HOW DO I QUIT SMOKING???
Sep 14 '01 (Updated Sep 24 '01)
The Bottom Line No point crying over broken eggs! It's true that I've been smoking for so long! "How could I Quit?" That is the question:- "IT'S BETTER LATE THAN NEVER"
WHEN AND HOW I STARTED SMOKING:-
I started smoking when I was in the 9th grade, in high school. And how in the world did I ever get started?
I was SOOOooo unpopular that I just wanted to fit in. Most of the popular students in my school smoked. For me, it was just a way of getting into the group and it worked. "I was going to stop smoking as soon as I could speak and people would listen." I often said to myself.
I was finally popular. I had the best dates but my performances in my school work dropped dramatically. I was just not doing what I had to do. I was more focused on being popular that I was the "attraction" and not the center of it.
Now, my high school years are over. I left high school 17years ago. I have graduated from college and into the active world.
I have even graduated into a responsible family person. But I am still stuck with the habit I picked up from high School. I think I am addicted to NICOTINE!
Sorry? Did I say I "THINK" I am addicted to Nicotine???
I am absolutely addicted to Nicotine!!!
I am affirming it now!!!
One important thing I believe one has to do when fighting against Nicotine addiction; is not to lie to oneself.
Face the reality of things. Don't even try to change Television Channels when an ad pops up; informing smokers of it's danger...
It has been proven world wide, that smokers get addicted to the Nicotine additives of cigarettes.
So, I am addicted to smoking cigarettes.
How do I know I am addicted to Cigarettes???
The most important thing I believe is to face the reality of life. Not to lie to oneself. Do not even change TV channels each time there are bitter truths about the impact of smoking on human's health.
FACE THE REALITY AND BE TRUE TO YOURSELF!!!
I think this could really help a smoker decide to try to make an effort and quit smoking.
ADDICTIONS:-
So, we are facing the reality of life. Smokers get addicted to cigarettes because of the Nicotine additive it contains. This is real and the impacts it has on our health is also real!!!
Smoking causes:-
"short life", "death", "unsound health", "slow deaths".
Why do I talk about addiction to smoking, how and when do I know I am addicted to smoking???
I am not a doctor and I am not best placed to speak for everyone; because most of my present friends do not smoke.
I could only speak for myself.
I know that I am addicted to cigarette/smoking, because I am able to control my life and activities there-in on normal circumstances.
With smoking, I AM NOT IN CONTROL.
Therefore I know smoking is the only negative thing that could control me, despite me.
I have had to sit down and think about it's negative rules over my life for a week (7days) and smoking really is in control of me, while I am only in control of every other thing in my life.
And how do I know this???
As i said earlier, I really may not be able to speak for all smokers. For me, I know smoking is in control of me and my life when I realize that :-
1) Nothing else, and no one else will take me out of my house when THERE IS A HURRICANE ALERT. Cigarettes will make me walk down the street to get a pack. Even with a strong ALERT! How else could one be addicted than this?
2) When I do not have cigarettes, I would be extremely nervous. I just can't wait to get to the store and get a pack.
3) After getting my cigarettes, I hurry to get out of the store and unwrap it in a haste.
4) I still cant wait to open the box. Bring a stick out. Light it up.
5) Addiction is also the act of puffing in and out of smoke. Holding the stick of cigarette between my 2 fingers is also an addiction.
6) Listening to music in my car has become a companion of smoking.
7) Having a drink, coffee is also often accompanied by a stick of cigarette.
8) The gesture of slightly tapping on my cigarette, with my finger, to let the ash off, has also become inevitable daily passion for me.
9) Emptying my ash tray has become something I can't do without, immediately after smoking.
10) The first thing I do as soon as I wake up in the morning is the association of cigarette and my cup of coffee; and this for years.
As habits and intelligence are cultivated, so is the psychology and gesture behind the smoking of cigarettes.
One is conditioned to repeat unpleasant gestures daily...
All of the above lists are my reasons for saying I really am addicted to smoking cigarette. Or Rather, I am addicted to Nicotine.
Since I am able to distinguish between the good and the bad. I know what I am doing is harmful to my health; could kill me; or leave me as a vegetable for the rest of my life. I still keep doing it, all because I have no control over it.
So tell me, what other term could best describe what I am doing to myself or what is taking over my life?
AUTO-DESTRUCTION:-
"Our body is the Temple of the LORD." says THE BIBLE.
So, why should I destroy it? Would I destroy a Temple?
Of course not!
Anything that would make me want to start breaking down a Church or a Temple, I would rather avoid it.
Since my body is the "TEMPLE OF THE LORD", what am I doing to it?
Smoking cigarettes is one thing in my life that I could avoid, and this lies within my capability; but I just do not have any control over it. IT CONTROLS ME!
Smoking cigarettes is what is making me destroy "THE TEMPLE OF THE LORD", so I am going to avoid it.
I KNOW IT'S NOT GOING TO BE EASY, BUT I BELIEVE SMOKING IS IN MY PAST AND IT WILL NOT BE PART OF MY FUTURE WITH THE HELP OF MY WILL POWER.
SPOUSE REACTION TO MY BAD HABITS:-
My spouse does not smoke and is really uncomfortable around me when I smoke.
Does this bother me???
Yes, in a way it does.
My spouse complains of the smoke everyday.
One thing I do every evening is sit with my spouse.
I just do not want to be around my spouse without my cigarettes. At the same time I love been around my spouse.
I can't have both. I will really have to choose.
My cigarette smoking is now affecting the health of my spouse who does not smoke and has never smoked.
What should I do?
I will have to choose one and leave the other.
I had to ask myself this question.
Is my spouse loving, caring and contributing to my progress in life?
The response was YES.
Is my cigarette loving, caring and contributing to my progress in life?
The response was NO.
All it does is satisfy my horrible desire and will destroy me in the long run.
So, I have answered my own question. Logically, something has to be done about this bad habit I said to myself.
People often say smokers are inconsiderate, Does this seem like you? It sure sounds like me... But I will do everything possible to make sure I respect others around me.
That is to quit smoking.
When I smoke around non-smokers, I am imposing smoking on them. Therefore, I am inconveniencing them.
I have never thought of it like that. I am glad I am now. As I had said in my "BOTTOM LINE" It is better late than never!
Now that I am ready to kick my bad habit, how do I go about it?
Where do I start from?
I started looking for help. I looked all over the internet. I called hospitals for support groups, because I was not strong enough to win this war all by myself. I need to fight this bad habit's war well prepared and well armed.
HOW I DECIDED TO "KICK THE HABIT":- What methods am I going to apply?
EPINIONS.COM's CONTRIBUTION TO MY WANTING TO QUIT SMOKING:
I started writing previews on epinions.com not too long ago. I have been thinking about how to quit smoking, even before I found out about epinions.com.
A month ago I went to an hospital near my home, to ask them if they had support groups for those who would like to quit smoking; they said no.
So, I went back home and said "I will find a way to quit smoking soon." I didn't know how I was going to do it. I was so engrossed in the habit and wasn't sure how I was going to kick it.
Anyway, I thought about quitting every once in a while and didn't really follow it up...
So, a week ago, as I was going through previews at epinions.com, I saw some interesting previews on SMOKING CESSATION.
I read through some of them and really thought well of the personal WILL POWER and ABILITY of the authors to quit smoking.
I immediately went to the pharmacy, with the intention of buying a pack of NICORETTE GUM.
I said to myself "I am going to go against this devilish habit. And I am starting today!"
On getting to the pharmacy, I asked the pharmacist to assist me on what to use to quit smoking.
The first thing he asked me was "are you really ready to quit?" I replied Absolutely...
He told me of how he quit smoking with the NICORETTE GUM 8 years ago, after haven used NICORETTE GUM for 12weeks and how he hasn't smoked a cigarette ever since.
I felt very encouraged. I even said "I came to the right place and I have met the right person".
He advised me to strictly follow the instructions in the package, but also said I really must engage in some extra curriculum activities. For the urge to smoke could best be neutralized through this.
He also said I would really feel like smoking every once in a while, but I should make sure to chew my GUM.
So, I bought the pack for $45.99 and went home with it...
I am going to start trying this GUM PACK tomorrow and will keep you informed on how it's working for me.
WHY HAVE I WRITTEN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?:-
knowing how hard it is to quit smoking, I know my decision could be an inspiration for you.
Talking about it alone is a sort of THERAPY for me. I really want to stop smoking and I will stop it!
I hope my decision to quit smoking will encourage and help you decide to quit smoking. I also hope that you will decide today; to start looking for a way out of this destructive pleasure.
If you want to give it try, Let's keep each other informed, just to encourage each other.
IF YOU DO NOT GIVE IT A TRY, YOU WILL NEVER KNOW IF YOU CAN QUIT SMOKING/IF IT WORKS.
I will keep updating my preview EACH DAY to keep you informed on my progress.
I will keep informing you on the evolution of my NICORETTE treatment.
I hope my courage to quit smoking will give you courage to TAKE THE FIRST STEP TOWARD QUITTING.
You could also keep me updated on your decision to quit smoking...
If I can quit smoking, SO CAN YOU!
I THEREFORE ENCOURAGE YOU TO GIVE IT A TRY AND WISH YOU THE BEST OF LUCK!!!
You could view my day-to-day updates on this same site.
I am going tittle it "HOW DO I QUIT SMOKING #2 ???". It is just the continuation on how well/badly this is working. Follow it up...
It will be helpful I hope, for you to read about how this program is working for me. I'm sure it really will encourage you and "WE WILL BECOME NON-SMOKERS" CHEERS.
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