A little update

[cleopetra]

Hi,

I haven't blogged for a while so I thought I would today.

Well I have now managed 22 weeks of not smoking. It does need to be noted though, that without my e-cig I would never have achieved that. I take my hat off to anyone who manages without some kind of substitute but we all have to find the best way for us as individuals.

I have a colleague at work who has been using the same e-cig as myself for almost as long and yesterday we had a chat about how things were going for both of us. I had to laugh because she had 3 e-cigs in her hand. I asked her why she had so many and she told me that she keeps losing them so buys a new one when this happens. Then she finds the one that was missing. Anyway, the main things is, I think, that like myself she is still not smoking. I'm about 25 years older than her. As individuals we have our own reasons for wanting to stop smoking and sometimes there is a driving force. For myself it is that I do want to live a long life and don't want to be plagued with health problems. I think that compared to some people I am probably quite healthy but I want to do the best I can to keep it that way for as long as possible. I am also concerned about those I am close to and also anyone else who may have been affected by my smoking habit. I have younger sisters, for example and was well pleased when I told one of them that I wasn't smoking anymore. I'm quite a bit older than my sisters and I suppose that since our mum died, even if only symbolically, I am kind of a mother figure. Bar the youngest none of them have ever smoked and like myself they watched our mum die from a disease that is smoking related. I would never want them to watch me die that way, not if I can help it. So these kind of things drive me to stay not smoking.mok

I was perhaps lucky that as soon as I stopped smoking, and I mean within 24 hours, I noticed a difference. I began to sleep better, stopped having problems with cataarh and wasn't so breathless after exerting myself. Over time I've noticed that I am not as effected by pollen and other things that I am allergic too. For the first time in years I don't have to take anti-histermines. It's true, we don't really have summers anymore but I was sometimes having to take something all year around. On the down side I have put on weight but I'm working on that and I think I've reached the peak, so to speak. The worse things, so far, have been dealing with other people who still smoke at work and issues that I have with anxiety. I work in a very high pressured, stressful job with an equally stressful work environment but that is the same for many these days and I refuse to allow that to be a reason to ever go back to smoking. It took a while to work out in my mind that these things are going to be the same whether I smoke or not and I'm finding that as time goes on I am beginning to look at how to deal with those issues for what they are.

Another colleague of mine said something yesterday that brought a smile to my face. She said that no matter how hard things got(in terms of work) I should remember that I had given up smoking. That made me feel so good about myself. She doesn't smoke and I don't think a lot of people who don't smoke realise just how hard it is to stop. For someone who has never smoked to acknowledge that fact is so important.

I had another chat with another colleague yesterday. Did a lot of chatting yesterday......lol. She smokes and has bought herself an e-cig. Spent quite a bit of money on it, but is yet to try it. I sensed that she feels that she needs to hold on to the smoking because perhaps for her it is something that she has a choice about. For no one is forcing her to smoke. It is purely her choice. In life today I think there is a definite feeling that many things are forced upon us but in my reality I don't think that is the case. Again, I think that because I am having to change my thinking in terms of smoking I am also changing how I think about other things.

Okay well I think that is enough of my sometimes profound thinking for one blog.

Sally...

[jillygirl Administrator Queen Bee]

Sally Big well done on reaching 22 weeks. You must be so proud of yourself. Yes its amazing how you get different views on things. All for the better. Keep positive you ex-smoker.

ptsdforum.org/c/attachments...

[cleopetra 2 YEAR WINNER in reply to jillygirl]

Hi Jilly,

Many thanks. I am incredibly proud of myself and it still gives me a sense of excitement when I think of what I've managed so far. I have to say that your own story has been inspiring to me and I really, really hope those solicitors get their act together for you soon. I check in with the site during the day when I'm working so I know it's going on and on.

Take care..xx

Sally

[jillygirl Administrator Queen Bee in reply to cleopetra]

Thanks Sally. lets keep strong and happy for each other. xx

[monky Administrator Cake sniffer outer]

Hey Sally, 22 flippin weeks gal, thats just fantastic, superdilic, transfabilic, whapadulic gal

And yes, you be ''Proud'' of yourself Sally, cos I reckon that you've beat Mr nic, and before you know it, you will be an X smoker

Good luck Sally, and take care eh

Pete

[cleopetra 2 YEAR WINNER in reply to monky]

Thanks Pete

[andi22]

Sally, 22 weeks is just fab - soon be 6 months = half a year. Great you've found your way to do it. We all find our own way to do it and the same way doesn't suit everybody.

It is difficult for non-smokers to really understand what we go through when we quit but great when they acknowledge the fact that it's been a tough thing for us to do.

Hope you manage to wean yourself off the ecig eventually then you'll feel even better about it. Keep up the good work. Andi

[cleopetra 2 YEAR WINNER]

Thanks a lot Andi.

[rockster 17 Month Winner]

Very uplifting comments x well done also. I am chuffed that i am approaching the 5 week mark on Monday so fab you are at the 22 week point.

[cleopetra 2 YEAR WINNER in reply to rockster]

Hi Rockster,

Very well done for all that you've achieved so far. It is a great feeling.

Sally..