Trying to quit smoking, need new vice

[Xyclone]

Originally posted by: Azraele
Exercise.

:thumbsup:

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: CKDragon
Good luck, OP.

That said, I'm a life-long non-smoker who gets very tired of hearing how hard it is to quit. I'm very proud of my willpower having overcome OCD tendencies (twitches, habits, and such...). I've heard about the difficulty of quitting smoking so much that I sometimes wish I had the opportunity to quit smoking so I could tell these people to buckle down and stop being a baby. Am I crazy or is this a common feeling amongst other non-smokers?

It's not like someone else is physically lighting the cigarette and moving your arm up to your mouth. How hard is it just not to do that?

Very hard.
It's impossible to understand if you've never been there.

 

[xanis]

Tic-Tacs. When my grandpa and uncle quit smoking they started consuming large amounts of Tic-Tacs. Low in fat, tasty, and cheap. A good vice IMO.

 

[xSauronx]

my grandmother smoked for decades until she was in her early 60's

i was talking to her about it years after she quit, she said she had a hard time quitting because she got fidgety when she wasnt particularly busy.

iirc, she started carrying around toothpicks so she could have something handy....but not have to reach for a cigarette

 

[Cobalt]

Cocaine.

 

[Kadarin]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Astaroth33
Masturbation. Just get yourself a fleshlight, download some pr0n, and go for it!

What could possibly go wrong?

Oh god no. Then instead of YAGT's we'd have YAMT's.

*shudder*

 

[krunchykrome]

Just quit cold turkey. I did it after smoking for 3 years. After a couple weeks, you'll be disgusted by the smell of cigarettes.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: krunchykrome
Just quit cold turkey. I did it after smoking for 3 years. After a couple weeks, you'll be disgusted by the smell of cigarettes.

:thumbsup: I agree.
However, you really have to be motivated for it succeed.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: CKDragon
Good luck, OP.

That said, I'm a life-long non-smoker who gets very tired of hearing how hard it is to quit. I'm very proud of my willpower having overcome OCD tendencies (twitches, habits, and such...). I've heard about the difficulty of quitting smoking so much that I sometimes wish I had the opportunity to quit smoking so I could tell these people to buckle down and stop being a baby. Am I crazy or is this a common feeling amongst other non-smokers?

It's not like someone else is physically lighting the cigarette and moving your arm up to your mouth. How hard is it just not to do that?

Some people are not so strong-willed I guess. I admire those with strong mental discipline; to me it's just one more way of rising above our animal nature, and putting order to our thoughts, a way of getting the most out of the crazily large brains nature gave us.

I too am wary of my tendancy for OCD. I think I'm the kind of person who would develop a very rigid daily routine, doing things right down to the minute. Instead, I wind up with little "pockets" of order. My computer is orderly, but my room is a mess, and I lack any daily routine, to the point that I'll forget to bring a towel into the bathroom before showering, or nearly forget to brush my teeth some mornings. I save my OCD for keeping things ordered on my computer - things are always lined up to the pixel, files are sorted in alphabetical and numeric order, always in Detail view. My games also are a good place for OCD. In Homeworld2, my ships are always arranged a certain way, attack pattern is always the same.
But Simcity4 is my latest playground. This is my latest city. Every section of buildings is 6x6 tiles. There is a subway beneath, with a station every third city block for the low density-zoned sections. For medium and large, I switch to one station per block. The water pipes are on a 12x12 grid, so that every block is a maximum of 6 spaces from a pipe, for best efficiency. I tried alternating commercial and residential zones in a checkerboard pattern, but the game engine didn't like that, so I had to adapt with more residential zones. But even any "isolated" commercial sections still adhere to the checkerboard.
It is made to be orderly and efficient, or at least as much as the game's engine will allow, and I find it quite calming to build these cities.

Yes, it is a bit of a strain to keep these tendancies in check so I don't come off as weirder in public than I already seem to be, but it can be done.

OP: maybe every time you think of having a cigarette, just yell at yourself in your mind, remind yourself every time why you need to quit, and don't start rationalizing yourself back to lighting up, even if it's "only once." Train your mind to believe that smoking is bad, and that you gave it up for a good reason.

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: clamum
Cocaine or heroin would work.

Just kidding... I'd say exercise would be a good option. Two birds with one stone: you stop smoking and get in better shape.

I was thinking crack or meth!

Seriously though, the FIRST thing you need to do is get rid of the packs you bought in CT.

 

[pennylane]

Exercise. Knitting is also fun.

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: CKDragon
Good luck, OP.

That said, I'm a life-long non-smoker who gets very tired of hearing how hard it is to quit. I'm very proud of my willpower having overcome OCD tendencies (twitches, habits, and such...). I've heard about the difficulty of quitting smoking so much that I sometimes wish I had the opportunity to quit smoking so I could tell these people to buckle down and stop being a baby. Am I crazy or is this a common feeling amongst other non-smokers?

It's not like someone else is physically lighting the cigarette and moving your arm up to your mouth. How hard is it just not to do that?

Some people are not so strong-willed I guess. I admire those with strong mental discipline; to me it's just one more way of rising above our animal nature, and putting order to our thoughts, a way of getting the most out of the crazily large brains nature gave us.

I too am wary of my tendancy for OCD. I think I'm the kind of person who would develop a very rigid daily routine, doing things right down to the minute. Instead, I wind up with little "pockets" of order. My computer is orderly, but my room is a mess, and I lack any daily routine, to the point that I'll forget to bring a towel into the bathroom before showering, or nearly forget to brush my teeth some mornings. I save my OCD for keeping things ordered on my computer - things are always lined up to the pixel, files are sorted in alphabetical and numeric order, always in Detail view. My games also are a good place for OCD. In Homeworld2, my ships are always arranged a certain way, attack pattern is always the same.
But Simcity4 is my latest playground. This is my latest city. Every section of buildings is 6x6 tiles. There is a subway beneath, with a station every third city block for the low density-zoned sections. For medium and large, I switch to one station per block. The water pipes are on a 12x12 grid, so that every block is a maximum of 6 spaces from a pipe, for best efficiency. I tried alternating commercial and residential zones in a checkerboard pattern, but the game engine didn't like that, so I had to adapt with more residential zones. But even any "isolated" commercial sections still adhere to the checkerboard.
It is made to be orderly and efficient, or at least as much as the game's engine will allow, and I find it quite calming to build these cities.

Yes, it is a bit of a strain to keep these tendancies in check so I don't come off as weirder in public than I already seem to be, but it can be done.

OP: maybe every time you think of having a cigarette, just yell at yourself in your mind, remind yourself every time why you need to quit, and don't start rationalizing yourself back to lighting up, even if it's "only once." Train your mind to believe that smoking is bad, and that you gave it up for a good reason.

Not go OT, but I think you have a misunderstanding of what OCD is. The physical aspects of OCD, such as constantly making sure things are in order, making lists, etc. are not OCD, they are symptoms. They are the things many affected people do in order to relieve the stress of compulsive thoughts. The real part of OCD generally takes place in the mind. A cycle of thoughts that one can't seem to break out of, etc.

 

[mercanucaribe]

World of Warcraft

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: ThePresence
Not go OT, but I think you have a misunderstanding of what OCD is. The physical aspects of OCD, such as constantly making sure things are in order, making lists, etc. are not OCD, they are symptoms. They are the things many affected people do in order to relieve the stress of compulsive thoughts. The real part of OCD generally takes place in the mind. A cycle of thoughts that one can't seem to break out of, etc.

What, like having the same arguments in your mind day in, day out, and constant deja vu as a result?

 

[slackerinabox]

Originally posted by: crumpet19
It's not about getting another vice. Its a lifestyle change. You'll have to sever your connections with cigarettes - physically, chemically, and emotionally.
Don't smoke socially, to relieve stress, relax, when you're angry or bored or whatever. Identify the situations in which you normally smoke and eliminate or alter those situations.

For me it was while driving, at work and socially at parties. It was a nervous/anxious habit and also a habit of boredom.
I stopped driving to work and started biking. At work, I found extra tasks (often in other departments) to stay busy and simply not have time to smoke. Socially, I stopped drinking (I'm not against it, its just that my will power dramatically drops while drinking). If I do drink, I do it in places that dont allow smoking.

I've tried hypnosis tapes, the gum, the lozenges, candy etc in the past and none had worked. The last time I was able to use nicoderm CQ patches (starting at the largest dosage for two weeks and then stepping down to the middle dosage for two weeks). The patch helped control the the cravings and ease the effects of detoxification. I also started working out - specifically cardio workouts. The exersize helped with the anxiety and boredom that I normally would have filled with smoking. Additionally, just keep reminding yourself of why you want to quit: tastes bad, smells bad -and everything you own will smell like it, stains your teeth, destroys your body in SO many ways, effects your ability to be physically active, causes coughing, EXPENSIVE (hell, a weeks worth of patches was actually cheaper for me than a weeks worth of cigarettes), and many other reasons.

In short,
.THROW AWAY EVERYTHING used for smoking in your car and house (full and empty packs, all lighters, ashtrays,
pipes, cigars, posters, advertisements, etc)
.Eliminate or alter situations in which you'd normally smoke.
.Use a product to help reduce chemical cravings.
.Find other activities to keep you busy and not bored.
.If you get a craving, work out/ play music/ whatever you're into until the craving passes.
.Constantly tell yourself the negative associations with smoking and the positive results from quitting.
.Don't think of this as a burden, but as an opportunity.

What to expect while you quit:
shortness of breath while your lungs heal
coughing
headache
nausea
tingling sensation in extremities
lucid/vivid dreams

Very good post, thank you! My room is littered with reminders - empty packs, 5 fresh packs, lighters... I have to get rid of them!

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: ThePresence
Not go OT, but I think you have a misunderstanding of what OCD is. The physical aspects of OCD, such as constantly making sure things are in order, making lists, etc. are not OCD, they are symptoms. They are the things many affected people do in order to relieve the stress of compulsive thoughts. The real part of OCD generally takes place in the mind. A cycle of thoughts that one can't seem to break out of, etc.

What, like having the same arguments in your mind day in, day out, and constant deja vu as a result?

I am not a professional, but someone close to me had it and I have sat in on enough therapy sessions to know a little bit about it. There are various degrees, but usually it's repetative thoughts that get so bad that you can't function normally.It completely dominates your life. You can't break the throught cycle and it drives you crazy. You can't sleep can't do anything, all your efforts are focused on breaking the cycle of obsessions which of course just makes it worse, and usually leads to depression. It's not just a simple thing like thinking the same thing a few times a day. When someone has it, they know it, there generally isn't much doubt. Of course this is all what I've seen and been told, there are various degrees. The big misconception though is people who think that since they feel more comfortable with having everything in order that they have OCD. Sorry OP for derailing your thread.

 

[Chunkee]

Originally posted by: Azraele
Exercise.

 

[everman]

trolling

 

[ThePresence]

Originally posted by: AgaBoogaBoo
Vice? Take a cold shower everytime you think of smoking... soon enough you'll get sick of the cold water and will just give it up.

You'll probably give up the cold shower before you give up thinking about a smoke. And if someone is disciplined enough not to, he probably doesn't need the cold shower in the first place.

 

[Zolty]

WoW

 

[MasonLuke]

Once you do CRACK you'll never go back. Its 1000% better than sex.


*disclaimer: kids, crack is very bad for you and most likely will ruin your life. It just takes one good hit to get you addicted and in a downward spiral into misery.

 

[slackerinabox]

OK, quickie reply since i'm running out - smoker's bronchitis rocks. No desire to smoke for 2 days now so cold turkey it is, but I appreciate any past thoughts and future ones - 2 days is easy, 2 weeks is where it gets difficult.