by Mandrake » Jan 9th, '13, 17:11
A few years ago someone else (ecko zero?) started a thread about smoking but there’s no harm in having another one!
After 29 years addicted to the weed I quit just about 10 years ago (28th Feb 2003!) after having tried and failed several times. I use the word ‘quit’ rather than ‘giving up’ because, as the Carr book says, you’re not actually giving up anything, you’re stopping something. I prefer the word ‘quit’ as its short sharp and sounds like a definite and solid action with no going back.
To my way of thinking there are two aspects to this and you can’t fight both at the same time. One is the absorption of Nicotine, a drug which is more addictive than Heroin. The second is the habit of smoking – buying them at the shop, opening a pack, selecting one cigarette, placing it in the mouth and enjoying the rush of smoke. I used nicotine lozenges to deal with the nicotine addiction aspect, in those days there was only one strength but these days there are several to choose from. The habit thing was also taken care of, the lozenges are in a box like cigarettes, you open the box, take out a lozenge, place it in the mouth and get a rush – an ideal and far less harmful replacement. If you are in the habit of smoking when out for a drink, try to avoid pubs and clubs or other places where you traditionally had a cigarette. New places and scenes aren’t associated with smoking so there’s less stress. If the shop where you buy your cigarettes is on the way to work, try using a different route.
Take things just one day at a time, quit for the day, not the long term and on each new day tell yourself that it’s only one day. Let’s face it, you can’t smoke and don’t have the craving when you’re asleep and that’s probably 8 hours of your day smoke free anyway!
If you cave in a smoke one day, don't despair, just treat it as the daft thing it is and start over. Remember to use the money you save on buying yourself something you’ve always wanted if possible. Try going to a new restaurant, treat yourself to new clothes, music tracks, or whatever – it’s your money, you saved it so you deserve a reward.
In my case I still needed something to occupy my mind and hands so that’s when I rediscovered magic! It’s thanks to the original Emagictricks.co.uk and the forerunner of TM that I managed to quit – you guys were actually a large part of my therapy!
I also used a photo of Kenneth Clarke MP who had been Health Minister for a while. He was the one who said that junior doctors no longer worked double shifts in NHS hospitals and while he was being interviewed there were two bleary eyed and totally knackered doctors in the background who had just finished a 72 hour shifts! Ken was also on the board of British American Tobacco and the photo I used was from the financial pages of a newspaper, it showed him with a huge cigar in his gob and I reckoned it was paid for by the profits they were making out of me. A total fantasy of course but if you don’t have willpower (which I didn’t!) then hate is a bloody good substitute! If I felt like smoking again I just conjured up the hatred of the system which had profited from my addiction for so many years and it did the trick.
Beware that after about 12 weeks there will be a strong temptation to just try one cigarette to prove you can handle them – you can’t and it’s the nicotine addiction giving one more desperate atr4empt. Also be aware that after about 3 years the same thing can happen. Just drink a glass of water, tell yourself you used to smoke but have moved on and the craving will disappear.
Yes, you may put on a bit of weight but don't worry, focus on quitting the weed and after three months or so try dieting. Don't diet and try quitting at the same time, you'll just go totally mental!
For all those battling to quit, best of luck, you can do it – let me know if I can help.
