Craving Defined

[cpk]

I would rather have someone quickly shoot me in the head

than go back to the slow suicide of smoking.

 

I hate everything about smoking.

 

So, then, what are cravings???

 

I think cravings are about love.

 

The tobacco industry appropriates love cravings.

 

 

 

Everyone gets lonely and scared and anxious

without love.

 

Everyone wants love.

 

 

 

"Here," the tobacco industry says, "Here's love in a box."

 

All you need is some cash and love is yours. No matter where you

are in the world, at any time,day or night, you can get cigarettes.

 

Who or what is THAT available?

 

 

 

The tobacco industry takes the natural desire for love and twists

it and demonizes it.

 

 

 

After quitting, we try to find other loves in a box...candy, gum, pills,

booze, videos etc.

 

 

 

Maybe it's best to just admit, "I need love. I crave love. I am human."                                                                                                                                                

 

This purifies and blesses what the tobacco industry appropriated and

warped.

 

 

 

Quitting smoking is a shamanistic transformation. Cravings are

reduced because they are transformed back into the natural desire

to be loved. We all want authentic love. Not love in a box.

 

 

 

If tiny cravings remain and pop back up even years later...they

serve to remind us that we can't repair all the damage that's been

done, but that we will never again be as wholly dehumanized as

we once allowed.

[MarylandQuitter]

Cigarettes served as a fake friend that promised to be there when we're alone, sad, happy and vowed to never leave our side.  Cigarettes are often seen as a friend.  When you look at it on that level, it really drives home that we're drug addicts just as any other.  Perhaps not strung out living on the streets but addicts just the same and our drug of choice kills more people than all other drugs combined.

 

Have you ever read "My Cigarette, My Friend"?

 

How do you feel about a friend who has to go everywhere with you? Not only does he tag along all the time, but since he is so offensive and vulgar, you become unwelcome when with him. He has a peculiar odor that sticks to you wherever you go. Others think both of you stink.

 

He controls you totally. When he says jump, you jump. Sometimes in the middle of a blizzard or storm, he wants you to come to the store and pick him up. You would give your spouse hell if he or she did that to you all the time, but you can't argue with your friend. Sometimes, when you are out at a movie or play he says he wants you to go stand in the lobby with him and miss important scenes. Since he calls all the shots in your life, you go. Your friend doesn't like your choice of clothing either. Instead of politely telling you that you have lousy taste, he burns little holes in these items so you will want to throw them out. Sometimes, he tires of the furniture and gets rid of it too. Occasionally, he gets really nasty and decides the whole house must go.

 

He gets pretty expensive to support. Not only is his knack of property destruction costly, but you must pay to keep him with you. In fact, he will cost you thousands of dollars over your lifetime. And you can count on one thing, he will never pay you a penny in return.

 

Often at picnics you watch others playing vigorous activities and having lots of fun doing them. But your friend won't let you. He doesn't believe in physical activity. In his opinion, you are too old to have that kind of fun. So he kind of sits on your chest and makes it difficult for you to breathe. Now you don't want to go off and play with other people when you can't breathe, do you?

 

Your friend does not believe in being healthy. He is really repulsed by the thought of you living a long and productive life. So every chance he gets he makes you sick. He helps you catch colds and flu. Not just by running out in the middle of the lousy weather to pick him up at the store. He is more creative than that. He carries thousands of poisons with him which he constantly blows in your face. When you inhale some of them, they wipe out cilia in your lungs which would have helped you prevent these diseases.

 

But colds and flu are just his form of child's play. He especially likes diseases that slowly cripple you - like emphysema. He considers this disease great. Once he gets you to have this, you will give up all your other friends, family, career goals, activities - everything. You will just sit home and caress him, telling him what a great friend he is while you desperately gasp for air.

 

But eventually your friend tires of you. He decides he no longer wishes to have your company. Instead of letting you go your separate ways, he decides to kill you. He has a wonderful arsenal of weapons behind him. In fact, he has been plotting your death since the day you met him. He picked all the top killers in society and did everything in his power to ensure you would get one of them. He overworked your heart and lungs. He clogged up the arteries to your heart, brain, and every other part of your body. In case you were too strong to succumb to this, he constantly exposed you to cancer causing agents. He knew he would get you sooner or later.

 

Well, this is the story of your "friend," your cigarette. No real friend would do all this to you. Cigarettes are the worst possible enemies you ever had. They are expensive, addictive, socially unacceptable, and deadly. Consider all this and NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!

 

Joel

[cpk]

Cigarettes served as a fake friend that promised to be there when we're alone, sad, happy and vowed to never leave our side.  Cigarettes are often seen as a friend.  When you look at it on that level, it really drives home that we're drug addicts just as any other.  Perhaps not strung out living on the streets but addicts just the same and our drug of choice kills more people than all other drugs combined.

 

Have you ever read "My Cigarette, My Friend"?

 

How do you feel about a friend who has to go everywhere with you? Not only does he tag along all the time, but since he is so offensive and vulgar, you become unwelcome when with him. He has a peculiar odor that sticks to you wherever you go. Others think both of you stink.

 

He controls you totally. When he says jump, you jump. Sometimes in the middle of a blizzard or storm, he wants you to come to the store and pick him up. You would give your spouse hell if he or she did that to you all the time, but you can't argue with your friend. Sometimes, when you are out at a movie or play he says he wants you to go stand in the lobby with him and miss important scenes. Since he calls all the shots in your life, you go. Your friend doesn't like your choice of clothing either. Instead of politely telling you that you have lousy taste, he burns little holes in these items so you will want to throw them out. Sometimes, he tires of the furniture and gets rid of it too. Occasionally, he gets really nasty and decides the whole house must go.

 

He gets pretty expensive to support. Not only is his knack of property destruction costly, but you must pay to keep him with you. In fact, he will cost you thousands of dollars over your lifetime. And you can count on one thing, he will never pay you a penny in return.

 

Often at picnics you watch others playing vigorous activities and having lots of fun doing them. But your friend won't let you. He doesn't believe in physical activity. In his opinion, you are too old to have that kind of fun. So he kind of sits on your chest and makes it difficult for you to breathe. Now you don't want to go off and play with other people when you can't breathe, do you?

 

Your friend does not believe in being healthy. He is really repulsed by the thought of you living a long and productive life. So every chance he gets he makes you sick. He helps you catch colds and flu. Not just by running out in the middle of the lousy weather to pick him up at the store. He is more creative than that. He carries thousands of poisons with him which he constantly blows in your face. When you inhale some of them, they wipe out cilia in your lungs which would have helped you prevent these diseases.

 

But colds and flu are just his form of child's play. He especially likes diseases that slowly cripple you - like emphysema. He considers this disease great. Once he gets you to have this, you will give up all your other friends, family, career goals, activities - everything. You will just sit home and caress him, telling him what a great friend he is while you desperately gasp for air.

 

But eventually your friend tires of you. He decides he no longer wishes to have your company. Instead of letting you go your separate ways, he decides to kill you. He has a wonderful arsenal of weapons behind him. In fact, he has been plotting your death since the day you met him. He picked all the top killers in society and did everything in his power to ensure you would get one of them. He overworked your heart and lungs. He clogged up the arteries to your heart, brain, and every other part of your body. In case you were too strong to succumb to this, he constantly exposed you to cancer causing agents. He knew he would get you sooner or later.

 

Well, this is the story of your "friend," your cigarette. No real friend would do all this to you. Cigarettes are the worst possible enemies you ever had. They are expensive, addictive, socially unacceptable, and deadly. Consider all this and NEVER TAKE ANOTHER PUFF!

 

Joel

Yeah, and this friend Joel describes is really a puppet of the tobacco industry. The tobacco industry is pulling the strings. You aren't paying this friend to kill you, you're paying the tobacco industry. The greatest consumers of cigarettes are the poor, the marginalized, and those with mental health issues. When I smoked I knew all this but I didn't want to think about it --- so it created cognitive dissonance - or - simply put, made me feel like a fake and weak and crazy. Now I'm strong enough to feel angry. Sometimes these facts also help teens who smoke to quit, because teens don't like their freedom taken away by Big Brother.

[Still winning]

Good, get angry but use it constructively. Be angry that you were held in the vice grip of addiction and then celebrate that you see it now and will make damn sure you stay free of it from now on.

 

The triggers are simply your brain remembering what you would do in this situation before, get mad and then get happy... it means you're a non smoker now. They will pass, everything good and bad passes, triggers are no different. Get busy and distracted. Days already turned into weeks, you're doing amazing, just keep marching, for today :)

 

One day soon, you won't think of smoking at all...and when you realize you'll really smile! Then suddenly the day turns into days, like your quit did and it all feels ok and normal and having those thoughts is the odd day here and there. 

 

You are exactly where you need to be in the journey right now, trust your inner strength and keep moving.

 

x

[Tink]

cpk you are peeling all the layers off the lies that surround smoking and addiction, ones we were once blind and in denial of

 

its like an awakening and you are seeing clearly the lies of the past

 

this is a great awakening, keep peeling those layers!

[cpk]

And how strong are you today? Pretty strong, Ms. Smarti Pants!!! Congratulations on your sweet victory. But you, wise woman, know what I mean when I say there has been damage and it can't be 100% eradicated, and vigilance will be a natural way to live. This is just part of life's journey. I believe, and have always believed, that the root of addiction is always about the perceived lack of love. Problem is when you're active in your addiction you can't see the door that leads to love and freedom. Actually, the same is true of suicides. People become hopeless because they can't see the door to Life. Addiction is the same. Love cures. Insight cures. Mindfulness cures. Vigilance cures. And you are the lady waving all those banners today. Your story is a happy one. Can you believe that not only have you helped yourself, but you have helped and inspired people all over the globe???? How awesome is that? Shake some booty and have a full-out radically extreme celebratory day. Well done, Goddess of the Quit!

[cpk]

cpk you are peeling all the layers off the lies that surround smoking and addiction, ones we were once blind and in denial of

 

its like an awakening and you are seeing clearly the lies of the past

 

this is a great awakening, keep peeling those layers!

Thanks. I'm really enjoying being where I am right here, right now.

[cpk]

Good, get angry but use it constructively. Be angry that you were held in the vice grip of addiction and then celebrate that you see it now and will make damn sure you stay free of it from now on.

 

The triggers are simply your brain remembering what you would do in this situation before, get mad and then get happy... it means you're a non smoker now. They will pass, everything good and bad passes, triggers are no different. Get busy and distracted. Days already turned into weeks, you're doing amazing, just keep marching, for today :)

 

One day soon, you won't think of smoking at all...and when you realize you'll really smile! Then suddenly the day turns into days, like your quit did and it all feels ok and normal and having those thoughts is the odd day here and there. 

 

You are exactly where you need to be in the journey right now, trust your inner strength and keep moving.

 

x

Reply post is somewhere on this thread.

[cpk]

My anger isn't only about my issues. It makes me angry that those who are least equipped to deal with the

damage caused by smoking, such as those who have minimal access to medical care, are often those

most vulnerable to getting hooked.

 

Many of us got hooked in our teens, and didn't have the best role models since many of our parents

smoked.

 

Just staying responsible is doing a lot. Because you never know who's watching.

 

And what if...one day a year...anyone who ever smoked even one puff...donated the cost of

a pack of cigarettes to their favorite charity? What a grand day that would be!