Post by judyb on Jul 9, 2004 11:08:26 GMT -5
Maintaining a quit
I’ve been able to quit smoking on lots of different occasions. Someone posted an interesting
comment Mark Twain(?) made ... “Quitting smoking is easy, I’ve done it many times…” Funny but
true… Of course the real accomplishment is being able to ‘stay quit’.
In past efforts to rid myself of this disgusting habit, my quit would fall apart for different
reasons. Sometimes a quit would end as a result of a sudden jolt of pressure or anxiety or
anger. Sometimes I would just become bored with being a non-smoker and find myself going
out and buying a pack. On occasion I would end a quit because the cravings and urges were
just more than I cared to deal with. Either/or, I’ve started smoking just as many times as I have
quit. Bummer.
Piling up time is not the only project of an ex-smoker. Maintaining the quit takes a little more
thought. Maintaining the quit takes a little more effort. Having a year under your belt does not
automatically make ‘a quit’ a foregone conclusion. The nico-beast does not die an immediate
death when you reach the 1 year mark. The beast never dies, he only sleeps. Stress will
continue to be part of our lives and boredom is something we have to deal with from time to
time. The nico-beast knows this and as he once was able to do, can play your emotions like a
fine fiddle.
How do you maintain a quit? You certainly don’t want to open old wounds but you can’t just
erase a long history of self-abuse and addiction. In an effort to keep things in their proper
perspective, refer to your quit maintenance as a defensive mechanism. Don’t forget the reasons
you quit in the first place. I do it by keeping in mind that a few smokes now will only require that
I have to go through all this suffering again. It is inevitable. One way or another, you’ll have to
quit again.
The bigger picture of resuming smoking has more down sides than the obvious would suggest.
Not only will you have to deal with the beast again, consider the other things which will impact
your day to day life. In addition to cigarettes, lighters, ashtrays, smelly fingers, clothes, bad
breath and the emotional trauma of resuming smoking, consider these: Ex-smokers tend to
begin exercising again, eating healthier, walking taller, become more extroverted, become
more emotionally stable. Ex-smokers suddenly enjoy a new sense of purpose, pride and
self-esteem. Ex-smokers find a new joy in their own lives as well as in their family and friends.
Ex-smokers tend to begin new hobbies, interests, generally become more active. Taking that
first drag on a cigarette will start a chain-reaction that will devastate more than just your ability
to take a deep breath. All the things you’ve done and all the things you have accomplished will
turn to ashes. In a matter of hours, days, you will return to being the junkie you once were. After
ruining a quit and you rub out that first cigarette, you’re also extinguishing a new life. That is
really sad. Don’t do it, keep the quit instead. Think about it.
;)By Larry (Bubb) on Tuesday, September 26, 2000 - 11:07 am:
I’ve been able to quit smoking on lots of different occasions. Someone posted an interesting
comment Mark Twain(?) made ... “Quitting smoking is easy, I’ve done it many times…” Funny but
true… Of course the real accomplishment is being able to ‘stay quit’.
In past efforts to rid myself of this disgusting habit, my quit would fall apart for different
reasons. Sometimes a quit would end as a result of a sudden jolt of pressure or anxiety or
anger. Sometimes I would just become bored with being a non-smoker and find myself going
out and buying a pack. On occasion I would end a quit because the cravings and urges were
just more than I cared to deal with. Either/or, I’ve started smoking just as many times as I have
quit. Bummer.
Piling up time is not the only project of an ex-smoker. Maintaining the quit takes a little more
thought. Maintaining the quit takes a little more effort. Having a year under your belt does not
automatically make ‘a quit’ a foregone conclusion. The nico-beast does not die an immediate
death when you reach the 1 year mark. The beast never dies, he only sleeps. Stress will
continue to be part of our lives and boredom is something we have to deal with from time to
time. The nico-beast knows this and as he once was able to do, can play your emotions like a
fine fiddle.
How do you maintain a quit? You certainly don’t want to open old wounds but you can’t just
erase a long history of self-abuse and addiction. In an effort to keep things in their proper
perspective, refer to your quit maintenance as a defensive mechanism. Don’t forget the reasons
you quit in the first place. I do it by keeping in mind that a few smokes now will only require that
I have to go through all this suffering again. It is inevitable. One way or another, you’ll have to
quit again.
The bigger picture of resuming smoking has more down sides than the obvious would suggest.
Not only will you have to deal with the beast again, consider the other things which will impact
your day to day life. In addition to cigarettes, lighters, ashtrays, smelly fingers, clothes, bad
breath and the emotional trauma of resuming smoking, consider these: Ex-smokers tend to
begin exercising again, eating healthier, walking taller, become more extroverted, become
more emotionally stable. Ex-smokers suddenly enjoy a new sense of purpose, pride and
self-esteem. Ex-smokers find a new joy in their own lives as well as in their family and friends.
Ex-smokers tend to begin new hobbies, interests, generally become more active. Taking that
first drag on a cigarette will start a chain-reaction that will devastate more than just your ability
to take a deep breath. All the things you’ve done and all the things you have accomplished will
turn to ashes. In a matter of hours, days, you will return to being the junkie you once were. After
ruining a quit and you rub out that first cigarette, you’re also extinguishing a new life. That is
really sad. Don’t do it, keep the quit instead. Think about it.
;)By Larry (Bubb) on Tuesday, September 26, 2000 - 11:07 am:
