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Showing content with the highest reputation on 07/03/23 in all areas
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Hi David .. Spoken like a true Nicotine addict . I watched cigerettes kill my husband.he liked smoking too.. Why dont you read all the information here ,you just might change your mind .. You quit for 6 years ..so you must have wanted to quit ..3 points
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Many if not all smokers believe that smoking relieves stress. It doesn't and in fact causes it. Nicotine causes your heart rate to increase, your blood pressure to rise and sends adrenaline pulsing through your veins. This happens each time you smoke a cigarette. It's an illusion that smoking relieves stress because as smokers, we've conditioned ourselves to believe this. Look at it this way. After we put out a cigarette, the average smoker starts to experience mild withdrawal after approximately twenty minutes. Most smokers don't even realize that they're in withdrawal but start to crave another cigarette to relieve the discomforts of withdrawal. The cravings are a result of being in mild nicotine withdrawal which causes us some discomfort, makes us feel edgy, irritable etc., so when we light up another cigarette, we relieve those withdrawal symptoms and we feel better, for around 20 minutes or so. Then once the dose of nicotine wears off, the withdrawal process starts all over again and we continue to feed the addiction and keep the cycle going. So it's only natural for us to add 2+2 and come up with 7 because we've believed the lie that smoking relieves stress when in fact all it does is relieve the withdrawal symptoms (which are stressful) caused by smoking in the first place. We're using the same drug to try and fix the problem that started this whole process when we became nicotine addicts. So when things in life upset us, we automatically think that smoking will calm us down or help us cope with whatever it is that we're dealing with because that's the illusion smoking provides. The truth is that smoking causes stress. It's impossible that it can calm us down because of the effects it has on our heart rate, blood pressure and the release of adrenaline, which by the way is produced whenever we're experiencing a stressful situation or a period of extreme excitement. Nicotine is causing all of this when we smoke. Stress is a normal part of life and so is feeling extremely stressed or excited. Imagine that feeling of fight or flight (caused by the release of adrenaline which causes your blood pressure to increase, heart rate to increase etc.) as your body readies itself for whatever it is that's in front of you. Now imagine smoking a cigarette at this time. It can only further elevate your heart rate, blood pressure etc. It has the opposite effect of something that can calm you or relieve stress. Adrenaline is awesome. It's what makes us survive and thrive at certain things. But relieve stress or calm us down? Impossible. Once we stop smoking we're better equipped to deal with life and all the joys, pleasures, boredom and stress that it brings. Smoking actually ruins our peaceful moments in life by causing our adrenal glands to prepare us for "fight or flight" and escalates the stressful times by doing the same. When we smoke, are we ever really experiencing all that life has to offer us? Are we even capable of living in the "Now" and protecting our much needed down time to recharge? Are we able to meditate or stop the chatter or chaos that so often fills our minds and consumes our thoughts? Can we experience the calming effects of a still mind and body? The other evening it was around 4°F with a wind chill of -10°F. The moon was giving off just enough light that I could see the trees and sky through my windows. I was laying on the couch in front of the windows and was completely relaxed. It was quiet and as I released all of the stresses, to-do-lists and thoughts of what tomorrow might bring; my mind was still and quiet. The chatter was gone as there would be time for all that later. But for those 30 minutes, my mind was still and all the stressful thoughts were gone. This allowed my body to relax and just enjoy "The Now" for there will never, ever be another moment exactly the same. I want to experience all of those "Now" moments that I can. Smoking and constant withdrawal would have never allowed me to experience this inner state of peace and quiet. Never again will smoking take away these much needed quiet times that allow me to grow and be the best that I can be for myself and my daughter for without her, I cannot experience all that life has for me, just for Now. I Smoke Because I Like Smoking This video discusses how people who often say the smoke because they like smoking can come to realize that they really smoke because they don't like not smoking. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCkt_ajgTQE Link to original post: https://www.quittrain.com/topic/4504-is-smoking-stopping-you-from-experiencing-all-that-life-has-to-offer-marylandquitter/2 points
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I started at 27 am now 37 I smoke around 10 a day but would increase if I could trouble is I am autistic and live with my mum who thinks I smoke 2 a day more like 10 a day I enjoy smoking or is that just the addiction talking lol I also think there is nothing sexier than a women enjoying cigarette I have wanted to smoke since a early age so I can’t see my self ever giving up for good although I did for an amazing 6 years but was always needing a fag at the back of my mind I can’t quit I enjoy cigarettes too much1 point
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Went to sleep. Slept about 5 hours. Drank a litre of water with electrolytes. Taking another dose of the prescription med and back to sleep, if I can. Realized I felt warm. Temp is almost 2 degrees above my normal (I run cool, about 97.5). Checked my email, and there is a notice that someone at work just reported they have Covid. Perhaps part of this is not feeling well due to a virus, whether Covid or not. Thanks one and all. I live quietly, with only my son and daughter for society. I am grateful for The 'Train to turn to about smoking challenges. It means a lot. Have a good week, one and all.1 point
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I started at the QSMB. (Which acronym I've forgotten what it stands for.) I quit and relapsed so many times on QSMB -- and each time I was honest, 'fessing up -- and one prominent member snark-ily told me that maybe I shouldn't be there. (May her name be obscured in history.) My spirit was crushed. Of course, she was right. I shouldn't be there. My bipolar depression was triggered full-on. I shouldn't be on a site where people are trying to quit and I try, but don't stick with my pledges. I felt that I was a blight and a negative influence on other people trying to quit. I'd never be able to quit forever. I almost deleted my profile and disappeared forever....but I think that it was our dear @Doreensfree who stepped in and said, "no, you should be here." And so I came back and stuck it out. I knew from setting goals in business that I must find a strong enough "WHY?' Just loving my children wasn't enough (how terrible does that feel?!) Then Covid starting trekking across China, and I knew it was coming here. I "knew" that I'd get it and, if I were still smoking, I'd get pneumonia and die. I worked in an infectious disease (ID) clinic and everyone in the ID community knew it was only a matter of time before we had another pandemic of some sort. I was sure that this was "The Big One." That was my "why." I stopped on February 22nd (or maybe the 21st). The following week, the first case in the USA was discovered and diagnosed about 15 miles north of me at a skilled nursing facility. I felt vindicated in my belief that this was "The Big One," and felt confident that I could stay quit. There were a few "Help," moments, when I'd post on the forum, but I stuck with it. What is your WHY? If you are hovering like a ghost, not posting, wondering if you can quit, wondering if you should disappear from the forum if you've relapsed ... stick with it. NEVER stop trying to quit. ALWAYS keep your nonsmoking-future self in mind. FEEL PROUD of quitting, even if you're not there quite yet. I believe in you, even though we've never met. No one has relapsed after a pledge to quit more times than I have. (Probably) Quit today. Maybe today is the last time you'll pick up a cigarette. Evoke the lion spirit in your soul. Team Fearless - Fearless Motivation. I listen to these men (sometimes there are women, but I like the men's voices) for at least an hour a day, during my commutes to and from work. I don't know where I'd be without Doreen's support and the messages from Team Fearless. Today is the Day - Fearless Motivation.mp41 point
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What an important story, @Kate18! The message of “all are welcome here” definitely hits home. For so long my ambivalence about quitting was a huge obstacle, like my quit was not “legit” if I had so many doubts. But you and all the other good people here helped me understand that mixed feelings were part of the process, part of addiction, and that I could succeed at quitting anyway. Being accepted and supported was crucial. Much gratitude!!1 point
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Wonderful post Kate. It will help so many. I am thankful that no one ever made me feel like I wasn’t good enough to quit. That I was doing it wrong. I only ever received the greatest support from you and so many others. I want to name everyone, but scared to death that I would leave someone out. My fellow “Draggin’ Slayers” are the best co-quitters I could have had though!1 point
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