Q2W testimonials
Archived Content
This archived web page remains online for reference, research or record-keeping purposes. This page will not be altered or updated and may contain out of date information. If you’re looking for specific information and haven’t found it, please contact communications@camosun.ca.
Chris Brown
Instructor, School of Business
I’ve been smoking since I was 13, when a package of cigarettes was less than $0.50. I’ve vowed to quit every time the price increased to $1, $2, $3, well, you get the picture. I haven’t been able to.
30 years ago, smoking was supposed to make you look “older, more glamorous, more sophisticated”. It made me sick, and it was expensive, and my clothes stunk, but everyone did it, so I did too. We smoked in theatres, on airplanes, in our offices. I was actually relieved when smoking in offices was restricted – it gave me a break (from smoking), and then airplanes, and then pretty well everywhere else.
I smoked in my car, around my children, yet threatened them when they started. None of my kids smoke – I made sure of that. I hated smoking so much yet continued. I simply couldn’t quit.
I tried laser treatment, acupuncture, hypnotism, the gum, the patch, the pills – I tried it all. I started restricting where I could smoke – only outside and only in out of the way places. I started to feel like an outcast – socially, and, although it isn’t a moral issue, morally. I had grandchildren and still smoked, although every time I had a cigarette I would go and wash my face and hands so they wouldn’t smell smoke.
It was an ugly addiction; I spent thousands and thousands of dollars smoking, and then trying to stop smoking. I finally got to the point where physically, if I had one more cigarette, I thought I would die. I was having chest pains, coughing continually, smelled horrible, looked older than I should’ve (you know that gray look that smokers have). After seeing the contest, I thought, OK, that’s it, I can’t do this anymore. It was the ‘kick’ that put me over the edge (I think I was just looking for one more reason to quit).
So, three months for me. I can’t tell you how freeing it is to not have to continually be looking for a ‘place’ to have a cigarette, to not have to hide anymore, to not have to worry if I stink or if my breath stinks of cigarettes. I have cash in my purse. I must admit, I have grown quite fond of nuttin’ butter ice cream, but after all those years of smoking, I can use a few extra pounds. I know it will be temporary because now I can walk without being exhausted, and keeping up with grandchildren will keep me fit.
Thanks for the contest. I remember the last words Yul Brenner said before he died, “Just don’t smoke”. Because, of course, he died from smoking. I’d rather die from old age.
Delana Steele
Systems/Network Administrator, ITS
My dad was a smoker and, to me, he was the coolest guy ever, so I wanted to be like him. The first puff I ever had was when my dad flicked a cigarette away while he & I were out for a walk. I ran after it, grabbed it off the ground and took a puff. Boy did I get yelled at that day! I thought it would be OK to smoke because my dad did. I was seven.
When I was 13, I started smoking because it was something my friends were doing, I loved how it made me feel more mature, felt awesome inhaling it into my lungs and in retrospect I believe that it helped me with social anxiety. I smoked for years until 1991 (quitting many times for a couple months to a few years, but always going back to it under times of stress). I remember that when I finally quit in 1991 that I felt like I lost a friend, my constant partner...because when I was smoking, I was never alone. My new boyfriend at the time (who was to become my future husband) was an avid non-smoker and convinced me to quit. I remember kicking doors and swearing and being so angry, then swinging over to crying and sadness. I didn’t use the patch or gum at that time. It was 1991, so I don’t think those things were on the market. Or if they were, they were unaffordable. I finally did it, however, and stayed a non-smoker for 10 years.
After some stress at work I found that I started smoking again around the time I came to Camosun in 2001. At first I only smoked when out for drinks on the weekends....then I slippery sloped into smoking “sometimes” at work during the day if the day was particularly stressful. Before I knew it, I was back up to speed – smoking every day again. I tried a few times since 2001 to quit again, but always came back to it. I flat out enjoyed the sensation of smoking.
Here it is 2010 and I knew that I needed to quit for good this time for health reasons. The Camosun Quit to Win program came up and I thought it would be a good chance to try again, this time with some support. I asked my good friend, Deb and my buddy Ken to be my “quit buddies”. They agreed and were a wonderful support. I used the gum/patch this time and found that it made the physical addiction stuff much easier. I didn’t have the anger that I had previously had and pretty soon I found that I didn’t need to use the gum or patch after about 6 weeks. I found that the emails that were sent out by Tony and the team were really supportive! They seemed really timely for me as some days I would be just dying to have a cigarette, but I would receive an email from Tony and it would just take the edge off. To remind me of why I was doing this – live a longer life, have the respect of my friends and family and to be a good example for my nieces. The support of my quit buddies, Deb Stephenson & Ken Whitehead was invaluable and I couldn’t have done this without them. Every day Ken would check in with me and ask me how it was going – I was always honest with him.
I loved the package that the team put together for us – I made monocles, eye glasses and bugs out of the pipe cleaners, made a little bunny statue out of the playdough that I reworked on those days when I was dying to go out for a smoke with my smoking pals. Having something to do with my hands was really helpful! The gum was great too because it saved me a little cash as those quit smoking aids can be expensive! Being a Camosun initiative, I have to say that I really felt that my workplace was making an effort to help me and other smokers. That is very special and I want to thank Tony and the team for helping me become smoke-free.
I feel really positive that I’ll be able to quit for the long term now. I feel more informed, supported and finally free. Last night, a friend who I always enjoyed smoking with while we had a glass of wine together came over. We sat outside on the patio and she had 4 cigarettes. She offered me her pack (being my favourite brand) and I declined, although it was very hard. I was tempted, but I made a mindful decision to not smoke. I thought about how my clothing and hair would stink, the gross taste in my mouth, the phlegmy lungs the next morning and how disappointed I would feel in myself. I really took the time to think about it rather than going on impulse.
I realized that I am now a non-smoker. I’ll always be tempted, but I really am committed to living a more healthy, longer life now. In the tough moments I think about my little nieces, Cei & Ari’s faces and how horrible it would be for them to lose their Aunty to cancer. They give me strength.
Last updated: April 7, 2010 10:31 am
