Post by judyb on Jul 25, 2004 18:46:50 GMT -5
De-romancing the cigarette (one has to notice tobacco is usually referred to in
the singular--the most innocent, surely harmless--as in "having a cigarette,
wanting a cigarette", or "just a puff", never "having a pack", or wanting a carton")
would also include one's speech over the years--the speech of one who
desperately needs to *lessen the importance* of the act that has been so clearly
devastating for so long.
The sore throat, the cough, the headache were usually "probably fighting a
cold". I was never at a loss for a rationalization when one was needed.
Meanwhile, the body was in a constant battle of fighting off the effects of
smoking and in the hands of a tyrant.
But it's the battle of the mind that is so crucial to our quits.
In some Tobacco document, a curious study mentioned the target of certain
advertising was not only to the 12-18 yr olds, but "to the pre- smoking
population"--(what was clearly meant was reaching ones well *below* the age
of first experimentation) as being or serving some 'conditioning' purpose.
(How this is accomplished, I don't know, and there was no further explanation,
since the recipients of the document already were familiar with the process, and
never planned on outsiders seeing their
documents.)
Despite all that has been a part of our experience, it is up to us to counter the
sabotaging of our minds. It is as if the addiction to smoking was protected by a
wall of lies--each brick of the wall is a lie (that has been placed there by us,
others, or promotion)--and as long as that wall was intact, the smoker's
attempts at quitting were a frustrating struggle.
But to breech the wall-- and expose the lies--makes quitting very do- able, to
say nothing of satisfying.
One of the most curious and baffling of the cravings, and perhaps the most
persistent, comes with a very distinct message. The message is that we now
need a special cigarette. A "Reward" cigarette. This craving can continue long
after the the others have given up the ghost. Yet I'm convinced that spotting this
peculiarity and exposing it for the lie that it is, continues to strengthen our
position and weaken the cravings.
These "reward" situations typically are finishing some task, although they can be
associated with some other event. That finishing of a project, a chore, whatever
called for a cigarette. We associated it with a reward. But inevitably it was also
connected with time.
Could this project, this chore that we became engrossed in and
finished, one that merely ran beyond our normal nicotine replenishment time???
(and the over-due cigarette is made "precious" in our mind?--a fitting reward.)
Normally, we finish what we begin or at least "call a break". It is not at all
difficult to make this connection that our activity. Once the mental association is
made, our brain expects the *same* results the next time, and *every* time.
It changes from over-due nicotine replacement *delayed* by a task, to a
shortcut of, 'work-equals-cigarettes', whether over-due or not.
(Remember
Pavlov's salivating dogs?)
Heck of a deal.
(The monster's snivel might go something like this: "It's been more than an hour
since I was supposed to get my dose--my last nicotine was almost two hours
ago--my levels are way down-and you're in a heck of a withdrawal- but that
approach wouldn't go over too good, how about if I con you with,
"You need a Reward!"--[hey, it's better than a kick in the pants]
But it IS a good deal for us, for one more myth is shot down.
There is a new association that is being made: the satisfaction of doing a task,
is merely having it done--we need not have any "reward" at all. Just like we did
in our pre-smoking days.
So it turns out that this craving is no different than the others--just trying to
keep the nicotine levels from dropping below a certain level. A time thing.
And doing it over and over again, all just to try to feel normal.
Remember that--we smoked just to try to feel normal, and our quitting is to go
thru withdrawal once, and get off the merry-go-round.
One more brick removed from our own private Berlin wall. Knowledge is power.
Focus is power.
Never pass up the opportunity to remind your brain of the lies.
There will come the time you won't need to remind your brain--it will remind
you.
Freedom is sweet, and worth fighting for.
as3 - 11/14/99 - Roadkill
the singular--the most innocent, surely harmless--as in "having a cigarette,
wanting a cigarette", or "just a puff", never "having a pack", or wanting a carton")
would also include one's speech over the years--the speech of one who
desperately needs to *lessen the importance* of the act that has been so clearly
devastating for so long.
The sore throat, the cough, the headache were usually "probably fighting a
cold". I was never at a loss for a rationalization when one was needed.
Meanwhile, the body was in a constant battle of fighting off the effects of
smoking and in the hands of a tyrant.
But it's the battle of the mind that is so crucial to our quits.
In some Tobacco document, a curious study mentioned the target of certain
advertising was not only to the 12-18 yr olds, but "to the pre- smoking
population"--(what was clearly meant was reaching ones well *below* the age
of first experimentation) as being or serving some 'conditioning' purpose.
(How this is accomplished, I don't know, and there was no further explanation,
since the recipients of the document already were familiar with the process, and
never planned on outsiders seeing their
documents.)
Despite all that has been a part of our experience, it is up to us to counter the
sabotaging of our minds. It is as if the addiction to smoking was protected by a
wall of lies--each brick of the wall is a lie (that has been placed there by us,
others, or promotion)--and as long as that wall was intact, the smoker's
attempts at quitting were a frustrating struggle.
But to breech the wall-- and expose the lies--makes quitting very do- able, to
say nothing of satisfying.
One of the most curious and baffling of the cravings, and perhaps the most
persistent, comes with a very distinct message. The message is that we now
need a special cigarette. A "Reward" cigarette. This craving can continue long
after the the others have given up the ghost. Yet I'm convinced that spotting this
peculiarity and exposing it for the lie that it is, continues to strengthen our
position and weaken the cravings.
These "reward" situations typically are finishing some task, although they can be
associated with some other event. That finishing of a project, a chore, whatever
called for a cigarette. We associated it with a reward. But inevitably it was also
connected with time.
Could this project, this chore that we became engrossed in and
finished, one that merely ran beyond our normal nicotine replenishment time???
(and the over-due cigarette is made "precious" in our mind?--a fitting reward.)
Normally, we finish what we begin or at least "call a break". It is not at all
difficult to make this connection that our activity. Once the mental association is
made, our brain expects the *same* results the next time, and *every* time.
It changes from over-due nicotine replacement *delayed* by a task, to a
shortcut of, 'work-equals-cigarettes', whether over-due or not.
(Remember
Pavlov's salivating dogs?)
Heck of a deal.
(The monster's snivel might go something like this: "It's been more than an hour
since I was supposed to get my dose--my last nicotine was almost two hours
ago--my levels are way down-and you're in a heck of a withdrawal- but that
approach wouldn't go over too good, how about if I con you with,
"You need a Reward!"--[hey, it's better than a kick in the pants]
But it IS a good deal for us, for one more myth is shot down.
There is a new association that is being made: the satisfaction of doing a task,
is merely having it done--we need not have any "reward" at all. Just like we did
in our pre-smoking days.
So it turns out that this craving is no different than the others--just trying to
keep the nicotine levels from dropping below a certain level. A time thing.
And doing it over and over again, all just to try to feel normal.
Remember that--we smoked just to try to feel normal, and our quitting is to go
thru withdrawal once, and get off the merry-go-round.
One more brick removed from our own private Berlin wall. Knowledge is power.
Focus is power.
Never pass up the opportunity to remind your brain of the lies.
There will come the time you won't need to remind your brain--it will remind
you.
Freedom is sweet, and worth fighting for.
as3 - 11/14/99 - Roadkill
