Quitting Smoking Sucks!

I smoked my first cigarette at age 13.

Two decades years later, I boasted a two-pack-a-day habit.

Admittedly, I have made vague attempts at quitting countless times, but my most recent (which I am currently in the throes of) is my most serious. It sucks, but I am confident about (and also committed to) quitting.

I have to. I feel old, ugly, and out of shape. I don’t want to feel this way. Most importantly, I have two beautiful boys that will one day turn into beautiful men and I really want to be around for that.

Aside from these obvious reasons that did not exist during my previous failed attempts, this time I have something else -- education and support.

For nearly two years my therapist has been encouraging me to enter Suffolk County’s “Learn to be Tobacco Free” program, but it is rarely offered locally and that became just another excuse not to quit.

That was until the Patch events calendar informed me that the program was being held at .

Since the hospital is right around the corner from our house, my oldest has been getting more aggressive about the issue, my youngest has been emulating my habit (I know, I know... bad daddy), and I’m not getting any younger, there were no excuses left.

Sigh.

I started the program nearly five weeks ago and, as I approach my final two classes and my quit date, I can honestly say that I am confident that I can and will do this.

If you are a smoker and you are ready to kick the habit, I highly recommend this program.

The class has given me so much information and support that I really could not get on my own. I am learning to kick not only the physical addiction, but the mental addiction as well. Earlier this week, I started taking medication to help me end this dirty, nasty habit for good and I am looking forward to starting a tobacco-free life on Tuesday, May 17.

As an added bonus, the medication (CHANTIX) gives me crazy, vivid dreams about Osama Bin Laden, helicopters and pink aliens that morph into televisions when you touch them.

No joke.

Everything about the experience sucks, from fighting the urges to the side effects of the medications, but I keep reminding myself that success can only come from hard work.

I’m working as hard as I can right now.

Please wish me luck!