Cold Turkey

[caddyman]

Well, I have just had the annual leave for next week signed off so that I can go home and drop myself straight into the middle of our own little family soap opera. I’ll worry about that next week when I actually have to.

Right now as I write I can tell you that I have not had a smoke for 8 hours 20 minutes. I slept for about five of those hours, so it is only the last three or so that have been a pain. I have discovered that Trebor Extra Strong Mints are not strong enough. I think I need menthol something. Maybe strong menthol mints – does anyone make them? I shall have to find out.

Pepper spray. Ooh, that’s a thought. That would be nicely powerful, wouldn’t it? That would mask the lack of nicotine.

It’s a long time since I have made a serious effort to stop smoking. All health concerns a side, I quite enjoy it, see. I know that if I can stick the first three days or so, the nicotine craving goes away and after that it is largely a question of being on guard against the seductive voice in the back of your head which tells you that ‘just one won’t hurt for old time’s sake…’ The actual annoying part about nicotine withdrawal is not that it hurts or anything like that, because it doesn’t, it’s the fact that you just can’t bloody stop thinking about cigarettes.

Well, the fact that you are in a permanent sweat, your hands twitch and you want to scratch your lungs is probably more annoying, to be honest, but that will pass.

I am refusing, for the time being, to use gum or patches. Having read the dosages it is arguably cheaper to continue smoking and anyway every time they are advertised it says discreetly ion the corner of the telly screen, “requires will power” which is what my method requires too, but without the expenditure. Except maybe on the most perfect and earth-shatteringly powerful pepper mint.

Eight hours thirty-five minutes.

I want to gnaw the table.

Comments

[caddyman.livejournal.com]

I don't care!

When you say "or" is that an "and/or", or simply a n "or"?

[pauln.livejournal.com]

Smelling like a koala is at least better than smelling like an ashtray

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

Go you!

My mum gave up smoking on 1/9 last year, having smoked for... er, probably knocking on 50 years. She found the patches useful for the first few weeks, but didn't need them after that. She is still not smoking, which is good.

[ellefurtle.livejournal.com]

*waves pom poms*

you're doing great and I will still ove you if you smell like a koala bear!

[ellefurtle.livejournal.com]

now, what would a porn pom BE, exactly...?

[ellefurtle.livejournal.com]

that was 'love' you....

am sleepy!

[failing-angel.livejournal.com]

Hang in there mate.

What about going through your GP - doesn't the NHS provide some sort of subsidised programme?

[binidj.livejournal.com]

There's lots of trite advice I could offer ... but screw it ... go you!

[ellefurtle.livejournal.com]

I have some M&S curiously strong mints here...but I don't think they have much edge on extra string mints - maybe a bit.
Try those mint fisherman's friends maybe.

[the-hooded-crow.livejournal.com]

You can do it.
It's not easy, but you can. You will find that there's a cycle of threes - three hours. Three days. Three weeks.. Three months, when you'll really need a cigarette. Get through those and you'll be fine.
I'm free of them now for ten years. And I gave up like you - with sheer will power and bloody-mindedness.
Throw yourself into your artwork. Keep your hands busy. (oo-er!) :D
You can do it. Most of all keep telling yourself that.
Think what you'll do with the money that you'll save. In a few weeks you could afford a weekend away somewhere. A few months and you will be able to have a holiday. You could go to Venice and see those bridges for yourself.
Giving up smoking was the best thing I ever did.

[nyarbaggytep.livejournal.com]

This is all very wise advice.

I would add to it, that despite being much younger in terms of non-smoking years that even in the nearly 2 years I've given up - I feel *so much* healthier. Truly worth the lung itching, horrid though it is, it does pass.

[keresaspa.livejournal.com]

Very good luck to you, sir. I hope you have more success than my own recent effort!

Keep it up

[november-girl.livejournal.com]

ephraim got his patches on the NHS. They apparently helped loads, and gave him trippy dreams to boot. I seem to recall squeezypaws saying similar. Highly recommended as cheaper and healthier than acid, I understand.

[littleonions.livejournal.com]

Good luck and FTR; the second they invent the 'not gonna kill but tastes just brilliant with a glass of wine like wot the other nasty kill you ones did' cigarette you will hear the whoop of joy from me, wherever you are in the world.