Hi Joe. I was proactive in my quit. I thought about it for over six months before I finally made the decision that this was it. The wake up signs for me weren't necessarily in myself but rather in watching another smoker in my life. I saw the affects that years of smoking was having on my father - no cancer or anything just everyday life - and it really scared me. I decided that I didn�t want to end up in a similar position and I quit. Self examination certainly is good for the soul. I didn�t realize what a slave I was until after I quit. How blind can one person be? I was pretty blind but now I see the light. This quit has brought about a lot of changes in me as you hear me say time and time again. The freedom from the enslavement of smoking and the changes in me are among the most amazing things I have ever experienced in my life. I had to reach down deep inside of myself to get to this point and I still have a long way to go but I wouldn�t trade my quit or this experience for anything in the world. [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 7/1/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 252 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 5,049 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $882 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 22 [B]Hrs:[/B] 6 [B]Mins:[/B] 1 [B]Seconds:[/B] 17

The term "rock bottom" is often used to describe the point at which a person with an addiction is forced to acknowledge that he or she has a problem - which can lead to their seeking help. But where is rock bottom? And how do people get there? We usually associate �rock bottom� with alcohol or drug abuse. I am about to suggest that smokers also get to �rock bottom� just before they quit. Why is that? Well, smoking is an addiction just like alcohol or legal/illegal drugs. The addiction is to nicotine. When nicotine is delivered to the body via smoking or using smokeless tobacco, various chemicals also come along for the ride. It is usually through these other substances that smokers (chewers, dippers, etc) can end up with tobacco related health problems, i.e., cancer, emphysema, heart disease, etc. I have seen post after post here and on other sites where smokers are feeling the true effects of their addictions and are now desperate to quit. For some their quitting will become a life saving change, for others it may be �too little, too late�. Still, the person has finally hit their personal �rock bottom�. Now don�t get me wrong here. Not everyone has to hit �rock bottom� before deciding that their behavior is a destructive one. Fortunately, in today�s day and age, many smokers are taking a proactive stance and quitting before their health deteriorates. However, many smokers must get repeated messages that their tobacco use is killing them before they finally �get it�. So I ask you, did you hit �rock bottom� or were you proactive? If you hit the bottom, what signals told you that it�s time and how has that motivated you? I�d especially like to hear from our new quitters here, those with less than a month quit. If you haven�t quit yet, or are having problems with your quit, then let me know if you are really quitting or going through the motions because you think it�s the right thing to do. A little self examination is good for the soul. [b][color=Purple]Be Strong. Be Smart. Be Quit[/color] [color=black]Joe[/color] [size=3][color=Blue]Knowledge Replaces Fear[/color][/size] [size=2][color=black]Illegitimus non carborundum est[/color][/size][/b] [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 5/15/2005 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 299 [B]C

yes, I hit the bottom.....and SANK IN. Smoking was in TOTAL control of my lift. I hated and desired it above all else at the same time. I felt like I was one sick puppy where this addiction was concerned. It first wrapped me in so called friendship and security and then it proceeded to bury me under a ton of control and guilt. In the end I was held on the bottom by a vice like grip while I struggled for breath (literally) don't ask me how I got loose, I only know it was a horrendous struggle until "I" got in control.....I still am in amazement at my freedom. Katy [B]My Milage:[/B] [B]My Quit Date: [/B] 1/4/2002 [B]Smoke-Free Days:[/B] 1526 [B]Cigarettes Not Smoked:[/B] 61,058 [B]Amount Saved:[/B] $8393 [B]Life Gained:[/B] [B]Days:[/B] 199 [B]Hrs:[/B] 2 [B]Mins:[/B] 29 [B]Seconds:[/B] 43