i first started smoking when i was 11, my mother would always leave half cigarettes burning around the house for me, all my friends use to smoke at school as well. at the time it was the thing to do. 3 weeks before my 18th birthday my dad dropped dead of a heart attack, from smoking, coronary arteriosclerosis, he was 42, i gave up smoking on his birthday of that year. 2 years later i started again thanks to loads of stress and just having a horrible time of life, i am now 21 and i havnt had a smoke in 2 days this is about my 15th time giving up in the last year. i know its horrible for me and the consequences are terrible but i cant seem to quit for good. my partner hates it, he wont kiss me or be around me when i smoke and i cant blame him for that. but fingers crossed this time im succesful and it dosnt take a death of a family member from smoking for anyone else to see the light.

hi i am 44 and have been trying to give up smoking for years on and off and have just had 4 days smoke free which i was really proud of and then i knew my daughter had some smokes and i just had to have one, what is wrong with me, i am soooo disappointed in myself, by the way we are going on holidays next week overseas with smokers and i just dont know if i will b able to do it

I have been smoking since I was 17 years old, 3 months after I had my first child. I believe I started smoking because I was a stay at home mum at the time and I was bored. Very bad behaviour, hid this ridiculous habit from my family, as I was ashamed. I'm now 24 and still smoking. I have quit smoking endless times and miserable failed. Last year in 2011 I tried champix, which my doctor advised for me to take and did mention that this is strong and can do some strange things... I was determined to quit! I was continuing smoking, through the end of week 1, smoking cigarettes made me so sick, vomiting, headaches, tiredness, bad dreams/nightmares, stomach pains and so on. But I still was determined and continued onto the next week, by week 2 I didn't smoke, the thought of smoking made me want to vomit so I refused to smoke, I thought this was amazing and I was shocked it was working so fast, by week three, I had insomnia, nightmares, confusion, feeling ill, had no body energy or enthusiasm, my life felt a lil numb. I would lash out easily, I was truly not myself, by week four I went and confided this with my doctor only for him to say "STOP"!!! and then he put me on nicorette patches, which were 21mg, I tried them for a 2 weeks, but placing them on my skin gave me a rash so I stopped using them... I went back to smoking! :( The last time I ever stopped is when I was admitted into hospital with critical abdomen pains, only to find out I had a infected appendix, was in hospital for 5 days, not being allowed to eat, which meant no smoking... After the 5th day of leaving, i didn't smoke, nor did I 3 weeks later. But then I started up again... I truly want to quit. all this time I have tried and lost each time was to be the best role model for my son. I want to see him grow up, live a happy life and see my grandchildren. I have nearly finished uni, which is another reason why I want to quit is, I was to smell nice, I want healthy skin, nails, hair, teeth and so on. First impressions always count and if I look older than I am at an interview I would just break down. I want to quit not only for my gorgeous, young son but for myself, for him!, for happy lives.

I was smoking up to 20 smokes a day. I was using it as a stress reliever, or so i thought it was! I would also find myself smoking out of boredom. I wanted to and went to the doctor, so see what my options were, The next day i had heart palpitations and it certainly gave me a fright. Since that day i have not touched a cigarette, or drank any coffee. I have cut my nicotine right down. I just want to say to others, dont let something major happen to you before you decide to quit. its not so hard once you get over the first few days and week. You feel much better for it as well :)

Hi my name is Bob & i have been Smoking for 50 Years & I hate them & the smell & most the tast I have many times to try to give Smoking up but still went back to smoking. I now that it costs me money time that I buy smokes. My Mother & my Siste & mostof my Frenids won'ts me to give them away I'm not smoking as mutch as I used to before I have slowley cut down & what I wont to do is cut them right out all together & I now that I will feel a lot better when I do give then away. Ive tryed pills to try to give them away & I have even tryed gum & yet still I'm still somking I wont to give them away all together yes I'm asking for some HELP to give them away I am now 61 yes I now that I'm an old FART & yes I wont to give them away...

Hi - I've been a pack a day smoker for 23 yrs now & had 2 previous attempts at quitting which were unsuccessful. The first time I was on Zyban & broke out in hives 3 days in - I had to stop taking them & use a cream & tablets to recover. My GP then suggested Champix - night terrors & headaches stopped me from continuing those. I finally got back on the Zyban again a week ago. I have to say that your mental drive has a lot to do with success. I am so ready to quit (I think I wasn't before) that even with the side affects this time around - insomnia & hives again - I am not tempted in the least to go out & buy any smokes. To be honest, my motivation to quit was purely financial - we are renovating our home - and that $130 a week is better spent on our house! I have no desire to go backwards & although you may think - "It's only been a few days - how do you know you've quit?" Because I say I have - mind over matter really :) To anyone reading this I would just like to say that I believe in you & that you need to be in the right head space to quit successfully. No one can tell you when to quit - you have to feel it yourself. I think that's the only way to do this with the least stress that is possible.

I am a smoker. I hate smoking. I hate seeing people smoke. I NEVER smoke in public. I NEVER talk about it to anyone. I wait till I am alone put on a shower cap and prefer to hide outside in a dark corner and fag my head off. If I get caught I am mortified. I hide the evidence in a closed bottle with water and throw it when it is full. After a 'smoke' I come inside and disinfect myself so nobody can smell it. I seriously hate it BUT giving up is like losing my best friend & I am very depressed & want to sleep all the time. I cannot function and I am confused and disorganised all the time without a smoke. My health is awful. I feel much better when not smoking. I have cardiomyopathy and know I am playing russian roulette. Maybe I am on the way out. I don't know and too scared to seek help because I am so ashamed. Smoking control's me and I don't know why. I am bright, smart, academic, and look young for my age. I am so stupid with this aspect of my life. I would love to be able to enjoy a cup of coffee without wanting to & thinkning about sticking a smoke in my mouth. All my family has given up except me.

I am 27 and I have been a smoker since the age of 15. My family still do not now that I smoke, as I don't want to upset them. I the past couple of years I started to get stressed and irritable easily, got anxiety attacks and felt my fitness levels rapidly decreasing. Finally this year I started getting chest pains, which worked like a wake up call. I want to live! I want to be healthy! I want to have a healthy family! I want to travel the world and be successful in my career! I realised that cigarettes do not only cause helth problems, but also influence moods and overal mental fitness. I am on the road to quitting. Have not had a cigarette for 12 hours now and will try not to have one ever again. Good luck to everyone, who is trying to quit! Remember, the social benefits of smoking are minimal compared to the happier lives we will all have!

I got some not so good news from my Dr last week, after a blood test. So thats it, smoking and coffee are out of my life, gave up cold turkey. I think the best way without more drugs. I seen each day through being strong, training my mind not to have any smokes, i gave up coffee also. My breakfast was 3 coffees and 3 smokes. Now 1 cup of tea, a tub of yoghurt with 2 pieces of fruit. I wake up feeling fresher, breathing easier, seeing clearer, and wanting some GOOD food! NOT SMOKES AND COFFEE...YUK...!!! GET THEM OUT OF YOUR LIFE, YOU WILL FEEL SO MUCH BETTER...!!!

Hi My name is Elvisa... I am smoker since I was 17 year of age. I've been stopping and continuing again and again. I was trying hypnosis as well but didn't hellp. I hate myself because I am still not strong enough to quitt smoking. I smoke 8 mg cigaretes. It gives me difficulties at work beacuse I could not to go to work in places where is not smoking area. Isn't that alwfull?!!

I am 63 years old I have smoked for 51 years and I have finally given up.. I use to be a interstate driver so smoking was to keep me awake,keep me warm and calm my nerves. sense I have given up driving i have quit smoking.. and I have never been so sick in all my life, I now hate coffee, silver side is to salty for me, I use to drink 10-15 cup of coffee a day, loved a smoke and a coffee specially by the camp fire at night, my skin is now prickly, i get a rash when I shave, the changes my body is going through is not funny. but on a good note I do not cough anymore, no more big spits in the morning and bring up heaps of Flem. I hate the smell of smoking but does not bother me if some one smokes near me or in the car, the best thing to do about giving up smoking is to BREAK YOUR routine when you use to light up a smoke. I remember some one telling me along time ago by a person who gave up smoking she was sick for at least 12 months and then all was good from then on, I am near that point and yes I am feeling a lot better, so just hang in there and you will not be a loner any more, I just got married and out of 35 people there was only one smoker. I would not go over seas because I could not smoke on the plane so I missed out on a lot, don't be like me and live life to the full.

I smoked for 15years & I have not had a Smoke in 21Months, I did give up when I fell pregnant with my 3rd child as I did with the other two. but I made a decision not to continue this time, as the pain of loosing my Brother on 8/07/2008 at 34yo to Asthma from heavy smoking was too great. Most of my family members gave up except another brother who is 35yo now but looks 55yo. My mum is constantly battling with her addiction & is currently not winning but smokes 2 a day . I have two lil boys who both have Asthma from Bronchiolitis, but should grow out of one day & as long as I dont smoke. My health choices now are all about my kids & me being around to see them grow up, I have just lost 16kg as my weight scored up to 112kg which is another negative factor of stop smoking but I choose to not let it get me down. You have to constantly keep battling the cravings, My family went through Cyclone Yasi & I made me feel like smoking due to the stress of the storm but I fought the urge... Stay strong as it will Never leave you to want to reach out for a smoke....My heart aches for my brother Adam, he is not here anymore... and he would be proud of me for stop smoking.... GOOD LUCK ! its very hard but very rewarding.....

I started writing this before going through others' comments and videos. I am more than happy to share my story, even if I ended up writing something others said many times before. That doesn't make my story any less personal. Only God knows how much I suffered since I quitted. Half the way through the journey, I did go back smoking, but not because I was weak, but because I realized that I was better off as a smoker rather than a nonsmoker ? sever anxiety attacks, depression, wearing out, can?t focus at work, bad temper with nearly everyone ? god you don?t want to drive anywhere near me!!!! BELIEVE YOU ME!!!!! And, lack of proper night sleep, and that truly killed me and it was due to that why I decided to smoke again. Looking back at it, I believe my body wasn't as ready as my mind to give the habit up. I never gave up, and kept fighting. I lost a battle, but I definitely wasn?t willing to lose the war! Now, over six months after the last cigarette I ever had, or, gods willing, will ever have. I just can't be happier :-) How wonderful it is to feel great on a date in a restaurant without the urge of leaving for few puffs and a quick chew of gum to cover up the bad breaths. Instead, you enjoy every second of the company of who could be the love of your life. How wonderful it is to be on a long distant flight, without having a day dream of kidnapping the plane while making only one demand: TO SMOKE A BLODDY CIGARETTE! Instead, the food tray looks much yummier, and the only worry you can have about it is which main to go for ? not how would you handle not smoking at the end of the meal! You enjoy every bite, and suddenly, airlines food is not bad, not bad at all! And that (no smoking light), does not irritate a bit! How wonderful to land without the urge to kick someone?s ass to rush up so you can get out and smoke, or worse, to be locked in a 4 x 4 m room with some 50 other people where you practically do not need to light up a cigarette to get the nicotine you?re carving for, but just stand there and breath! Instead, you take your time enjoying your arrival moment, look for lovely stuff in the duty free and imagine how beautiful the meeting would be with whomever is waiting outside ? while whistling and humming your favorite song while waiting for the luggage to come out. You actually can smile to the customs; you are not smuggling anything you shouldn?t! ;-) How wonderful it is to go the supermarket front desk, and look at all those bloody disgusting evil pack, with all their horrific pricing and horrible pictures, and actually just ask for a prepaid mobile phone credit! For months I used to stand there, and when approached by the lovely young lady asking me what she can get me, I?ll just smile and say ? oh nothing love, I?m just enjoying the moment! You are home, watching a movie or a match, and you don?t need to rush up the breaks so you can go out. And, my absolute favorite, you wake up in the morning, and you actually pull up the curtain and enjoy looking outside. You no longer need to jump off the bed the moment you open your eyes! If you woke up late for work, you can actually be ready in 2 minutes! And I assure you, you will be as fresh as you would be after that quick breakfast (if any) and a snip of heavy coffee, with what else but that poisonous stick! Can you believe it? You no longer need to waste all this time convincing your brain to wake up! It?s awake and feeling fresh in seconds!!!! WOW!!!!!!! Every moment is like the moment you butt the butt, feeling the way you should - totally and completely FREE Do yourself the greatest favor you can ever offer yourself. See your GP TODAY, and quit tomorrow! God?s bless, and good luck to all.

I am a mum of two who have asthma i have tried quiting smoking and i have found it hard everyone around me smokes and i want to quite please help

I have been trying to quit smoking for 3 years. I have moments where i can be smoke free for days or weeks. But my issue is that my husband smokes, when i tell him i am quitting, he asks me if im going to have one with him, or asks me to buy a packet for him when i am down at the shops. It is really frustrating. I have 2 young children and I want to be able to be there for them as they become young men. Living in country Queensland, i find that the hardest thing of all is that the people who we live around and socialise with in family and work are all smokers. So i know this is a true battle of inner strength. I am 29 years old, i have grey hair coming through, i have difficulty breathing, i have anxiety attacks, insomnia and high cholesterol... even though i am not overweight ( 63kg). i have been smoke free for a week. This is because i have been TRAINING MY MIND and BODY. PHYSICALLY. I have been walking for the past week for 30 mins - 1 & 1/2 hrs. this equals between 3km - 6km a day. I am SUBSTITUTING SMOKING FOR WALKING. I have lost 2 KG this week, From drinking less coffee and not sitting down like a blob having 3 smokes in a row in 15 minutes. I have Found that if i sit inside in the bedroom while i talk on my mobile phone and KEEP A BOTTLE OF WATER HANDY, i feel full on water and it keeps that hand to mouth action fullfilled. also chewing gum help s to keep my cravings at bay... ordinary mint gum. I have been able to SLEEP for the first time in ages... I AM SAVING MONEY...$56 a week I AM HAPPY. Whenever i feel like a smoke i remember that new Ad campaign "every cigerette brings cancer closer... i have coughed up blood at the age of 28... my best friend is 41 y.o and just had a 6cm diameter cancer removed from her lung... she is a single mother with an 8 yr old. my granfather died with a cigerette in his hand from stroke at age 51... i never even met him. i choose LIFE... please join me and LIVE STRONG.

I really can't remember how old I was when I started somking. Been a non-smoker now for about 9-10 weeks. So far it's been ok , took up reading, spend alot of time on facebook, this has helped. However this past week has been really difficult. Having Cyclone Yasi come through the town I live, causing distruction every where I looked, even the house My partner and I were renting, was damaged, I felt no longer safe to stay there, we are currently staying at the Rec Hall in Tully, being run by the Red Cross & Salvation Army help with Food, & water..............Today is the 10 February 2011, 1 week since the Cyclone, been stressing out so much today for a smoke, it is scaring the crap out of me, I am trying to be strong and not cave in to the desire of the dreaded Nicotine. This is my story so far today.

hi thea everyone, an also congratulations 2 u all fer quitting or tyrna quit. i started smoking @ da age of 12. i hav only tried ta stop smoking twice an failed both times. i hav 6 children an 7 granchildren.i am always tryna find ways ta stop smoking, but havent actually found da rite 1.. fer myself,my husband,children an granchildren i want ta stop smoking.. i get so Bored, so stressed out, depressed dat i give up.. Yes it is all about having 'Will Power', but i find dat i dont hav dat.. maybe i am not trying hard enuff, dont no.. but i am willing ta give it another go. i am not guna tell my family about dis, cos dats another failing sign fer me. i am guna be strong,stay away from other smokers, an go Hard Core.. i wish uz all da best of luck wif ur journey ta try an stop smoking, an i also wish myself da same. Have an Awesum journey thru Quitting Smoking, cos I AM..

I have been somking for two years since i broke up with my ex. It was really depress me. Now i really wanna quit. But i am afraid of putting weight on.

Hi, Im 28 years old and yes, like all of you, I am an addict to nicotine. Ive been smoking since I was 22 late starter all because life through a lonely patch my way. I hated it in the beginning and I can still remember thinking to myself Dont worry, you will get use to the terrible taste and yes I did To a stage that I would suck down a whole packet in one day with the intension to give up, or I would try to smoke as much as I could and then throw the rest of the pack in the bin. But the very next day I would go and dig it out between all the rubbish and have my so needed smoke An addiction makes you do things you usually would not do or even consider Yes, I have tried to give up so many times, getting my partners hopes up only to disappoint him and myself every time I fail. Lets not kid ourselves IT IS VERY HARD, not only on the smoker but on their family and friends as well. But I have succeeded Ive been a nonsmoker but still and addict for 3 months and I think the most important thing Ive changed is that Ive learned to relax. To take each day as it comes and to stop being so hard on myself. I always try to remember that if I have a smoke now, I would be back to square one. So when a craving comes around, I stop, think about how it will effect my life and my dads old saying Just remember, you are a grown up, do what you like BUT do the right thing This always make me smile and I already know that my choice has been made, NOT to have that smoke and guess what..I am feeling good and in control.

i started smoking at 12 when i just started high school for something to do and by the age of 14 i was smoking a pack of 12mg 40's per day and every single one of my friends smoked and we all drank heavily. my parents hated it so i had to hide it. Now im 18 and im smoking a pack of 6mg 25's per day. i want to see my kids grow up and i don't want to be 50yrs old starpped to an oxygen tank, but in a way i enjoy smoking, i live with my partner and he is a heavy smoker aswell and if he won;t give up i don't think i'll be able to but im going to give it my best shot also im starting a new job this week so im aiming to quit within the next few months once the stress factor has settled in the mean time im going to cut down milligrams and quantity. fingers crossed!

i started smoking wen i was nine jst be4 u turned 10due to the stress of my auncle goin to court for child rape i started cause i made me comfortable around guys and it jst went on and on i never got help so i jst smoked more and more by the time i was 13 i was a chain smoker due to the neglect to care frm my mum now im 15 and my mum buys my smokes andi realy badly want to quit but everytime i try to sumthin worst happins in my life and i cant help but jst have nother smoke

I started smoking when I was 15. I smoked for 4 yrs then quit cold turkey as I was getting bronchitus all the time. I didn't smoke for 6yrs and was extremely healthy. I took it up again in 2004 when faced with an extremely stressful situation. I was hooked yet again. I tried to quit again when I met my partner in Nov 2004 as he hated smoking. I wasn't ready to quit so I was smoking behind his back. I managed to cut down to about 10 a day. Then in Dec 2005 my partner was killed at work. Once again stress affected my smoking habits. I was going through smokes like there was no tomorrow. In the first 5 days after his death I smokes nine packets of smokes. I felt really sick for days due to my excessive smoking. It's been five months now since his death and I am ready to quit smoking now.

I started dabbling with cigarettes when I was 15 - peer pressure got the better of me. Almost 15 years later I was still smoking, unfortunately my habit had become more than a dabble as time passed, I was up to smoking 30 a day. I had found myself almost chain smoking, or when I wasn't having a cigarette, all I could think about was when I would have my next. I decided it was time to take action and reclaim my life. I have a great career, a great life, and I had allowed this drug to control me for too long. I didn't want to be the last one in my group of friends still smoking, I wanted to be the first to stop. I have now been off the smokes for almost 7 weeks and I have never felt better. I do think my success this time around was due to not putting too much pressure on myself before I quit. I didn't think about it too much, I just decided when half way through a packet that when I finished that packet that would be it. And that is exactly what I did. I didn't tell anyone apart from those close to me as I have found in previous attempts that people asking how you are going on a regular basis only makes you think about it more. Don't get me wrong, I was terrified. I could not imagine myself as a non smoker, I could not imagine going out for a drink or coffee without smoking. I avoided these situations on purpose for 6 weeks, and just this is weekend I reached another goal. I went out for drinks with friends who all smoke and didn't once feel like one. I walked away that night with a big smile on my face knowing this time I have really done it. I have control of my life back.