vainandy said:

I've seen them on TV and I just don't see how they could satisfy someone's urge for a cigarette. It's the nicotine that we're addicted to, not the act of sucking on something and just blowing out air. Hell, if sucking on something was the cure, I would have been able to quit smoking years ago.

If someone tries them and they work, let me know so I can try them. They better come in menthol though.

they have nicotine in them...varying levels too....18/12/6/0 mg levels or something like that. I would inquire about it if nicotine wasn't involved...but yeah...there's nicotine.

i think i've decided...I looked into a unch of neutral viewpoints and I think imma go the e-ciggy route....they're fuckin CHEAP...granted, not smoking is even cheaper....but it looks like $50/mo habit vs. $150/mo.

And I know me....if I have $...im gonna spend some on some cigarettes. And if I'm out of $, i'll bum smokes at most any given chance.

reminds me...I was out of smokes this mornig and wen't on an "I'm-antsy-walk"...as I was passing a payphone...I saw a pack sitting on it....I shook it, just for good measure...IT WAS A FULL PACK...well, minus 1 cig...but anyways...can U say "COME-UP"

I took a drag on one recently and I almost died. I couldn't stop coughing for 5 minutes, it was a mess.

dJJ said:

CM7 said:

good for you, don't start.

I might want to live forever... maybe. Maybe not. Been tossing that one around a lot lately.

CM7, your posts worry me a little. You seem to feel depressed, and you may even be depressed. When you'r experiencing a depression, that influences everything; the way you perceive events and interpret any kind of behaviour of others that you encounter. When you'r in the middle of it, you think that the way you think is the 'truth' and that life really is not worthwhile living because it's all bad.

Even if you'r not experiencing a clinical depression, I really recommend you to read the book "Feeling good" by Dr. Burns (has been translated around the world). And if you experience these anxious and depressed feelings, you might feel a lot of relief when you can talk to somebody who can be of help.

The Beck Institute might help you to find a well trained and good counselor.

http://www.beckinstitute.org/

Wish you the best and hope that you will search for a solution for any suffering by reaching out for help and not by acts that harm you or your loved ones.

It has been a crazy shaky ride lately with a few aggravations... especially with everything that happned the week before last, but past the annoying speedbumps of life it has been incredible all in all so I really don't know what you are talking about. Not everybody wants to live forever. Are you suggesting that this is strange in some way? I think it is very bizarre that anyone would think mentioning death is taboo.

hmmm..

...but anyway I am not talking about now. I am not talking about dying today. if I mentioned a living will would you recommend me to a metal institution? I think that's a tad presumptuous. Perhaps you might reread whatever it is you have a read of mine in a different tone and see if that helps.

On the other hand, if you still think you are correct on whatever picture it is you are painting here... show me where you get this from and perhaps I can help you out with it.

I remember I quit smoking because I thought $2.50 a pack was ridiculous. That happened way before I knew or cared about all the possible health issues.

Good luck with your continued attempts to stop. I quite cold turkey (in the middle of a pack even), but I understand that not everyone can do that. The best advice I can give is to keep a positive attitude about the whole thing. Most people who smoke do so more heavily when they're stressed out or worried. So if you slip a little, remember to look as it as just that, not as a reason to go back to your old habbits.

You know what you should do? Hypnosis. I got hypno tapes for my severe anxiety and it was amazing.

Hypnosis repeats suggestions to your subconscious mind so you subconsciously don't have the desire to smoke.

Cerebus said:

I remember I quit smoking because I thought $2.50 a pack was ridiculous. That happened way before I knew or cared about all the possible health issues.

Good luck with your continued attempts to stop. I quite cold turkey (in the middle of a pack even), but I understand that not everyone can do that. The best advice I can give is to keep a positive attitude about the whole thing. Most people who smoke do so more heavily when they're stressed out or worried. So if you slip a little, remember to look as it as just that, not as a reason to go back to your old habbits.

that's why i have been smoking lately... I'm anxious. I want things to hurry up and happen! I imagine it's probably like not being able to scratch your balls.

CM7 said:

dJJ said:

CM7, your posts worry me a little. You seem to feel depressed, and you may even be depressed. When you'r experiencing a depression, that influences everything; the way you perceive events and interpret any kind of behaviour of others that you encounter. When you'r in the middle of it, you think that the way you think is the 'truth' and that life really is not worthwhile living because it's all bad.

Even if you'r not experiencing a clinical depression, I really recommend you to read the book "Feeling good" by Dr. Burns (has been translated around the world). And if you experience these anxious and depressed feelings, you might feel a lot of relief when you can talk to somebody who can be of help.

The Beck Institute might help you to find a well trained and good counselor.

http://www.beckinstitute.org/

Wish you the best and hope that you will search for a solution for any suffering by reaching out for help and not by acts that harm you or your loved ones.

It has been a crazy shaky ride lately with a few aggravations... especially with everything that happned the week before last, but past the annoying speedbumps of life it has been incredible all in all so I really don't know what you are talking about. Not everybody wants to live forever. Are you suggesting that this is strange in some way? I think it is very bizarre that anyone would think mentioning death is taboo.

hmmm..

...but anyway I am not talking about now. I am not talking about dying today. if I mentioned a living will would you recommend me to a metal institution? I think that's a tad presumptuous. Perhaps you might reread whatever it is you have a read of mine in a different tone and see if that helps.

On the other hand, if you still think you are correct on whatever picture it is you are painting here... show me where you get this from and perhaps I can help you out with it.

Good to hear I misinterpreted your posts. I read in other threads that you felt anxious, combined with this response, I just wondered if you would be ok.

It's good to know you are okay and don't feel depressed at all and are coping with the ups and downs of life.

BTW, I was not refering you to a mental institute

The Beck institute is a very good and sound institute that can refer you to a counselor in you area that is educated in CBT.

[Edited 8/1/11 1:59am]

Cerebus said:

I remember I quit smoking because I thought $2.50 a pack was ridiculous. That happened way before I knew or cared about all the possible health issues.

Good luck with your continued attempts to stop. I quite cold turkey (in the middle of a pack even), but I understand that not everyone can do that. The best advice I can give is to keep a positive attitude about the whole thing. Most people who smoke do so more heavily when they're stressed out or worried. So if you slip a little, remember to look as it as just that, not as a reason to go back to your old habbits.

Very good advice! I smoked on and off for years. The week before I quit, I had a game plan in mind. I had to be around people who didn't smoke. This was going to be difficult at work since I took my breaks with fellow smokers. I managed to stay away from them and even began walking with some gals on my breaks. I did quit cold turkey. The night before I quit, I smoked a pack in two hours and made myself sick. The next morning, I woke up and told myself I didn't smoke. I was surrounded by family who didn't smoke that day. I drank a lot of coffee for awhile and sucked on cinnamon's. If I can do it, you can too. I found a good support network and that really helped me get through the toughest of days.

dJJ said:

CM7 said:

It has been a crazy shaky ride lately with a few aggravations... especially with everything that happned the week before last, but past the annoying speedbumps of life it has been incredible all in all so I really don't know what you are talking about. Not everybody wants to live forever. Are you suggesting that this is strange in some way? I think it is very bizarre that anyone would think mentioning death is taboo.

hmmm..

...but anyway I am not talking about now. I am not talking about dying today. if I mentioned a living will would you recommend me to a metal institution? I think that's a tad presumptuous. Perhaps you might reread whatever it is you have a read of mine in a different tone and see if that helps.

On the other hand, if you still think you are correct on whatever picture it is you are painting here... show me where you get this from and perhaps I can help you out with it.

Good to hear I misinterpreted your posts. I read in other threads that you felt anxious, combined with this response, I just wondered if you would be ok.

It's good to know you are okay and don't feel depressed at all and are coping with the ups and downs of life.

BTW, I was not refering you to a mental institute

The Beck institute is a very good and sound institute that can refer you to a counselor in you area that is educated in CBT.

[Edited 8/1/11 1:59am]

ah, the anxiety posts... that is like waiting for all christmases rolled into one and all the gifts are way better than storebough junk, but that's another story. I had replied to this more in depth and lost it... and now i am out of time and have to go to work (yippee)

but yeah, i was wondering how you got all that and if you were going on a hunch or trying to get a reaction (hey, people do that on the net)... but now I see where you are getting this from.

i'd explain a couple more things that are making life extremely confusing and rollercoasterish as of lately that are probably making me seem very...uh... fluctuating?... but i have to run.

Do you ever see old people smoking and looking happy? Maybe young people look happy & healthy while they smoke, but old smokers just look miserable. The unhappiness is written into the lines of their faces.

I quit by getting sick. I had gunk in my lungs and could not smoke for 3 days. At that point it really was all in my mind and I had to decide to not go back to it.

It was difficult, and honestly even five or six years later I still crave a cigarette every now and then. It's not a constant thing, but I am still challenged by it.

imago said:

Dewrede said:

Just enjoy life to the fullest and smoke if that makes you happy

I'd rather live 10 years less than end up a bitter old fart

Well, I think you're overacheaving cause you're doing well on both counts.

NDRU said:

It was difficult, and honestly even five or six years later I still crave a cigarette every now and then. It's not a constant thing, but I am still challenged by it.

The physical craving didn't take me very long to get over. But the occasional mental craving (especially in certain situations) lasted a good two years, at least. And it was another couple years after that before I noticed being bothered by other peoples smoke.

Cerebus said:

NDRU said:

It was difficult, and honestly even five or six years later I still crave a cigarette every now and then. It's not a constant thing, but I am still challenged by it.

The physical craving didn't take me very long to get over. But the occasional mental craving (especially in certain situations) lasted a good two years, at least. And it was another couple years after that before I noticed being bothered by other peoples smoke.

most of the time I hardly think about it, but sometimes, especially if drunk or upset, I get this impulse to smoke a cigarette. It's not physical, and for me it hardly ever was. It is behavioral. I still take "cigarette" breaks with other smokers just to get outside & get a break from the action.

I don't like to sit next to a smoker for an extended period, but one little whif of a cigarette is delicious!

As bad as smoking is, there are some good things associated with it.

For one, you have a reason to just go outside and stand there quietly for a minute. I have no good reason to leave a party and stand outside by myself anymore, and I hate it!

The other thing is, smoking is like slowing down & focusing on breathing for five minutes. Take out the smoke, and it is meditation!

Everyone should take smoke breaks, just leave out the cigarettes.

Genesia said:

imago said:

Well, I think you're overacheaving cause you're doing well on both counts.

look what the cat dragged in

vainandy said:

Dewrede said:

Just enjoy life to the fullest and smoke if that makes you happy

I'd rather live 10 years less than end up a bitter old fart

I kinda see it that way too. Being gay with no children, if I live to be old enough that I can't take care of myself, I have no children to come by and check on me or get me the help that I would need so I have no desire to live to be 100. I'd rather enjoy myself while I can instead of living my whole life miserable trying to quit addictions that help me to get through the day.

It relaxes me

somehow I doubt eCigarettes would really help because they don't have the bite of a real one.

NDRU said:

As bad as smoking is, there are some good things associated with it.

For one, you have a reason to just go outside and stand there quietly for a minute. I have no good reason to leave a party and stand outside by myself anymore, and I hate it!

The other thing is, smoking is like slowing down & focusing on breathing for five minutes. Take out the smoke, and it is meditation!

Everyone should take smoke breaks, just leave out the cigarettes.

I was tlking to a therapist about this. They agreed with me to a degree. There's conversations that happen in a "smoking circle" as well that are helpful and don't seem to occur in any other situation.

but just having a reason to isolate and focus/meditate...tha is what keeps me smoking. At thhis point in life I just feel awkwars standing outside twidling my thumbs...i need to learn to be comfortable with that.

But the healthy discussion that happened with this topic is suprising and welcome. I didn't think the thread would flow this well.

[Edited 8/1/11 17:01pm]

BobGeorge909 said:

NDRU said:

As bad as smoking is, there are some good things associated with it.

For one, you have a reason to just go outside and stand there quietly for a minute. I have no good reason to leave a party and stand outside by myself anymore, and I hate it!

The other thing is, smoking is like slowing down & focusing on breathing for five minutes. Take out the smoke, and it is meditation!

Everyone should take smoke breaks, just leave out the cigarettes.

I was tlking to a therapist about this. They agreed with me to a degree. There's conversations that happen in a "smoking circle" as well that are helpful and don't seem to occur in any other situation.

but just having a reason to isolate and focus/meditate...tha is what keeps me smoking. At thhis point in life I just feel awkwars standing outside twidling my thumbs...i need to learn to be comfortable with that.

But the healthy discussion that happened with this topic is suprising and welcome. I didn't think the thread would flow this well.

[Edited 8/1/11 17:01pm]

I haven't smoked a cigarette for more than a year now.

At every party or whatever social event, I'm with the smokers. As I've been for more than 20 years, so you can find me outside, or at the kitchen, anyplace where the smokers are. Because, I love to inhale the smoke, and because that' still the best place to go when there is a party.

Mind you. I'll stand outside, in the cold, between the smokers, without a smoke for myself. Just enjoying the regular smokers among eachother

BobGeorge909 said:

NDRU said:

As bad as smoking is, there are some good things associated with it.

For one, you have a reason to just go outside and stand there quietly for a minute. I have no good reason to leave a party and stand outside by myself anymore, and I hate it!

The other thing is, smoking is like slowing down & focusing on breathing for five minutes. Take out the smoke, and it is meditation!

Everyone should take smoke breaks, just leave out the cigarettes.

I was tlking to a therapist about this. They agreed with me to a degree. There's conversations that happen in a "smoking circle" as well that are helpful and don't seem to occur in any other situation.

but just having a reason to isolate and focus/meditate...tha is what keeps me smoking. At this point in life I just feel awkwars standing outside twidling my thumbs...i need to learn to be comfortable with that.

I can relate to the feeling, but if you look closely at it, it's just something we create ourlseves. Why should we feel uncomfortable just standing and not doing something? It's a fun exercise in neuroses, actually, to just stand somewhere doing nothing and learning to be comfortable in your skin.

I think this feeling of awkward lack of purpose has translated into constantly pushing buttons on your phone. Now non-smokers can finally stand alone!

I smoked for 17 years. Got sick, quit. didn't smoke for a few years and then picked it up again because i was pissed off over a really messed up job where they didn't have enough supervisors (customer service)... anyway, to make a long story short after years of not drinking and not smoking I was ready to tie one on but good the day i walked out of that stupid job. Didn't give a FUCK that night. basically just walked around drinking, singing and partying with my friends. I quit again right afterward which impressed people. I have done that over the course of the last 3 years on multiple ocassions.

this last time of picking it back up again is different. I know I will need to quit again but I am in no rush to quit because life is at a very enlightening stalemate right right now. It's a different mindset.

Weird time right now... both boring and intense. At a time I want answers from those who are certain that truth should be a slow trickle, I have actually been getting more insight by my own somewhat self destructive yet cautiously contained antics. Some things that others have said are kind of similar... sort of. I have discovered quite a few interesting things while doing incredibly dumb shit lately.

Dumb as in very persistantly absent minded, not dumb as in terribly dangerous... especially not compared to shit other people do every day.

Although sometimes I do have to wonder.

CM7 said:

I smoked for 17 years. Got sick, quit. didn't smoke for a few years and then picked it up again because i was pissed off over a really messed up job where they didn't have enough supervisors (customer service)... anyway, to make a long story short after years of not drinking and not smoking I was ready to tie one on but good the day i walked out of that stupid job. Didn't give a FUCK that night. basically just walked around drinking, singing and partying with my friends. I quit again right afterward which impressed people. I have done that over the course of the last 3 years on multiple ocassions.

this last time of picking it back up again is different. I know I will need to quit again but I am in no rush to quit because life is at a very enlightening stalemate right right now. It's a different mindset.

Weird time right now... both boring and intense. At a time I want answers from those who are certain that truth should be a slow trickle, I have actually been getting more insight by my own somewhat self destructive yet cautiously contained antics. Some things that others have said are kind of similar... sort of. I have discovered quite a few interesting things while doing incredibly dumb shit lately.

Dumb as in very persistantly absent minded, not dumb as in terribly dangerous... especially not compared to shit other people do every day.

Although sometimes I do have to wonder.

You've never really quit. Sounds like a bunch of dumb excuses to me.

BobGeorge909 said:

But the healthy discussion that happened with this topic is suprising and welcome. I didn't think the thread would flow this well.

This is something a lot of poeple have struggled with, and continue to struggle with. I can assure you that most of the advice you will get on this topic is from people who actually care, because they can empathize with what you're going through.

ludwig said:

CM7 said:

I smoked for 17 years. Got sick, quit. didn't smoke for a few years and then picked it up again because i was pissed off over a really messed up job where they didn't have enough supervisors (customer service)... anyway, to make a long story short after years of not drinking and not smoking I was ready to tie one on but good the day i walked out of that stupid job. Didn't give a FUCK that night. basically just walked around drinking, singing and partying with my friends. I quit again right afterward which impressed people. I have done that over the course of the last 3 years on multiple ocassions.

this last time of picking it back up again is different. I know I will need to quit again but I am in no rush to quit because life is at a very enlightening stalemate right right now. It's a different mindset.

Weird time right now... both boring and intense. At a time I want answers from those who are certain that truth should be a slow trickle, I have actually been getting more insight by my own somewhat self destructive yet cautiously contained antics. Some things that others have said are kind of similar... sort of. I have discovered quite a few interesting things while doing incredibly dumb shit lately.

Dumb as in very persistantly absent minded, not dumb as in terribly dangerous... especially not compared to shit other people do every day.

Although sometimes I do have to wonder.

You've never really quit. Sounds like a bunch of dumb excuses to me.

Less the inclusion of the word dumb, I agree. You haven't ever really quit. Quitting is never starting again, ever. Otherwise, you're still dealing with the long process of getting to the point where you have actually quit smoking for good. However, what you said in your post is very common. Much more common than people who have been able to quit once and keep it that way.

Cerebus said:

ludwig said:

You've never really quit. Sounds like a bunch of dumb excuses to me.

Less the inclusion of the word dumb, I agree. You haven't ever really quit. Quitting is never starting again, ever. Otherwise, you're still dealing with the long process of getting to the point where you have actually quit smoking for good. However, what you said in your post is very common. Much more common than people who have been able to quit once and keep it that way.

It wasn't meant as an insult, I just wanted to open his eyes.