What if I don't want to quit?

[justanothrdrunk]

Background:
Smoked for a while in college. "Quit" no problem. I have always smoked the occaisional pipe or cigar during the summer months outdoors. "Occaisional" means 2 or 3 times per month. So I don't know if that really counts as quitting or not.

When in rehab this summer, I started smoking again (when in Rome...). Up to a pack a day, again.

Wife is very anti-smoking. Right now I'm living away from home until at least next April. I think I "should" quit, but right now I really don't want to quit.

I suppose it's just like alcohol or drugs, I can't quit for someone else. I have to do it for me. And if I don't want to quit, my wife just has to put up with it? And I don't smoke in the house either, just outside. And she's worried about our 2 yo son seeing me smoking and learning that it's okay. And that worries me too. With that in mind, I'm committed (at the very least) to not smoking anywhere he can see me.

Thoughts?

[Cynay]

I did not want to quit either..... and I think your right it has to be for yourself.

About 2 years ago is when I finally figured out I "needed" to quit.

My Mother came to visit me for Thanksgiving.... she had a lung disease that Im not going to try to spell from smoking all her life. There were so many places I wanted to take her because she had never been here.... the only place we went was to pizza once because she could not walk up one flight of stairs. She would only be able to sit on the couch and breath with an oxygen tank.... and then had to giveherself some kind of treatment every so often. That was the last chance for her to visit my home as well, she died the following March.

My Mother was 64 when she died and though I will agree we can go at anytime... I just had to make the decision not to give my daughter a reason to bury me at 64.

[historyteach]

You wont quit till you want to.
But, no, your wife does not just have to put up with it. She has choices to make, just as you do.
When you're ready, you will quit. We'll be here when you are.

Shalom!

[Grateful Heart]

Has anyone else noticed how when you quit one addiction another pops up to take it's place? I've been battling back and forth with alcohol and tobacco addictions since Sept of 2006. I guess this is what they mean when they say "addictive personality" GH