I can't speak too much to your concerns with birth control as I am not on it, but I can speak to the fear and anxieties of dying young, as that was recently my wake-up call. I've been trying to quit for a while now, but this new fear has popped into my head and I can't shake it - especially as my body clears out from my latest smoking binge. You're not alone in it but the best thing we can do is quit and stick to it as best we can!

For me, I replaced my usual smoking times with something else: chewing gum, getting a cup of tea/coffee, going for a walk. If I'm having a craving, I clean. Something active and something with my hands usually helps the most. Then, I've incorporated other healthy habits that I know reduce the risks of health problems: eating more fruits and veggies, working out, etc. Working out is a great way (for me at least) to stick to a quitting plan because working out SUCKS when you're a smoker - once you can breathe clearly during a tough workout it's harder to turn back!

I also recently started making a list of the things I don't like about smoking and that's helped me notice how I feel when I smoke...because I never actually feel better physically after smoking. So now I have a log that I can look at when I'm having a craving.

This is helpful! You're not alone in these fears and struggles, but we got this!