Number of cigarettes smoked: 38. The ‘Think Quit Program’ allows you to continue smoking normally for the first 7 days and on the 8th day, you quit. But I can assure you there is nothing ‘normal’ about smoking 38 cigarettes in one day. I usually only smoke this many cigarettes when I’m having a crisis and I am – I’m thinking about how deprived I’m going to feel come quit day.
Like any other addict, I’ve convinced myself over a period of 20 years that I ‘need’ my drug of choice, especially in times of crisis and I’ve certainly had more than my fair share of those.
For example, when I was 22 I had a terrifying flash-back related to a traumatic event in my childhood. It scared the bejesus out of me, not to mention my poor husband who was awoken by the sound of my screams, as I clawed at the wall in an attempt to get away from the hallucination. I was on the waiting list for counselling but until my name reached the top of the list, my husband (we are now divorced) and I just had to cope with it as best we could.
The first thing we did was move the bed away from the wall. But still, night after night I would lie awake in the dark for hours terrified that the past would return to harm me. I tried listening to relaxation music (pan flutes, nature sounds, etc), but I found the only thing that really worked was smoking. Whenever I felt my mind drifting away from the present, I would reach for a cigarette. I don’t know what the clinical explanation is, but I think smoking worked simply because it was a habit I had adopted as an adult and all the trauma was done to the child. By reaching for something that was so firmly rooted in the present, I found that I was able to avoid the trauma of literally reliving my past.
It is this need to avoid dealing with painful events in one’s past that leads many to develop a dependence on drugs and alcohol and I am perhaps fortunate, in that my only addiction is to nicotine. I have a younger sister who became an IV drug user in an attempt to avoid all the pain associated with child abuse.
Although I’m pretty confident my recovery from these traumatic events is complete, I still worry that come quit day, I will become overwhelmed by all those emotions I’d extinguished with a cigarette. It’s an issue I intend to raise with the creator of Think Quit, Mark Stephens, when I talk to him on Monday.
On day one of the Think Quit program, Mark suggests smokers start practicing a deep-breathing exercise. Deep breathing relaxes the mind and gives your body the fresh air it craves. If you’ve never tried mediation before or you’re a novice like me, you’ll find the ‘Habit replacement deep-breathing exercise‘ on page 88, useful practice for the meditations you’ll be introduced to later in the book.
On day one smokers are also asked to list the benefits of NOT smoking.
I have identified the following personal benefits of NOT smoking:
- No more smoker’s cough
- Improved circulation in my legs
- Sense of accomplishment and control over my life
- Save money
- More youthful looking skin
- No longer a social outcast
- Freedom!
- Longer life and no more worrying about smoking related diseases
- Improved fitness
- No more worrying about the impact of smoking on my two children
The last one is of particular concern as my 18 year old son has recently started smoking and I am hoping my example will encourage him to quit, sooner than later.
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Think Quit: smoke free forever by Mark Stephens is published by Allen & Unwin and is available now at book retailers across Australia (RRP $24.99). ‘Think Quit’ will be released in the United States in June 2010.
YOU CAN BUY THIS BOOK ONLINE AT:
Amazon.com – release date June 2010
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To my knowledge, no-one has joined me in the Quit Smoking Challenge as yet. But I’m hopeful
This is SO huge, Deb. May your list of personal benefits hold you up as you battle – yes battle – through this incredibly life-enhancing, empowering choice. So so in awe of you. Kudos and strength to you.
Is anyone joining Deb?
Brave woman
Inspiring woman 