[Sca-cooks] Five phases for Quiting Smoking

[Olwen the Odd]

You know Suey, when I read your missive I was reminded about when I decided to stop smoking.  It was a long time ago and at that time, even though I thought I was making a pretty decent salary as a camera technician I *really* liked to party.  Pretty much it came down to this; I had a serious conversation with myself about being able to afford only one vice so I made myself choose.  Drinking/partying or smoking.  For me the choice was not all that hard.  Party of course!  
 
I went to my boss and said I was taking a couple weeks off for vacation, talked to a hermit friend and asked for a bed and an endless supply of herb tea for a while with no other distractions and dropped out of sight without word one to house mates, friends or anyone.  I went to Charlies, got into bed and fasted and drank herb tea and read teenage novels (no stressers) for a couple weeks.  
 
Then I went out and partied like it was no tomorrow for the next several years.  OK, that's my story.  I hope it made you laugh.
Olwen
> Euriol sent me this web site:> >> http://whyquit.com/> >>> My reply more or less is:> I cannot sign up for it cause I did not stop cold turkey.m I was drugged > to stop smoking, plus the patch and champex, 12 medicines in all till > my husband Peter took me back to my head doctor and showed her what that > doctor did to me. I tried hypnoses. The bottom line is that quiting > depends on you, yourself and I. No one else can do it but it is the > worst hell you can ever imagine .> One important finding for myself at this website recommended by Euriol > was an article written by Joel Spitzer saying there are five phases in > death, loose (something so simple like your keys) and quitting smoking: > "denial," "anger," "bargaining," "depression," and finally, "acceptance."> I was surprised when I quit that my anger seems to have been minimal in > my case. My "bargain", if can call it that was to put my carton or so of > cigarettes leftover in the trunk of my car. My parking lot is across > the street from our apartment house. So to fetch one cigarette, I would > have to call the elevator, run the risk of having a neighbor seeing me, > cross the portal greeting the custodians, pass the guardhouse of the > parking lot and having to greet him. My theory is why comb your hair for > all that when the urge should be gone by the time you approach the car? > So I have never done it since I stopped.> "Depression" that is what I have been going through very badly. All > these steps are said to pass in ten days so why did it take a year for > our friends to get back to being normal? Perhaps I am getting better now > cause I am replying to you and others, reading emails that are weeks old > and seem to be becoming aware of life around me a little better but I > notice I am extremely nervous and have isolated myself from all except > my husband. I had to see a new doctor today as follow up when was > hospitalized. I always ask Peter, my husband, to come as I am foreign > and some doctors, thinking I am alone, try to get as much money as they > can out of us if I go without him. Today hubby had a business luncheon. > He left it before dessert but called me to tell me to meet him at the > hospital cause there was a terrible delay at the luncheon.> The receptionist called my name when my husband was speeding into the > hospital parking lot. The doctor started asking me things about when I > was in intensive care and I got so nervous. I could not answer him. I > have no idea of technical medical terms and I was not very conscious at > all during that week.> Doctor turned out to be an old meticulous man obviously not > interested in money. He thought my blood pressure was going sky high as > I rattled on at high speed over the results of this exam and another > while he was trying to take digest every factor and transcribe what he > could from medical terms from my words and exam results, this way and > that. I was hysterical cause Peter had not arrived to explain it all!> Have you ever seen an old man's head rattle? - He was like - 'please > Lady Suey - cool it, one step at a time as he fumbled from one medical > exam to another..> Thank heavens Peter waltzed in at that moment and exclaimed I was > admitted to intensive care for - I can't even remember the word - Peter > slipped in smiling giving us the word. Doctor took my blood pressure > twice, once sitting after lying down for a bit and the sitting and then > standing. I got flying colors! - I think I was just hysterical waiting > for Peter to explain it all.> You talk about group internet therapy for quitting smoking - I tried > the champex telephone help system thing here in Chile and it turns out > to be nothing. An old lady answers and says she is going to connect you > to something but nothing ever happens.> Anyway I don't think I am ever going to find group therapy. I am not > interested in people like my dearest Peter telling me I am gorgeously > fat (100 lbs, I weighed 80 before now ) that he loves and respects me > so much because I have been so strong as I have gone through a lot of > hell in my life and now I am 'Joan of Arc' for giving up smoking (I > should be recording these sessions to remind him in the future!!! :-* ). > Nor am I interested in people telling me the healthy aspects of quitting.> Quitting is hell and I long for help to reach the "acceptance" stage > but am not there yet. Thank you so much for trying to help and I shall > keep searching.> I am very lucky that Peter and my son are ex-smokers - but mind you > my daughter is a bitch, as a non-smoker she really knows how to hit me > in my guts.> Please any clues to help this matter are most gratefully appreciated > as those which you have sent me.> Thank you for being so caring Euriol and so many of you,> Suey> > > _______________________________________________> Sca-cooks mailing list> Sca-cooks at lists.ansteorra.org> http://lists.ansteorra.org/listinfo.cgi/sca-cooks-ansteorra.org
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