I'm celebrating a major anniversary this week. Today, it has been 15 years to the day since I quit smoking. And quitting smoking was truly one of the hardest things I've ever done. But it was one of the best things I've ever done for myself. I loved to smoke. From my first teenage drag on a cigarette, I was happily hooked. Clearly, nicotine and my brain were a match made in heaven. I smoked one to two packs a day throughout college, and through my twenties.
Eventually, though, I knew I had to quit. But how? I tried acupuncture, joined a smoking cessation class, nicotine gum, even hypnosis. Each time, I quit for a while, but thought that I was one of those people who could pick up a cigarette once in a while and be a "social smoker." Hah! Wasn't going to happen with me.
Clearly, I had to "practice" quitting a number of times before I actually got good enough at it to learn how to do it right!
But I finally figured it out, and on July 15, 1995, I smoked my last cigarette. Not long after, I was diagnosed with a thyroid condition. Only later did I learn about the relationship between thyroid disease and smoking. The years of smoking may actually be the cause of my thyroid condition.
But back to quitting...after trying so many different approaches, how did I do it? I have explained what ultimately worked for me, in How I Quit Smoking. And our wonderful Smoking Cessation Guide, Terry Martin, an ex-smoker herself, is standing by with many resources to help you quit smoking cigarettes for good!
If you are still smoking but trying to find ways to stop, take heart. You WILL find a way. Don't ever stop trying. Because when it comes to quitting smoking, practice eventually DOES make perfect! And I want you to be celebrating your own "I Quit Smoking" anniversaries for many years to come!
Photo: clipart.com
Your genotype plays a role in ability to quit:
http://www.futurepundit.com/archives/007308.html
Genes Tied To Difficulties Quitting Smoking
Blame your genes if you can’t stop smoking cigarettes. Researchers at Duke University Medical Center and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) find that the best dose nicotine patch for those quitting smoking depends on differences in genetic variants.
In the trial, 479 cigarette smokers who smoked at least 10 cigarettes per day and wanted to quit were categorized as either high- or low-dependence based on their level of nicotine dependence. The smokers in each group were then randomly assigned to wear two nicotine skin patches daily delivering a high dose ( (42mg) or a standard dose (21 mg). Patches were worn for two weeks prior to their quit date, and the nicotine doses were reduced gradually over the 10 weeks following their quit date. Participants were given denicotinized cigarettes during the two weeks before the quit date to minimize any potential adverse effects from the high dose nicotine patches. The treatment phase lasted for 12 weeks in all.
DNA was extracted from participants’ blood and was used to assess a quit-smoking success genetic score.
At six months follow up, the researchers were able to confirm which smokers fared better or worse on the high-dose compared to the low-dose patch.
“The genotype score was part of what predicted successful abstinence. In the future such a score could help us make our initial treatment decisions,” said Rose. “People who had both high nicotine dependence and a low or unfavorable quit success genetic score seemed to benefit markedly from the high-dose nicotine patch, while people who had less dependence on nicotine did better on the standard patch.”
Genetic differences influence not only the difficulty in kicking an addiction but also the susceptibility to becoming addicted in the first place. For example, Mono Amine Oxidase (MAO) inhibition by tobacco compounds probably enhances addiction and genetic variants in MAO appear to influence risk of addiction.
Humans differ genetically in their capacity to be exposed to addictive drugs without becoming addicted. Keep this in mind the next time you see an addicted person acting destructive toward self and others. Some of those addicted people have genetic variants that make kicking their addiction especially difficult.
Congratulations Mary…I quit in the 70’s and remember the day and month. I too had a very hard time in adjusting. I smoked all the while I was running and biking. It suddenly dawned on me how stupid this was..trying to be healthy by exercising and at the same time smoking!! I can’t imagine myself smoking now…..
Congrats Mary!!!
I quit smoking in March 2003- I had tried everything, nothing worked, I tried to do it all on my own, and I failed time after time. Quite honesty, I then went to God, I Prayed, Father, I do not want to smoke anymore, I cannot quit on my own, Please I ask the next time I smoke a cigerette, that it make me so sick, I will never, ever, want , need or crave or desire a cigerrette ever again. I left church got in my car , lite up a marboro light, and smoked it half-way down, then I got sick and suddenly started dry heaving and coughing and throwing up, It was a sign to me, I threw the cigerettes out the window, and never looked back. With God’s grace, I have been smoke free ever since from a 2 pack a day habit, I had a lung scan done a few years ago and my lungs are nice and healthy. What I couldnot do on my own, God did for me! And Yes! I never did crave or want another cigerette, God is so awesome!
My final quit date is Nov. 12, 1996! I quit many times, (each time I put out a cigarette). I see young people smoking and I am so sad because they too will have to go through the process of quitting.
Way to go Mary! I quit 9 years ago after nearly 20 years, oddly enough right after I found out I was Hypo-Thyroid and they gave me a heart catheterization. Luckily no problems there but I thought it’d be a good time to try to quit, no pressure. It was tough but I was able to give it up and feel a lot better and saved some big expenses on smokes too. Now hopefully my wife can quit someday but I won’t pressure her Because I know that won’t work. Good luck to anyone who tries, you CAN quit.
Congrats Mary
I to quite smoking 18 years ago and it was not easy, and I could go back to smoking today if I pick up a cigarette. My mom also quite a 5 pack aday habit 22 years ago but it was not soon enough for her she died 2 years ago from lung cancer.
Congratulations Mary! I have admittedly never smoked a cigarette and have no idea how hard it is to quit. But I have seen people go through the process again and again so I do know that it is hard. And I want to congratulate Mary and everyone who tries to quit smoking – even if you fall off the wagon and have to quit again – kuddos!
Good for you Mary. I smoked for 30 years and when my mom died from smoking at age 63, I quit 2 days after we buried her. Smoke free sense 2003. one week later found out I had thyroid problems.