How innocent it all seems to be. He's a teenager. Only fourteen. Friends offer him a cigarette. Have one... He doesn't really want one - what for? And inhaling that smoke? Yak! But... there is nothing much to do. There are holidays. All day ahead of them. In fact... many days...

What a heck! Ok, give me one! That's how it all might started...

Days go by, more smokes... Cool friends, aren't they? But the day comes and one of the friends asks: 'Hey, and when will you give us a cigarette in return? It's not fair we keep buying and you are just taking, not giving us any'...

That comes to him as a surprise out of nowhere --- he thinks to himself: 'I didn't want any at the first place!' But, they are right in a way. I can't just keep taking from my friends.

This is how he got hooked on nicotine. He can't be without it.After twenty years of smoking he settled on a packet of twenty or so.

All these years the idea of smoke troubles him. Questions about health. Dependency. He asks himself questions such as: 'What would I do if I was stranded on an island and without cigarettes?" He'd just realized he became a SLAVE of a cigarette!

Cigarette companies aren't to be blamed. He made his own choice. He hates he's friends for this. On the other hand he also feels grateful in way - he's learned what it means to be dependent on such a 'common drug'. And he is happy he found enough will power to break that habit.

He stopped the hard way. No nicotine patches. Drinking often. Anytime he craved for a smoke. Tea and water of course. Going to bed very early. Avoiding TV, coffee, alcohol. Especially the first week. First day was a hell. First week was terrible. First month was unbearable and we could continue.

Even after a year he kept dreaming of having a cigarette. Woke up in the middle of the night and when he realized it was just a dream - what a relief! Two years clear from cigarettes now.

A friend visits him. Comes with a brand of cigarettes he used to 'love'. It is Christmas Eve.

Having few drinks... he thought to himself: ' I haven't had a cigarette for over two years now! If I have a half that can't do me any harm.'

He had half. The next day one. The day after five. Within few weeks he was back to his pack of twenty.

He kept smoking for the next two years till he decided enough was enough. This time he used nicotine chewing gums. When he couldn't take it any longer he lit up a cigarette, for just a few puffs. Then he distinguished it - kept it for a later use. The terrible smell of the cigarette butt kept reminding him to keep off it.

This time it was easier to stop smoking than it was for the first time. However, it still took several attempts. What can we learn from it?

Once you stop smoking - NEVER in your life assume you can try to light up one. He learned his lesson. It became his religion. To never touch a cigarette again! And guess what? Now it is over twenty years of no smoking. He finally feels free. Not a slave anymore. He is still 'very religious' --- he never touches a cigarette.

Find out how do cigarettes damage your sexual health, cause impotence and erection problems among other by visiting Mens Sexual Health.

Copyright © 2008 Tibor Santa This article may be freely reproduced as long as URLs are active and there are no changes made to text.

Tibor Santa is a publisher living in Australia. His deep interests in Eastern medicine reflected in studies of Japanese Acupressure, practicing Martial Arts, Qi Gong, Yoga, Reiki, and other forms of healing.

He is a founder of http://www.healthy-relationship-dating.com dedicated to relationship dating, romance and health.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Tibor_Santa