Peer pressure brought on my 40 year smoking habit. Thirteen years old, no real adult supervision, no mentors, no mom and a hard working dad. My friends were who I looked up to. They smoked, so I did also. Forty years of being chained to smelly dirty cigarettes. Into my thirtieth year, I started trying to stop. Money was tight and that was my first reason for quitting. All along I knew the dangers of smoking cigarettes. I kept the C word in the back of my mind constantly. I prayed every day that God would protect me from it. I still couldn’t quit. I managed to scrap up just enough for that next pack. My life was changing for the better. A fresh start, new husband, grown-up kids with families of their own now. I wanted to quit for that new lease on life. I bought nicotine patches, and low nicotine cigarettes, which were awful. That went on for several months before I gave up and continued to smoke regular cigarettes again. Continuing changes in my life, I was managing to chew a lot of nicotine gum and sucking nicotine lozenges. I was happily miserable. My new husband saw this and did his best to support my quit attempts. He did his best to appease my irritability and my tears but, I just could not put him through it any longer. So, I began smoking again but not when hubby was at home and, only during my break times at work or driving alone in my car. The other times, I chewed more gum and sucked more lozenges. It was a bit easier but all I would really do was think about when hubby would leave so I could smoke again. I hid my misery as best as I could. One evening I was hosting a party, while friends went out for a smoke, I asked hubby how disappointed he’d be if I joined them. Of course, he wished I wouldn’t but he was fine with it. So, from that point on for the next two years I was a full time smoker again. Then, I started getting sick more often than I ever had before. Bronchitis. I had never had bronchitis in my life and now I was getting it several times a year. My lungs never healed from the last bout before I’d get it again. It finally dawned on me, that I HAD to quit. By stopping and starting over and over again, I damaged my lungs beyond repair and just kept on smoking. I began wheezing and my lungs rattled all night long. I wouldn’t face my hubby in bed for fear he’d hear me (he’s a very sound sleeper). It was gross, hearing my lungs struggle for a clear passage of air. I had to quit. I talked to my doctor about how hard this had been and how badly I felt for being unsuccessful at quitting. We agreed to try Chantix along with Welbutrin. Of course, the Chantix was free for employees and family, on my hubby’s health insurance. Chantix does what it’s supposed to do. It did reduce my cravings. I found myself going quite a long while between wanting to smoke. By then, I couldn’t smoke much anyway. Just a couple of puffs, here and there. The Welbutrin seemed to keep my anxiety level from elevating beyond a certain point. I was slowing turning into a zombie. I dreamed awful nightmares every night. I cried all the time for no reason. Chantix also reduced my sense of pleasure. ALL pleasures. I was miserable. I wanted to die. Welbutrin caused me to black out during the only times I was allowed to vent and have fun, while out for a couple of drinks with friends. So.. I stopped taking the drugs and started smoking again. One Saturday evening, while at our favorite VFW, a friend showed me an electronic cigarette. I tried it. It wasn’t awful so I bought some rechargeable cigalike ecigs. That’s where my SUCCESS journey began. I never picked up another cigarette. I’ve been smoke free for over three years. My C.O.P.C. is under control. I still have to use an inhaled medication twice a day but, no more wheezing and NO MORE bronchitis. In fact, not one common cold or virus since I began vaping and quit smoking. I now use regulated mods and tanks that can be rebuilt by me, and refilled with delicious eliquids that taste better than ANY cigarette ever. The ability to tailor what and how we use these devices and eliquids IS the reason for my success. I fully support anyone that has chosen vaping over smoking.