Tamara J. White

I finally quit smoking!!!!

38 years ago I started smoking. I remember, I was in high school and I asked my Dad if I could smoke in front of him. He wasn't to happy but really what could he do, Mom, Dad and Nancy all smoked so he said okay.

I have tried to stop smoking many times before but never had any luck. With the price of cigarettes and not having a job, I decided it was time to give it up. I asked my doctor for a Chantix prescription, she laughed at me because this is the second time I asked for the stop smoking medication. Obviously the first time didn't work.

I am very proud to say,
that as of today,
I have been smoke free for 63 days.

I have to say that quiting smoking has been more of a challenge then when I raised my children. Every second of every day I think about smoking. Smoking consumed 95% of my life. I would get up in the morning and have a cigarette, I would go shopping and 10 minutes of being in the store I wanted a cigarette. Every time a commercial would come on the TV, I would run outside to have a cigarette. Driving my car, I had to have a cigarette. When I would go to bed at night I would get up 3 hours later because I needed a cigarette.

My friend Debbie and I would go to the gym and work out, but what do we do the second we step out of the door at the gym, yep we would light up a cigarette. Thinking about that now, how dumb of us. My Dad always would say it takes will power and the 15 minute rule works. Nope, sorry Dad I'm just not as strong as you. Looking back when you stopped smoking and sat at the kitchen table with all of us sitting there smoking around you after dinner. YOU ARE THE STRONGEST MAN I WILL EVER KNOW!!!! 

So I figure you have an idea now how smoking is not just a habit that can be stopped easily. Smoking is a drug and I am addicted. You can not just stop something that you have done over half your life just like that, you have to take it one day at a time. I talk about smoking to my family and friends all the time.

When I first stopped smoking I pretty much stayed away from everyone for the first month. I was afraid that I would get angry and yell at someone for no reason at all. Supposedly this stop smoking medication will help with the urges of wanting a cigarette. Well it does but it makes you irritable, sleep deprived and the craziest dreams you could imagine.  

I am hoping that in a couple for months I will have my addiction under control and will be able to continue on with my life. Until then if I yell at you or haven't been around a lot lately know that I am working hard to become a NONSMOKER and I am Sorry for hurting your feelings.