Giving up cigarettes

[Hieronymous]

I've been smoking way too much recently and I've managed to kick the habit. It was actually much easier than I thought it was going to be.

I was a very heavy smoker and just before I quit I was smoking over 80 roll your own unfiltered cigarettes each day, sometimes I was smoking over 100 a day. It was quite rare for a 50 gram pack of tobacco to last me any more than 2 days.

In the first few days after I quit I became quite fascinated by the whole syndrome of addiction, it was almost like there was 2 manifestations of my psyche each pulling in their own direction. The rational thought forms were being undermined or sabotaged by this alter ego that was under the grip of nicotine. Viewing the whole process from a 3rd person perspective gave me some really good insights into the whole addiction syndrome.

I decided if this was going on at a subconscious level, maybe I could do something about it that would short circuit or bypass this irrational thinking.

So I decided to use mnemonic in the form of a poem of sorts similar to the kind some people would use to memorise information. The idea was that the mnemonic (poem) would by-pass most conscious thought and overpower it with logic that would work on both the conscious and subconscious level. It's worked for me and now I'm smoke free.

Anyway here's my poem.

Never take another drag
It's a really simple plan
Faultless logic that's for sure
I'm a logic driven man

Some use pills and patches
Some smoke something else
But the thing that works for me
is to break it off abruptly
to just go cold turkey

I do this for my family
I do this for my health
To truly give this habit up
I must do this for myself

Never take another drag
my wallet's growing fat
I'm breathing better every day
I'm really stoked with that.

Never take another drag
It's worked and now I'm free
I'll never take another drag
Hip hip hooray for me !

---------------------------------------------

The second verse is designed to distract the conscious mind, by breaking the flow of the verse, which allows the rest of the mnemonic to work on a sub conscious level while the conscious mind is distracted.

 

[VIII]

Wonderful post and congratulations on quitting! I also noticed my smoking habit picking up more (1 pack/day) and decided to quit. I have recently started slipping a few more drags a day over the last week and this was a great reminder to kick myself into gear and pack some prose.

Thank you very much for sharing this.

moving on, trying a fresh breath
read a post by Hieronymous,
for habits words may be a hex
decided, since I have not quit yet
i would write with you for an ex-smoker's duet

it starts as a feeling, suddenly leaking thoughts
soon my hands are reeling, where is that pack I bought?
anxiety-ridden noise, like a baby screaming for toys
i truly enjoy, but by this cigar my baby is destroyed

with these words you may see only plain,
with these words i say, "ease my pain"
when the moment comes, it'll be clear as day
move on to another one, did you think it was a maze?

take a breath, you'll be born a fresh body
wait a moment, you already hit the patience lottery
distract yourself with the many you may embody
free from this hell, my cigarettes removed from my commodities

---

1,2,3
No smoking for me
1,2,3
Another 5 minutes, we'll see

3,4,5
Take a ride... Draw a hive...
3,4,5
Write some lines... free your mind...

6,7,8
Drink some water or eat something great
6,7,8
Fiddle with a stick or find a dawn to break

9,10,11
Cigarettes wet my life with oppression
9,10,11
With a mention I make this my nicotine rejection

 

[Hieronymous]

You have a way with words, it makes my work look like nursery rhymes. Thanks for the support and the prose.
----------------------------------------------------

First I was one
now we are two
may the words that we've written
stir the beast in you too.

May the beast be evicted
cast into the abyss
I'll say it just once
And I'll promise you this

I'll never go back to the spell of the beast
I'll sever his lifeblood for a final release

by the powers of prose
may these words be divine
may the beast be defeated
and cast back in time.

The mongrel inside me stood solemn and true
but the beast is now weakened 'cause now we are two.

 

[Tranquil]

Wonderful poems.

I quit smoking a month ago, cold turkey. I've tried to quit before, but it didn't work since I was not quitting for the right reasons, I was trying to quit because someone I care about wanted me to. I too, used to smoke regular boxed cigarettes (menthol's), but then I switched to natural rolling tobacco using brown paper and filters. I smoked about 15-20 cigarettes a day. A 30gr pkg lasted me about 3 days. I had been smoking for 7 years.

I don't know if anyone will be able to relate, but I had the oddest craving while going through nicotine withdrawal: Ordinary/common black tea with cream and a little sugar. I drank an estimated 8-10 cups of tea a day in the first few days, then 5-6 cups after a week, then one or two cups, to finally, I didn't feel the need to have tea anymore.

I used to cough all the time, and now I don't cough anymore. I do miss it...the rolling, the anticipation, the hand to mouth action, inhaling, exhaling, the calm, but not really the taste or the hot smoke.

I've been a non-smoker for longer than I've been a smoker, and there was a time when I thought cigarettes were not for me, ever. Funny how we change.

I also just take it a day a time, I am having trouble seeing myself as a non smoker, I see myself as a smoker who just doesn't smoke right now. Perhaps, in time, I'll let go of that self image.

 

[Ez]

Congratulations man. After 15 years, I have finally quit using tobacco as well. I am going on to a month and am happier than I could have imagined. Quitting smoking has been the easiest, most liberating thing that I have ever done for myself. I feel better every day. It is awesome.

I think about cigarettes almost every day, but I don't smoke, so it doesn't matter. I actually wrote "don't smoke" in permanent marker on my palms (after a year or so of praying for the ability to quit), which eventually progressed to "I don't smoke." A simple reminder for the first few days. My mood swings were ridiculous, I nearly quit my job and tried to start an argument with my room mate at 1:30 in the morning. For the most part, I seem to have come out unscathed. I'm still alive and I feel great.

I almost forgot, the only rule is don't smoke then next cigarette.

 

[VIII]

thanks again!

I might swing through here now and then and drop some lines if that is OK with you. Tranquil, Ez, I can definitely relate to your posts and it is helpful hearing your experiences. Thanks for sharing!


Here I am, now
Coming through, avoiding the muse
Flowing through, currently you

Ben Personifying left a message for you
He said he's feeling person iffy
He's over yonder under the moon
Getting intense, will you lighten the mood?

Reached into our Spotify library for food
The positive vibes comb my negative mood
Caravan Palace, Panic, Clash
Dancing around these lines now very fast

Better ease down the "must ash"
I don't want to say it, I doubt it will last
Of course now I'm thinking of Mary
Jane does not seem to be in a hurry

Cigarettes are now far from my mind
Even the word appears bland in my sky
Some of these words are appearing bland
Others are fundamental for me to still stand

Living here in my light at all times of the night
Moving pieces around because they're bound to be found, but currently get lost in the fright
A place to kick it, seems we got the space
Who's getting down, create and relate

I thank you, Hieronymous
Brought a happy end to my April the fifth
Wandering into your page of gifts
Brought me here where it is warm and missed
Staying on top of this, the fiend I won't miss
I avoided the muse trying to give my will a twist,
Made it to morning without the cigarette's hiss.

 

[FractalObscurity]

Great poems guys! Wonderful!! :thumb_up:

I too have quit using cigarettes today, after 7 1/2 years of smoking and many unsuccessful quitting attempts. I had a powerful DMT experience yesterday morning. There was almost a bit of scanning and diagnosis going on and then I could see my inside my own chest and seen my lungs. They looked like shrivelled black and brown potatoes and breathing felt semi-obstructed and a bit of reduced lung capacity. I could feel tar and crap like that plastered to the walls of my sinuses, my tongue, my teeth, and my throat, then leading down into my lungs... Gasping for air i almost vomited and my voice played over and over again "i must quit smoking". Slowly these intense effects wore off and I was back down enjoying that familiar euphoria and sense of well being accompanied by fantastic visuals, I enjoyed this flowing psychedelic state while contemplating my lesson.

I had a few more cigarettes that day but they were just terrible. When I woke up before work this morning I threw the rest of the pack in the garbage. I now have absolutely no desire to smoke at all. This is unlike any other time i've "tried to quit". Other attempts by this time would have me in savage mood swings, intense gut wrenching cravings, and utter despair. I know its only the first day but I truly beleive I am ready and finished with this wretched habit! I feel the power inside me, and also believe DMT helped show me things from the right perspective.

Day one so far has been a breeze, ive managed to overcome some of my most challenging triggers already - driving, after eating, and on work breaks. Might have to abstain from alcohol and certain social situations for a month or so. Too bad I have to quit MJ again for an upcoming pre-employment drug test, that would help with missing the act of smoking... Oh well I know I can do this because I have the power and I am READY!!!

You can do it too

 

[The Electric Hippy]

I recently hit 90 days of not smoking on April 2nd, and have been kinda depressed about it. I don't miss the wasted money, or the smell, or the sore throat, but I do miss social and boredom smoking. I've toyed with the idea of using caapi leaf "joints" for these moments, but I feel like substituting the drug while still carrying on the behaviors will eventually cause me to cave.

Thank you for this thread. It gives me a newfound hope on quitting.

 

[imPsimon]

It's important not to ever make excuses for ingesting nicotine after you've quit. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you can smoke at parties (only few people can do that after
serious nicotine dependence) as this often results into relapse.
Mixing cannabis with nicotine is not a good idea either. (that was my relapse some years ago)

After being free from smoking for maybe 2 years, I wont go back.
My smell and taste is a way better, My stamina is better, no coughing up mucous, my mood
is a lot better and not always on a downslope for the next nicotine high, more money
for other things, My clothes don't smell like crap all the time,I won't catch colds as easily and they wont get
"severe" when they do hit me.

The technique that I used for quitting was to gradually lower the nicotine content in the cigarettes.
Used some 1.0mg nicotine then moved on to 0.8 for 2-3 packs. This goes on until finally 0.1mg nicotine.
That's half a pack of cigarettes to reach the nicotine levels of
the 1.0mg cigarette.
Cigarettes with hardly any nicotine does not taste great, it's all in the nicotine.
When you reach this level you have a lot less nicotine in your body and
the comedown period won't be "as hard" resist.

I really like the poem idea approach. To trigger a motivating poem every time the "nicotine bell" rings. (this bell will
disappear eventfully, for most people at least), genius!

I think you are wise The Electric Hippy not to engage in any smoking whatsoever if you still
feel a craving. You should really find something to do against the boredom.
Substitute your "boredom smoking" craving with something to do instead of filling it with
another drug.
My best advice is to ask questions...about anything. Maybe you are standing at the bus stop (typical bored cigarette).
What do you see? What are the things made of? How do they work? etc.
If you don't know the answer, write the question down and you'll have something to do when you get home as well.
Newly acquired knowledge spawns more questions.
Eventually these "boring" places won't be so boring as the layers of complexity
start to color your world.

I usually have a loupe with me and when I'm bored having to wait for something like busses and trains there's a hidden world just beneath my nose that's always fascinating.

Good luck to all of you!


Man is this nasty!
[YOUTUBE]

 

[The Electric Hippy]

I was still using pot during this period, but pot didn't cause me to have cravings, and I think it's because I don't use it habitually. I thought at the time that if I used cappi joints the same way I used cigarettes, it would cause a relapse. Unfortunately, I relapsed all the same, but I am planning on quitting again soon.

 

[Archtypamine]

Lol. What ingenuity I find here! Great successes! I quit Feb a year ago using a vaping crutch that I still use. Not quitting per se but my breathing is vastly improved. Quit so many habits I'm fine vaping nicotine. May put it down later as it's harder to manage than just bumping a pack and lighting up. Anyway this poem bothers my buddies that still smoke...and I can see why.

Smoking

Elton Glaser
I like the cool and heft of it, dull metal on the palm,
And the click, the hiss, the spark fuming into flame,
Boldface of fire, the rage and sway of it, raw blue at the base
And a slope of gold, a touch to the packed tobacco, the tip
Turned red as a warning light, blown brighter by the breath,
The pull and the pump of it, and the paper's white
Smoothed now to ash as the smoke draws back, drawn down
To the black crust of lungs, tar and poisons in the pink,
And the blood sorting it out, veins tight and the heart slow,
The push and wheeze of it, a sweep of plumes in the air
Like a shako of horses dragging a hearse through the late centennium,
London, at the end of December, in the dark and fog.

:twisted:

http://www.ash.org.uk/media-room/press-releases/cocaine-addicts-confuse-drug-impact-of-nicotine