Stuck
Several times I’ve written that naming a quit date is the hardest part of quitting.
Well, here I am, waiting to name my second quit date. I’m not totally sure why. I think I’m waiting until I’m solid enough after the deaths of my sister and father to focus on quitting. For me, at least, the focus part is crucial.
The professional smoking cessation people use a Health Belief Model that says you’ll be more likely to stop smoking or chewing if you:
- believe you could get a tobacco-related disease and worry about it
I can very honestly answer yes to both of the above. Because of my job, I know far too well how damaging my habit is. And because of the esophageal cancer that runs in my family, I definitely worry about my greater risk.
- believe you’ve got a good shot at quitting
I was not at all confident about this before I quit last summer. Now, I know I can do it. But can I stick to the quit?
- believe the benefits of quitting are greater than the benefits of continuing your tobacco use
Is it possible that there’s a bozo out there who doesn’t know this is true?
- know of someone who has had health problems as a result of their tobacco use
I watched my former mother in law die from lung cancer after decades of smoking. My grandmother, a hardcore smoker, died of emphysema. Her husband, my dear grandfather, died of heart disease. Smoking would have made a major contribution to his condition.
So why haven’t I set a date? Am I ready?
