3 ms·
I have a love/hate relationship with smoking. I quit smoking 5+ years ago when my child was born. But I always loved a smoke with a beer. But I also quit dri
by hollywood_court 2y ago
I have a love/hate relationship with smoking. I quit smoking 5+ years ago when my child was born. But I always loved a smoke with a beer. But I also quit drinking.
As a carpenter and electrician, I smoked many cigarettes during my career and they calmed me and allowed me to focus a bit better.
However, I finally realized that few things say "hey look at me I'm am absolute idiot" quite like smoking.
That's actually what I told myself over and over again to shame myself into quitting. I associated smoking with a few trashy individuals that I knew. I told myself that I didn't want to be like those people so I tricked my mind into quitting.
- parpfish 2y agopeople start out wanting to smoke for whatever reason, but then the addiction kicks in and you just keep smoking even after that reason has passed. among adult smokers, i've always wondered what the breakdown was between people that actively like smoking and want it in their lives versus those that are ambivalent but quitting is too much of a hassle?
- bongodongobob 2y agoI'm a smoker and everyone I know who smokes hates it but it's just so fucking hard to quit. It takes active energy for months and months not to do it.
- hollywood_court 2y agoI suggest using shame to leverage yourself into quitting. It's fallen out of favor in our society, but shame really should be a powerful motivator. I used it to quit smoking tobacco, quit drinking, and quit a 20+ habitual marijuana habit. I use shame to make myself do that extra bit of work in the evenings after my family has gone off to bed. Shame has plenty of good uses if leveraged properly.
- bongodongobob 2y agoCurrently hiding in my car smoking at work. I feel like a complete asshole.
- hollywood_court 2y agoI knew it was working for me when I didn't want anyone to ever see me smoking. I definitely didn't want my child to see me smoking. But first it was coworkers or in-laws and such.
- bongodongobob 2y agoI feel the same, I don't have any kids, but my friends do. Feels like shit. Any other advice or recommended reading? Smoker for 27 years.
- hollywood_court 2y agoAssociate the habit with someone you don’t like. That’s how I stopped all of my bad habits. Smoking, drinking, herb, going to the bar, eating like crap, not exercising, etc. I just associated each habit with someone I didn’t like or respect. Then I took a long had look in the mirror and told myself that I was better than that person and that I could make better decisions.