Quit smoking again... it's odd, though.

saysadie · Post by **saysadie** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:16 am

I haven't had a cigarette in three days.

It's odd, though. When I -er, went on a hiatus from smoking- before, I'd never really had much in the way of withdrawal symptoms. Or maybe I just never noticed them before, I don't know. But now, I cannot stop moving.

I am the ******* Energizer Bunny. And my concentration is shot, which is what I expected actually... but the restlessness has gone through the roof, it's like I've just had six cups of coffee, except the feeling lasts all day. Going to work was torture. Normally, I hate it anyway as I have to sit there for hours on end and I cannot stand that, but today was almost unbearable.

Yay.

This is so not fun. I should never have picked up smoking again in the first place, I guess. Blah.

saysadie · Post by **saysadie** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 5:48 am

I'd kill for a cigarette right now. Pardon me while I have a mini-fit.

smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke smoke.

I won't, though. Nope. Nope...

I'm watching Unfaithful. It has Richard Gere. I ******* hate Richard Gere.

I'm going to sit here and hate Richard Gere now.

Goddamn cigarettes.

On the upside, this movie is really ****** up. Richard Gere is still a wiener, though.

saysadie · Post by **saysadie** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 6:58 am

I ******* suck.

Alright, how the [composite word including 'f*ck'] do I do this? How the [composite word including 'f*ck'] did I do this before?

I didn't smoke for twoish ******* years before this and I can't ******* figure out how to quit a-*******-gain.

Bleepity bleep bleep bleep.

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 7:47 am

If you've quit once, you can quit again. I think... never really smoked myself so I wouldn't know.

Would it work if you'd gradually quit? Or get one of those squishy stress-balls, so you have something in your hands.

My dad quit, using nicotine gum. He quit using that soon, because he hates gum. And now he's clean! (well... as clean as you can be after 35 years of smoking, his lungs will never heal and he will always have health problems)

How much are you smoking anyway? And do you have a really good reason to quit?

Best of luck.

saysadie · Post by **saysadie** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 8:31 am

Eline wrote:Would it work if you'd gradually quit? Or get one of those squishy stress-balls, so you have something in your hands.

I think I may have to do it gradually. And I'm half afraid that if I did get one of those little stress balls it'd end up flying across the room before long.

I'm kinda evil when I'm in a bad mood.

Eline wrote:How much are you smoking anyway? And do you have a really good reason to quit?

How much... lessee.. two packs a week? On the weekends... um... half a pack or more in a night is possible. I smoke like a chimney when I drink.

I'm trying to quit because I want to quit. I made a few half-assed attempts before, but they never really panned out. Mainly because I don't think I really wanted to quit then. But I do now. I reeeaaaaallly want to quit.

Oh, that and the money it'll save me.

Thanks btw.

I'm just very frustrated right now.

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 9:23 am

How many years have you been smoking?

saysadie · Post by **saysadie** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 9:33 am

Obfleur wrote:How many years have you been smoking?

Started when I was 15-16 but quit for short periods, longest being about 2-3 years.

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:02 am

I have no idea how old you are, but I'll guess that you are... 23!

But gradually quiting seems like a nice idea. And give it time. Like a year or something (instead of trying to rush things).

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:07 am

And don't forget the health. My dad has irreversible lung-damage and other nasty stuff because of the smoking.

If you stop drinking, will that help in stopping with smoking?

Post by **Denyer** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 10:14 am

I picked up the habit of punching walls from a friend. Not entirely recommended, though. And I've never tried to quit smoking as I live with smokers but only light up myself once or twice a year -- I am probably addicted to nicotine in some sense, but the caffeine more than makes up for it.

Stick with it, anyway. It spreads the net farther.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:44 am

I need to do this as well, but I'm really weak at present...bought a pack of nicotine patches and then crumbled when a cashpoint stole £120 from me and my stress levels shot back up.

Grrrr

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:23 pm

I gave up last feb, and im still not smoking 1 year later!

Seriously takes about 3 weeks, with some patchs, then u wonder what the fuss was about. and you feel better.

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:25 pm

I was offered many a many times to start smoking when I was in the age of 15-16, by my mates.

But because of my principles, and that those are based on the fact that I'm an astmathic, and have always gotten shortness of breath when my stupid parents kept smoking and smoking around me, I had sworn to never EVER use any tobacco.

The baptism of fire came at the stairs to the school entrance when my best mate gave me a cigg and said: here. I had it in my hands about two inches away from my mouth... when my will-power finally won out and saved my character, and lungs, from the smoke.

I gave it back politely, and after that, no-one ever tried to hook me on the evil-stick again.

Obfleur · Post by **Obfleur** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:28 pm

So... what? Your advice is for Saysadie to go back in time and say "no" to the first ciggie?

"No thank you. Predabot told me this amazing story. It was really inspiring! I'll never smoke now".

Post by **Denyer** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:28 pm

You could also try eating a cigarette or two. Although I did that long before I ever lit a cigarette, it's not a bad lesson on what crap goes into them.

Not recommended unless drunk, mind. They're very dry.

saved my character,

Bwahaha. The best people I know smoke.

Metal Vendetta · Post by **Metal Vendetta** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:41 pm

Denyer wrote:
saved my character,
Bwahaha. The best people I know smoke.

Hey, thanks

KingMob · Post by **KingMob** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 12:50 pm

Obfleur wrote:So... what? Your advice is for Saysadie to go back in time and say "no" to the first ciggie?

"No thank you. Predabot told me this amazing story. It was really inspiring! I'll never smoke now".

Predabot: Just Say No.

Don't work on me tho, I generally need to have a ciggie atfer reading too many of his posts.

no-one ever tried to hook me on the evil-stick again.

Hey Preds, have a cigarette. They'll make you look cool and hide the BO smell. You know it makes sense.

(sorry sadie. people i know that quite mostly went cold turkey, but one woman used one of those nicotine pipe things. keeping occupied seemed to be something they all mentioned. I quit for 3 years before starting again, and that was just - not very good in the long run - willpower also. Good luck!)

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 1:00 pm

KingMob wrote:sorry sadie. people i know that quite mostly went cold turkey, but one woman used one of those nicotine pipe things. keeping occupied seemed to be something they all mentioned.

same here, most people i know just gave up, end of story. a few used the gum to help, but not much. i'm a bit jealous of that as whenever i go more than a few hours without one i get the need... i am a bit envious of those who can manage it.
i also, have no desire to give up, at the moment. I probably will in the (not too distant) future, but at the moment, i'm quite happy with it!

Sorry Sadie, probably not what you want to hear!

But good luck!

Metal Vendetta wrote:
Denyer wrote:
saved my character,
Bwahaha. The best people I know smoke.
Hey, thanks

I feel honoured!

Scraplet · Post by **Scraplet** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 1:09 pm

Cold turkey is the only way.

If you gradually cut down, you'll away be able to pat yourself on the back for cutting down. This just enables you to justify smoking for longer, and it could take ages to actually give up. And, you will alway be able to justify the 'one extra wont hurt' line whenever you're stressed. I don't know anyone who's really given up that way.

Cold turkey! And avoid the places you most associate with smoking for a couple of weeks, if possible. I stayed out of the pub and away from chain-smoking freinds for a couple of weeks and it made it much easier.

Took a couple a years for the cravings to entirely go away (especially when drunk!) so you've got to stand firm with the willpower.

Best of Luck

Eline · Post by **Eline** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 1:27 pm

Oh yes, the cravings. A friend of mine had quit four years ago, and still has cravings in certain situations. Bah.

I really don't like smoking, for several reasons. I do understand that once you're in, it's extremely difficult to get out.

Best of luck!

Pissin' Poonani · Post by **Pissin' Poonani** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 1:42 pm

I gave up on the 7th of January after being a smoker for 13 years, and haven't had one since.

I just went cold turkey, and (I'm not trying to be a wanker here) was surprised by how easy it was-the first three days were probably the hardest though.

Get the odd craving when I'm drunk, but I seem to be able to keep in mind that the longer I manage to stay off of them, the more dissapointed I'd be in myself if I caved.

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 1:42 pm

I went to NHS smoke stop classes where they scare the **** out of you and give u patchs. the technique they used really worked, being with other ppl trying to quit does make it easier. one for all and all for one etc..

Cutting down is really a mugs game because half of it is psychological, if you still have the odd one you are not in controll, you are justifying to yourself your partially free.

unlesss you dont smoke at all, your still a smoker. give it up, get some patchs, remove all your fags from your house. do not go to enviroments where you might be tempted for a few weeks, then when you do, leave if u feel the urge.

Cant recomend patchs enough to be honest - good luck!

Post by **Best First** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 1:45 pm

Predabot wrote:I was offered many a many times to start smoking when I was in the age of 15-16, by my mates.

But because of my principles, and that those are based on the fact that I'm an astmathic, and have always gotten shortness of breath when my stupid parents kept smoking and smoking around me, I had sworn to never EVER use any tobacco.

The baptism of fire came at the stairs to the school entrance when my best mate gave me a cigg and said: here. I had it in my hands about two inches away from my mouth... when my will-power finally won out and saved my character, and lungs, from the smoke.

I gave it back politely, and after that, no-one ever tried to hook me on the evil-stick again.

i think Preds is spot on, well done that man*.

however, have you thought of giving arsnic a go? Go on, people who take it are cool and really good at colouring n' stuff.

I think Impy's story shows it canbe done mind.

*cough.**

**see what i did there?

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 1:52 pm

Impactor returns 2.0 · Post by **Impactor returns 2.0** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 2:01 pm

we didnt burn him!

Predabot · Post by **Predabot** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 2:09 pm

Denyer wrote:Bwahaha. The best people I know smoke.

I'll be the first to admit that I'm far from perfect, and it's certainly possible that it's those peoples only flaw, but a flaw it is.

To actually fall for the group-pressure more than once, and get hooked is a flaw of character, a weakness wich I find somewhat illogical anyway, since nikotine doesn't give you the same kind of bliss as other substances with a similar potency.

If anyone is wondering, then yes, I did get the weakness of character from a quote in a novell about a guy stuck in rehab, partially self-biographical. And my memory fails me, so I can't remember the name of said litterature.

I'd say the ultimate show of strength of character are of course those that manage to quit, and never relapse for real into it.

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 2:33 pm

but a flaw it is.

quick, halt the press, shock report... people have flaws...

Predabot wrote:To actually fall for the group-pressure more than once, and get hooked is a flaw of character, a weakness wich I find somewhat illogical anyway, since nikotine doesn't give you the same kind of bliss as other substances with a similar potency.

As someone who has, by his own admission, never smoked in his life, i advise you to shut the [composite word including 'f*ck'] up preaching about a subject you ultimately have no experience on.

why do i say that? beyond the obvious (which is cos i'm right) two reasons:

fall for the group-pressure more than once

speaking as a (soon to be) 30 year old, peer pressure has sod all to do with my smoking. if one has a problem with group-pressure, then smoking is the least of their problems...

since nikotine doesn't give you the same kind of bliss as other substances with a similar potency

as you've never smoked in your life, you're qualified to make such a statement how?

Post by **Denyer** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 2:42 pm

Predabot wrote:To actually fall for the group-pressure more than once, and get hooked is a flaw of character

I've been around people who smoke for most of my teenage and adult life, and I've never felt pressured to join in. I will if I feel like it. Indeed, my stock response to peer pressure -- including yours -- is to tell people where to stick it.

The reason I don't identify as a non-smoker is people like you.

Post by **Best First** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:15 pm

i'm sure there are smokers who are just as obnoxious/irritating...

Legion · Post by **Legion** » Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:22 pm

Best First wrote:i'm sure there are smokers who are just as obnoxious/irritating...

as preds?

i dunno...