Posted on 10/04/2011 7:53:55 AM PDT by Marie
My wife, on the other hand, lit up as soon as we got in the car to go home.
I'm told the secret to quitting smoking, like most other addictions, a person has to want to quit, more than to smoke.
Anyway, I have my own opinions about nicotine addiction, both less and more complex than what people know (or think they know) about it. There's a tendency to trivialize the power of this substance, which is decidedly non-trivial for people who've smoked cigarettes, for example, as integral to their life's style, for decades, to cite just one example.
Will Power, which is what some folks used to call it, won't cut it, even for people with ordinarily strong personalities.
About twenty years ago the "addictive qualities" of substances was statistically related to that substances ability to transverse the, so-called, "blood brain barrier," that secondary set of internal kidneys in our heads that separates the central nervous system from the circulatory system, keeping toxins in the blood away from the brain.
It appears that the potential strength of an addiction to a substance is related to the fat solubility of that substance. Very high on the list are opiates, not coincidentally because of their similarity to compounds produced naturally to regulate our responses to pain. The molecular basis for Valium, and all of its "left-handed free radical" cousins are also very high on that list. Higher than just about anything, however, are those plant alkaloids normally produced in certain species as natural pesticides, specifically nicotine and more specifically nicotine produced in abundance by Tobacco and it's first cousin Tomato plants.
Nicotine isn't recognized like alcohol, as "the grand-daddy of all addictive substances," but it is probably the most physically addictive substance known to man.
Most surviving former main-line heroin users will tell you nicotine is more difficult to whip.
I quit smoking tobacco after 43 years by switching to an e-cigarette. It’s still a nicotine habit for me but at least I’m not inhaling carbon monoxide and there’s no tar being deposited in my lungs. I don’t stink of smoke anymore and my lungs are clear. My doctor was skeptical at first but now says it’s a big improvement.
Liberty Flights has one of the best deals on an effective e-cig if you’re interested, about $40 for a starter kit. Freepmail me if you want additional info (after 2 years of using a variety of different e-cigs I’m a bit of an expert on the subject).
I cannot thank you all enough for the wonderful advice and compassion.
Believe it or not, the thing that’s sticking with me the most are the stories of people who were just as addicted as I am who’ve managed to do it.
i think that there’s a part of me that believed that it wasn’t possible. That fear has been building as I get closer to ‘d’ day.
And that fear makes me light up more, and faster, than anything else.
But you guys are showing me that it is possible. And it’s possible to get through without all of the insanity.
I’m only down to post 63 right now. I’m reading each one carefully and I’ve already found more than a dozen that I know I can directly apply to my particular situation.
I’m going to go through it all a few more times and make a definitive plan that I’ll start to put into action next week.
But I can already feel my attitude shifting. I’m beginning to feel optimistic. I’m actually a little excited about being free of my addiction! I’m starting to accept that I can do this. I see that positive affirmation is vital to this process.
Thank you all so much! (and thank you especially for the prayers. I really appreciate that.)
I’m ready. :-)
If you choose to use a nicotine patch, make sure that you do not get TOO MUCH nicotine. When using the patch, I bought the weakest one (there are usually 3 different strengths to 'step-down') and it was too much to wear all of the time. I got headaches, sick to my stomach, etc., and thought that it was withdrawal, but it turned out that it was excessive nicotine. I had to wear the patch intermittently to avoid this.
When you do something that triggers the urge, immediately think of something else or use hard candy or something to satisfy the oral part of withdrawal. The need to have something in your hand will also be difficult. Do what suits you ... you WILL find something. For me the biggest trigger was getting on the telephone. I didn't realize that I always picked up a cigarette with the phone, but I did. Having a cup of coffee was the other BIG trigger, as was finishing a meal. For a while I had to quit coffee and use caffeine tablets (another addiction).
Expect a weight gain of 10-20 lbs., unless you really do a bunch of snacking instead of smoking. Don't anticipate doing anything like instituting an exercise program at the same time that you quit smoking ... it is just too much stress all at once unless you are a unique individual. I'm not saying it can't be done, but it is difficult.
A good time to quit is when you are out of your element, such as the beginning of a vacation. Less familiar things that will trigger an urge to smoke.
That's all I can think of right now. Come the end of this month, it will be 5 years since I smoked a cigarette. I still miss smoking, but it is much better that I don't. It also helps to remember that nobody has ever died as a result of quitting ... it gets bad, but it will get better. Prayer helps as The Good Lord always answers prayers ... although sometimes you don't get the exact answer you thought you were asking for (mysterious ways and all that).
I wish you a tremendous amount of strength and the good health that will follow.
No time to go through the thread so can’t say if the following had been suggested:
Some of the habits to prepare for and have some replacement “habit” - talking on the phone, getting in the car to go somewhere, after meals, during tv shows... note those moments that you mindlessly light up.
Then have something ready to replace it. One of the crazy things I thought was goofy but actually worked was taking a drag through a straw, simply taking in fresh air, but still occupied the hands. You have the idea of snacks already - sure want low-cal. Having a closed container of smoked butt swilling around in water will remind you what you’re trying to quit... And from what I’ve seen others suggest - working out, walking, running, biking, whatever you can handle and keeps you busy.
Not sure if E-cigarettes are an option but might be worth the consideration. I didn’t do any drugs or patches - went cold turkey after a serious hangover - but can understand how that may be tempting if you get really groully. After getting through the first three months, I knew I had it beat, but for quite a few years after, every three months I had to fight the urge all over again. The first 3-4 days were the worst and the first year I caught colds and flus pretty easily. But hang in there and fight this like you’ver never fought before! Wishing you the best and prayers up for your success!
My point here is that Marie is trying to get help to quit smoking. She needs all the support she can get. We're not trying to be nanny-state pseudo-parents focused on changing someone who loves to smoke; she's the one who came here asking for help.
When she said that “I cannot have this operation until I quit smoking,” you responded this way: “Says who? Why? Medical folks will try all kinds of BS to get you to quit smoking. I had pleurisy and pneumonia, they said it was from smoking. I called BS, asked them if they imagined I had smoked an infected cigarette. No answer, just propaganda.”
Humblegunner, I will defend your right to smoke. I don't like nanny states any more than most other conservatives — if you're a smoker or ex-smoker who thinks your pneumonia and pleurisy are unrelated to smoking, that's your right to think that way.
I responded for two reasons.
First, Marie is an addict. She needs all the help she can get, and she came here to get help. I don't think your comment was helpful to her.
Second, I also know from experience dealing with addicts that the addicted brain will grasp at all kinds of straws to hang onto the addiction, and I believe your comment could actually be hurtful to her.
You have every right to disagree. Smoke all you want if you're a smoker. Defend smoking all you want if you're an ex-smoker or non-smoker. I'll defend your right to be wrong. If suffering from pneumonia and pleurisy didn't change your mind, I doubt anything I say will have any effect.
That reminds me... since changing to an e-cig I've only had one cold in the past two years, no flu. Other users have similar experiences. I've read that the propylene glycol in the "e-liquid" inhibits the ability of viruses to attach to tissue; it may be true.
Huh! I’ll have to keep that in mind for others. A friend had an e-cig and we others tried it out. First time I’ve “smoked” since 1993. No desire to continue but if I still had the habits to overcome, it would have been worth a try just to quit smoking. (Although the straw was cheaper and less maintenance. LOL)
Darrell, don’t worry about HG. He’s caring in his own way. I actually appreciate the emphasis that this is MY choice and nobody can bully me into this. (Not even my doctor)
I’m a contrary individual and any pressure to quit, just makes me want to light up all the more.
HG actually helped me. He’s right. This is MY choice.
So I boiled it down like this: I can continue to sit here, disabled and smoking or I can quit, get the surgery and move on. I do agree with HG that the dangers are seriously overblown and exaggerated. They’d blame a hangnail on smoking. (I once had a dr lecture me for half an hour about how my constipation was caused by smoking and wouldn’t hear me when I told him repeatedly that I WASN’T, and never had been, constipated!) They act like you’ll be immortal if you never smoke.
The fact is, I do need to quit for my health. This surgery is risky enough that I wouldn’t do it, even if I had the option, while smoking.
*********************
So here’s my update.
I started to compile a ‘plan of attack’ for this quitting situation.
And suddenly, I got seriously irritated with all of it. I’m freaking tired right now and I don’t want to deal with it.
I decided that the easiest way to quit is to quit. Just tell myself that I’m done.
As of right now, I’m 20 hours smoke-free. I’m avoiding irritants. (My family, TV news, etc.) I do have Nicorette lozenges, but I don’t like them and I’ve only had two.
When I get a craving, I just tell myself that it’s not worth the stress and let it go. My daughter smokes and I’ve left her things alone. I told her that she can smoke, but she has to take it outside.
The big accomplishment was that I had a very long, very stressful medical test done this morning and I was able to get in the car, come home and move on without a cigarette to calm down afterward.
I plan on posting an update at 4:30 when I’m 24 hours smoke-free.
So far, the weird thing is that I’m coughing like crazy and yawning my head off. Everything stinks. :-\
In case anyone is paying attention...
I made it 24 hours. :-)
Congratulations....all of the gimmicks will help but at the end of the day you have to just flat “QUIT”...OLD COLD TURKEY as it’s known. As I posted earlier....try www.whyquit.com
This New Years eve will be 20 years since I quit. Just went cold turkey. Every time I wanted a cigarette I would think about all the negative things about it and talk myself out of it. It truly is mind over matter. Also try to stay away from things you associate with smoking - like coffee or a drink. Good luck to you!
Okay... best wishes to both of you. What counts, Marie, is that you want to quit, and if Humblegunner’s comments help, good for him.
I can say lots of stuff to encourage you to quit smoking. So can lots of other people. Breaking any addiction is difficult, nicotine addiction is one of the most difficult to break, and in the long run, nothing will help unless it's you who wants to quit.
Congratulations on the progress so far. Keep at it!
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