Rachel has been quit for eight years. How did she do it? With everything she had.
I'd been smoking since I was 15.
All the cool people in my family smoked, my friends smoked and when I became a psych nurse back in the '80s, it became a way of connecting with people, staff and patients.
I never liked the experience of being addicted to something. All my quit attempts had been cold turkey, even when nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) was becoming available, as if it was a badge of honour to do it through sheer willpower. So, I stayed off for a couple of years, back on for a few, off for a few more, each time starting because "just one won't hurt ...".
This last time I've been off for eight years. The difference? I threw EVERYTHING at it that I needed to! Nicotine inhalators, gum, patches. I would've taken medication if I needed to. NRT WORKS! I worded up my friends who smoked - that if I asked for a drag or to bum a smoke, could they please say "just wait for five minutes". Unsurprisingly, the friends who couldn't do that for me were the ones I spent less time with when I was feeling a bit wobbly. I realised, FINALLY, that there's no "one cigarette won't hurt" for me.
Eight years on and I still occasionally dream of smoking. It took a lot of effort and practice to again call myself a non-smoker, but I did it. So can you. For me, this included NRT, the people around me and a bit of soul searching. Do whatever it takes for you. It's worth it.
