Welcome to the forum, Don! I was afraid to quit smoking when I came to the forum. I had smoked for 40 years and tried quitting numerous times. With the information and support I received here, I'll be celebrating six years next month.

I was afraid I would fail again. I was also afraid of what would happen if I didn't quit. Here's an article you may find helpful.

Verywell Mind

Why Are You Afraid to Quit Smoking?

There is no downplaying the fact that quitting cigarettes is tough. But we often set ourselves up for failure by ignoring the tools we need to stop smoking.

Read more from Verywell Mind

I'm not going to candy coat it. Quitting smoking is hard. Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances on earth. Quitting is a process. It takes time.  Some of that time can feel like an emotional rollercoaster.

BUT, it is absolutely worth it. There comes a day when you realize you haven't thought about smoking all day. There's more good news. As soon as you put out your last cigarette, your body begins to heal.

Verywell Mind

Changes Occur in Hours, Days, Weeks, and Months After You Quit Smoking

Once you stub out your last cigarette, your body and lungs will begin the healing process whether you a lifelong smoker or someone living with COPD.

Read more from Verywell Mind

My best recommendation is to learn everything you can about this addiction and the quitting process. A good place to start is with the following articles.

What are Your Reasons to Quit Smoking? 
When is The Best Time to Quit? 
How You Can Prepare to Quit 
Quit Aid Choices 
Supplies to Have On Hand When Quit Day Arrives

You can do this, Don. I'm glad you're here. 

Hugs,

Andrea

Hey Don..

I have been right there too in the past few weeks. I had a very vague plan to reduce the number of cigarettes i had per day before maybe.. eventually.. quitting. I told myself this would keep me calm, focused, and not a raving maniac to my co-workers and people i’d like to keep liking me. So this morning where i would normally smoke before even opening my eyes, i decided to wait half an hour. This has just kept happening all day and soon it will be 24 hours. Why light up now? 

Have i been an a**hole to the unaware friends who called me today? Yep. Have i cried? Yes indeed. Am I absolutely irrational, angry, and questioning if i really need to quit right now? YES. But if i smoked now, today would be a waste. I can only keep reminding myself that it’s worth the misery for now. The cravings are going to go away, the anger will get less and go away too.

My doctor had put me on Wellbutrin months ago and i didn’t start it until last week. To be honest it really hasn’t made me want to smoke any less, but has for sure taken my attitude down a notch or two.. up to today at least! It’s worth it. It has to be. We all know the damage we do to to our lungs, heart, and every other part that wasn’t meant to have to process cigarette smoke. Read the articles on what your body does to start healing in the hours and days after you quit. It’s awesome and truly helpful in getting me through every craving and fear. 

Hang in. Everyone here has done this and is doing it, so you aren’t alone!

\

Good Morning, July 2019 Ex-Smokers!

You should be proud of yourselves for every step you take on this journey to freedom from smoking. Here are some tips you may find helpful.

Verywell Mind

10 Practical Tips to Help With Nicotine Withdrawal

Learn about the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal a new ex-smoker should expect to experience and what you can do to maintain your quit.

Read more from Verywell Mind

Have a wonderful smoke free day!

Hugs,

Andrea

Hello

I am 40 years old and have been smoking more than a pack for half my life. For a year now, I'm trying to quit and have successfully failed many times. My longest quit lasted 20 days. I start a quit, I ruin it, start again, ruin it, and so on...running to stand still in this exhausting vicious circle for a year. I started a quit on July 1, but ruined it on day 6 and started my next quit on July 8 and today is my 2nd day. I hope this one will stick. 

i've an awesome fear of quitting again.  I experience terrible when I do and cannot get past it.  i am a rage monster and the NRT alternatives do not appear to work for me.  I published some thing in a brand new publish with lots of detail, but in reality, I nearly experience like it's no longer well worth the battle.  i'm forty and on every occasion I think of making what have to be a tremendous exchange a touch voice in my head says, "nah, you're at an age wherein you can simply allow your self move  . 

Hi Hannah,

What ever you are doing don't stop, persevering that is, I have been trying now for about 8 months and can't manage more than two weeks or so it seems, Just concentrate on the day at hand and don't smoke, be mindfully engaged with the moment draw in that fresh air and feel it circulating in your lungs. Isn't it just wonderful, Congratulations on making that decision to quit.

Kind regards

Anthony 

Did an hour at the gym tempered by the fact that I am nursing a couple of injuries, it wasn't a bad hit out.

On day 8 now still on the Zyban. not taking anything else...

Watching cricket on TV

Kind regards

Anthony 

Congrats Anthony, day 8, u r doing great. 

I read a lot of ppl in the forums that go to gym or clean the house, keep oneself busy the first few weeks. What bothers me is that I don't have the energy, nor the motivation to do any of these things. I don't feel like going out, I don't feel like cooking or cleaning the house, I don't feel like doing anything. All I am able to do is watch tv and navigate the quit smoking forums. And eat. :((

Good Morning, Sonntag!

It might be a good idea to talk over smoking cessation with your doctor. You can discuss the various products and aids and decide what is most appropriate for you. I quit using Chantix and found it made those early weeks much more manageable. That was nearly six years ago.

Verywell Mind

Quit Aids Can Help You Stop Smoking More Comfortably

A variety of quit smoking aids are available that help smokers quit in a gradual way. The most commonly used are reviewed along with some others.

Read more from Verywell Mind

I'm not sure what you mean by "rage monster", but if it's anything like what I thought of as "the crazies" where I wanted to jump out of my skin, there's one terrific option -- exercise. Go for a walk, work out at a gym, swim laps. It really works.

You can do this, Sonntag!

Hugs,

Andrea

Hi, Haannaah!

Welcome to the forum! You've come to the right place. 

I understand what you mean by not feeling motivated to do anything, even when you know it might help. It's not uncommon to feel that way after quitting smoking. Here's an article you may find helpful.

Verywell Mind

Depression Related to Quitting Smoking

Quitting smoking can lead to a temporary depression, but there are coping techniques that can make the process easier.

Read more from Verywell Mind

Hang in there, Haannaah. Take this one day at a time and stick close to the forum. You can do this!

Hugs,

Andrea