As I come to the end of my week 3 I've been thinking about why I even smoked and thought I would share (maybe the inner ramblings of a mad man but here you are) I thought at the time I was smoking because I enjoyed it. Well that's not true, at times it is pretty awfull and at best its bearable but it has never tasted or smelt good. I then thought I must have had to have frequent cigs to keep my nicotine levels up and myself happy and functioning. Now when I really think of it I rarely smoked at set frequency or because I needed to.
My life was full of triggers and excuses to escape. 90% of what I smoked was probably to a trigger, cup of tea, before meeting, after meeting, between tasks, when something happened that I didn't like, uncomfortable situation etc etc etc. Only 10% would have been down to boredom or genuine cravings. I felt at the time I couldn't function in a meeting without my fag first. Well what a load of cr@p that has turned out to be. I still get those exact triggers but ignore them and still function perfectly well (if not better) without having to walk in to rooms stinking and heavy chested! I can actually still get all the words out of my mouth in the correct order when in any meeting (what did I think was going to happen if I didn't have a fag first) When the kids are falling out I can sort it out and sit there after instead of escaping and nothing untoward happens. I can set off for a long drive and without having a puff first and I actually won't go into melt down on the way.
My life was just moving from one excuse to smoke to the next and I am soo aware of this now. Its such a trap and.. Wow it really had me. So glad I have broke out and fully intend to stay in control and never go back.. NOPE!!
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Hi thanks for that posting. It is what I am feeling right now and I can completely relate to it. I've set my quit date for 29th October and can't wait. It's good to hear that confirmation from others that smoking is a disgusting mind-controlling drug which twists and distorts your every thought and move just makes me more motivated for my quit date. Well done and enjoy your freedom - I can't wait to be in that same place!
Thanks for the feedback Mich and I would love to think it helped someone. You have set a quit date which is the first and biggest hurdle. Good luck to ya and I recommend keep using this site throughout. It has really helped me on the hard days and when you do get through them you can post and hopefully inspire others.
As I come to the end of my week 3 I've been thinking about why I even smoked and thought I would share (maybe the inner ramblings of a mad man but here you are) I thought at the time I was smoking because I enjoyed it. Well that's not true, at times it is pretty awfull and at best its bearable but it has never tasted or smelt good. I then thought I must have had to have frequent cigs to keep my nicotine levels up and myself happy and functioning. Now when I really think of it I rarely smoked at set frequency or because I needed to.
My life was full of triggers and excuses to escape. 90% of what I smoked was probably to a trigger, cup of tea, before meeting, after meeting, between tasks, when something happened that I didn't like, uncomfortable situation etc etc etc. Only 10% would have been down to boredom or genuine cravings. I felt at the time I couldn't function in a meeting without my fag first. Well what a load of cr@p that has turned out to be. I still get those exact triggers but ignore them and still function perfectly well (if not better) without having to walk in to rooms stinking and heavy chested! I can actually still get all the words out of my mouth in the correct order when in any meeting (what did I think was going to happen if I didn't have a fag first) When the kids are falling out I can sort it out and sit there after instead of escaping and nothing untoward happens. I can set off for a long drive and without having a puff first and I actually won't go into melt down on the way.
My life was just moving from one excuse to smoke to the next and I am soo aware of this now. Its such a trap and.. Wow it really had me. So glad I have broke out and fully intend to stay in control and never go back.. NOPE!!
The dismantling of the need idea, I think, is the key to the Allen Carr book. It convinced me that I didn't need to smoke, and that having a cigarette didn't do anything for me at all. By the end of the book, I knew it was right, and those two messages are the ones that have killed any cravings I have had since quitting two weeks ago tomorrow, stone dead.
When all is said and done, any of us could go down the shops right now, buy a pack of 10 and a box of matches, and spark it up right there and then. There is nothing physically stopping us from doing it. Yet, the actual truth is that it would solve nothing, and deliver nothing. All it would do would be to put back in place a chain of addiction and dependency that ultimately delivered nothing of benefit for anyone except the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the tobacco companies.
I have also found myself exploring my own reasons for smoking beyond the basic drug addiction that ultimately prompts us all to spark up. I noticed that I frequently used smoking as a means of procrastination. To delay things I found unpleasant or uncomfortable, I'd go for a smoke. Before making a difficult decision, or going into a difficult meeting, I'd go for a smoke. It delayed me delivering or accomplishing anything, and frankly it must have driven people nuts.
My only regret is not reading this book 10 years ago.
As I come to the end of my week 3 I've been thinking about why I even smoked and thought I would share (maybe the inner ramblings of a mad man but here you are) I thought at the time I was smoking because I enjoyed it. Well that's not true, at times it is pretty awfull and at best its bearable but it has never tasted or smelt good. I then thought I must have had to have frequent cigs to keep my nicotine levels up and myself happy and functioning. Now when I really think of it I rarely smoked at set frequency or because I needed to.
It's just one of those lessons we have to learn on the path to success.
The longer we smoked for the more triggers we managed to squeeze into the day.
We all smoked plenty of fags that we had no desire to smoke but were simply compelled to do so. The act of lighting up silenced that crave and then we were left with a fag to smoke or wave around or leave to burn in an ash tray or smoke through indignant habit despite preferring not to.
Investigate your smoking patterns for a day or so and it's blatantly obvious why we smoke. The nicotine trap is a tiny part of the tale but some promote it as the whole story.
Smoking is a complex compulsive habit but it can be tamed with ludicrous ease once we open our minds to it.
It's a massive step to realise that we don't actually smoke cigarettes, we just light them.
The dismantling of the need idea, I think, is the key to the Allen Carr book.
My only regret is not reading this book 10 years ago.
I havent read this but I have heard this is an effective way and educates us to think differently. I reckon i must have learnt the hard way but got to the same conclusion that i dont need to smoke. My regret is starting smoking but also not realising years ago that i had the will to stop whenever i wanted.
Well done on your quit Limpet and keep us posted - all Allen Carr readers seem to have the easiest time so would be good to hear how you go on.
Austin - absolutely agree with you also - i became a 3 drag smoker without realising that i was wasting money, time and my health!
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If I ever needed reminding!!
At Peace - Will I ever get there?
I really need some help...
