We Quit Cigarettes

[BigBlueHen53]

@SourRoses wrote:

, there seems to be no way for me to help her quit. We (I) discussed cutting back, until she's better at least, and she agreed in theory but actually smoked more last month. It's the anxiety for her. You can't mention not having a cigarette or she needs one asap. Since she's unwell, I'm the one buying them for her. It feels terrible! Enabling, even like I'm helping to poison her. But I really believe in personal choices. And she would never let me get away with not believing in them, lol.

Roses, this is old and I don't know if I answered it at the time but I can absolutely relate to your mom's anxiety! When I smoked, even THINKING about quitting smoking would send me into a panic attack! People trying to "help" were resented, not appreciated. One woman tried to tell me how bad smoking was for me. I told her thanks, but I didn't smoke because I was ignorant, I smoked because I was stupid. Lol. So how did I quit on my birthday almost 15 years ago? Prayer. I could tell you the supportive strategies I used but those don't matter. It was prayer, pure and simple, that gave me the victory. Pray for your mom. And otherwise, keep doing what you're doing. If she asks you to help her quit (and I believe she will), suggest praying with her. Faith is the victory.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Ryan (@CHlCKEN),
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I'll second that congratulations. Your journey has just begun. On Christmas my greatest gift was my grandson telling me that he was 21 months sober. It gets better and better. One day at a time.

Oh, thank you so much. Really, you have no idea how much this means to me today. I’m so grateful

 

[sourland]

Oh, thank you so much. Really, you have no idea how much this means to me today. I’m so grateful

Any time you have questions or feel the need for support, do not hesitate to reach out me through the 'conversation' option.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Any time you have questions or feel the need for support, do not hesitate to reach out me through the 'conversation' option.

Thank you so much. The support here has been incredibly helpful to me and I couldn’t thank any of you enough for that. It all goes such a long way.

 

[sourland]

Thank you so much. The support here has been incredibly helpful to me and I couldn’t thank any of you enough for that. It all goes such a long way.

I have been given so much support on my journey, that it is only right to pay it forward.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thank you so much. The support here has been incredibly helpful to me and I couldn’t thank any of you enough for that. It all goes such a long way.

Yes, Ryan, congratulations! My son started drinking when he was 15 although we had cautioned both our children against taking even a single drink, as 3 of their 4 grandparents were active alcoholics. I prayed for him for 25 years and when he was 40 he finally joined AA and got sober. I'm so happy for him, and for you as well. This is a great victory and at the same time, a daily battle. God bless you, one day at a time.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Two years is hard to believe. I so enjoy the liberation and am incredibly proud to be able to say I have made it this far! I thought it might be worth giving an update here with that, perhaps something to look back on next year.

Spoiler: Long-ish Update

The past three months have been a huge upturn for me in regard to my struggle against relapse. Urges are getting rarer and my opposition to them stronger. I feared before that I may always be beneath them, pushing them away, but now I feel I am above them, pushing them down. Recently I found myself in a situation that would a while ago have been a fight to avoid relapse, but this time I was able to simply brush it away. How incredible is that?

Unfortunately even with sobriety in place, the past two years haven't been what they could've. As I mentioned this past April, ever since getting sober I have been noticing an onset of severe sleep issues. After a few months of trying to figure out what was wrong, I had a sleep study done and was finally diagnosed with Narcolepsy 2. Although I am glad to have that answer, it hasn't been an easy one. Especially in the way the symptoms parallel to addiction. Always needing to sleep, sleeping more in a day than I am awake, losing control over my ability to stay awake, etc. Getting sober was supposed to mean living my life without interruption, and yet I still hadn't gotten back that full control. Two weeks ago that changed when I found a medication that really works for me. For the first time in two years I know what it feels like to truly be awake, and with that things are starting to fall back into my control as I had wanted them to upon leaving rehab.

 

[CHlCKEN]

Yes, Ryan, congratulations! My son started drinking when he was 15 although we had cautioned both our children against taking even a single drink, as 3 of their 4 grandparents were active alcoholics. I prayed for him for 25 years and when he was 40 he finally joined AA and got sober. I'm so happy for him, and for you as well. This is a great victory and at the same time, a daily battle. God bless you, one day at a time.

Thank you!

Unfortunately I do still have an active addict in my family, someone whose addiction has begun to reap consequences recently. It’s hard to watch now that I am outside of it and knowing I hurt others the same way. I’m so glad your son made it through.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Thank you!

Unfortunately I do still have an active addict in my family, someone whose addiction has begun to reap consequences recently. It’s hard to watch now that I am outside of it and knowing I hurt others the same way. I’m so glad your son made it through.

Thank you. My son IS MAKING it through. One day at a time.

 

[sourland]

@Kiki almost 5 years.