I quit many years ago and was smoke-free for 12 years. Then one night while drinking with friends I smoked a cigarette...after 12 years!! I was hooked again and smoked for another 6 years before my husband and I quit about 7 years ago. It was tough for me.
This won't be another pat on the back post. You've got some hard work ahead of you.
First of all don't pick up the 1st cigarette and you will never have to worry about the 2nd. That was my golden rule.
It took 18 months for me to feel like a human being again after quitting smoking. Don't believe the ads that say in a few weeks everything will be hunky dorey. The first week is tough. But the second week isn't any better. It only takes 3 days to get the nicotine out of your system but all the chemicals they put in cigarettes now days is makes it very difficult to quit. There are 599 different additives added to the cigarettes in the United States. Here is the list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_additives_in_cigarettes Many of these additives are included to make it even more difficult to quit. Go figure.
So anyway the first 2 weeks will be your most difficult.
Stay away from smokers for at least a few months!! That's very important. Even after they have smoked a cigarette. It will take about 30 minutes for the smoke smell to die down after your wife smokes a cigarette.
Do not allow anyone to smoke in the house. Get rid of every ash tray. All smoking should be done outside.
So after the first 2 weeks you're probably saying to yourself "Why do I still want a cigarette? I should be over this! Not so. Remember those 599 different additives. The only way you can see progress is by looking BACK to where you were 2 weeks ago. It is the only way you will see progress. At a month look BACK at where you were 2 weeks ago. Continue this month after month. Otherwise you will become discouraged because you won't feel and see the results. So look BACK.
It took me 12 months to feel sane again but I still wanted a cigarette. I didn't crave one but I wanted one. It was a weak want but a want is a want. It wasn't until 18 months that the cravings were completely null and void.
And even now every once in awhile when someone lights up where I'm at, it still smells good for a few minutes before I start gagging. But I've quit successfully two times and I've learned my lesson the hard way.
Lastly, man up!! Set the house rules and don't let anyone break them and don't apologize to anyone for having made them.
This won't be another pat on the back post. You've got some hard work ahead of you.
First of all don't pick up the 1st cigarette and you will never have to worry about the 2nd. That was my golden rule.
It took 18 months for me to feel like a human being again after quitting smoking. Don't believe the ads that say in a few weeks everything will be hunky dorey. The first week is tough. But the second week isn't any better. It only takes 3 days to get the nicotine out of your system but all the chemicals they put in cigarettes now days is makes it very difficult to quit. There are 599 different additives added to the cigarettes in the United States. Here is the list: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_additives_in_cigarettes Many of these additives are included to make it even more difficult to quit. Go figure.
So anyway the first 2 weeks will be your most difficult.
Stay away from smokers for at least a few months!! That's very important. Even after they have smoked a cigarette. It will take about 30 minutes for the smoke smell to die down after your wife smokes a cigarette.
Do not allow anyone to smoke in the house. Get rid of every ash tray. All smoking should be done outside.
So after the first 2 weeks you're probably saying to yourself "Why do I still want a cigarette? I should be over this! Not so. Remember those 599 different additives. The only way you can see progress is by looking BACK to where you were 2 weeks ago. It is the only way you will see progress. At a month look BACK at where you were 2 weeks ago. Continue this month after month. Otherwise you will become discouraged because you won't feel and see the results. So look BACK.
It took me 12 months to feel sane again but I still wanted a cigarette. I didn't crave one but I wanted one. It was a weak want but a want is a want. It wasn't until 18 months that the cravings were completely null and void.
And even now every once in awhile when someone lights up where I'm at, it still smells good for a few minutes before I start gagging. But I've quit successfully two times and I've learned my lesson the hard way.
Lastly, man up!! Set the house rules and don't let anyone break them and don't apologize to anyone for having made them.
