Comments on: Timed smoking and gradual cutdown…Help!

By: wilmer_2

wilmer_2 — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 23:15:15 +0000

Hi Pam
Yes, I’m a fellow Brit…I’m in Plymouth, Devon. I rarely go to bed before
3am, I’ve always been an owl Smoking behaviour is interesting. When you read about it you realise it’s
not just giving up the nicotine, like you say, it’s the whole picture. The
majority of the ciggs I lit up burned away in the ashtray! It was like a
ritual to keep one burning.
I ran out of ciggs at about 3.30am and, so far I hav’ent bought any. My
mind feels a bit ‘fuddled’ and I feel sleepy, but I can’t say I’ve craved to
smoke yet. I’ve thought of it when I’ve had a coffee, it was like, ‘oh, I
usually have a cigg now’, but I did’nt think ‘I’ve got to have one’. I know
it’s early and things can change though.
I’m going to study the site later, I only had a quick read yesterday.
Sue

By: wilmer_2

wilmer_2 — Wed, 03 Jan 2007 01:30:31 +0000

I think it makes the addiction worse, Donna. because it makes those ciggs
very attractive.
How are you doing today?
Sue

By: Araceli Cherry

Araceli Cherry — Tue, 02 Jan 2007 14:45:06 +0000

Hi again Sue
I really agree with you - we do need to learn how to be nonsmokers. You’ll find
cogquitting will teach you how to recognise your true cues to smoke and give you
the tools to respond to life differently. This is why cogquitting is so
incredibly effective - we’re not simply trying to deal with the nicotine
addiction - we’re examining the whole picture i.e. our smoking behaviour. Spend
a day or so doing the timer exercise, and you’ll be suprised how quickly you
start to get in tune with what your body really needs, and can begin work to
disconnect the smoking associations
Just been reading all of last nights posts - looks like you’re a fellow Brit?
I’m just outside Preston - whereabouts are you? The group chats during the week
tend to be late on -altho’ it sounds like you’re a bit of a night owl If
you want to meet up in the chatroom or have one of the IM’s (I’ve got them all)
just let me know and we can fix something up
Pam

Sue wrote:-
Hi Steve
You are sooo right! When I’ve tried to quit in the past, besides the
‘brain fog’ I’ve always experienced an empty, hungry feeling which is’nt
relieved
by food. I don’t get angry…maybe irritable, especially if someone keeps
talking to me for a day or two, because I want to be quiet! I go ‘in’ on
myself a bit until the ‘brain fog’ has passed.
Tonight, I’ve been remembering how hard I worked to become a smoker. At
that stage I never knew I would get addicted, I did’nt realise nicotine was a
drug.
I think we have to learn to be a non smoker, just the same as we had to
learn to become one. When I get withdrawals I’m going to try to think that
it
is because I’m coming off a drug, but also the effects of my body starting to
repair itself. I’m expecting my body and mind to rebel like a child having a
tantrum! When my son was small and had tantrums I did’nt fight with him, I
relaxed and waited for him to come out of it, and maybe that’s the way to
deal with withdrawals!
I have 2 ciggs left and I would like to think I won’t buy any more. I
don’t want to. I may put a patch by the bed and put it on as soon as I wake
and
see how I go. Sometimes, if you expect the worst it is’nt so bad, if you
know what I mean? But that does’nt mean I won’t get withdrawals, you can’t
get
around that one!
Having to smoke to feel ‘normal’ is like being in a prison, except that a
part of you thinks you like the prison because it’s secure and you’ve become
institutionalised (excuse spelling, it’s 3.30am!).
I’ll check in tomorrow even if I don’t say much!
Take care
Sue

By: Adam Vaughn

Adam Vaughn — Mon, 01 Jan 2007 18:03:50 +0000

I agree Sue. I couldn’t handle that. You’re always waiting for when you can
smoke.
Donna

By: wilmer_2

wilmer_2 — Sun, 31 Dec 2006 22:46:09 +0000

Hi Steve
You are sooo right! When I’ve tried to quit in the past, besides the
‘brain fog’ I’ve always experienced an empty, hungry feeling which is’nt
relieved
by food. I don’t get angry…maybe irritable, especially if someone keeps
talking to me for a day or two, because I want to be quiet! I go ‘in’ on
myself a bit until the ‘brain fog’ has passed.
Tonight, I’ve been remembering how hard I worked to become a smoker. At
that stage I never knew I would get addicted, I did’nt realise nicotine was a
drug.
I think we have to learn to be a non smoker, just the same as we had to
learn to become one. When I get withdrawals I’m going to try to think that it
is because I’m coming off a drug, but also the effects of my body starting to
repair itself. I’m expecting my body and mind to rebel like a child having a
tantrum! When my son was small and had tantrums I did’nt fight with him, I

relaxed and waited for him to come out of it, and maybe that’s the way to
deal with withdrawals!
I have 2 ciggs left and I would like to think I won’t buy any more. I
don’t want to. I may put a patch by the bed and put it on as soon as I wake
and
see how I go. Sometimes, if you expect the worst it is’nt so bad, if you
know what I mean? But that does’nt mean I won’t get withdrawals, you can’t get
around that one!
Having to smoke to feel ‘normal’ is like being in a prison, except that a
part of you thinks you like the prison because it’s secure and you’ve become
institutionalised (excuse spelling, it’s 3.30am!).
I’ll check in tomorrow even if I don’t say much!
Take care
Sue