Slipping and Sliding - Tales of Trouble

[Giulia]

(photo credit)


Let's let it all hang out.

If you've quit before and lost it, write it here. We need to understand the whys so that we can prevent the wherefores.

Here's my tale:

I quit first when I was around twenty-four. Had only smoked a couple of years (began at age 21). Had a year under my belt and didn't have any cravings.

I'm an actress and got a role in a play where the character smoked. I thought, "well, I won't inhale and everything will be fine. Besides I don't really want a cigarette any more." Within a week I was back to smoking full time.

Cut to: 24 years later and I stopped again. Managed three months this time. At the opening night party of a show I was then in I asked to bum a cigarette to celebrate. As I recall the person was somewhat reluctant to give me one. But I persuaded him. The next day I went and bought a pack thinking I'd only smoke one occasionally.

Cut to: 8 years later. I quit again. Will this be my last time? I hope so. So far it's been 26 months.

So, what have I learned? That I cannot take one puff, ever. Ever. That if I get hired to do a role where I must smoke, I must decline it. That I must protect my quit at all costs.

What's YOU'RE story and what have YOU learned?

(for help go to Relapse and Persistence .)

[Denise28]

I have actively been quitting for about 2 years now. Only 3 times have I made it far enough to even count. There were certain things for me that I couldn't overcome at the time and it led me back. These were: Other people smoking (not including my husband since he usually quits with me), boredom, to see if I was over it, missing it, etc. Every time I quit and fail I get a little stronger the next time.

The last couple times I quit, my husband would go on a business trip to MA, he would lose his quit and then come home and sabotage mine. This time I chose not to let that happen but it was happening anyway. I was on a very slippery slope the past few days but I have decided to quit again anyway even if he doesn't. I have not found a way to handle him smoking because when I don't smoke it is EXTREMELY hard for me to handle the smell of his clothes and breathe but at the same time I really want this. I have come way too far now to let this stop me. I don't want to be a smoker anymore.