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Originally Posted by Elphaba
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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Exactly, for years you have conciously and subconciously told your psyche that, "the best way and easiest way and perhaps the only way is to...light up."
So, now you are at odds, realisitically, rationally and by all rights you know you need to quit. BUT, your psyche is saying, "ummmm yeah, but this is how you trained me to handle this."
Hence, Chantix and the Nicotrol inhaler have done away with my physical need but now I have to figure out the psyche. That can only be done when I am 100% willing to let go..... I'm not as much as I want to be, I'm not.
Now, you maybe 100%, in which case your psyche is open to retraining. It may desire to go back to the easy way, but if you see that happening and honestly are at 100% you'll work the psyche to find a better solution than to pick up.
I'm a firm believer in psycho therapy as help, maintianing someone who will work with you (a sober network, sponsor, pastor, lover, relative, friend even God or a combination). Someone you can call and know will help you at 3:30 AM.