It's not going to be easy, I've been smoking since I was 17 (that's 6 years), my lungs are probably already damaged beyond repair. But, I've been doing some thinking today, I don't want my hair or clothes to smell like smoke anymore. Issue 5 was passed in Ohio yesterday, no smoking in places of employment; restaurants, bars, etc. I did the research and it is a fact that waitresses/bartenders who work in these establishments can and do get lung cancer or emphysema. Some people argue about people's right to smoke, what about non-smokers right to enjoy themselves at a bar or restaurants without us annoying smokers getting nicotine in their lungs? We are a democracy and the majority has spoken.
Plus, I've had three grandparents who have died of lung cancer, so my chances of having strong lungs are slim-to-none.
this is only ciggs mind you...anyways be prepared for bitchy Theresa for the next few days/weeks
You can do it. I quit about 8 months ago and probably smoked more than you. When I used to deliver pizzas, I smoked two packs a day (although this was years ago). Like yourself I started smoking at a later age (thank god) at 18. In the end I smoked about 11 years of my life, and my lungs felt shitty. The last year or so, occasionally I would wake up coughing and sweating, it reminded me of my mother coughing and coughing over a sink growing up. About every six months or so, I'd wake up to the horribly chilling sounds of her hacking and hacking, not a smoker's cough mind you but a "I can't fucking breathe" cough.
She died of lung cancer when I was 20. I only tried to quit three times, once I went two weeks in college and the other times I made it only a couple of days. I didn't think there was any way I could quit, but that's loser talk. There is no key, except that you have to quit for you, not anyone else.
Now I don't have to buy a carton of smokes every week, I don't have to worry about my car/apartment/clothes smelling like shit. I don't have to worry if my fingers are yellow. My teeth are whiter, my breath is better, and I can breathe. I can take bigger tokes of the good stuff without coughing (something I know you'll relate to)
It's great, it's the best thing I've ever done in my life.
Eventually you'll look at smokers and pity them. The schedule they have to keep, living like slaves. Especially living in Ohio, I think it's good for you to quit. I went on vacation there a couple of weeks ago, and the bars were so nice without smoke. I'm not one of those guys who shuns smoke as a hypocritical non-smoker, I enjoy some second hand smoke now and then. But the bars and restaurants, you could really tell that the smoking ban helped (this is in Columbus btw, don't think it was statewide until yesterday).
One thing that will help I think is if you continue smoking the good stuff. It will help your lungs get their fill of smoke, that was the feeling that I missed the most when quitting. It's the craving I still get sometimes, a nice bowl kicks that craving to the curb. Good luck girl, and stay strong.
