This post is not a direct response to Stephanie's post on smokers. Stephanie's post was very well done and informative.
This is just my thoughts and feelings toward the issue of being told over and over again to "Just Quit, Already!"
The biggest thing in reading the comments on Stephanie's post was the reference to smoking as a choice.
I wish folks would stop calling smoking a "choice". It may have been a "choice" when I was 11, but by time I was 14, it was a full blown addiction.
There was no "Smoking is bad for you" at the time that I started, it was just a part of life. Every male member in my family smoked either cigs or cigars. By time they got around to telling everyone it was bad, I was a full blown smoker.
Matter of a fact, there where bulletin boards all over the place advertising cigs and even ads in every magazine. Everywhere, were the prompts to smoke. Now society wants us to "just quit, already!"
I seriously don't think the economy could handle everybody quitting. States across the nation will lose billions in revenue. Yes, maybe in a couple of generations you will start seeing the benefits, such as in medical costs and healthier people.
As with most all the smokers I know that have quit, have substituted their habit for another habit, mostly eating. To me that will not make for healthier people, just fatter and with a different set of medical issues.
I have no answers here, just ramblings of an addicted mind scared about being forced to give up my stash. Or even worse yet being turned into a criminal, by being a smoker. Just the thought that people want to make smoking illegal, hurts my brain.
If they make smoking illegal, HOW will I get cigs? My mind is scrambling already! I truly feel like I'm going to have to go down some dark alley and secretly buy them from some gangster, like they did in the prohibition times.
How is smoking any different from drinking or drugs. Well let me tell you..I drank for over 30 years and it took me 6 months to quit. I did drugs for 3 years and it took me a whole year to ween myself off of it. I have not gone back to either one. I have tried to quit smoking 5 times and have never been successful.
As I sit here and I think of all the addictions I have had and quit. Sex, drugs, drinking, gambling, partying and I feel very proud of myself for tackling all of them. I have two addictions left, coffee and smoking. I can bet ya, if they made coffee illegal there would be an uprising from the whole country!
My mind has just went to all the "ways to quit smoking". All the gums and pills the advertise all over the tv. First, that gum is disgusting! Second, have you heard all the side affects to those pills! That is scarier than dying a slow death.
I am confident that someday I will be able to quit successfully, but I really hate the idea of being forced to do it.
I totally get the fact that we need to find ways to keep the next generation from picking up a cig, I soo don't want my grandkids or nieces and nephews to pick up the habit.
I just wish they would find a way that didn't involve being discriminated against.
Just a few things I find to be crazy..
Bf got this: we can't continue to treat your breast cancer, unless you agree to quit smoking. She's been smoking for 50 yrs, like she would be able to quit. Get serious!
I HAD a elderly friend..naturally there was something wrong with him. The doctors told him he had to quit smoking, after smoking for more than 50 years. He went 2 weeks without smoking and died. His body went into shock!
If they make cigs illegal, they better get my room ready!
Well, I don't know if any of that made any sense, but thanks for listening to my rant.
13 comments:
Oh, Heather, I feel for you. When I was still wroking in the hospital and they made it a smoke-fee zone, I had mixed feelings, even tho I don't smoke and the smell gives me bad headaches. I really thought there needed to be a smoking lounge somewhere in the building; is it really the time to stress people out and cut them off from cigarettes when they're there visiting or staying with a very ill family member? I'm happy bars and restaurants are mostly smoke free now. But it seems a bit weird to me when they talk about making it illegal Outside. What's that about?? It is a really powerful addiction. My mother was told at my age to stop smoking or she'd have a stroke. She did quit but she still says if they told her she was going to die tomorrow, she'd want a cigarette.
Please don't be taking my coffee away!
If you land in an emergency room unexpectedly unable to breathe and heart is pumping 15. My husband had that happen to him. He did not have a cigaret for the entire time he was in hospital or at home building his heart up for surgery. Now a few years down the line he came clean and said he smokes 2 a day. One each when he walks our dog. I am a bit doubtful at times but I seldom smell smoke on him, so maybe?? I can not stop him.
I quit smoking last April after being a heavy smoker for almost thirty years. The reason? I just couldn't afford it any more.
I got priced out of the market!
In college, I smoked a bit and found myself wanting the next cigarette. So I bought a large expensive (for me at the time) carton, left it on a park bench and never looked back.
Every time I wanted one, I'd remember about the little sacrifice I made and tell myself if I could walk away from it then, I sure as hell didn't *need* a cigarette now. Eventually the cravings subsided and I haven't smoked in years.
I'm completely with you on this one. I grew up around smokers, who smoked in the house. Yes, I am a smoker. I go outside. I don't want my boys around it. When I smoke out in public, I make sure I don't smoke near doors and try to keep it away from people. I miss being able to smoke in a restaurant where the smoke is so thick you can't see the people at the table next to you. The day they make smoking illegal is the day you see me on the national news...being taken to jail.
I'm not a smoker but I understand addiction. I've been overweight for years and haven't yet been able to get a handle on it. If "they" said tomorrow, all those with a BMI over such-n-such are getting dropped from insurance and legally fined for obesity, I'd be the first one being handed a ticket! My dad is a recovered alcoholic who used to also smoke cigarettes and chew tobacco. He said, far and away, smoking was THE HARDEST to quit. Like you, I have no answers, but I do definitely understand your frustration!
Good post!
P.S. Don't resort to dark alleys...buy your cigs from Canada. =)
Mindy
www.thesuburbanlife.com
yeah, of course it does. And the gum is gross plus I don't chew gum; Chantrix - nasty side affects. Once I quit using hypnosis and after 6 months started smoking again because I figured I could always quit again. tried hypnosis again recently, didn't make a dent. Of course the shrink didn't know what the hell he was doing LOL I was guiding him in how to guide me. Waste of money. I would like to quit, it's not fun any more but it is my substitute for boredom. No, I can't really get out of the house more I am somewhat disabled - and where would I go.
Oh, hell that was all whiney - Sorry!
Maureen...I still remember the days when you could smoke in the hospital. At the cancer center they have sign everywhere that you can't smoke anywhere on their property, that even means the parking lot.
I'm with your mom, if I was going to die tomorrow, there is no point to deny myself a cig.
Suzicate...LOL! Well if they attack all addictions, it wont be long till it gets put on the list.
Lucy...Funny you say that, cause dad was supposed to have quit 30 yrs ago. We was still finding evidence of him smoking up to about 15 years ago.
Rockygrace...Welcome. We are fixing to be in the same situation.
Eric...OMGoodness, you brave soul. Just the thought of leaving a whole expensive carton to fend for itself, I couldn't do it!! Bet you made someones day!
Tinkerschnitzel...Most of the time, the only places I smoke is in the car or in the house.
I'm glad you have the control, to try to keep it away from the kiddos. When the grandkids come over we smoke outside.
When they take us to jail, I will ask for you to be my roommate!
Mindy...If they were to make sugar illegal, what in the world would we do, your great recipes would not be the same. That is somewhat how it is for cigs and me.
We already buy ours from the indian reservation about half the price of the stores, but I just learned they are trying to get the Indians to raise the taxes.
I'll try to stay away from the allies, but no promises.
Grace...I know precisely how you feel! Boredom is around me all the time, cause I don't go anywhere either.
I would HOPE that if I was able to quit for 6 months, that I wouldn't start up agian. I do hear that is a common thing.
I quit for three years and then one day thought it wouldn't hurt to have just one. I've been kicking myself every since. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
For real, quitting smoking is harder than kicking a heroin habit, so I've heard. I know it was hard for me and I REALLY REALLY wanted to quit. whyquit.com was a good website.
I truly believe some people just can't and NO I could NOT give up coffee.
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