My Grandmother (long gone now) was psychosomatically allergic to airborn dust. Seeing dust on a surface, or lying still on the ground was no problem, but as soon as she saw it in the air she’d go into a sneezing fit. We knew it was “in her head” because seeing a duststorm or sandstorm in a movie or on television would have the same effect. She knew it too, but didn’t care. She’d laugh about while she was sneezing. 
The reason I bring this up is because I know that there are some people who are psychosomatically allergic to cigarette smoke. How else could seeing someone a block away in a car, smoking, bring on a allergic reaction?
So, should this relatively rare condition be reason to prohibit any smoking in public, in a car or not?
I know about the kids, okay? And agree that smoke should be kept away from them. Also, I’m an ex-smoker of several years. I hate cigarette/cigar/pipe smoke.
Peace,
mangeorge
My mother is convinced that she, and everyone else, is the victim of a plethora of relentless allergies. She’s taking a long list of medications for that and every other disorder she can convince her doctor she has. It’s pretty sad.
If she gets an allergic reaction from just seeing someone smoke, then yes, that’s psychosomatic. (Cigarette smoke isn’t much of an allergen anyway – it’s more of a natural irritant.)
Absolutely not. While there are many valid reasons to restrict smoking in public and in cars, this is not one of them.
Has she tried meditation? Seriously, meditation works wonders on psychosomatic illnesses.
You skimmed, didn’t you? :dubious:
I assume you get the “she” part from my talk of my grandmother, who had her problem with airborn dust. And it really wasn’t much of a problem.
Meditation is a pretty good treatment for many problems of this type. Problem is, for most people who suffer from psychosomatic illness “cure” is the last thing they want. Treatment is what they are after.