Random Thoughts Thread

[Luke]

Quitting cigarettes is fucking hard.

The first three days stink, but you'll be alright after that. Soon you'll realize how awful that stuff stinks, and you'll be gravy.

[catnip]

Quitting cigarettes is fucking hard.

If you need someone to talk to about cigs, talk to me! I'm going through the same experience at the moment. I'm fine when I'm sober, but boy howdy, as soon as I have my first drink, I'm like "YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD GO GREAT WITH THIS A CIGARETTE YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK THEY HAVE THOSE AT THE STORE"... aaaaand yeah, now I've got a half-empty pack after last night ;_;

At least I had a pretty sweet Monday!

[dsheinem]

Quitting cigarettes is fucking hard.

The first three days stink, but you'll be alright after that. Soon you'll realize how awful that stuff stinks, and you'll be gravy.

Yes, because this is everyone's experience with trying to quit

[Flake]

Quitting is easy. Everyone I know who smokes quits a couple times a year.

[Luke]

Quitting cigarettes is fucking hard.

The first three days stink, but you'll be alright after that. Soon you'll realize how awful that stuff stinks, and you'll be gravy.

Yes, because this is everyone's experience with trying to quit

Way to provide encouragement

True, I can give up eating for a month, so quitting smoking wasn't a big deal for me. But in my case, the first three days were terrible, pretty much a walk in the park after that.

[BoringSupreez]

Quitting cigarettes is fucking hard.

If you need someone to talk to about cigs, talk to me! I'm going through the same experience at the moment. I'm fine when I'm sober, but boy howdy, as soon as I have my first drink, I'm like "YOU KNOW WHAT WOULD GO GREAT WITH THIS A CIGARETTE YOU KNOW WHAT I THINK THEY HAVE THOSE AT THE STORE"... aaaaand yeah, now I've got a half-empty pack after last night ;_;

At least I had a pretty sweet Monday!

I know some people who only smoke when drunk, and they're not former full-time smokers either. I don't know what it is about drinking and smoking...

As for recommendations for quitting, e-cigs have come a long way. There are better options than the cheap disposables they have at the convenience store. You can find all sorts of flavors online, both with and without nicotine.

[dsheinem]

The first three days stink, but you'll be alright after that. Soon you'll realize how awful that stuff stinks, and you'll be gravy.

Yes, because this is everyone's experience with trying to quit

Way to provide encouragement

True, I can give up eating for a month, so quitting smoking wasn't a big deal for me. But in my case, the first three days were terrible, pretty much a walk in the park after that.

I don't see essentially "hey, it should only take three days if you can come to your senses" to be encouragement…

Great for you (I guess?) that you can do stuff so quickly, but the way you phrased the "encouragement" sets up someone to feel ashamed if they can't do it the same way: "you'll be alright... you'll realize…and you'll be gravy" - that sets someone up for falling short of an ideal you've constructed, and potentially making them just give up trying to quit instead of addressing their addiction at their own pace.

[catnip]

I don't see essentially "hey, it should only take three days if you can come to your senses" to be encouragement…

Great for you (I guess?) that you can do stuff so quickly, but the way you phrased the "encouragement" sets up someone to feel ashamed if they can't do it the same way: "you'll be alright... you'll realize…and you'll be gravy" - that sets someone up for falling short of an ideal you've constructed, and potentially making them just give up trying to quit instead of addressing their addiction at their own pace.

Eh, I don't think that's what Luke was trying to go for. I think he was certainly trying to be supportive! Having that three-day goal really can help people. It's short enough to be doable, and long enough to give you a good head of steam, a chain of not-smoking that you won't want to break.

EDIT: That said, I'm an occasional smoker (a few times a week), but I binge when I smoke, which isn't good. I can go for three days, then have a smoke the fourth day, like nothin'. It certainly is different for everyone.

[Luke]

Eh, I don't think that's what Luke was trying to go for.

Dave is Mistermisconstrued. *trademarked*


My point was that three days is actually a lot of time for retrospection, a lot more than people would think. Emotions/addictions/and "what have you" may never flee, but in three days you certainly change your way of thinking.

No doubt, I still cry from time to time when I think about friends I've lost and some drinkers will always crave booze, but a few days changes a lot. We all have a grid that is built differently, but in my experience three days of quitting anything changes tons (but don't try to quit breathing. Not good for ya, so I hear).

And yes, good for me. Why someone would follow up "Good for you" with "I Guess?" is silly.

I don't think I'm the antithesis of most people (I'd be really shitty at sales if that was the case) and believe that a three day turn around is certainly doable and achievable. If someone is "ashamed" because they can't quit in three days, well, that's not my problem. That doesn't detour any encouragement from me saying "Things get better after a while. Gravy and such". Things get better with time, or as the famous claim says, one step at a time.

[catnip]

Gravy

MMMMMMM Gravy is delicious.