Re: How to slay the nico-dragon?

I'm a bit late getting in on this one but,

I found that educating myself with regards to smoking gave a focus to my
quit as did exercise, which i highly recommend to whatever degree you can do
it to.

It's also true to say that much of that educational information had been
around for a long time whilst i was smoking and regular 'stop smoking'
campaigns high-lighted in graphic detail some of the gruesome things such as
clotted arteries and tar being poured out of jars (from lungs) yet I chose
to ignore them or at least put them out of my mind and continue smoking.
Denial is such a powerful weapon in the hands of an addict!

Educating myself after quitting was effective because i wanted to know about
all of the shitty things smoking had been doing to me. The realisation that
i had been living in denial for so many years and making so many lame ass
excuses for continuing to smoke was all part of the 'education' process as
was the realisation that i didn't need to smoke to get through life.

I got to the point where i realised that i didn't need to smoke and didn't
want to smoke. That was when i stopped fighting this addiction and just
turned my back on it because it stopped being relevant in my life.

I lived with the morning 'clearing of the lungs' and the occasional panic
that i was going to suffocate in my own phlegm. I've slept on the sofa
because i was coughing so bad when i had a cold and had to sleep with my
head raised to breath. It didn't stop me smoking and in fact like most
smokers i just learnt to adjust my behaviour to fit my increasing
disability.

I don't ever want to smoke again, not even one, never ever, regardless of
the situation i don't want to smoke. Because of that i will never have to
smoke again and don't have to live in fear of starting to smoke again.

i have got over smoking so i won't smoke. It seems that a lot of people
don't really get over it and they will always have to be very careful
because nicotine addiction seems to be like an on-off switch. even after
years of not smoking a few puffs on a cig and full blown addiction is
staring you in the face and the lies and denial kick right back in.

everyone has to find their own answers (whatever works for you) but
somewhere in there you have to stop wanting to smoke!









"Sue" <sebrady@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ujqn259sq6bncu0coo52ik6ssdp45mthmi@xxxxxxxxxx
On Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:37:06 GMT, BessieBee
<BessieBee@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:


I think what Robbster wrote really said it best. Education.

FlatironMike

In the spirit of differing opinions... I disagree about education
being the key to a successful quit. I know it wasn't for me.

I didn't need to know the specifics of what nicotine, and all those
other nasty chemicals, was doing to my body. I knew it was killing me
and that was more than enough education for me. I was motivated by
that fact, but also by the stench, the cost and the social
unacceptability (is that a word? :-).

It all boils down to "whatever works," and for me that was not
education.

I agree. I didn't need any educating either. I was self-educated by
the fact that I had a horrendous cough that wasn't going away and was
causing me to sleep in the guest room.
Sue


.

Loading