March 16, 2006

 

Hello Heather:

 

I am just delighted to hear from you! Your Mother certainly is a lovely lady and of course very concerned for the health of her children. Being that smoking takes out about 500,000 thousand Americans a year (that doesn't count those who are crippled from it) it is understandable why so many people are seeking help in understanding nicotine addiction. 

 

I must say, it is a legitimate reason why you'd be motivated to quit smoking - being a Mother to a very small child. This addiction is out to simply cripple and kill, you deserve better, and your child deserves to have her Mother around for as long as possible. Noni Glykos - age 33 As far as your not being "overly excited" about quitting smoking, you certainly are not alone on that. There are plenty reasons you feel this way and you'll learn why. Why do people smoke?  It doesn't seem to make sense since every smoker knows they are destroying their health with ever puff they take. It isn't because smokers are stupid or careless, it is because they are dealing with a very powerful addiction. Nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs known to man. We will never be stronger than it (Nicotine) but thank goodness we can get through it by being SMARTER. The more you understand the better your chances of getting off, and most importantly, staying off. RELAPSE PREVENTION

 

First off, it is important to know why nicotine is so controlling and why it dictates almost every move we make. The half-life of nicotine is very short! After smoking a cigarette it isn't long before your body sends 'crave' signals indicating that you need to replenish your drug levels. Sometimes this can really be painstaking and all smokers know this too well. In this day and age we can't always take that next cigarette when we need it, thus, leaving us in agonizing drug withdrawal. And on a daily basis! As smokers we tend to look at getting off of smoking as a loss or as something negative. "My cigarette, my friend" You see Heather, when we start learning and putting logic in motion we better understand how smoking really is not as enjoyable as we may envision. Of course this is just one small example of the many learning tools you are about to encounter once familiar with our vast (and free) libraries.

 

As for your past failures in trying to get off of smoking while using nicotine replacement therapies, patches, gum, inhalers, etc. we'll explain to you why things may not have turned out the way you expected. NRT - pharmacological crutches  Giving patches of whiskey to an alcoholic trying to get off drinking would be silly, why give nicotine patches to a nicotine addict! If we don't treat getting off smoking as an addiction we do not stand a chance. Why quit cold turkey?

 

Your cry for help, Heather, comes to me in a timely fashion. Just two days ago my 37 year old nephew underwent quadruple bypass cardiac surgery. His coronary arteries were blocked around 95%. I spoke to him briefly last night and it just broke my heart, it took so much work for him to even speak. He whispered to me and said "Aunt Joanne, please keep helping people quit smoking, tell them not to destroy their health as I did". Patrick started smoking for a "cool" thing to do just when he was the mere age of eleven. It isn't just his heart doctors are concerned about at this point, it is his lungs as well. The pulmonary doctor is working steadily with the cardiologist in discovering both pulmonary and cardiac devastation presently dwelling in my young nephew. There was one other thing you'll find interesting that my nephew mentioned. It sort of struck a very emotional chord with me since I have heard these same words before by others while working with smokers. By the way, my nephew chose not to read these tragic stories when I'd send them to him, but here just last night he recited very sad and similar words..."Aunt Joanne I am in so much pain and I am so afraid, and how I wish it was just nicotine withdrawal from quitting smoking, rather than what I am experiencing at the moment". My nephew's life has changed forever, no one knows just what he will be facing in years to come or even if it is in terms of 'years' he has left.  Kim's missing lung - age 44  Bryan Lee Curtis - age 34

 

In retrospect, when we quit smoking the early days of quitting may not always be easy but we know for sure that the challenges are temporary. Many smokers think it is impossible to quit or that quitting smoking is just too difficult.  It is the unfortunate ones like my nephew (and thousands of others) who had to quit the difficult way. There is guaranteed freedom for each of us as long as we resolute to simply never taking another puff.

 

You have been given a lot of material to read, Heather, and it is crucial that you do so. Please save this email and read thru every link presented. This may seem like a lot to cover but chances are if you were told today that you had a life threatening disease you'd be out there reading everything you could in making sure you get the best treatment possible. Quitting smoking is the most important health decision you will ever make. Knowledge truly is power in this instance. We are here behind you so don't hesitate to get in touch.

 

 

Just for today, not one puff, no matter what! One day at a time

 

Joanne Diehl

Nicotine Cessation Educator

Co-founder of Freedom From Tobacco at Whyquit.com

 

PS - Heather, if you don't mind I'd like to post your letter to the Ask Joel  message board. Once the letter is posted you'll find others with a great understanding of this addiction who will give you suggestions and share their own stories. Just give me the okay and we'll post you to the board. I will block out your Mother's real name as to keep things private.

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Okayed by Heather today for posting at AskJoel. 3/20/06