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Pan, I can't tell you how much I appreciate you putting this out here. I think I now understand why I have continued to fail at quitting smoking from what you have written above. Am I close with this understanding?:
I know smoking is bad for me in so many ways, but I cling to it because it smooths over my stress. I have quit long enough to get over the physical addiction, but my psychological need is the one that I can't seem to overcome. My primary need is that smoking gives me a momentary release from a stressful life. I chill a bit, feel calmed, and get back at it.
I think what you are telling me is to exchange this false perception of calm with something more real and natural, and not be dependent on the nicotine rush. Am I understanding this correctly?
If so, chomping on vegetables never worked for me because that didn't relieve the stress that triggers my need to smoke. I think I should counter the stress connection with smoking to other ways of dealing with stress. Deep breathing, exercise, whatever...yes?
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