I am putting it up here along with the original post from that string because I think it is important to make a point. The AskJoel board, by design, is often going to make it appear that quitting smoking is a miserable experience and that staying free is depressing and fraught with problems. In reality, neither state is a true representation of what the quitting experience is and what being smoke free is for most people. For some people it may be this way, but for others it may be just the opposite.
If people want to get a more realistic overall picture of what it is like to be smoke free over longer time periods, they are better off reading at the Freedom board. Posts like
Tell a newbie how many seconds a day you still want a cigarette and the multitude of celebration threads from people who are off for months and years normally depict the feelings of exuberance felt by long-term successful quitters.
Normally though, long term successful quitters are not going to be writing to a board called AskJoel where people write in to discuss longer-term extended problems people have from quitting because they themselves are not experiencing these kind or problems. That is why this board will give a slanted view. Most of the people writing are only the ones experiencing such difficulties.
So for all people looking to get an more accurate picture of what it is like to be nicotine free, visit the Freedom board. For people looking for specific information, the AskJoel is they place to pose such questions. For people wanting to see what life can be like for people who never quit or who wait too long to quit, the
www.WhyQuit.com site really fills this need.
Taking all three components together can give anyone reading a good overview of the problems caused by smoking, the problems caused by quitting and the long-term benefits and gains derived from making and sticking to a long-term personal commitment to never take another puff.
Joel
A number of months back a new member had wrote the comment that the people at our board seemed to be "too cheery" for people who had quit smoking. There are plenty of Internet sites that people can go to if they ever want to be cheered down a bit. If you can find sites that are dedicated to supporting people who are facing the ravages of smoking you will likely find lots of people who just won't seem overly happy or optimistic with their current situation.
Is it right that so many of our members seem happy that they quit? Of course it is for if people realize just what they have accomplished by quitting and the terrible fate that they would likely have faced if they did not stop they will likely stay forever happy, proud and thankful that they have stuck to the commitment that they had made to themselves to never take another puff!
Joel
P.S. If anyone is still looking to get a little more depressed today go check out the following links at www.whyquit.com:
Cancer, COPD & Heart Groups
A couple of my depressing pieces:
The Isolation of a Widowed Smoker
"I Can't Quit" or "I Won't Quit"
A Tribute To Joel's Friend Joe
Past FAILURES
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