New here. Finding this site EXTREMELY helpful, so thought I would introduce myself.
I'm Dan. Smoked since I was 14. 35 now. Two packs a day seemed to be my baseline.
I've become very financially motivated these last couple of years. Going through my bank statements I finally got the nerve to add up the actual cost of smoking. for me, it lands around $440.00 per month. Way, WAY too much. This was the last straw for me.
I already have a hard time breathing sometimes. Cough so much that I get lightheaded too sometimes. Chain smoked a lot of times on top of that.
I honestly believe that my happiness, finances and general well being are all on the line here. As well as my families well being too.
It's been only a day, but I have had to use a LOT of coping skills already. I am using a nicotine patch as well. I ranked a 10 on the introductory test of nicotine dependence.
The one coping skill that has helped me the most is putting the thought in my head that my body doesn't recognize how I am feeling as normal. That it's my body needing to adjust. That I will feel better soon.
I don't know why such a simple thought helps so much... but it does. It seems to give me a perspective that I can hold onto and make sense out of everything with.
Anyways, nice to be here.
Dan