Becoming your "ideal self" by quitting smoking — Camille's story

"One of my colleagues was a smoker, and it was she who gave me my first cigarette."

I smoked my first cigarette when I was 19. I had just experienced what seemed to be my first real adult trauma, and I was working part-time during my studies. A group of colleagues surrounded me. I enjoyed working with them, and it was a time when I was becoming a young woman. One of my colleagues was a smoker, and she gave me my first cigarette.

It took a while for my body to get used to the nicotine in cigarettes, and I remember that I often felt sick to my stomach and even nauseous at first. But after a while, she and I became "cigarette break buddies", I continued to smoke until I was 37.

"Being a smoker didn't fit this vision of my ideal self."

I quit smoking on December 26, 2018, at 37. At the time, I was smoking 5 to 6 cigarettes a day.

I was on the phone with my family, and the conversation moved me. When I hung up, something inside me made me realize that I first had to take myself seriously for others to take me seriously. I had to be honest about who I was and wanted to become. Being a smoker didn't fit in with this vision of my ideal self. I wasn't prepared, and it was pretty brutal.

"I knew withdrawal symptoms would appear, but I didn't know they would be so present."

The first days without cigarettes were challenging but manageable. Over time, withdrawal symptoms intensified: coughing during the day and extreme coughing at night, mucus expulsion, irritability, intense sensitivity leading to crying spells, insomnia, exacerbated temperament, and excitement. I knew withdrawal symptoms would appear, but I didn't think they would also be present.

The most considerable apprehension I overcame, even though it wasn't easy, is that I don't need cigarettes to survive, to help me feel at ease with myself, with my less extroverted self, or to soothe the pain of loneliness I feel from time to time.

"I realize I'm human, and I give myself permission to make a mistake."

I went off track two days ago. I smoked a cigarette and a half and expected to feel guilty, to be hard on myself for making this choice. But after a day of giving myself time to recover and analyze my emotions, I realize that I'm only human and must permit myself to make mistakes.

I don't see myself becoming an active smoker again, and I know that the willpower I've exercised over the past year and a few months can continue to guide me along the road to quitting.

"Maintaining a healthier relationship with my emotions."

I'd say the strategies I use to cope with my cravings are: eating when I want to, exercising, drinking water, saying out loud when I have a craving, and maintaining a healthier relationship with my emotions.

My experience with Kwit

What I like most about the app are all the details and reminders about your progress. The app helped me realize I was doing my body a favor by removing cigarettes.

I advise potential Kwitters to keep dreaming, wishing, and imagining the life they'd like to have as much as possible. Those desires will eventually be stronger than the voice telling you to have a cigarette.

Things to remember

Like Camille, please put your trust in us and embark on this adventure in search of freedom! We're waiting for you! Download Kwit!

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