So you're quitting smoking?

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Today is my second day of quitting smoking cold turkey. I have some patches, but that is it. I am determined I will quit this time though, without a doubt.

This morning has been really hard not having a smoke with my coffee. My nerves are just on edge.

Any words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated!!!

There is absolutely no physical withdrawal from stopping smoking pot, it is a psychological dependency (as all habits begin that way).  Perhaps he indulges in other things that you are not recognizing..other drugs.....which would produce symptoms of withdrawal from them such as you describe.

lots have been there, done that - no symptoms whatsoever except perhaps a little agitated because they  wanted it....I have witnessed many who stopped/quit......from 15 to 65......

I can only tell you a true story. My younger sister smoked (I never did) and she would try to stop but each time a stressful situation would occur, she would pick up again. At a young age, she was diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer, never even had a cough and she looked great! She lived exactly 17 months, the charts said 18. By the 2nd month of DX the young docs told her, "nursing home or Hospice, you can't lay around here." This was when she had a high fever and reaction to chemo. She lost her hair, gained about 30 pounds, etc.from chemo reaction. She died penniless and heartbroken. She was only a year retired early from a great job and had the rest of her life to look forward to, yet cigarettes robbed her of her family, her dignity, her retirement fund, and now she's in the cold, cold ground, all because she "needed" a cigarette. She wanted to retire early and enjoy her 401K retirement plan and her kids. Her daughter just had a beautiful baby and no mother to share the news. Her grandchildren have no grandmother and I have no sister anymore. She just had to have that cigarettte and would listen to no one. Her oncologist told her, "Go ahead and smoke, what difference does it make now?" Is this what you want for yourself? It's the bare naked truth, please, I would rather you cut off your fingers than smoke, at least you would still be alive. Cigarettes STINK and they KILL. Don't let it happen one more day.

I

Of course it has everything to do with it.

asking this information on an insurance form should be allowed.  We already deny many Americans affordable health coverage because of obesity and other medical problems.  What's next?  Asking how many foods we microwave or how long we talk on a cell phone (supposedly these cause cancer, too)? We already ask the obvious questions - smoking, drinking, exercise.  They have you weigh in and ask every question imaginable about your family medical history.

How are we supposed to obtain coverage if we're not in perfect health, and let's face it, how many Americans are in perfect health?  I was watching Celebrity Fit Club on TV and I looked at some of the people on there and thought what's wrong with them, only to find out their body fat percentage was 2 points over norm.  Come on America -- this is just another way to keep us from having healthcare coverage.  No, I'm not a smoker, just a concerned American wondering about the future of my health insurance. 

Last night, he and his friend smoked in his room and blew the smoke out the window, trying to be sneaky, not realizing that it would waft up and come in the upper deck screen door! We calmly confronted them, they admitted it, DS handed over his paraphanalia, a homemade bong out of a soda can, the rest of his stash (just a couple buds), and we called the other kids parents, who promptly came over and we had a group discussion around the kitchen table, after which the other kid and his parents went home .

DS is grounded from his phone, computer, house phone, all friends and activities until further notice. When he does have an activity, he will be highly monitored and supervised. His freedoms are greatly curtailed. He also will be doing more work on the retaining wall we are building in the back yard. We're not sure yet what else will be a consequence, but I have a friend who is a rehab nurse in a chem dependancy unit, so we may chat with her.

Besides making bad choices and stupid decisions, what REALLY makes me angry is that he was using his SIXTY DOLLAR trumpet mouthpieces for bowls. What a bonehead.

I have known for about a year that my daughter has been smoking from time to time.  I made it very clear to her that this was very unacceptable and absolutely would not be tolerated. 

Apparently she has done a very good job at hiding it.  Tonight when I was putting socks into her sock drawer, for some reason I decided to push aside her socks and, of course, I found a cigarette, but the filter had been cut off.  I also saw several filters that had been cut off in her drawer.  I asked her about it a little bit ago and naturally she stormed upstairs and wouldn't discuss it with me.  This may sound incredibly naive, but I really don't know why the filters were cut off?  Maybe to make the cigarette stronger?  This thought makes me sick to my stomach. 

I am at a loss here.  She is a pretty good girl, an honor roll student, has lots of friends, but still loves to spend time with her family.  I have grounded her in the past for this, but apparently that didn't get my point across.  I would love to hear from parents with teenagers who have been through this before and have suggestions on how to deal with this.  Also, I'm almost afraid to ask, but any ideas why the filters were cut off the cigarettes? 

filters cut off for more strength....to answer your question.

I wish someone had stopped me - folks gave permission at a young age....because they were smokers.....I have never quit except in pregnancy....but I quit buying over 3-1/2 months ago, still smoke but ask others for one....and I cut back smoking by 75 percent and THAT's something because I no longer even cough the way I used to, my house smells GREAT (smoking outside only).....and I sound better (because I really am better - health-wise).

It is MOST definitely a drug addiction, as bad as any of them, as addicting as any of them........so the post was right on about *hearing it is as strong as a heroin addiction* - I tell kids today, that's exactly what it is...........................because it is.

My only suggestion is to show her pictures (found online even, just Google the subject/topic/question) of what lungs look like in smokers versus nonsmokre, and then find some head and neck surgical oncology site and start showing her pictures there (I worked in a surgical oncology HEAD AND NECK dept for a few years and what I saw was definitely sickening and yet, I too, still smoke *slaps self*)

My children (due to the fact I used above tactics) - NEVER smoked (thank goodness!!!!).

Best of luck to her and you!!! 

I have another friend who quit smoking 3 years ago and now has lung cancer.  I know (and have heard of) many people who quit (ACS can tell you how your lungs supposedly improve and risk of lung cancer death diminishes compared to the general population) smoking only to be diagnosed with lung cancer after several years.  This IS NOT a mental excuse for me not to quit.  It really does frighten me.  Been a smoker for 30 years.  Seems worthless to fight to quit and die, or just keep smoking and die.  Anyone have any thoughts?  I have no one affected by my second-hand smoke.

He downloaded some pictures on MY computer for his MySpace page.   Anyway, there is a picture of a bag of weed (I was young once, I know what it looks like so he cant try to convince me it was oregano) and a picture of his friend holding the bag of weed. By the way, the bag was on my table so he can't try to convince me that it was from a magazine either.

I really don't know what to do.  A long time ago I found a pipe in his room.  I honestly thought it was over with after that. (guess I can be niave).  Between his dad, my husband and I we dealt with it in a mature and appropriate way.  But I always stayed cautious after that so I was always "watching."  I hadn't seen bloodshot eyes, excessive munchies, extra tired or sleeping more than usual, etc.  Haven't seen any of the tell tale signs nor found anything in his room or pants pockets. 

 Anyways, my problem is what to do now.  I really do not want to tell his dad because he will be soooo angry.  See, dad was really p**sed the first time and told my son that if he ever finds out he's done it again he will kick him out of the house (we share the kids) and he will not be allowed back.  I know that sounds harsh, but I know his dad, he will kick him out but only for a little while just to make him think. Tough Love, he calls it.  I think he may have even threatened him with a beatin'.  (That is just a scare tactic.  He's a big guy with a big mouth but he would never lay a hand on him).  I thought that by me telling his dad the first time he'd know that I was serious and that he wouldn't be able to get away with it with me.

See, my problem is that my son idolizes his dad.  He's second to God. and it would kill him to hear his dad say get out and don't come back.  I can almost feel his pain already.  I feel like he'd become depressed. I'm the extreme passive parent.  He knows it too.  I hate it and I've tried and tried to change.  I know some of you are thinking well he should've thought of that beforehand.  But remember when we were 16.  We didn't think about consequences a whole lot until after the fact.  That's the age when a lot of us started drinking, sex, sneaking out, etc.  So I have understanding, I just can't let that interfere with tolerance.

So what do I do?  I haven't confronted him yet.  I know one thing I have to do is forbid him from hanging out with this friend anymore.  Which is another issue....Do I tell this boy's parents??  A part of me wants doesn't want to bother with it. He's not my kid.  It's already too much for me as it is but the bigger part of me wants to protect this boy's future also and as a parent, I'd want another parent to do the same for me. 

Oh, and I haven't told my husband yet either.  He'll literally ground him for life and take away every gadget, electronic, magazines,  anything my son likes. He wouldn't step foot out of his bedroom for a really long time. He tends to overdo the punishments.  Then there's the issue of rebelion.  What if he sneaks out?  What if he tries to be....what's the word???...um, like just rebel and walk out anyway or worse, what if he runs away?

I know what a lot of you are probably thinking right now.  I KNOW I'm too soft.  I KNOW I'm a pushover, a doormat, etc. I'm over protective.  I hate it.  I've tried to change.  I really cannot help it.  However, this is a very serious issue to me and I want to find the right thing to do.  I don't want to go overboard, I was 16 once too, and I wasn't exactly an angel either (but he doesn't know that)  Yet I don't want to let him off too easily either.  He has to learn.  This is not acceptable.  Not even to me.  If I let it go who knows what the future will hold for him. 

So any reasonable suggestions out there that a doormat like myself can put to use?  I really appreciate any help.  I'm so stressed out my stomach hurts. 

March 14, 2007— Dozens packed the Belmont (California) city council chambers tonight for the first public airing of a new smoking ban proposal.

The law would give Belmont the toughest smoking ban in the nation — possibly in the world.

The crackdown aims to curb the harmful effects of second-hand smoke by preventing puffs not just in parks and around public buildings — but in private apartments and city streets as well. If the law passes, the only places left in Belmont to smoke would be single family homes and private cars.

Mayor Coralin Feierbach says the proposal was made to protect residents who suffer from health problems aggravated by smoke.The council didn't take action tonight. It's just the first of several meetings to discuss the proposal.