Smoke-Free Victory: My Epic Escape from Addiction

# From Chains to Unstoppable Freedom

I don’t remember when exactly, but at the age of 19 (I think), it was that time in my life when smoking became a habit and part of my identity beyond return. Initially, I was drawn to it by the allure of smoking portrayed in commercials and popular media. There was something sentimental about lighting up a cigarette, especially when it rained.

In those days friends would sometimes tease me about the amount of money I wasted on cigarettes. They’d joke, saying “I could have bought a car with that kind of money”. I’d playfully retort, “Well, where’s your car then? You’ve never smoked!”

Smoking gradually became a habit, with various triggers throughout my day:

1. In the morning.
2. Before and after each meal, although I couldn’t explain why it felt better after eating.
3. Before bedtime.
4. When I drank with friends, it significantly increased my daily cigarette count. Smoking and drinking seemed to complement each other perfectly.
5. When I felt down.
6. To celebrate personal achievements.
7. During pleasant, windy weather.
8. When faced with stressful situations.

As you can see, nearly every aspect of my life became associated with the urge to smoke. I became so reliant that when I didn’t have cigarettes and my supply was low, it would make me nervous. Friends would occasionally share their concerns with me, advising me to recognize what was truly happening to me.

Understanding What’s Going On

1. Recognizing the Real Source of Stress

I realized that smoking wasn’t helping me deal with stress. It was just a trap leading to increased pressure from the accumulated discomfort of not smoking. However, it was just temporary relief, more like a band-aid which you put on an infected wound and never get rid of germs.

I always smoked when under pressure, and each time that happened the lighting of a cigarette was like pressing pause on my stress. However, every press-pause cycle ended with reality striking back hard. However, the pressure was still waiting quietly behind somewhere else, typically if not always even more acute when combined with distress from guilt about failure to quit.

However, I gradually became aware that more lasting and better stress relief would be necessary. That was facing up to the real sources of my stress, kicking more effective habits, and above all easing out from under what had become an addiction in itself.

This realization was the breakthrough I needed in my efforts to stop smoking because it enabled me to cast cigarettes as a fantasy. From this point forward there would be an irresistible urge on my part toward recovering physical health and mental balance.

2. The Financial, Mental, and Health Costs

Living in Singapore, each pack of cigarettes costs around $15 SGD now. That’s half a pack per day at 365 days, or over $2700 SGD annually. Over ten years, that’s $27,375 SGD, without factoring in inflation or price hikes.

Nevertheless, it’s not simply the price of cigarettes. It is also a matter of opportunity costs.. I could have invested that money in stocks or real estate. Furthermore, there are immeasurable health costs. Smoking is highly cancerous, and wasting one’s future and life because of it means that there will never come a day when the cost cannot be calculated... When faced with the possibility of a shortened life, the stakes are incredibly high.

So, what motivated me to quit smoking? It was primarily meeting the love of my life, my wife. She expressed her love for me but also her desire for us to live a healthy life together. Her support and encouragement gave me the strength to believe I could change. She truly is the light of my life.

Although I had failed to quit smoking multiple times before (with my longest quit being just three months, which was incredibly challenging), her ultimatum changed my perspective.

“You either quit or I don’t marry you!”, she said. Her statement made time stand still and let me contemplate what life is all about. Was the fleeting pleasure of smoking worth losing the most precious person in my life? I made up my mind to try quitting once again.

Action Plan!

Here’s what I did to prevent myself from going back to smoking:

1. I envisioned myself as a non-smoker every morning, reinforcing this new identity.
2. I openly shared with all my friends, including fellow smokers, that I had quit smoking to hold myself accountable.
3. Instead of trying to gradually reduce smoking, which had failed me before, I cut off all smoking habits immediately.
4. I mentally associated the taste of cigarettes with disgust and reminded myself that I wanted to avoid it.
5. I used nicotine patches when my willpower waned, especially during the first few months.
6. I rewarded myself with treats like sweets, chocolates, yogurt, coffee, and tea using the money I saved from not smoking.
7. I started exercising to divert my thoughts away from smoking.
8. I distanced myself from situations and friends that triggered my smoking habit, particularly during social drinking occasions.
9. I brushed my teeth right after meals to deter cravings.

Benefits I realized

Because of these carefully designed plans and continuous determination, I was able to free myself from the chains of smoking. Every step of the action plan in front of me helped to strengthen my resilience and determination. Every morning, through visualization I became a non-smoker; sharing my journey out in the open with friends also made me responsible. I adopted the cold turkey approach and underwent a mental reconditioning to cure my craving for cigarettes.

The nicotine patches, the candy prizes for my progress and even just going out to exercise all helped. Keeping cigarettes at a distance and maintaining proper mouth care after eating helped strengthen my determination. These tools empowered me, and with them, I have not only been able to kick my smoking habit but also found strength within myself.

All in all, the benefits of quitting smoking have been tremendous:

1. I married the love of my life after two successful proposals, which was the ultimate reward for quitting smoking.
2. My breath felt fresh.
3. I saved a substantial amount of money, which I redirected towards investments and self-improvement.
4. My performance in the gym and while running significantly improved.
5. I was no longer a slave to the stress-inducing triggers that made me reach for a cigarette.

Lastly, my transition from smoking to a smoke-free existence truly has been transformative. I struggled for more than a decade, trying time and again before finally learning how to cast off the shackles of smoking. The peace one gained at that point is extraordinarily rewarding.

It was only after meeting my wife and discovering someone who would support me no matter what I did, that real change began. Her ultimatum, challenging me to quit smoking or risk losing our future together, made me reassess my priorities. But I saw that the temporary joy of smoking was not worth losing all the love and companionship of my life.

From redefining myself as an ex-smoker and cutting contact with my smoking friends to employing nicotine patches, I realized that the path taken in quitting is tedious but indispensable. Each day I woke up with the image of a smoke-free future in my mind, reinforcing my determination.

The advantages of giving up smoking have been innumerable — from a healthier body and mind to savings money and better physical condition. I no longer feel controlled by the urge to smoke whenever stress or triggers arise.

Wrapping it up

Looking back on my road, I hope that people will gain inspiration from what happened to me. Smoking is tough to kick, but if you have the determination and support needed there are ways. Deciding to stop smoking means deciding to take back one’s health, happiness, and future.

Therefore, if you find yourself at a life crossroads don’t forget that change is always possible, and your welfare is worth pursuing. With that reward in mind, I hope you can overcome your addiction and make it to the smoke-free promised land. Just a path to being the best you can be. It’s about following your inward compass and choosing right for yourself, for everyone you love, including this little green planet that we share.’

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