#QuitStories Deanna's Story
I started smoking full-time when I was 19 years old. The crowd I was hanging out with would sit around, party and smoke. I was buying bagged cigarettes from the reserve to save money. The cigarettes were absolutely horrible, but I still smoked them for awhile.
The first time I quit smoking was in 2005. I didn't like that I smelled and I just really wanted to quit! So I didn't buy any cigarettes, I quit for a bit, but then I got in a fight with my boyfriend and I essentially bought a pack of cigarettes and started smoking again. I was around the people still smoking.
I finally quit in March of 2008 when there was actually a stop smoking campaign to win a car and I thought that was good motivation and I entered to win. By that time, I was getting disgusted with smoking. I noticed that I just didn't feel good and my clothes smelled, I smelled and essentially it hurt my throat.
- I also thought about my future and my potential children. I didn't want them to look at me and think smoking is okay.
To quit I drank water, I made sure I distracted myself, I stayed away from individuals who were smoking to make sure I stayed committed to my quit smoking goal. That lasted for quite a few months and then I did have a slight relapse. I was just feeling really stressed out after an argument and I went and bought some smokes. I lit up one of the smokes and essentially I knew right then, I didn't even finish the smoke, I was so disgusted I butt it out. It hurt really bad as soon as I smoked it and I just thought, that's it I'm done! I don't want to do this anymore and I haven't smoked since!
Resources:
- Tobacco - Getting Help - KFL&A Public Health
- Become Tobacco Free - KFL&A Public Health