!

NOPE

@Robbie Good job, you should be very proud

Nope!!!

Doing well . Still the same ol thing for me so not sharing as it's nothing new . If you dont sweat you are dehydrated ? Muscles cramp ? Can you share . Sorry can't mention my letters and numbers are froze on my computer .

Congratulations Diane, well done.

Are you experiencing signs of COPD including Emphysema.... https://medlineplus.gov/emphysema.html

Congratulations Dianne! You are awesome girl!

NOPE!

Amen, Sista!

NOPE!!!

NOPE

@Steven Drojensky Keep up the good work you're doing Awesome!!!

NOPE!

NOPE…

Nope

I am 4 months shy of being 20 years quit. I smoked for 25 years and quit at the age of 40 (my birthday). It was only after many, many years quit that COPD was diagnosed. Frankly it did not surprise me. Smoking often pays you back many years later....even when you quit! Luckily my COPD is at a mild level and has been for over 8 years. In fact I can do the tests slightly better than 8 years ago.. Prescibed two inhalers. One for use every day and the other is an asthma inhaler, for limited use. My quality of life and activity levels are very high. I play golf, cycle, swim, gym and walk. COPD can be a progressive disease....if you smoke, breathe bad air and don't exercise. BUT i have 20 years nearly of not inhaling cigarettes. I quit and did not know that i was forestalling COPD. I count myself blessed that at nearly 60, my Copd is merely an inhaler in the morning and forgotten..... Never, ever think that quitting is stopping smoking. It can stop, curtail, diminish the years of damage to your body in the future. Best of luck Jillar. NOPE