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Smoking...
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I started having the odd cigarette a couple of months ago, mainly due to massive stress and my Dad offering me a fag! :-(
I've always been a bit of a 'social smoker', but have always been able to take it or leave it.
Anyway, I've noticed these past few weeks, I've been smoking more and more. It's a mixture of reasons...
The first, I suffer with anxiety (not all the time, just when I'm either tired or have issues going on) and I find that it calms me down a bit.
Secondly, I found that smoking completely stopped my appetite and, during these past couple of months, I've lost quite a bit of weight as I haven't really been eating much. I know that's an awful reason to smoke, but now I'm worried if I try to stop, it'll all pile back on.
Also, I've been using the cigs as a bit of a crutch with the old anxiety issues, so I'm almost afraid that if I do stop smoking, my anxiety will return.
I don't really know what my actual question is, but I do know that I would like to stop. My chest has started to feel wheezy in the morning and, I'm aware that I can now smell cigarettes on my clothes/hair... which is pretty grim in itself.
I went for four days without having one, then my Dad came round and was smoking, so I ended up asking for one. I'm now back on 20 a day, and I would really like to stop this.
I don't think I'm "addicted", just that I've gotten into a bit of a habit.
Any help/advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks :)
I've always been a bit of a 'social smoker', but have always been able to take it or leave it.
Anyway, I've noticed these past few weeks, I've been smoking more and more. It's a mixture of reasons...
The first, I suffer with anxiety (not all the time, just when I'm either tired or have issues going on) and I find that it calms me down a bit.
Secondly, I found that smoking completely stopped my appetite and, during these past couple of months, I've lost quite a bit of weight as I haven't really been eating much. I know that's an awful reason to smoke, but now I'm worried if I try to stop, it'll all pile back on.
Also, I've been using the cigs as a bit of a crutch with the old anxiety issues, so I'm almost afraid that if I do stop smoking, my anxiety will return.
I don't really know what my actual question is, but I do know that I would like to stop. My chest has started to feel wheezy in the morning and, I'm aware that I can now smell cigarettes on my clothes/hair... which is pretty grim in itself.
I went for four days without having one, then my Dad came round and was smoking, so I ended up asking for one. I'm now back on 20 a day, and I would really like to stop this.
I don't think I'm "addicted", just that I've gotten into a bit of a habit.
Any help/advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks :)
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Is it the smoking that calms you down ? Sure if you are already addicted then it may be, and is a warning sign. But before you got to that stage maybe it was just the time out. Getting away from the pressures of the day for a few minutes. Perhaps you can find a less risky substitute. Even a short meditation may help. Go listen to your iPod (or whatever) for a few minutes and try to relax. Failing that, grab a tea or coffee and invest in a short while chatting to another.
It has been said that declaring an intention of trying to give up smoking is the same as saying you will fail - it is as much as a foregone conclusion. But those who say little or nothing, just stop abruptly as a result of a firm decision, are the most likely to succeed. I know a number of the former, almost all of whom restarted (sometimes months or even years later) or never really stopped. I also know several of the latter and (to my knowledge) they never re-started, including those whom I did not get to know until sometime after they had stopped.
The ill effects on health from smoking, even if it does not kill you outright, are so well known that it is astonishing that anyone should take up the habit - as you have said, the stink alone should be enough to put you off. I know that for me "Eau de Fag" is the one scent that completely spoils the allure of an otherwise attractive woman, it is utterly revolting and a whiff of dung would be better. My father smoked, died of smoking related illness, and I still miss him. I was never remotely tempted to take up smoking although at the urging of a friend I stole some from him and tried one out when I was perhaps around 10 years old. It was such a disgusting experience (one or two puffs) that I never tried again. Years later, when I met my wife to be, I told her bluntly that unless she stopped smoking I would not come near her - I said the thought of licking the inside of an ashtray was repugnant. We will have been married 41 years next week - more than 42 years ago she made a choice and stopped, permanently. Everybody is capable of making a decision and sticking to it, rather than diving into self-indulgence (self-pity ?), and so can you. This should be one of the easiest choices to make. Stop now and never look back except decades from now - then actively seek out those who are dying from smoking and think how you are your own living saviour from that.
As for gaining weight, that is tackled the same way, by determination. Once a year every year we meet the same woman because we pick blueberries at her farm - in fact we were there on Sunday past. What we noticed was something that astonished us - she had lost an awful lot of weight because last year we noticed how she had put even more on than before, she was undeniably fat. Now we were greeted by an attractive woman, one we recognised from ten years or more back. She explained that 18 months ago she and her sister joined a class headed by someone who organises these things in the wider area around here. Since her maximum weight she has lost 23kg and that is an awful lot. What is most amazing is that it has not been done with some crash diet and certainly not with surgery. It has apparently all been done by managing her food intake, the quantities and the mix of the various components. She looked not only good but very healthy too - utterly admirable, and we told her so.
The ill effects on health from smoking, even if it does not kill you outright, are so well known that it is astonishing that anyone should take up the habit - as you have said, the stink alone should be enough to put you off. I know that for me "Eau de Fag" is the one scent that completely spoils the allure of an otherwise attractive woman, it is utterly revolting and a whiff of dung would be better. My father smoked, died of smoking related illness, and I still miss him. I was never remotely tempted to take up smoking although at the urging of a friend I stole some from him and tried one out when I was perhaps around 10 years old. It was such a disgusting experience (one or two puffs) that I never tried again. Years later, when I met my wife to be, I told her bluntly that unless she stopped smoking I would not come near her - I said the thought of licking the inside of an ashtray was repugnant. We will have been married 41 years next week - more than 42 years ago she made a choice and stopped, permanently. Everybody is capable of making a decision and sticking to it, rather than diving into self-indulgence (self-pity ?), and so can you. This should be one of the easiest choices to make. Stop now and never look back except decades from now - then actively seek out those who are dying from smoking and think how you are your own living saviour from that.
As for gaining weight, that is tackled the same way, by determination. Once a year every year we meet the same woman because we pick blueberries at her farm - in fact we were there on Sunday past. What we noticed was something that astonished us - she had lost an awful lot of weight because last year we noticed how she had put even more on than before, she was undeniably fat. Now we were greeted by an attractive woman, one we recognised from ten years or more back. She explained that 18 months ago she and her sister joined a class headed by someone who organises these things in the wider area around here. Since her maximum weight she has lost 23kg and that is an awful lot. What is most amazing is that it has not been done with some crash diet and certainly not with surgery. It has apparently all been done by managing her food intake, the quantities and the mix of the various components. She looked not only good but very healthy too - utterly admirable, and we told her so.
Hi Flip, I lost half a stone in two weeks during 1960 and decided to stop smoking immediately because of the then current cancer scare.
I soon realised that it is the first puff or two on a cigarette that satisfies the immediate craving and the rest of the cigarette simply feeds the nicotine into your body to feed the habit.
So the next day I went one hour before my first cigarette, had two puffs, then put it out and saved it for later in the day.
I repeated this throughout the day without going less than the one hour in-between smokes and when feeling desperate had an extra strong mint.
After a couple of days you could try to extend the hour to two hours but don't extend it too far too soon.
I had my last puffs on a cigarette after 10 days of this treatment and have never had one since although the reduced craving does stay with you for a short while, so keep on with the mints.
Hope this helps.
Take care and good luck.
I soon realised that it is the first puff or two on a cigarette that satisfies the immediate craving and the rest of the cigarette simply feeds the nicotine into your body to feed the habit.
So the next day I went one hour before my first cigarette, had two puffs, then put it out and saved it for later in the day.
I repeated this throughout the day without going less than the one hour in-between smokes and when feeling desperate had an extra strong mint.
After a couple of days you could try to extend the hour to two hours but don't extend it too far too soon.
I had my last puffs on a cigarette after 10 days of this treatment and have never had one since although the reduced craving does stay with you for a short while, so keep on with the mints.
Hope this helps.
Take care and good luck.
I used to be a part-time smoker too, but seeing my dear old dad suffering the past three years with lung disease and hooked up to a breathing machine I would never touch a fag again. His generation had no idea of the risks involved with smoking, we do, so the choice is yours plus it makes your face prematurely age and smokers smell.
" I know that for me "Eau de Fag" is the one scent that completely spoils the allure of an otherwise attractive woman" I totally agree karl, when a woman is younger her body can deal with the toxins more efficiently but once a woman gets to her 30's and smokes, the lank lifeless hair, grey tinged dull skin tone and yellowing teeth are very unnattractive and one wonders why speed up your already fleeting beauty for something that's very likely to make you seriously ill or kill you one day.
Hi flip I recently stopped smoking although mine was the occassional few in the garden once kids asleep. This had become my "habit" and I looked forward to that peaceful part of the day! However I was finding I was watching the clock a little bit too much, getting ratty around their bedtime and hence feeling guilty about the habit. It wasn't worth ruining those precious times for ciggies. ~Anyhow my real point was NICORETTE because it has been great.
Now I am thoroughly addicted, watch the clock waiting for the gum time.....well only joking but it is a great substitute and replacing the habitual times you smoke with this habit is a better one.
As for weight gain I find the flavour seems to suppress my appetite too and I have had no weight gain. Good luck!!
Now I am thoroughly addicted, watch the clock waiting for the gum time.....well only joking but it is a great substitute and replacing the habitual times you smoke with this habit is a better one.
As for weight gain I find the flavour seems to suppress my appetite too and I have had no weight gain. Good luck!!
Thanks for all the answers this morning. It really is nice to read so many encouraging words, and other peoples personal experiences and advice.
The music idea is a very good one.. as is the mints.
It's gone midday now, and I still haven't had a cigarette. I've started to get the urge over the past hour, but I'm trying to keep the more sad stories and experiences of other AB users, fresh in my mind. I'm biting my nails... though I guess that's better than reaching for the nicotine!
I don't know if some of it's boredom. When the kids are here, I don't have much time to think about sitting outside with a coffee and a cigarette. Now they're out for the day, and I haven't got much to do, I find myself twiddling my thumbs and thinking a cigarette would be nice. Hmmm.... odd.
The music idea is a very good one.. as is the mints.
It's gone midday now, and I still haven't had a cigarette. I've started to get the urge over the past hour, but I'm trying to keep the more sad stories and experiences of other AB users, fresh in my mind. I'm biting my nails... though I guess that's better than reaching for the nicotine!
I don't know if some of it's boredom. When the kids are here, I don't have much time to think about sitting outside with a coffee and a cigarette. Now they're out for the day, and I haven't got much to do, I find myself twiddling my thumbs and thinking a cigarette would be nice. Hmmm.... odd.
Anyone who talks about one of their reasons of smoking cigarettes as an option to "keep weight off" need to get their heads checked as they are clearly too lazy to drop calories and do exercise like the rest of us, nicotine is also a cancerous poison which kills so to say " Yeah I'll take these poisonous cancer inducing chemicals which will kill me to help me not eat and the poisons will strip my body of nutrients thus losing a little weight" really sounds ridiculous in that context.
Totally. I agree. I didn't say I was smoking to lose weight, I don't need to lose weight. I just mentioned that, whilst I have been smoking, I have lost more weight as it seems to suppress my appetite. I was just 'concerned' that, if I stopped smoking, I would look for something to substitute that... like crappy food. I've heard lots of stories of people who smoke, give up, and put on loads of weight. That was my point.
But yes, absolutely... health is far more important than worrying about gaining a few pounds! :)
But yes, absolutely... health is far more important than worrying about gaining a few pounds! :)
Have you thought about taking up cycling? its something you can do with the kids and the fitness high can become addictive, but the right kind of addictive.
make sure you eat good wholesome food, nothing that would irritate your anxiety like red bull, junk food ect. eating wholesome food and doing a little daily exercise will make you feel better in yourself and reduce the anxiety, keep junk food as an occasional treat.
make sure you eat good wholesome food, nothing that would irritate your anxiety like red bull, junk food ect. eating wholesome food and doing a little daily exercise will make you feel better in yourself and reduce the anxiety, keep junk food as an occasional treat.
fliptheswitch, it is not only lung cancer that is the killer with regards to smoking! My son died three days before his 21st birthday in my arms. He had brain cancer. Smoking exasserbated the situation and specialists showed us on scans where a large portion of my son's brain had died. This was due to the fact that each time you inhale, brain cells die that cannot rebuilt. Kevin was a smoker. He stopped the day he was shown the scans, but it was too late. I always feel like saying to people - please don't put your family through what we have been through. I know not everyone who smokes gets cancer, but smoking does raise the odds greatly. Is your life really worth risking for the sake of cigarettes??
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