Thanks Susie, I wasn't trying to scare the pants off anyone. I just wanted to get the point across that sometimes people don't just give in so easily, that sometimes the circumstances are prett scarey and that we need to be prepared for even the worst situations. Being human, that is pretty tough to do. That situation was eight years ago, hopefully, I won't have another one like that. Am happy to be an ex-smoker now! [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/5/2007 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 14 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 368 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $147.7 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 1 [B]Hrs:[/B] 18 [B]Mins:[/B] 43 [B]Seconds:[/B] 12

How ironic you post this today. I have had alot of stress going on lately. Been a very rough week. The thought of a smoke crossed my mind a couple times. With alot of self talk and help from a few friends, things are ok now. You are so right, I do not want to quit again, therefore I must never smoke again. It is not an option. Have a good night Terri [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/28/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 168 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 2,534 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $598.08 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 16 [B]Hrs:[/B] 21 [B]Mins:[/B] 28 [B]Seconds:[/B] 22

Slipping is not the right word. It is not a question of "slipping". I have quit many times before. I am highly addicted to cigarettes, and I am learning all my lessons the hard way. One example: I had quit for seven months once, when I watched my sixteen year old son have a grand mal seizure. Fear of my son dying in my arms, panic, extreme distress, call it what you want, the feelings were totally out of control. There was no relief. Only pain and panic and fear. There was no slipping involved. Did I start smoking again that day? You bet I did and it wasn't because it crossed my mind whether I should smoke or not. It was because cigarettes are an addiction, they give you a high and they give you a calm (a temporary one at that) it was all I could think of at the time to ease the pain I was feeling. It wasn't a question to turn in my head, I had to have it and have it now! Therre was no question at all. That is how the addiction works. It takes you over and you lose complete control. And later, once the crisis had passed, the regret, the shame, the hurt, the self betrayal, all come washing back over you, crying why, why did you give in? And so you have to face up to the fact that there is so much more at stake here. People don't always just start again on a whim. Tobacco is as bad a drug as heroine, cocaine, crack,you name it. Some people are more addicted than others. Some find it easier to quit. Some can't seem to manage to quit despite their best attempts. My doctor has told me, it doesn't matter how many times you quit, what matters is you keep on trying to quit for as many times as it takes, and if you cannot, then you have to seek out programs for help and there are not many of them available for tobacco yet, at least not in Canada. So what I face every day, is not am I going to slip? What I face every day is that I am trying my best to get thru each and every day without having a cigarette, and every day that I do is a good day. Will I ever smoke again? I cannot honestly guarantee that, what I do know is that every day I get through and every small crisis I get through, will help me build a box of tools so that when the big crises come, maybe I can make it through them somehow. That is all I can hope for right now. This is a learning process, an

Susie Stay strong Susie nearly seven weeks down. You are doing grand! It gets easier as you learn to forget about it. :)

Friends, I told this story before and I think it is worth repeating to help prevent you from taking that step. I have a smoking bud at work who quit smoking several months before me. I would see him from time to time after he quit smoking. One day I saw him and asked him how long it had been since he quit, I had been quit for 3 months. He said that he quit 7 � months ago, BUT, BUT, BUT he had slipped a few times. I then knew that this was the beginning of the end. Over the next several months I would see him more and more, now having a few puffs; end of story. Smoking is a very addictive. Don�t jeopardize your quit. Realized that you don�t want to quit all over again and above all remember that smoking is not an option. And a slogan for you, I�m still quit because I don�t slip. By the way, this episode happened 10 months ago and he still smokes. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/22/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 390 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,856 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $2047.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 72 [B]Hrs:[/B] 12 [B]Mins:[/B] 42 [B]Seconds:[/B] 50

Why not more dialog on this one?

I passed my neighbour this morning... she was out washing her car... she said, im trying to keep myself busy coz im trying to quit smoking. I dont like my chances though. It made me feel so sad for her - i said how about you quit trying and just do it. She looked at me, laughed, shook her head and went back to what she was doing. I said to her.... i believe in you and i believe you can do it. If you need help you know where to find me. With that I kept on walking. I cannot give her, her happiness, i cannot do this for her. she needs to do this on her own, have the want to do it and no matter how bad you think you need that next sickarette know that its not the answer you are looking for. Good luck to you all PrincessC :) x

He not only slipped once or twice...he laid down and is now wallowing in it! Good post, Stickin. I have a friend at work that returned to smoking as well. She says she only smokes at work and her husband doesn't know she has gone back to smoking. Yeah...right. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 9/8/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 161 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 8,079 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1288 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 17 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 40 [B]Seconds:[/B] 1

Members, Many have different opinions on this subject and diversity is important on the SSC as it reaches a greater number of members. However, I'd just like to gently remind everyone to be respectful of that diversity. Take what you need and leave the rest. Danielle _____________________ The SSC Support Team

Hi Sticken - this is sad but true. Your friend like many others just don't stay with it - it's easier to give in that to keep your quit. What has to happen to these people before they realize they are ruining themselves???? The thought process has to change, FOR GOOD. Quitting is a process, not an event. As soon as you realize why you are quitting and want that more than anything, you will be successful. Like Princess said, if you believe in yourself and hang tough, it will happen but you don't try, YOU "DO". Your old smoking bud is why we say N.O.P.E. Don't you slip is sage advice Stickin. Thanks pal. CobenFan [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 3/25/2006 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 355 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 7,118 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $1242.5 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 33 [B]Hrs:[/B] 18 [B]Mins:[/B] 45 [B]Seconds:[/B] 22