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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Lao Tzu on January 12, 2011, at 14:20:32
I think after all I have been through these past four years, one thing is definitely keeping me depressed and nervous, and that is cigarette smoking. Biochemically, with my nutrient regimen and medication, my chemical depression is gone as I have put tons of effort into figuring it out. Some of the things that will thwart your efforts to becoming well again include smoking and drinking. I know this because in the morning when I wake up I feel rather well until I start smoking. After a few cigarettes I start to feel numb again and the whole process for the day starts over again as it had the previous day. I think my boredom and depression are actually caused by the cigarettes, and now I've been reading an interesting book called the Easy Way To Stop Smoking by Allen Carr which after several days of reading the book, his advice is starting to sink in and cause me to ask myself, why do I smoke?
First and foremost, he says it is a drug addiction and I think most people know that it is. However, he says that the actual withdrawal from nicotine is mild, but the hard part is getting over the fact that when you quit you are afraid that you are now being deprived of something pleasurable when in fact, most heavy smokers don't actually enjoy smoking. He says it is all the brainwashing we've received from society that is the hardest part to get over when we quit. It works on the subconscious mind. He says we actually feel more bored, more nervous, have less concentration, and overall, feel worse when we smoke, when society tells us that we'll feel good when we smoke. It is a fallacy. I'm still smoking after reading the book, but his thoughts are slowly making me question why I ever started smoking. It's an unconventional approach he takes, but it just might make you question your "habit," and perhaps quit for good. One thing I had to do before seriously deciding if I wanted to quit was to really fight my depression with nutrients and medication, whatever works, right? Then perhaps I could be in a better frame of mind to say, Smoking is stupid and it's just hurting me. There's nothing good about it. That's how I feel today, and I'm rather annoyed that I'm still doing it. I want to just wake up tomorrow morning and not have that cigarette with my morning cup of coffee. I'm leaning in that direction slowly but surely. Anyway, try reading the book if you are hooked on cigarettes. It might just help as long as your depression is under control. You might actually realize all your efforts to getting well are being sabotaged by the weed. At least, that's what I believe. I've managed to do well on my nutrient regimen plus the medication, and I realize I'd feel 100X better if I quit smoking. The vitamins would work much more efficiently I'm quite sure. Today, I feel rather annoyed going out every half hour puffing on those stupid things. I'm trying to muster up enough courage to say, the hell with them once and for all and not to be afraid of any day I get along without them.Lao
Posted by sigismund on January 12, 2011, at 18:34:22
In reply to Should I quit smoking? Leaning towards Yes., posted by Lao Tzu on January 12, 2011, at 14:20:32
I wonder if it is harder to give up cigarettes if you started smoking in your teens?
Do you actually enjoy each cigarette?
I said to myself to simply stop smoking those cigarettes I did not really enjoy.
So sometimes I would only smoke half of one I had lit.
But I only took up smoking when I was 30 and maybe that was what made it easier?
Posted by Lao Tzu on January 14, 2011, at 14:15:33
In reply to Re: Should I quit smoking? Leaning towards Yes., posted by sigismund on January 12, 2011, at 18:34:22
I can't really say if I enjoy smoking or not. I would probably say that I don't enjoy it, but I just feel a compulsion to do it everyday. I started smoking at age 29 at a social occasion. Isn't that how it always starts? When you're around other people at a social event? It was the single most stupid thing I ever did. Now my days revolve around my smoking "habit". I've never been able to put out a cigarette half-way. I have to smoke it "to the bone". I just read Allen Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking, and although I agree with his points, I don't find it any easier to stop despite reading it. Maybe it just hasn't sunk in yet. I will probably read it again in case I didn't understand all of his points. His approach is ridiculously easy, as he puts it, but maybe I was looking for something more than just a pep talk.
Lao
Posted by Lao Tzu on February 2, 2011, at 17:01:16
In reply to Should I quit smoking? Leaning towards Yes., posted by Lao Tzu on January 12, 2011, at 14:20:32
There's a new book that just came out on Amazon.com called "Quit Snap" about smoking cessation. I'm going to look into it. It has received some positive ratings. Just putting this out there for all you nicotine junkies out there.
Lao
Posted by mickthecat on February 15, 2011, at 16:04:51
In reply to Re: Should I quit smoking? Leaning towards Yes., posted by Lao Tzu on February 2, 2011, at 17:01:16
Yes, quit. I did by switching to the vapor cigarette or e cigs. They made me not want to smoke much and I was actually forgetting to smoke (or "smoke" thge e cig) first thing in the morning in my car etc. Not sure why. But then when I gave up the e cigs (so gave up nicotine) it wasn't that hard. I have had horrible insomnia since then though which I don't think is what usually happens. Lota of people quit with Allen Carrs book. The best site I found is whyquit.com even though the advocate cold turkey the insights on there are very helpful. I din't go cold turkey but more cut down. I should have used Wellbutrin or something when I did stop because I gained 15 lbs.
Posted by mickthecat on February 15, 2011, at 16:06:47
In reply to Re: Should I quit smoking? Leaning towards Yes., posted by Lao Tzu on February 2, 2011, at 17:01:16
Yes, quit. I did by switching to the vapor cigarette or e cigs. They made me not want to smoke much and I was actually forgetting to smoke (or "smoke" thge e cig) first thing in the morning in my car etc. Not sure why. But then when I gave up the e cigs (so gave up nicotine) it wasn't that hard. I have had horrible insomnia since then though which I don't think is what usually happens. Lota of people quit with Allen Carrs book. The best site I found is whyquit.com even though the advocate cold turkey the insights on there are very helpful. I din't go cold turkey but more cut down. I should have used Wellbutrin or something when I did stop because I gained 15 lbs.
Posted by Lao Tzu on February 19, 2011, at 12:44:51
In reply to Re: Should I quit smoking? Leaning towards Yes., posted by mickthecat on February 15, 2011, at 16:06:47
Thanks for your post. I thought about using the e-cigarettes, but then turned against it because I would just be feeding the addiction with nicotine, just in a different way. I just read QuitSnap, a good book on the psychology of nicotine. It didn't make me want to stop, but it helps put you in a frame of mind to give it a try. Cutting down never worked for me. I smoke almost two packs a day and I have depression, so for me, addressing the depression is a key to helping me stop.
Lao
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