4 weeks and 37 minutes without tobacco

[Bloodstone Press]

Congrats, man. I've seen a lot of people try to quit and just couldn't. Personally, I'm glad its something I never picked up since I know I wouldn't be able to quit.

 

[Umbran]

It is all about willpower. There is no need for any outside influence.

Glib and inaccurate. You got through without help? Good for you. There's physiological effects involved which can put it beyond a matter of willpower for other people. Chemical dependency is nasty stuff, and you shouldn't belittle people's need for help with it.

Keep up the good habits, Alsih2o!

 

[Mystery Man]

Cold turkey here....gobble gobble

 

[hellbender]

Glib and inaccurate. You got through without help? Good for you. There's physiological effects involved which can put it beyond a matter of willpower for other people. Chemical dependency is nasty stuff, and you shouldn't belittle people's need for help with it.

Keep up the good habits, Alsih2o!

Jiminy crickets! I meant my statement as a form of encouragement, not being glib. Inner resolve in the end is what maintains any sort of commitment to break a habit. At the risk of sounding argumentative, I do know of several people who have given up dependencies literally overnight, to alcohol and to drugs, while usually caused by an outside event, the inner choice is the trigger and what continues long after the outside intervention is over. And besides, if it did and has worked for me in not smoking all this time, it: 1) is not really glib or inaccurate and 2) is quite possible for anyone. And as I said before, best of luck with it.

hellbender

 

[Umbran]

Jiminy crickets! I meant my statement as a form of encouragement, not being glib.

Yes, but whatever you meant, what came out reads as discouraging for folks who find they need exterior support.

At the risk of sounding argumentative, I do know of several people who have given up dependencies literally overnight, to alcohol and to drugs

Oh, sure. My own dad kicked his decades-long smoking habit overnight, too. But, the fact that some people have done it in no way imples that all people can do it. The folks you know may have been exceptionally strong willed, or biochemically less susceptible to chemical dependency.

Heck, an alcoholic who is really deep in the bottle can kill himself if he tries to go it alone. The withdrawal symtoms can be deadly. The rate of relapse for habitual users of opiods (like heroin) is very high - even those with the willpower to kick the habit are not likely to stay off the drug without long term help and support from outside.

Nicotine is not an opioid, but it is physically addictive. Busting a physical addiction does require willpower, but for some folks willpower is insufficient to the task.

And besides, if it did and has worked for me in not smoking all this time, it: 1) is not really glib or inaccurate and 2) is quite possible for anyone.

See above. Your assertion that kicking habits can be done by everyone with willpower alone is inaccurate. The non-glib, accurate statement would have been "I managed to kick my habit without help, so I know where you're coming from. Good work and good luck to you!"

Sorry for the hijack, Alsih2o. It's just a pet peeve of mine. Your success is admirable, and I hope you stay off the coffin nails for good.

 

[Steve Jung]

Way to go, Alsih2o. Hang in there.

 

[Wormwood]

Nice work. I'm on my 12th or 13th month---and I have two GUARANTEED secrets for success (since the patch is for wussies):

1. Don't count your time. I've honestly forgotten how many months it's been since I last smoked---but it was some time around summer, 2003.

2. Just Don't smoke. It turns out that simply not smoking is the secret to quitting tobacco. I know it sounds simplistic, but it works every time it's tried.

Willpower is everything---leave weakness for the weak.

Congratulations.

 

[Cthulhu's Librarian]

Congrats Clay! Keep up the good work!

 

[Impeesa]

Congrats! It's always good when you can stop before the health problems get too severe. One woman I game with kicked the habit last spring when her niece (also a good friend of mine) had a brush with skin cancer. Made her stop and think about where she was headed, I guess...

2. Just Don't smoke. It turns out that simply not smoking is the secret to quitting tobacco. I know it sounds simplistic, but it works every time it's tried.

Hah. Reminds me of the single most effective (but apparently least known) method of weight loss - burn off more than you're stuffing in your pie-hole. I did hear somewhere that the average craving for a smoke only lasts about 30 seconds - if you can stop and think for 30 seconds about whether you should really have a cigarette, it will have passed and you're in the clear.

--Impeesa--

 

[Mystery Man]

Sorry for the hijack, Alsih2o. It's just a pet peeve of mine.

Maybe it would be helpful to make a list of all the things that your thenthitive to so we don't hurt your feewings.

Get over yourself.............