How to keep yourself together...
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Hi all, I need some help. After 6 years, I have joined the club of non-smokers again. My girlfriend told me that she didn't fancy kissing someone who tasted like an ashtray, and asked me if I could reduce my cigarette consumption. I told her that I could not, and I would just stop altogether. Now I am back in the office and I feel that urge to smoke that I was so afraid of. I actually start getting up, only to sit down again. Any tipps? And no, I don't want to smoke again. Sid
There are all kinds of little tricks that different people do to keep their mind off smoking for a while. There isn't one method that works for everyone so you'll need to try different things. Make a list of reasons you should quit. Go through this list when the urge strikes. Usually urges will go away after 5 or so minutes, so find things that take 5-10 minutes to do when the craving hits. If you want to cut down first, keep cigarettes in one location (home/work). If you don't have them, you can't smoke them. Ask people for help. Tell them to remind you why you're quitting if they catch you going for a smoke. Reward yourself at the end of the day or week for not smoking. Good Luck!
BW
Quick to judge, quick to anger, slow to understand.
Ignorance and prejudice and fear walk hand in hand.
-- Neil Peart -
I normally wouldn't pick on such a sobering and well thoughtout answer, but one bit made me chuckle because of the image it conjoured up (sorry).
El Corazon wrote:
The hospital gave me a regiment for reducing the medicine
I just had this vision of a bunch of soldiers holding you down, shouting at you. Apart from that, it was a poignant tale.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Pete O`Hanlon wrote:
I just had this vision of a bunch of soldiers holding you down, shouting at you.
naw... that I can find at work.... darn fingers.... :doh:
_________________________ Asu no koto o ieba, tenjo de nezumi ga warau. Talk about things of tomorrow and the mice in the ceiling laugh. (Japanese Proverb)
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Sebastian Schneider wrote:
Now I am back in the office and I feel that urge to smoke that I was so afraid of. I actually start getting up, only to sit down again.
First off, I have never smoked a cigarette, however.... In leaving the hospital in 2001, I had been on a heavy morphine drip for almost 2 months.... The net effect was a strong addiction to opiates. The hospital gave me a regiment for reducing the medicine and a prescription for an opiate. Morphine has a strong tolerance effect, you want more, not less, so even with a different opiate and reducing volumes, it was extremely difficult. But I hate even the idea of being addicted to something, so stubbornness won out against the issues. Prior to that back in the early 90's I drank hard whiskey for a few months, even though physical addiction was not strong, mental addiction had set in. 1) Have something to do, idle mind, idle hands means all you think about is the craving. This seems simple, but it isn't because you find yourself thinking about it even during a stop light. Get a pet programming project, even if it never gets finished, design it heavily during all idle hours. Or find something else to distract you, what ever works for you. I used my origami to keep my hands busy at every chance I could. Origami no matter how easy it looks, requires concentration. I also got work to grant me a pet project so that I knew what ever I did would eventually get used. And I designed or programmed a major rewrite of our product. 2) I will agree about the ultimatum part, in part. Don't give yourself a mandate to suffer, but do remind yourself you can make it through this. Positive rather than neutral or negative reminders. Remind yourself of the reward. Be aware of physical symptoms, don't ignore them. I don't know how strongly you are addicted, so I don't know if you can cold-turkey it or reduce it with a patch. You are the expert there, because it is you. I stopped the alcohol cold-turkey, threw my last bottle of black-label in the dumpster (rather harshly) and stubborned my way through the rest. 3) Recognize you are never done. This step may be a permanent step, but every now and then in the future you will say, "wow it sure would feel good if I...." Prepare yourself for this now, don't say it won't happen to you. An alcoholic is always an alcoholic even when he stops drinking, a smoker usually has idle cravings for ages. Prepare yourself: that you are strong enough to make the l
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Hi all, I need some help. After 6 years, I have joined the club of non-smokers again. My girlfriend told me that she didn't fancy kissing someone who tasted like an ashtray, and asked me if I could reduce my cigarette consumption. I told her that I could not, and I would just stop altogether. Now I am back in the office and I feel that urge to smoke that I was so afraid of. I actually start getting up, only to sit down again. Any tipps? And no, I don't want to smoke again. Sid
I found another addiction :sigh:. I became a runner :-D.
Software Zen:
delete this; -
There are all kinds of little tricks that different people do to keep their mind off smoking for a while. There isn't one method that works for everyone so you'll need to try different things. Make a list of reasons you should quit. Go through this list when the urge strikes. Usually urges will go away after 5 or so minutes, so find things that take 5-10 minutes to do when the craving hits. If you want to cut down first, keep cigarettes in one location (home/work). If you don't have them, you can't smoke them. Ask people for help. Tell them to remind you why you're quitting if they catch you going for a smoke. Reward yourself at the end of the day or week for not smoking. Good Luck!
BW
Quick to judge, quick to anger, slow to understand.
Ignorance and prejudice and fear walk hand in hand.
-- Neil PeartThanks for the tips. I have improved my battle plan quite a bit: For the time being, at the end of every day, I will put the money I would have usually spent for cigarettes (around 7 EUR) into a nice box. And whenever I have the urge to smoke, I will count the money and make a list of 10 things I could buy that would be better than cigarettes. I will try to keep the lists and amounts and evaluate them in a year or so. If I get that far, I will make sure and post the results here :) I actually thought a lot about only having cigs in one location, but I figured that quitting cold turkey would be best. I don't know why, but that is what I feel. Thanks for all the feedback.
Cheers, Sebastian -- Ceterum censeo, borlandem esse delendam.
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And I just realized how boring the Kid-Sister-Safe(TM) version of the story is ;) It was brilliant, trust me on that.
Cheers, Sebastian -- Ceterum censeo, borlandem esse delendam.
I do - BTW she has a nice sounding name. Ah, for those early days of love filled dreaming. I can't remember what that was like.:laugh:
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
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Hi all, I need some help. After 6 years, I have joined the club of non-smokers again. My girlfriend told me that she didn't fancy kissing someone who tasted like an ashtray, and asked me if I could reduce my cigarette consumption. I told her that I could not, and I would just stop altogether. Now I am back in the office and I feel that urge to smoke that I was so afraid of. I actually start getting up, only to sit down again. Any tipps? And no, I don't want to smoke again. Sid
Gum? Patches? A Sony PSP? But stick with it. I have serious respect for someone who can give up smoking and stick with it.
cheers, Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
The 9 things Microsoft should be announcing at MIX07 (but won't)
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Thanks for the tips. I have improved my battle plan quite a bit: For the time being, at the end of every day, I will put the money I would have usually spent for cigarettes (around 7 EUR) into a nice box. And whenever I have the urge to smoke, I will count the money and make a list of 10 things I could buy that would be better than cigarettes. I will try to keep the lists and amounts and evaluate them in a year or so. If I get that far, I will make sure and post the results here :) I actually thought a lot about only having cigs in one location, but I figured that quitting cold turkey would be best. I don't know why, but that is what I feel. Thanks for all the feedback.
Cheers, Sebastian -- Ceterum censeo, borlandem esse delendam.
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Gum? Patches? A Sony PSP? But stick with it. I have serious respect for someone who can give up smoking and stick with it.
cheers, Chris Maunder
CodeProject.com : C++ MVP
The 9 things Microsoft should be announcing at MIX07 (but won't)
Actually, that's what I promised myself :D My sister bought a Nintendo DS and it's pretty impressive. She has this brain-training-game and I love it (Sudoku and such). So, if I manage to make it through 2 months, I am gonna be able to treat myself to a nice Nintendo DS :) (or, maybe, Sony PSP).
Cheers, Sebastian -- Ceterum censeo, borlandem esse delendam.
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BTW - was this the girlfriend that you posted about last week? If so, how did your weekend go? Keep it Kid Sister Safe.:-D
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
smokin addiction is hard to quit cos ur brain cells actually change physiology as a smoker, and want 'fixes' of nicotine. what you need to do when you crave a fag is do something MORE interesting instead. sneak out have a beer, go on the toilet and... book you gf into motel room round the corner at lunch time, go eat your fave bad food, anything that works for you. but a drink of water wont cut it! after about 3 weeks of torture you will break the cycle i reckon. you might get the sack in between for bein a total maniac and or sex maniac but you might beat your addiction!
"Life begins at 140"
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Hi all, I need some help. After 6 years, I have joined the club of non-smokers again. My girlfriend told me that she didn't fancy kissing someone who tasted like an ashtray, and asked me if I could reduce my cigarette consumption. I told her that I could not, and I would just stop altogether. Now I am back in the office and I feel that urge to smoke that I was so afraid of. I actually start getting up, only to sit down again. Any tipps? And no, I don't want to smoke again. Sid
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I know that Nicotine patches has helped friends of mine to give up smoking. My brother gave up with the help of acupuncture.
Deja View - the feeling that you've seen this post before.
Pete O`Hanlon wrote:
Nicotine patches has helped friends
I've tried those, but I must be rolling them too tight. Couldn't keep them lit. The gum isn't much better - it tastes nasty, and goos up the filters.
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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Hi all, I need some help. After 6 years, I have joined the club of non-smokers again. My girlfriend told me that she didn't fancy kissing someone who tasted like an ashtray, and asked me if I could reduce my cigarette consumption. I told her that I could not, and I would just stop altogether. Now I am back in the office and I feel that urge to smoke that I was so afraid of. I actually start getting up, only to sit down again. Any tipps? And no, I don't want to smoke again. Sid
I've tried everything, without success so far. But I still have hope. Next time I'm going to try substituting something that's easier to quit for the cigarettes, then once the cigs are gone, I'll quit that. Heroin or methamphetimines should work nicely...:sigh:
"A Journey of a Thousand Rest Stops Begins with a Single Movement"
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Thanks for the tips. I have improved my battle plan quite a bit: For the time being, at the end of every day, I will put the money I would have usually spent for cigarettes (around 7 EUR) into a nice box. And whenever I have the urge to smoke, I will count the money and make a list of 10 things I could buy that would be better than cigarettes. I will try to keep the lists and amounts and evaluate them in a year or so. If I get that far, I will make sure and post the results here :) I actually thought a lot about only having cigs in one location, but I figured that quitting cold turkey would be best. I don't know why, but that is what I feel. Thanks for all the feedback.
Cheers, Sebastian -- Ceterum censeo, borlandem esse delendam.
Sebastian Schneider wrote:
at the end of every day, I will put the money I would have usually spent for cigarettes (around 7 EUR)
You spend 7 euros a day for smokes? That's nearly half my day's pay!
Sebastian Schneider wrote:
And whenever I have the urge to smoke, I will count the money and make a list of 10 things I could buy that would be better than cigarettes.
Better yet, make a list of things _I_ could have bought. :laugh:
Cheers, Vıkram.
Déjà moo - The feeling that you've seen this bull before. Join the CP group at NationStates. Password:
byalmightybob -
Hi all, I need some help. After 6 years, I have joined the club of non-smokers again. My girlfriend told me that she didn't fancy kissing someone who tasted like an ashtray, and asked me if I could reduce my cigarette consumption. I told her that I could not, and I would just stop altogether. Now I am back in the office and I feel that urge to smoke that I was so afraid of. I actually start getting up, only to sit down again. Any tipps? And no, I don't want to smoke again. Sid
the thing you have to remember is that you're giving up one of the most addictive drugs on the planet ... it's gonna suck and it's gonna be one of the hardest personal things you have to do in your life ... seriously ... so keep in mind its gonna be that hard ... it helps to have something to visualize try imagining the cravings to be a lil nicotine monster sitting on your shoulder and every time you smoke you feed him and he wants more ... every time you dont have a cigarette he gets hungrier and thinner ... the objective is to kill him off by starvation ... some kind of twisted virtual-reality game that only you get to play :)
"there is no spoon" {me}
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Hi all, I need some help. After 6 years, I have joined the club of non-smokers again. My girlfriend told me that she didn't fancy kissing someone who tasted like an ashtray, and asked me if I could reduce my cigarette consumption. I told her that I could not, and I would just stop altogether. Now I am back in the office and I feel that urge to smoke that I was so afraid of. I actually start getting up, only to sit down again. Any tipps? And no, I don't want to smoke again. Sid
I quit a 15 year skoal habit after my son was born. Some things that helped me. Motivation: I knew my habit wasn't healthy. I also had figured out how much it cost me a year. Family and friends wanted me to quit. None of that had been sufficiently motivating because deep down I had not wanted to quit. With the birth of my son though I was faced with the prospect of having my kid watch me die of mouth and throat cancer which was very motivating. Tactics: I realized I actually had two habits, one was the nicotine addiction, the second was the ritual. I decided that it would be easier to break them one at a time so, I researched and found a non-tobacco substitute. This was actually really helpful as the ritual is psychologically very comforting. Once the nicotine habit was broken and its reinforcing effect disappeared, the ritual tapered off a bit, then I just quit buying the substitute. The ritual also helped me avoid substituting another unhealthy habit, like eating too much, for the one I was trying to break. Take it seriously: This is kinda like what others said about not lying to yourself but a bit different in that it is not about the lying to yourself, it is about the effects of lying to yourself. For me, once I (not others) had decided to quit, I knew that if I caved into my cravings, I would think less of myself whether or not anybody else did. Once you quit believing in yourself it dimishes everything you do and everyone who does believe in you. It is actually more important than just quitting tobacco. It is worth it. My son turns 12 in June. I also know that you can do it.
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Sebastian Schneider wrote:
at the end of every day, I will put the money I would have usually spent for cigarettes (around 7 EUR)
You spend 7 euros a day for smokes? That's nearly half my day's pay!
Sebastian Schneider wrote:
And whenever I have the urge to smoke, I will count the money and make a list of 10 things I could buy that would be better than cigarettes.
Better yet, make a list of things _I_ could have bought. :laugh:
Cheers, Vıkram.
Déjà moo - The feeling that you've seen this bull before. Join the CP group at NationStates. Password:
byalmightybobVikram A Punathambekar wrote:
Sebastian Schneider wrote: at the end of every day, I will put the money I would have usually spent for cigarettes (around 7 EUR) You spend 7 euros a day for smokes? That's nearly half my day's pay!
Most of it's sin tax.
-- CleaKO The sad part about this instance is that none of the users ever said anything [about the problem]. Pete O`Hanlon Doesn't that just tell you everything you need to know about users?
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Hi all, I need some help. After 6 years, I have joined the club of non-smokers again. My girlfriend told me that she didn't fancy kissing someone who tasted like an ashtray, and asked me if I could reduce my cigarette consumption. I told her that I could not, and I would just stop altogether. Now I am back in the office and I feel that urge to smoke that I was so afraid of. I actually start getting up, only to sit down again. Any tipps? And no, I don't want to smoke again. Sid
I used to smoke three packs of unfiltered Camels a day. When I decided to quit, I gave the half carton sitting on top of the fridge to a friend, said screw it, and never looked back. From that experience, I have a couple of observations & suggestions. First of all, anyone who talks to you about "nicotine addiction" is selling something. There are no chemical cravings. And I've had some experience with chemicals to back that up. :) However, I found that physical habits and routines were the difficult part. Back then, you could smoke in your office, and I was used to grabbing a cigarette every time I got on the phone. Same with a cup of coffee, after a meal, having a beer, etc. What I soon realized was that what I was missing was having something in my hands and mouth. So, I bought boxes of toothpicks and wooden matchsticks (softer to chew on than toothpicks). That gave me something to play with and roll around in my fingers, and something to put in my mouth where I was used to a cigarette being. And it didn't have any calories. It helped a great deal, and I had no problem walking away from something I'd been doing for over a decade. That was back in the mid 80s, and I've never had the urge to go back. Hope this is helpful.
Author of The Career Programmer and Unite the Tribes www.PracticalStrategyConsulting.com
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Hi all, I need some help. After 6 years, I have joined the club of non-smokers again. My girlfriend told me that she didn't fancy kissing someone who tasted like an ashtray, and asked me if I could reduce my cigarette consumption. I told her that I could not, and I would just stop altogether. Now I am back in the office and I feel that urge to smoke that I was so afraid of. I actually start getting up, only to sit down again. Any tipps? And no, I don't want to smoke again. Sid
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Vikram A Punathambekar wrote:
Sebastian Schneider wrote: at the end of every day, I will put the money I would have usually spent for cigarettes (around 7 EUR) You spend 7 euros a day for smokes? That's nearly half my day's pay!
Most of it's sin tax.
-- CleaKO The sad part about this instance is that none of the users ever said anything [about the problem]. Pete O`Hanlon Doesn't that just tell you everything you need to know about users?
@Vikram: It's also half of what I get to keep after taxes, insurance and rent. @dan: Yeah. But Germany's cigarette prices are civil, compared with those in the UK. For 40 grams of tobacca, I used to pay 3,50 EUR. 1 Pack of smokes would come in at 4,00 EUR. When I visited Scotland, I paid 3,50 GBP for 12,5 grams of tobacco (and nearly had a heart-attack). BTW, I am still clean. :)
Cheers, Sebastian -- Ceterum censeo, borlandem esse delendam.