Judging from this blog, it might look like this whole journey is just me battling myself. And in many ways, it is. But don’t be fooled—quitting smoking hasn’t been a solo act. I’ve had to ask for a lot of help from all sorts of people, in all sorts of ways.
No, nobody gave me money to quit smoking. But quitting did save me so much that I had to ask a couple of my followers for help with budgeting so I didn’t spin out financially. Socially, things changed too. I had to distance myself from people who smoked and start making friendships with new people who didn’t want to be around it.
A huge thanks goes to my mother, who moved me out of that smoke-filled halfway house and into her home while all this was happening. That move alone probably saved my lungs as much as quitting did.
I also had to ask for help medically—my doctor and case manager tried everything with me: the patch, the gum, the lozenges, Chantix. None of them really worked for me. But they did give one surprisingly helpful suggestion: lengthen the amount of time between cigarettes. It was frustrating, yes, but it made that very first day of cold turkey so much more bearable.
So to everyone who helped lift me up, guide me, support me, or just stood by while I stumbled my way through this process—thank you. Truly.
And as always…
I got this!
by Dan and Bonkers
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