In a message dated 3/26/2003 5:13:56 PM Eastern Standard Time,
suze@… writes:
Hey Suze
Your so very welcome suze, and you are very refreshing, lol…hugs, ari
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Dedicated to Clifford John Leahy
Merchant Marine
Praying For Your Safe Return
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Hi Suze, maybe this might help…hugs, ari
Difficulty Concentrating
Nicotine is used by many people to help focus their attention. Common
examples are chain-smoking writers or baseball pitchers with a big wad of
chew in their cheek. After a while this becomes a crutch, it may take a
couple of weeks for you to become accustomed to working without nicotine.
Additionally the increased blood flow and oxygen can lead to a feeling of
mental fogginess.
Some people report feeling that sounds are louder, or external stimuli are
somehow more palpable. Nicotine actually seems to affect people’s
concentration by decreasing peripheral vision and hearing. If the baby seems
to cry louder, or people seem to walk by your office more often, it’s
probably just that you notice it more without the numbing effect of nicotine.
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Dedicated to Clifford John Leahy
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In a message dated 3/26/2003 5:55:27 AM Eastern Standard Time,
suze@… writes:
Hi Suze, my sentiments exactly…Very eloquently put. (((((hugs))))) ary
This has become far longer than I intended. My original intention was to
merely
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Dedicated to Clifford John Leahy
Merchant Marine
Praying For Your Safe Return
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WOW….I can’t help but replying to those of you who are attempting nicotine
withdrawal with the aid of gum and/or the patch (NRT). I assume the detox
process of eliminating NICOTINE from your system (which happens in the first 72
hours) is your goal, but how can that happen if you’re getting a nic fix by a
different delivery method? This cognitive (read that thinking) approach is
designed to have us examine why/what/when/where we’re doing our crave triggers
and devise alternative ABC behaviors. If you don’t ever let the physical
withdrawal happen, how is the psychological (retraining Warren) going to come
into play? When I finally accepted my addictive junkie thought processes and
opted to abandon the nicotine (totally and completely), it was a simple matter
to let my mind override Warren’s ingrained little habits with acceptable,
productive, cognitive alternatives. From now on, it’s just one day at a time
and what a joy it is. My stats to share are:
I have been nicotine free for: 2 Months 1 Week 1 Day 20 Hours 1 Minute and have
NOT smoked 3142 cigs, for a grand $$ savings of $526.37 plus life extended by: 1
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As it happened, I had my last cigarette at 10:47am EST on Sunday,
March 23, 2003. It is now 33 hours since my last cigarette. It was
twenty years ago that I last went 33 hours without a cigarette. So
far, plenty of sleep, lot’s of reading. Had cause to make use of one
of my ABCs last night. Went pretty well! Kind of neat. You don’t
have to think about anything. All the thinking has already been
done. You just step into it, in a sense, and everything flows just
like you planned. Pretty awesome!. Also made use of an ABC for when
waking up, which did make adjusting to a waking state a bit easier
for me.
Good luck tomorrow, Wendy. Though, if you’ve got your lists and ABCs
prepared, and stick with them, luck won’t have anything to do with
it! Let us know how it goes.
Until later,
Glenn
Hi Wendy and Brendan, thx so much for your reply. Thankfully, I am dead set
on stopping and am getting myself mentally conditioned to do so. I have
informed my family and friends of my quitting and they are there also to lean
on. I also noticed when I had quit smoking before, that I did feel more
energetic and healthier, but, this last time I really did not have that
energy that I assumed I would have. I did work out in the gym, drank more
water and even came in second in a weight lifting contest when I lived up
state. I am thinking possibly that because the fibro and other conditions,
that this may be the culprit. Appreciate any input and thx again, ari 
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Dedicated to Clifford John Leahy
Merchant Marine
Praying For Your Safe Return
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I’m not sure of the precise time at which it will occur,
but my last cigarette will be today, Saturday, March 22, 2003.
I’ve decided (or something in me has) to neither give up
nor quit smoking. Instead, I’m going to experience what
it is like to be a non-smoker.
I’ll continue to make use of the techniques that have
been promulgated here as I adjust to my new life.
I’ve posted only a few times, less than 5. But I’ve been
an avid reader and have absorbed much. I’ve felt the
feelings others have expressed. Not just, “Oh yeah, I’ve felt
that too,” but I feel them as I read. There’s an awful
lot of genuine compassion, kindness, and encouragement
here. I want to thank all who, unknowingly, have been
helping me.
Ionronrote, I’m not familiar with the rituals of which you
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I smoked my last cig at 10:30pm last night. I’m doing great thismorning, but I
know not to get too comfortable. Physically I feelso good!!! No nauseous,
icky, smoking feeling. I know, when it comesright down to it, that feeling good
is the one thing that keep mefrom smoking ever again.Here is a new
feeling-sadness. I don’t think I ever felt this sad wihany other quit. A. I’m
feeling sad. I feel like I’ve lost a friend. I always knewthe cigs woud be
there for meB. The phyisical sensations are a tightness and butterflies in
mygut,limbs tingling,sluggish. I know that cigarettes are no good forme. They
are definitely not my friend. In fact, I allowed them toundermine almost
everything good about my life since I was 15 yearsold. Maybe the sadness comes
from knowing that I don’t have a back upor an exscuse anymore. its all me now.C.
I can re-read all the chemicals in cigs, remember how gross thesmokers lungs
looked, remeber that I do not NEED cigarettes to getthrough my dayThat feels
better. I’m drinking my water, chewing my sugar-free gum,I have excercise
planned and just generally taking it easy today. I’m trying to let the housework
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thanks ddsteve! that’s the most important ‘tidbit’ i need to make
this my ‘last’ quit…
love and hugs
queenie261
Tomorrow is big day! I’m excited and scared,nervous,terrified. I have all my
lists, ABCs, etc. It’s been tough stepping away for a minute and try to get a
handle on the physical sensations of the feelings, but I’m working on it. My
big thing is closing all the “back doors” i.e I’m not going to smoke on a DAILY
basis, but I can smoke when I go out with my friends, or if I have a very
stressful day. I’m famous for “I’m going to buy a pack, smoke a few and throw
the rest away”. And, as we all know, that pack very rarely ever hits a trash can
until its empty. Those back doors are closed now. I know its easier to smoke
none than one. Cigs don’t help in ANY situation, and if they do anything it
only makes it worse. i have completely structured my life around smoking and i
waste 2 hours a day standing around, killing myself. That is time I could be
spending with my family or just relaxing in a constructive way.
My goal is to become a happy, energetic and effective mother. I don’t know any
truly happy smokers. I know that smoking is not conducive to my goal and,
therefore, will have to cease and desisit or I will just keep spinning my
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