Quitting smoking: how to stay motivated after a relapse — Victor's testimony

"I wanted to know what it felt like to smoke"

I started smoking at the age of 14. At first, without blaming them, both my parents were heavy smokers. This trivialized smoking somewhat, and curious as I was, I wanted to know what it felt like to smoke. Also, like everyone else, I wanted to be one of the cool kids so I could socialize better and get into that group spirit.

At first, it wasn't enjoyable. I felt suffocated and dizzy. I soon got into the habit of smoking 8 to 10 cigarettes a day. Sometimes, my consumption increased depending on whether I was out drinking or not. I smoked a little less during the vacations, and in the last year before quitting, I'd cut back to two a day.

"This decision crystallized when we learned that my mother had stage 4 lung cancer"

I decided to quit in September 2021, and that's when I reduced my consumption to 2 cigarettes a day. I had to reduce my consumption following dental extraction. I was very apprehensive about the difficulty of quitting and even more so about relapsing. I had already quit smoking and relapsed after the birth of my daughter. I'd gone 3 years without a cigarette.

This decision crystallized in October 2021 when we learned that my mother had stage 4 lung cancer. It was a virulent strain the likes of which the specialists had never seen. Sadly, she passed away in February 2022.

"You can never be sure of a relapse"

6 months after his death, it had been 3 weeks since I had stopped smoking. I was very proud to have rid myself of this poison. Today, I'm a few months smoke- and patch-free. I'm hanging in there, even though you can never know about a relapse.

When you stop smoking, you miss the habit of smoking the most. It's easier to impose a routine on yourself than to eliminate it. After three weeks on patches, I started to break the habit. Now it's withdrawal without patches. I don't sleep as well, I'm irritable, but I know it's just a passing moment. I drink water, breathe calmly, and it passes!

My experience with Kwit

A friend recommended that I download Kwit. I immediately appreciated the fun aspect of the application, with all its stages to go through and the progress margin indicated and explained. This application has worked for me and has been my most significant support in quitting smoking and avoiding relapse.

I've noticed changes in my health since I quit smoking. My breath is better, and I have much more energy than before. I've also seen positive effects on my wallet, and I can see how much money I'm making on the app as I go along. It's incredible how much you can save if you stop poisoning yourself. When I see the price of a pack of cigarettes today, I'm happy I stopped.

My advice to Kwitters and future Kwitters

Take it one day at a time. Be thankful and proud of each tobacco-free day. Every day is a gain. The urge to smoke is invasive but quickly dissipates. Craving a cigarette? Keep yourself busy for 10 minutes. It will leave you. If you ever relapse - it happens - the main thing is not to do it again.

Go for a walk, get out, move around, or, on the contrary, sit down, breathe, relax, meditate! Consider drinking plenty of water because, strangely enough, it's highly satisfying.

I doubted myself. I had no idea if I could do it. Even though I'm still fighting today, I'm distancing myself more and more from my tobacco addiction. The more the days add up, the more I succeed and feel prouder.

Conclusion

If, like Victor, you want to take the plunge and need day-to-day support, don't hesitate - download Kwit!

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