Going through smoking withdraws

[Ninja_Sushi]

GRRRR!!!!!

First, I really hate being broke. I hate seeing the red numbers in my account. It stresses me out. So I smoke more, which costs money.....Im sure you can see my vicious circle.

So far its been 27 hrs without a smoke and its killing me. I woke up to the smell of them around 5 or 6 AM. My heart was racing. I was excited. I then realized I was in be and Im the only one who smokes at my house.

I hate the withdraws so much!!!!! I hate smelling them randomly. The craving is ughhhhh. And I know smoking costs money, no I will never quit, yes I know the health risks. But, GAHHHH I hate life right now and Im on edge so bad.

Thank you for letting me vent....Wheewww

[blas87]

The first few weeks at work after we went smoke-free were just a bitch.

As a result, I have not done a single minute of overtime since the smoking ban because I fear that 8 hours is hard enough to go without, 10 or 12 would just be a death wish.

[Greenday]

The first few weeks at work after we went smoke-free were just a bitch.

As a result, I have not done a single minute of overtime since the smoking ban because I fear that 8 hours is hard enough to go without, 10 or 12 would just be a death wish.

Wait, what? I thought you quit.

[Andara Bledin]

Wait, what? I thought you quit.

She's mostly quite smoking, but I think she still does the ecigarette thing, which has been included in the "smoking" ban.

^-.-^

[telecom_goddess]

She's mostly quite smoking, but I think she still does the ecigarette thing, which has been included in the "smoking" ban.

^-.-^

I'm doing the e cig thing I think Blas went back to smoking sort of...just not nearly as much.

[blas87]

Nope, not entirely.

I still have a couple before/after work and a few here and there on the weekends.

But I guess it wasn't as bad for me as it was for the pack a day/pack at work type people who would smoke like chimneys at work.

[blas87]

Just a quick add, although I'm sure it's technically nicotine that has me hooked, it's always been more about having it in my hand, with a soda, with a drink, after I eat, once I get home, before I go to work.......it's just a routine, a habbit. That's what so hard. I don't think it's about nicotine withdrawls, it's a habbit withdrawl.

After lunch at work, especially when I bring in a pasta or we're having a potluck and I get really full, I get nervous and really sad because I can't smoke. Smoking after eating makes me feel better. I've tricked my mind into thinking it settles my tummy. It's so hard to undo something that has brought you comfort.

[Andara Bledin]

It's the emotional and mental dependencies along with the physical dependency that make quitting smoking so difficult.

Smokers actually digest their meals more efficiently than non-smokers due to the tendency to smoke afterward. The whole routine that goes into packing, selecting, and lighting a cigarette become part of a Pavlovian routine that tells your system that you've finished eating and now energy can be focused on the stomach and not the mouth any longer.

Plus, smoking has both a stimulant and a soporific effect on smokers. Just the act of going through the regular routine of preparing to smoke a cigarette reduces stress, and that's before you've even lit up.

I suspect this is part of why e-cigarettes are a useful step in the quitting process - they replace one routine with another, similar routine to help remove much of the mental issues associated with quitting while working to reduce the physiological component.

^-.-^

[blas87]

See, with it being a stimulant, I fail to see how smoking reduces stress. I know I've tricked my own mind into thinking it does, but after going through hypnotherapy, I want to believe the therapist more than it really doesn't do anything but make you think you feel better.

[Boozy]

See, with it being a stimulant, I fail to see how smoking reduces stress.

Smart girl.

Smokers THINK that smoking relieves their stress, but the only stress it relieves is the stress caused by nicotine withdrawal.

[KnitShoni]

Smart girl.

Smokers THINK that smoking relieves their stress, but the only stress it relieves is the stress caused by nicotine withdrawal.

I'm thinking the stress relief part of it comes from the fact that, if you're in a stressful situation, and you step outside to smoke, you're removing yourself from that situation long enough to calm down. It's not so much about the cigarette itself, but the break.

[Imprl59]

I was a chronic quittter. You know those people who will only buy one pack at a time because they aren't going to smoke a carton? Yeah... me....

I did finally kick them 14 years ago. A couple of things really helped me.

I did the patches and they really helped mostly because I convinced myself that if I did patches and smoked it would make me sick.

Rubberbands. For about three years I had one of the bigger thick rubber bands around my wrist. Want a smoke then play with the rubberband. 'Course they break and whack your friends in the head but what are friends for if you cant whack them with a rubber band. If I'm stressed I still find rubberbands around my wrist. Usually don't even know where they came from.

I also quit drinking at the same time and I think thats why i finally made it. I would always quit for a week or two then a night out at the bar with a thousand other smoking fools and I was smoking again.

I wish you good luck kicking them.

Steve B.

[Andara Bledin]

Smokers THINK that smoking relieves their stress, but the only stress it relieves is the stress caused by nicotine withdrawal.

No, smoking does reduce stress. Just like any regular routine will reduce stress. Don't forget the power of Pavlovian response.

There's a lot more going on than just the nicotine addiction or it wouldn't be so hard to quit. After all, people quit plenty of other, more addictive substances all the time, and more often than not will tell you that quitting smoking is harder.

^-.-^

[Boozy]

I'm aware of how difficult quitting can be. I've done it twice myself.

After it's over and done with, most people realize that smoking was an added stress in their lives. The cost, the pain-in-the-ass of it all, the jolt to your heart, the constant fluctuations in blood pressure, the worries about health.

You just fall into a different regular routine, one without cigarettes. I don't see why smoking needs to be a part of that.

[Ninja_Sushi]

I cant speak for everyone but smoking for me is many things.

It covers my boredom time. Like if there is nothing at all to do, nothing on TV, I just sit in my little lawn chair out front and light up, play with my phone.
Its social. Whenever I go to a party or bar I can usually meet some new friends because hey, something in common. Breaks the ice "Ew, you smoke reds? Too harsh" "Haha, you smoke lights, man up and smoke a real cig".
Relaxation. Hey, work can be stressful. And so is the Army. Sarge pisses me off a little and Uppp! Smoke tiiimmmeee. Hahaha.

Its one of the most social things I can think of honestly....Besides this.
But yeah I do agree with what Boozy said, it does stress me out when I run out, hence the vicious circle.