# Quit smoking, possibly **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 25, 2002, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-smoking-possibly/115860 "2002-06-25T12:25:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 12:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-smoking-possibly/115860/1 "2002-06-25T12:25:43Z")
Yes, quit Saturday. Typing is incredibly hard Using delete button as much as keys. Having a for of palsy. Can’t see corrreectly. Hard do read. Could barely get shirt ans shortw on. Sick of ealete,screw it. Angry a lot.klHot. Fall asleep alot. Can’t even think about shower. Screaming. General diep misery. Anoone else this happenek to? Gotk to spop STOPk! ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-smoking-possibly/115860/2 "2002-06-25T12:28:32Z")
ageless6, GO TO YOUR DOCTOR! ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-smoking-possibly/115860/3 "2002-06-25T12:52:55Z")
Thankks, TA, but IThink I’lltryto ride it out-my so is right next door ifanything really bad happens. I just ondered if anything similar has happenee to anyone else. It’s like I imagane the beginning of alzheimers wold be. I can’t THINK or remembedr. ---
**Author:** ![Dances\_With\_Caterpillars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Dances\_With\_Caterpillars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dances_With_Caterpillars)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-smoking-possibly/115860/4 "2002-06-25T12:58:49Z")
Wow. I didn’t experience anything but extreme bitchiness. 😃 You should be okay in a few days. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-smoking-possibly/115860/5 "2002-06-25T13:48:27Z")
Hang in there **ageless** , you’re doing really well to make it through this far in what seems like a particularly hard withdrawel. It’ll get easier soon, I promise. I know it’s hard to concentrate, so use the net to distract yourself - do bizarre google searches, flick through easy-to-read sites. Use the SDMB. If you carry on feeling like this for more than a couple of days, I do suggest you go to your doctor. It’s positive that you’re determined to ride it out, but there’s no need to suffer unnecessarily. One final piece of advice: when it does get easier (and it will), don’t fall into the trap of “I’m not addicted any more, I can have just one now”. That’s an evil trap I’ve succumbed to more than once. Best wishes. Fran, smoke-free for 6 months. ---
**Author:** ![VenusProbe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/e495f1/32.png) [@VenusProbe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VenusProbe)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-smoking-possibly/115860/6 "2002-06-25T14:23:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Francesca \* > \*\*One final piece of advice: when it does get easier (and it will), don’t fall into the trap of “I’m not addicted any more, I can have just one now”. That’s an evil trap I’ve succumbed to more than once. > \*\* I’ll second that. ---
**Author:** ![tevya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/4491bb/32.png) [@tevya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tevya)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-smoking-possibly/115860/7 "2002-06-25T15:56:30Z")
[Here](http://www.drkoop.com/wellness/tobacco/articles/cold_turkey.asp) is a website that discusses the symptoms of nicotine withdrawal in those who try to quit cold turkey. It seems as though the more you smoke, the worse the symptoms are when you smoke (pretty self-evident). IANA Doctor, but I would think that you may want to see a doctor about ways to reduce these unpleasant symptoms. You **can** tough it out, but you don’t **have** to. If the issue is lack of insurance / lack of funds to pay for a physician, try calling the American Lung Association or some other organization that advocates smoking cessation and see what recommendations they have. I have no idea what advice they can give but it would be worth a try. ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-smoking-possibly/115860/8 "2002-06-25T16:09:28Z")
Thanks Francesca and VenusProbe: It seems to be slightly betteer.(SHIT!) It seems to come in episodes. Thanks anyone else who answers. Got to stop typing-it’s agonizing. ---
**Author:** ![Tiburon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e36b37/32.png) [@Tiburon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tiburon)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-smoking-possibly/115860/9 "2002-06-25T16:42:37Z")
Wow. I’m sorry, **ageless6** , but when I first read your OP, I thought you were being sarcastic/dramatic. I didn’t realize that you were having that bad of withdrawl symptoms. Wow, I’m sorry you’re going through that. I’d definitely contact my physician. I hope you start feeling better soon. Tibs. ---
**Author:** ![Dances\_With\_Caterpillars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Dances\_With\_Caterpillars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dances_With_Caterpillars)\ **Post date:** [June 25, 2002, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-smoking-possibly/115860/10 "2002-06-25T19:29:37Z")
FWIW, my husband smoked for over 30 years, and will have been smoke-free for 3 years in October. I myself will be smoke-free 5 years on Christmas Day. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-smoking-possibly/115860/11 "2002-06-26T03:47:39Z")
Nope,Tiburon, that’s pretty much the way it was. I just couldn’t think clearly and my reactions just didn’t react. I’m much better, though. Hopefully it will get better yet. ---
**Author:** ![TroubleAgain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e480ec/32.png) [@TroubleAgain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TroubleAgain)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-smoking-possibly/115860/12 "2002-06-26T13:46:22Z")
Geez, you scared me, ageless6. I like you and I did NOT like seeing that type of post from you. I’m glad you’re better. ---
**Author:** ![Jorel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f19dbf/32.png) [@Jorel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jorel)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-smoking-possibly/115860/13 "2002-06-26T15:49:03Z")
Hi Ageless, I’m glad you are feeling better. It will continue to get better, if your experience is like mine. Not sure if this will help you (I am a very bitter person) but when I felt like screaming and wanted a cigarette I thought of those tobacco company guys with hands raised _swearing_ in front of congress: “I believe that nicotine is not addictive” Somehow remembering them say that with straight faces after swearing to tell the truth channeled my hatred and helped me quit smoking…if for no other reason than to not ever put a nickle into those guys pockets. Good Luck. ps And I third the advice given by Francesca and Venus Probe. Avoid the “I’ve been smoke free for a long time now, I’ll just have one” ---
**Author:** ![ageless6](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de053/32.png) [@ageless6](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ageless6)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-smoking-possibly/115860/14 "2002-06-26T16:36:46Z")
TroubleAgain: I’m blushing. I think you’re the first doper that ever said you liked me. Psst-I like you too. Jorel: Cigarettes are addictive? No wonder! Cigaretteless for 4 days after 47 or 48 years of AT LEAST a pack a day. Still have minor tremors and difficulty talking, but almost back to normal on the keyboard. Don’t worry about me thinking I can have just one or two ciggies and get away with it. I went through that twice with alcohol. ---
**Author:** ![ianzin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ed655f/32.png) [@ianzin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ianzin)\ **Post date:** [June 26, 2002, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/quit-smoking-possibly/115860/15 "2002-06-26T22:02:15Z")
Hang on in there **ageless6**. Been there, done that. It’s tough but it IS do-able. At the end of the day, amidst all the other issues, it just comes down to whether you want to live for you or for the tobacco execs. TR: Good morning. You: Hi. What do you want? TR: I’d really like you to stick these things in your mouth and inhale the smoke. You: Uh? What are they? TR: Rolled up pieces of paper with processed bits of tobacco leaf in them. You: And you want me to… uh? TR: Yep. Set fire to them, stick them in your mouth and inhale. You: Er… if it’s not a dumb question… why? TR: So that myself and my colleagues can draw good salaries, send our kids to private schools, buy big houses, afford really high-class hookers. The usual. You: Uh-huh. And what’s in it for me? TR: Ah. Well. Not a lot really. Um, the thing is, these things contain one of the most highly addictive substances on earth, so after you’ve smoked 1 or 2 you’ll actually have interfered with the functioning of your own brain. You’ll actually thing a poison is something you need! You: No shit?! TR: True as I’m standing here. And once that’s happened, you’ll convince yourself of all sorts of crap about why you want to carry on smoking. It helps you relax, or to cope with stress, or stuff like that. You: And none of that’s true? TR: Complete rubbish. Look around! Millions of peoplpe do stressful jobs without smoking, or who find other ways to relax. But believe me, one or two of these babies and you’ll be cranking out a dozen reasons a minute as to why it makes sense to carry on. Christ, you’ll even kid yourself you’re defending your right to independence, or stuff like that. You: Well, won’t that part be true? TR: Oh sure, like there’s a whole _bunch_ of freedom in getting your body addicted to a poisonous substance. Obviously, the ‘freedom’ would consist of telling me and the rest of the industry to go screw ourselves. You: Okay. So, let me get this straight. There’s no real benefit to me, and the only reason you want me to do this is so you can get rich at my expense? TR: In a nutshell, yes. So, how about it? You: Mmm. And for how long do you want me to do this? TR: Every day for the rest of your life. You: Gee. That’s a lot! TR: I can’t deny that. It _is_ a lot. You: But apart from the addictive thing, there’s no side-effects or anything? TR: Ah. Well. Er… just a few. The cigs do contain tar. You: Tar? TR: Basically, that’s a catch-all term for a weird cocktail of known toxic compounds, some of them highly carcinogenic, that will gradually build up in your lungs and other parts of your body. You: Wow. sounds like it could make me very ill! TR: Well, not exactly. I mean, no-one can _prove_ anything bad will happen. There are people who smoke these things and live a hale and hearty life until they’re 99. You: Really? TR: Yeah. They’re statistical flukes, of course, but we tend to focus on them a lot. For the majority, it’s a very different story. Cancer, emphysema, thrombosis… serious shit like that. But obviously I wouldn’t want to dwell on those. You: No, no. Quite. Er, you know, I’m going to have to think about this. By the way, I might do it if it’s cheap. These things aren’t expensive are they? TR: Well, kinda. We’d expect you to get up to about 20 a day at least, and here are the prices. (Shows price list). You: Wow! That’s a whole chunk o’ change! You know, I think I could probably find something better to do with the money. TR: Aw, but come on [lights up a sample], these things make you look really, really cool. And it’s something to do when you’re watching TV. Or after sex. You: Sorry, I’m not convinced. And… if you don’t mind me saying… they smell pretty bad. TR: Actually, you’re right, the smell will get into your clothes and carpets and stuff. But it’s like I said before, once you get the nicotine into you’re brain, you’ll actually kid yourself that doesn’t matter. You: Look, suppose I decide to try these things. I can stop whenever I want, right? TR: Technically, yes. That’s your choice. In fact, you’ll find it a real bitch. Strong men have cried trying to quit. Like I said before, they contain one of the most addictive compounds known to science. You: Okay. I’ve listened to all you have to say, and frankly, I think I’ll pass. Frankly, I’m amazed you ever make a sale. TR: It _is_ amazing, isn’t it? You: I think I’ll keep my brain and lungs just as they are, thanks. And you, and your buddies, can - as you rightly put it - go screw yourselves. Bye!