Quitting smoking....sort of.

Hi OceanBlue,

Alas, I never smoked, yet I can understand your attraction to it for the calming properties it brings.  Statistically, it's been reported that people with SZ smoke at a higher rate than the general public.  It is like a form of medication.

Enjoy your day,

As always, I look forward to your SharePosts.

Cheers,

Christina

I started smoking at age 17 and quit at 43.  I still crave the menthol drag and how I was calmed by the cigarette.  I still want one, and I admit I have given in to the urge a few very high stress times.  But over the past 7 yrs I have basically not smoked.  The ones I like (Capri menthol) are now over $6/pack so I'm glad I am not paying for that.

When I stopped smoking, I took up the habit of drinking diet Cokes.  I guess it satisfies that oral urge.  I have heard that the phosphoric acid in it is bad for your kidneys, your heart, and it is even more likely you will be overweight if you drink them.  I keep telling myself I need to switch to water...or lemonade...or something else.  But it is proving harder to drop the diet Cokes than to drop the cigarettes.  I don't know why.

I am moving by May 1 and hope at my new apartment I will choose better habits.  I know I will want to smoke because moving is stressful and because I will be in my own place where I could smoke indoors.  At my mom's, I always had to go outside.

Best wishes,

Carolyn