It's a long way, baby.

Anyone who tries to convince me that cigarettes are not addictive is going to be up for a serious smack-down! My poor, dear husband is currently living proof.

After being tobacco-free for the last 10 months, his cravings finally got the better of him today, much to his dismay and horror. Poor Fred had been doing so well – other than the “normal” cravings that most people have once they quit (daily, small 1-2 minute cravings that are fairly easy to ignore if doing something else). Today was something akin to what happened 3 weeks after he first quit, where he almost cracked because he was in so much physical and mental agony.

He is going to start over again tomorrow. I am sad that he cracked, but I also understand, having been dealing with my own addictions most of my life – just as insidious, and just as hard to control. I had to remind him that no one said it was easy to do, and that I loved him, and would continue to support him through this.

Quitting *is* a hard thing to do, regardless of what anyone says. There are a very few people who can simply up and quit cold turkey, and not have any side effects or any issues whatsoever. Those are the lucky ones. Most people end up like Fred, or sometimes even worse. Some never quit successfully at all, because it’s so difficult for them.

If you genuinely *like* to smoke, then that’s your choice and it’s up to you. BUT - If you don’t like it, and you want to quit, contact your local pharmacy for options that are available to you, or your physician. The American Lung Cancer Society also has options available to keep you smoke-free. Many work-places and health insurance companies are now providing smoking cessation programs, so check into them as well.

Most of all, if you have a family member that has decided to quit smoking, be supportive. They are doing something that is going to be difficult, but ultimately positive for everyone around.

~M