I keep getting mashed on this. I had hoped it would be more tolerable by now. I am, however, happy to report that I am chugging right along. I am still avoiding people, for the most part. I have fits of moods, not unlike what my early days and certain Norsemen might understand. Bear wrestling sounds fun, if I get to eat what I kill especially. Now, I refuse to blame tobacco companies. Though I was young when I started, it is not like I could not read. It is not like anyone pulled the wool over my eyes and told me this lead to health and vigor. It is not even as if other smokes pulled me in. My mother and most others, especially smokers and chewers, adamantly said “No!”. I saw older smokers, like my grandpa and his gang of rowdy ol’ boys at his favorite pool hall or in the local greasy spoon. And yeah, though his lungs were not in the best shape, and though he may have lived a few years longer (in the nursing home), I think he would rather have smoked and died at 76 then to have lived to be 82 or 92 or 150. And though I miss him, I understand.
I am not quitting to live longer. I am quitting in part because the prices have made me angry, in part because I do not like having that extra “need”, especially one I can actually be rid (if only in theory, so far). And, to save my teeth. Not that my teeth are falling out, but the gums have taken a bit of a beating. It is easily recoverable at this point, at least. Oh, and smoking as an alternative really does cut into my wind and is bad for hunting. As I gear up to get out, I do not wish to wrestle with less lung, extra pack, and an artificial unsustainable “need”, which also has a strong chance of running dinner away. Coffee and tea, meh, they pack easier, are not required, and the deer love them (he is lying).
Any quitters out there? Any real advice? Anything, in particular, which gnawing upon keeps the hunger at bay a bit without adding on tons and which helps curb the urge? Actually, something that does one or the other alone would be good. Hard candy has been of limited use, though it is something (I will not go sugarless). I know I will do this, though I would like to lighten up a bit, if not light up.
I do not know where you live, but it is co co cold here. I think 0 to 10 F has been about the usual day time temperature here for a week, maybe a bit more. Plus, there has often been a decent breeze (say 5 mph) or more moving the dry cold air refreshingly over frozen fingers, and right down lungs so that breathing through the nose becomes highly recommended. Now, I enjoy the cold, but below 20 degrees, even I like a coat, gloves, and ear muffs, mostly. If you have it better, or happen to be in Hawaii, I am happy for you. This is, actually, my favorite time of year, though a little more snow would be nice if we have to have this kind of sustained cold. A foot of snow would be cool. Do not tell my neighbors I said that, especially if we get it.
Oh, hey, is everyone on vacation? Beyond few writing, fewer even seem to notice I visited. Now, my comments may be a bit off, even a bit more off than usual. I see things in a very weird light, admittedly. And I take angles that probably do not fit modern thought, certainly might get you banned from a bridge club, and may have your wife refuse to even look at you for a week if spoken, but come on. It is me. Shoot me down, blow me off, I have had worse. And, it is my sincere hope, I am indeed getting better. At worst, find a grain of salt, put that on your tongue and immediately drive the grain of salt and your tongue in cheek. Read a little more, do that step above again, rinse and repeat as necessary. Yeah, I know women seem to be very angry lately. I am not sure if it has been my comments or my posts. I am multi-talented that way, sometimes, though.
Hope you don't think I am one of the angry women. Admittedly, have been fighting a mood for a few days, but not angry per se.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the smoking...how about chewing gum? Specifically, bubble gum. Would definitely keep your mouth busy, blowing bubbles : )
No, I do not think you are among the angry women. Actually, that was more a tease than anything, dry as it is. And a ramble, of course. Most of the women who read here, be they liberal as they get, and fragile as we all seem to be, are a bit passed that with me. At least, unless they are in one of their moods and I am a most convenient target... eh, visa versa too maybe? *laughs*
ReplyDeleteI will try bubble gum. I might just go out and buy a bunch of gums, but I will load up on bubble gum for sure. It could work.
Nope, not bubble gum. Charms bubble pops and tootsiepops. I think those will fit the bill. I got several bags tonight, and it is helping. It was your suggestion that helped though.
ReplyDeleteI didn't think bubble gum was it, I had tried it before... but, I had this feeling that something might work along those lines. Just getting to the store, with bubble gum and... something... in mind, boom, there it was. I am not sure how long it will help, but today is good... for today. Tomorrow will be dealt with when it gets here, probably. And, if anyone ever asks, I will tell them the filled pops work.
At least it helped me settle down and do a bit of homework, if not much. I am about to try again. Well, I rewrote the notes and did 1/4 of the problems... Though I am leaving drills unattended, and agitatedly so... I hate not getting it.
Whatever works : )
ReplyDeleteIt's a start, right? Cool beans!
Yeah, Jean said it first. I'm not sure if I'm included in your *angry women* or not. I don't tend to get angry often, but sometimes I do get mildly irritated.
ReplyDeleteIt's easy for me to get over it, though, on those he/she subjects. Being entirely in charge of my own life, owning my own self, not in the control of any other human? Yeah. It makes all the difference in the world.
Add a partner, a mate, a true husband, who entirely respects me, and loves me with his whole heart? It's hard to stay even mildy irritated on those issues for long.
I look at him and I know this is a true and real man, my own mate, in every sense of the word that ever mattered. He's not perfect. No. Neither am I, so that's very good indeed. I have profound respect for him, too - and I love him back, with my whole being - and I think he finally realizes that. ;-)
I never ever forget how lucky I am.
Now: on the smoking part? For me, who was terribly addicted, what finally did it was a cancer scare. No cancer at all, it turned out; but by the time I knew that, the worst was over.
For the first several days I constantly and profusely sweated and shook, had *the runs* most terribly, felt like I'd vomit 24 hours a day, and had insane mood things going on. Crazy sick dreams at night. It was really quite awful.
But we survived. And since I'd really understood what addiction was about by then, I also knew I could never touch another tobacco product again. That helped, it made me more determined.
I also did the hard candies thing, but using cough drops. For whatever reason, it made a big difference. I didn't try to limit myself; I'd go through 2 or 3 giant bags a day at first. Unfortunately, I didn't think about the sugar in them. I ended up with 14 new cavities. Blossomed overnight like mushrooms after a spring rain.
But it was worth it.
Now, I knew perfectly well that tobacco was dangerous before I started smoking at age 13. See, my dad was a cancer research scientist when I started. Ouch, huh? We had Issues.
So I can't blame Big Tobacco for fooling me.
But I sure can blame them for fooling OTHERS all those years. And for some of the most extreme, manipulative, sick greed in the history of the universe. I remember them laughing in interviews just after they finally publicly admitted their evildoings in the 1990's. Laughing.
Anger helped me. I hate giving my hard-won funds to people like that.
Another thing that helped? Instead of noticing just the withdrawal symptoms, I made sure to notice the excellent and immediate improvement in my lung function. I just felt better, so much and so quickly. I reveled in it.
And still do. Breathing is GREAT stuff. Just great.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you on this, okay? It really matters.
I think I get your drift, k, about women. But, after learning some things I have, I realize for the relationship to work, she has to be off the pill. I was amazed when I ran across some information recently which explained many things. And, even explained why I sensed I could not find a woman here.
ReplyDeleteI freely admit, any woman I marry will be mine. I will stake a claim, and fight for it (though I had best not ever have to fight her (too much) for it, if we have to struggle a lot to maintain it, together). They are calling the pill the divorce drug, it changes women so very much. (of course, what it has done to the family is not what might endanger the overuse of the drug, it is what it is doing to the environment, check it out).
Now, on the flip-side, she will own me. When she cracks the whip (which, in some areas of life and in certain ways, I not only hope but I expect her to do), I will be required to obey. When we go off course, it is both of our jobs to figure out how to get back on course, then to do so. No biggy, if harder than it sounds.
Thanks for the good wishes about ending tobacco. It is mostly chewing snuff, so I won't feel much health gain, not up front anyway. The pipe and cigar never really affected lungs so much, usually done only occasionally. By the way, congratulations at dumping the stuff yourself. Funny how knowing isn't enough, often.