15 Oct 20
@very-rusty saidBlackened lungs with solid bases in jars in the pathology labs as well. I also knew that you could destroy 80% of your lungs before it became obvious that you were doing harm. Still took a while, but the physical side of the addiction is actually very weak. It's psychological addiction that is the problem and that can be very powerful. Curiously we put way more emphasis on physical addiction, but look at the harm done by compulsive eating. Psychological addiction is just as harmful.
Then you must have saw many x-rays of long term smokers lungs, one would think that would be enough to scare you! It is an addiction though. I took a cig out of my fathers package at 12 years old, so was very young when I started. I can't imagine the damage I've done to my lungs over 30 years.
-VR
15 Oct 20
@petewxyz saidYou can correct me if I am wrong on this but they say the craving lasts for 2 minutes and if you can get past that two minutes.....you wait until the next craving then get past that two minutes. Like I said it took me 3 months but I didn't touch a cig during that time, but did go through many packages of gum.
Blackened lungs with solid bases in jars in the pathology labs as well. I also knew that you could destroy 80% of your lungs before it became obvious that you were doing harm. Still took a while, but the physical side of the addiction is actually very weak. It's psychological addiction that is the problem and that can be very powerful. Curiously we put way more emphasis on p ...[text shortened]... diction, but look at the harm done by compulsive eating. Psychological addiction is just as harmful.
-VR
15 Oct 20
@petewxyz saidBlimey, two interesting topics in one thread.
Blackened lungs with solid bases in jars in the pathology labs as well. I also knew that you could destroy 80% of your lungs before it became obvious that you were doing harm. Still took a while, but the physical side of the addiction is actually very weak. It's psychological addiction that is the problem and that can be very powerful. Curiously we put way more emphasis on p ...[text shortened]... diction, but look at the harm done by compulsive eating. Psychological addiction is just as harmful.
I gave up smoking after reading “How to give up smoking - the easy way” by Alan Carr many years ago.
He explained exactly what you are talking about here; the psychological addiction vs the physical one. I was convinced that I was some sort of drug addict and couldn’t get unhooked until I read that book.
There were two pieces of vital info for me which transformed how I looked at my nicotine addiction; it’s more psychological than physical
1) there is a metaphorical creature in your stomach telling your brain that the itch it feels is going to drive you insane if you don’t feed it nicotine - it won’t
2) this terrible addiction which this stomach-creature holds over you doesn’t even wake you up in the night!
Part 2 was utter enlightenment for me and I was finally free.
15 Oct 20
@divegeester saidHow long had you smoked and how long did it take you to give it up?
Blimey, two interesting topics in one thread.
I gave up smoking after reading “How to give up smoking - the easy way” by Alan Carr many years ago.
He explained exactly what you are talking about here; the psychological addiction vs the physical one. I was convinced that I was some sort of drug addict and couldn’t get unhooked until I read that book.
There were ...[text shortened]... sn’t even wake you up in the night!
Part 2 was utter enlightenment for me and I was finally free.
-VR
15 Oct 20
@cheesemaster saidDid you just make a stab at a joke? 😉
Napalm...in the morning .
It always reminds me of Robert Duvall 🤔
-VR
15 Oct 20
@divegeester saidYes, although curiously people didn't seem to talk about smells triggering trauma memories and flashbacks as often as you might imagine. It seemed to be visual cues a lot more often although I have to confess I have never read a study that asked that question (if one exists) and I don't know if that is generally the case.
Interesting topic.
Not sure if you are aware of this but the olfactory sense is the sense most closely linked to memory and subsequently nostalgic memories.
For me I find the smell of cut grass (not all cut grass strangely) evocative of summer days and cricket matches.
A certain perfume.
The smell of creosote brings back a powerful childhood memory of my fath ...[text shortened]... to my days working in one.
It’s so peculiar how smell does this even more than sight and hearing.
15 Oct 20
@petewxyz saidI believe smells can trigger memories from the past.
Yes, although curiously people didn't seem to talk about smells triggering trauma memories and flashbacks as often as you might imagine. It seemed to be visual cues a lot more often although I have to confess I have never read a study that asked that question (if one exists) and I don't know if that is generally the case.
Freshly cut grass reminds me of days when I lived in the country and my father had just cut the grass, loved the smell of freshly cut grass.
-VR
15 Oct 20
1 edit
@very-rusty saidI think about 10 years from my late teens. I’d tried several times to give up and slipped back into it and then didn’t have the resolve to kick it again.
How long had you smoked and how long did it take you to give it up?
-VR
After reading the book I am still a reformed smoker, like a reformed alcoholic except that alcohol is I feel far more insidiously addictive than nicotine. The difference for me now is I can smoke if I choose, which on occasions have such as holiday treats and I drop it again like a piece of chalk. It’s lost it’s hold over me.
Edit: “treat” is a matter of perspective of course.
15 Oct 20
@petewxyz saidYes smell seems to trigger good memories. I’ve not known anyone who said that smell triggered bad memories.
Yes, although curiously people didn't seem to talk about smells triggering trauma memories and flashbacks as often as you might imagine. It seemed to be visual cues a lot more often although I have to confess I have never read a study that asked that question (if one exists) and I don't know if that is generally the case.
15 Oct 20
@divegeester saidI don't smoke or drink anymore as I've said many times on here.
I think about 10 years from my late teens. I’d tried several times to give up and slipped back into it and then didn’t have the resolve to kick it again.
After reading the book I am still a reformed smoker, like a reformed alcoholic except that alcohol is I feel far more insidiously addictive than nicotine. The difference for me now is I can smoke if I choose, which ...[text shortened]... piece of chalk. It’s lost it’s hold over me.
Edit: “treat” is a matter of perspective of course.
I did however find the smoking much harder to quit than the drinking. I wonder if that is why you still have the occasional smoke. Great that you don't do it daily of course good job on that.
-VR
15 Oct 20
@very-rusty saidNowadays I will have the occasional vape, not smoke. Neither are a good thing but when I’m on holiday sitting in cafe overlooking the Ionian with its smattering of white sails and sea- shimmers, I do appreciate something to accompany my coffee.
I don't smoke or drink anymore as I've said many times on here.
I did however find the smoking much harder to quit than the drinking. I wonder if that is why you still have the occasional smoke. Great that you don't do it daily of course good job on that.
-VR
15 Oct 20
@divegeester saidI even quit drinking coffee for awhile as the two smoking and coffee kind of went together. Now I have no problem having Coffee I have 2 x-large every day, one could say I am addicted to coffee now. So I guess I traded in one addiction for another.
Nowadays I will have the occasional vape, not smoke. Neither are a good thing but when I’m on holiday sitting in cafe overlooking the Ionian with its smattering of white sails and sea- shimmers, I do appreciate something to accompany my coffee.
-VR