Overcoming Addiction(s)

[Ancho]

My first thought to be on the chopping block we call criticism. Here goes:

If I can no longer see myself as a (insert addiction here) smoker, then I will stop smoking (said addiction).

 

help with this please someone who's not afraid to speak up and speak out.

[Ikalx]

I've never really been addicted to anything that's recognisably dangerous. Mostly it's just gaming and chocolate, and that kind of thing...which...well no one really says anything about, except that you need to 'change your life', sometimes.

But I do think one of the things about addiction is if it stops being actually about the experience and more about the habit, that's when it becomes an addiction. For instance, if I like to have chocolate after a meal, and eventually I get into the habit of having chocolate after a meal...that's not so great.

So, like I would be having breakfast then feeling like having chocolate after it, which...isn't that bad,  but the bad part about it, is that when I had the chocolate I wasn't really experiencing it or enjoying it especially, and once it was over I didn't think about it any more. I didn't think "mmm...that was delicious", I just moved on. I think that's when it becomes pointless...because you start something because it feels good or tastes nice or whatever it is...and then it becomes...something that just happens.

And what's the point in that?

It's hard even when the substance isn't addictive to change your habits, but one thing I've found is if I just move on to the next thing and exit the area where I would have had the experience (e.g. go upstairs, instead of hanging around the kitchen), my lazy mind and body just kind of leave it alone. It does pull at me a bit, but after a while I've found I've forgotten about it entirely.

Then I can just have that experience deliberately and purposely, and enjoy it in the moment.

Sure, that doesn't exactly help you cut down or quit your habit, or so you might think...but after a while you might find you're starting to do it less, because the 'hit' is more when you resist it a little, so you can enjoy it more later. And then...you find that as you have more control over it, if you decide you don't want to do it anymore, it's easier to walk away from it.

I hope that helps a little. Good luck with it!

[kmlao]

no smoking

[Hyuichiro]

i'm addicted to smoking since late HS, lasted for about 2 year. 
not a heavy one, maybe once a day or two except when i stressed out. 
but after a series of coughing up blood  i stop.
btw, i'm a closet smoker so, don't tell anyone ok

[DeBritto]

arara.. me see what you did there...

[Ancho]

@Ikalx

I used to be addicted to chocolate but that was when I was much younger.
Now that I have nephews and nieces, I give them chocolate instead of me keeping it all to myself
 


@Hyuichiro

an addiction that only lasted 2 years? you had control over when u wanted to stop the entire time since u only smoked like 2 a day.
I'm talking about ppl who smoke 10 or 20 a day for more than 5 yrs. I on the other hand cut down significantly from how much I used to smoke. From 5 a day to 5 a week. Then I decided to stop smoking and start vaping instead, since I was told it is less harmful.

Vaping is nothing like smoking except for the fact that e-liquids can contain nicotine, which causes addiction. But I treat it like I would those patches or the gum (which I've tried before). I realized I'm not really addicted to nicotine but the mechanic of drawing and blowing smoke when I'm stressed out, it calms me down.

Anyways good thing u stopped, after coughing up blood.
 

[Ikalx]

Why was I talking about...chocolate?   My bad.

I do think, though, when you think about what you're doing and notice it more, you can start to figure out why you're doing what you're doing. I think it's great you switched to vaping because it is supposed to be better for you, and at least you know now what it is you're addicted to and sorta why.

I have...a bunch of things I do to avoid stress tbh, and I don't think they're any more healthy than smoking because I waste life, rather than health, and time is one thing you can't get back. So I have to kind of try to figure out how not to be stressed or in that kind of environment, and...that's tough to do a lot of times, because it's so easy not to do it.

I hope you start to figure things out though, Ancho, I believe in you!


@hyuichiro, dude that sounds rough! I'm glad you quit while you could!

[Gerpiuz]

I can't stop smoking.... Tried several times but couldn't stop it at all.  So sad