mrdespues said:

This is so fucking true!

Congrats Muirdo!!!!!


I quit, AGAIN, last month. I had one in Seattle but that is all.



M

Congratulations!

I quit about a year & a half ago (4 years for weed, too).

I got sick and that gave me a three day head start on quitting, so I figured why start again?

I found smoking to be much more psychological than physical, addiction-wise. I got the feeling of being either bored or self-conscious, the reaction to which was "light a cigarette." It's simply something to occupy your body & mind--a nervous tick.

I started to explore those feelings, and found there was nothing wrong with just doing nothing.

That, along with recognizing that smoking made me feel like shit, helped me put it behind me (not that there aren't moments of desire)
[Edited 8/7/06 10:52am]

NDRU said:

I hate smoking.

NDRU said:

Not a word of a lie, man. When I feel a bit nervous in new company, I've been known to mow through 40, 50, 60 fags, one after the other. The really nasty stab in the back is the fact that my banter is Wildean when I suck on a cigerette. It turns on a wee light and gives me something to do with my arms while relaying another amusing anecdote tinted with my unique perception.

I haven't quit yet.




Maybe soon...

good for you! That's great!

I'm getting to the point where I'm gonna have to quit. I'm sick of feeling like shit and throwing my money in the toilet.

I'm scared as hell about quitting tho.

CarrieMpls said:

Quitting is actually easy. The hardest thing about it is how easy it is--it's confusing. All you have to do is don't do it and feel better!

NDRU said:

That's great that that's how it worked for you. That is not, however, how it works for me. When I don't do it, I do not feel better. Not in the short term, anyway.

CarrieMpls said:

That camel on your fag packet looks like it's smoked too much. He's cool though. I name him Clancey.

JDINTERACTIVE said:

I didn't know he had a name.

'Get along, little Clancey!'

It totally works.

CarrieMpls said:

It does. I like his look. The Keith Richards of the fag packet world.

JDINTERACTIVE said:

He does look a little haggard.

CarrieMpls said:

I know, it's different for everyone, and I don't mean to say "it really is easy, so just do it!" But for me the draw was definitely more psychological. The physical side of smoking was generally unpleasant for me.

That doesn't make it easier, but more confusing. Kind of like depression, where you ask "why do I feel bad," I felt "why do I want to smoke?" There was no real answer, I just did.

I guess I enjoyed the controled breathing & meditative nature of it. Also, you can be anywhere doing nothing, and as long as you're smoking, you have purpose.

NDRU said:

me too. also, i like the little wand of fire and smoke. it's a bit of socially acceptable pyromania. but. smoking is really gross and i need to walk on the other side

It's kinda sad how we use them as a social crutch. I mean, if you have either your mobile phone or a packet of cigarettes you're fine to stand anywhere by yourself among strangers, waiting for someone, without any trouble, but take those things away and most of us can't deal with it for long.

I smoke, and have done for around 2 years. During that time I've smoked as much as 30 a day for short periods, quit for a few months, smoked 10 or less a day for several months, and right now am smoking maybe 12-14 a day.

I don't like smoking when out and around other people, especially non-smokers. Let's face it, it smells disgusting. It is disgusting. I smoke at home, out on the balcony, and hate even that 'cause it still gets on my clothes. If I go out I leave my cigs at home now and wait till I come back. That gives me a good break for a few hours too so I can get used to going for long periods without them. Trouble is, I can easily keep it down to 4 or 5 a day if I so choose, but struggle stopping completely. I've started meditating in the mornings, along with regular stretching and daily exercise. More than anything, this is giving me the motivation to stop as it seems like a waste of time otherwise doing all that stuff. If I throw myself in the complete opposite direction I think I might just kick the habit.

Fauxie said:

If nothing else, meditating on why we feel the need to smoke could help. It is such a weird thing, not feeling comfortable doing nothing!

Like Jerry Seindfeld said, he could be a nudist, but he'd need a belt with pockets so he could do something with his hands.

I smoked a pack and a half yesterday!

NDRU said:

and it's really weird how, when you inhale, it's like a thirst for smoke. it feels like you'll be satisfied but instead it burns into another thirst again.....

i'm quitting for good this time. no more on again off again.

CarrieMpls said:

Me, neither. The first days are awful. I tried going without cigarettes for a week six years ago. (Oh, my gawd, has it really been that long already?)

Going cold turkey is bad. I guess one needs to smoke less and less during a long period of time in order to totally quit. Like, skip every other cigarette for starters. I guess, maybe that's how I'll try it, when I try it...

scififilmnerd said:

That's why I quit when I was sick. I had a chest cold and smoking was out of the question for a few days, and it gave me the head start on quitting. Hell, I was probably sick from smoking!

For me cold turkey was the only way. Cutting down is like not quitting, but not being able to simply enjoy smoking either.

But whatever works for the individual is what they should do. Some people never need to quit. My sister got down to one cigarette a day. I can't see that being worse than anything else we're exposed to in this world.