Jeez, did you know smoking is dangerous?!

[Still winning]

Sounds so silly to say these now!!   "I could get hit by a bus tomorrow". "Doctors blame everything on smoking, non smokers get ill too you know".  For 23 years these were my war cries, my excuses.

 

For anyone unsure, who wonders if people are just making it up?!  Smoking is addictive, to stop the addiction, you stop smoking. Then you hold on...that's it!! There is no physical pain, there is no fanfare (apart from verbally here) and it's just done because you say no more.

 

The alternative..well, that's slightly different. My beautiful nana, she died of emphysema, struggling for breath, only smoked 20 a day. My beloved uncle died, Lung cancer, smoked 80 a day...we had 12 weeks to adjust and he was gone. My Mum, now 66, has had copd (can't get her breath) for a few years. Likes a drink too, red wine, nowt serious. Just broke her out of hospital with a huge amount of meds. Seems her 60 a day habit brought on a heart problem, it doesn't beat properly you see. 

 

I helped nurse my Uncle. I am a primary carer for my Mum. 

 

Are you still thinking smoking is ok?!  Get real!! 

 

The truth...I would smoke, but I'm scared witless, of what it does and what it takes. I can't abide the thought of the children I have and adore having to look after me!! 

 

Plus I have some random fella, he don's a skirt from time to time (blaming scottish genes, hmm, really?! lol) and he holds my non smoking sorry ass hand.

 

So I have a 3 month quit, it's pretty safe you see because I have seen and believed first hand what smoking does. I see it every day.  Smoking is a mugs game. To not smoke can be uncomfortable mentally from time to time. To smoke can cause physical pain/fear and more illnesses then I understand the names for!!  

 

No thanks. Be safe, be free. xx

 

 

[El Bandito]

Smoking takes lives.

 

The fear of stopping smoking prevents many of us even trying to quit. So we leave our kids standing at our graves crying in the rain.

 

The irony is, stopping smoking, quitting smoking is entirely doable. In fact, it's a lot easier than you think.

 

It's sure as hell easier than dying.

 

Sign up. Ask.

 

What harm could it do?

[JackiMac]

For years and years my mantra was "it will never happen to me" who was I trying to kid, I was listening to an addiction deep inside, for years and years I was scared to give up, who was I trying to kid, I believed the addict inside me,  for years and years whenever my partner and son said, please stop its killing you, I laughed and said yes well I'm stressed, I'll do it when I'm ready, tommorow, who was I trying to kid, the addiction was pulling the wool over my eyes, for years and years I told myself that smoking wasn' dangerous, I enjoyed it, what harm could come to me, I ignored the breathless feeling, I ignored the cough, the tiredness, the rapid heart rate, the heavy feeling in my limbs, who was I trying to kid, the addict in me wanted to keep smoking.  But I finally woke up to the fact that smoking is dangerous, smoking will kill, it will happen to me, I did not want to be breathless, tired any more, and how did I finally wake up, I read so many testimonials from people with cancer, people who had lost loved ones, I found a Forum a fantastic form full of people keeping it real, people who cared enough about themselves, to stop kidding themselves and finally quit.  I began to believe in myself, I believed that it wasnt scary to quit smoking, I believed that I could quit, and I did, with help and support and the desire to succeed, I now look at my partners and childrens faces and see the happiness and belief from them too, and it makes me warm inside.  Some days are difficult, some days are easy, but isnt that just life, but it is so much better because I no longer smoke. xx

[Doreensfree]

Smoking has ruined our lives.....

What should have been a happy retirement time to finally do what my hubby and me wanted....instead we have....

A oxygen tank upstairs,down stairs,which he is hooked up to 16 hrs a day.....severe c.o.p.d.....

Even the little tasks,like getting dressed,getting washed,shaved,are all a huge time consuming effort.....

I am now his full time carer......

I too had health issues when I arrived at the board.......quiting has help

I carnt believe we used to say ....it's our pleasure......

So,sad

[Gabby]

This is just what I needed to hear today, the nicodemon has been at my door today whispering, Gabby one won't hurt. But after reading the posts, one will hurt and then I will be back to smoking heaps in no time.   I do wish I had never started and I just don't want to slip again.  So thanks for posting your feeling you never know who it helps.

[BAT]

Cheers to us ex smokers.  :)

[Still winning]

Some days are a struggle still but it helped to just vent it out.

 

Thank you for your experiences too, it helps to read them.

 

xx