The Nicotine Addict

What is Nicotine? A highly toxic poisonous chemical that works on the central nervous system both as stimulant or tranquilliser, the physiological working is very complex. In my experience it also has anesthetic properties so that nicotene can act as painkiller and sedative. Direct intravenously administered to the blood stream even an exceedingly small amount say as half a cigarette will lead to instant death. Fractions of a second. What saves you here is that the body also metabolises nicotine extremely rapidly.

Why do people smoke? It is substance addiction, not compulsion. Would you go around with a piece of blackboard chalk in your pocket and take it out now and then sucking at it blissfully? It is also a great way of meeting new people you don't want to. It is like a junkie you've got to have it. Other medicines can also play a part.

Smoking in public, in the past

Those days people were much more lenient and tolerant we smoked just about everywhere inside banks lecture halls movie theatres supermarkets any place but now with all the more stricter laws they are taking it too far, toward the other side. We should understand that most smokers are far past the stage where they can just stop and they are caused extreme discomfort often without reason.

Train, bus and passenger airlines had smoking sections. In your office at work, and one could smoke even in hospitals I mean today it is unthinkable but it was it is true. People are not smoking much less.

Second-hand smoke is not as dangerous as is claimed, compared to it motor vehicle and industrial emissions are much more harmful. At this stage honestly I feel we're overdoing it and punishing people very selfishly and unnecessarily.

My story, excess

My own story in the end I don't feel particularly proud about all of this but life is very precious and I want better quality of life now today just for today. I am just very very grateful.

Many guys started in the army and clubs and pubs I started out in primary school already and grew up with it like many other kids, the surest sign of a miss-spent youth. Heading for delinquent. After school me and my buddies would each smoke a cigarette usually it made me feel so sick I had to lie on my bed the whole afternoon but we just persevered. Mostly my friends were from dysfunctional homes too.

Can you blow circles one inside the other? Neither can I. And smoke out the mouth into the nose or put the cigarettes out on your tongue? Stupid idea. Play chicken with a burning cigarette's coal I always won so I never played.

Once my car took fire from all the matches on the floor and couldn't pull of the highway hell that was a close one. Smoking is definitely a fire hazard e.g curtains taking fire beds blankets they all can. Starting house fires. This is true and accidents do happen sometimes while driving it's just as bad as cellphones. And a few times my eyes started burning badly while driving it was very dangerous that on the highway you can't see a thing it just burns. You have to pull off, if you can.

The road from here to East-London I once did on one carton 20s admittedly I had a bit of trouble along the road let's call it 10 hours. That averages out a packet an hour. Normally I could go on two cartons a week. You see why I don't want to talk about it? No-one would believe me thinking I am bragging and exaggerating. Until you see it yourself.

Yes I guess I am exaggerating just a little bit!

A miracle, quitting

I'm clean of tobacco six years plus, try and try again, worth it but a bastard. God will help you ask him. Took some tries though well worthwhile. Twenty years ago I made a oath to never smoke a tobacco pipe again and would smoke only cigarettes. And I am thankful I was never really in such a situation. There were many relapses but I'm glad for each attempt.

Your first cigarette of a relapse tastes horrible sickly it tastes like something evil from the drain but you go on regardless and at that time it is too late any-case.

I thought about my last smoke a lot and planned the whole thing beforehand and I told nobody about it.

In great humility I prayed at the farm house on the cement doorsteps and walked the dirt road to the primitive old wood and barbed wire gate where on my knees I prayed again, broke off a splint of wood from the gate which is my piece of the cross and I still have. And walked back home.

There wasn't any nicotine substitute but I ate a lot of chocolates Quality Street stuff with the little crinkly wrappers with time it got less and in the end I got tired of it candy cigarettes didn't help much. It is more than six years now.

There are some support groups for nicotine addicts on the internet it won't do harm. Very often and usually on successful attempts you will be told these were spiritual in nature and with some personal idea of God, in effect, God. Fact is it does take a miracle!

Tapering off?

To try weaning yourself off nicotine chemically from what I've seen is almost always unsuccessful and these things are extremely expensive. It boils down to self-deception. Good business big bucks I've tried them all. There are even paperbacks too guaranteeing quitting. And very expensive crash courses available like psyching you up and that and as well some church members' incessant praying and petioning as deliverance and excorcism. Personally I don't know anyone for whom any of these things worked.

At one stage so-called “light” cigarettes were in fashion with very low nicotine and tar content it is throwing money away. Those lights and milds and that are of absolutely no use in fact I think that is what taught me me to chain smoke like that one after the other gasping for nicotine. Good money after bad. Lots of it.

Nicotine weaning usually ends up as only self inflicted punishment with gimmicks such as patches, gum, sprays it all looks to me like just money down the drain. Long stories. Tried them all except for the tablets and that probably won't help either they make you feel sick if you smoke most people then just stop the pills and prefer smoking. They advise you it is hazardous. Most people that do quit quit cold turkey.

Saving money, better health and quality of life

The more you try the better your chances I've tried many times that is a good thing. 11 months, 7 months times two and a number of times a week or two. Best stay away from alcohol alcohol takes away your inhibitions and makes you irresponsible and careless, it makes you do very stupid things.

The bottom line still is you must want to just stop, cold turkey is in fact really the most painless. It is so you must do it for yourself and for your health, and money also is as good a reason as any but unfortunately most people postpone until it is too late.

I hear the new thing is vaping, supposed to be safer. I don't know about that nicotine is extremely poisonous to me it sounds like it's very dangerous. Is it expensive? And chewing tobacco and snuff are horrible, vile. And snus, it's like a small tea bag supposedly for withdrawals.

You know what I smoked a lot hey, ask anybody who knew me they'll say I easily smoked more than anyone else. Anybody and anyone. World champ.

You cough and cough and cough and clear your throat and spit slime and your eyes burn and tears you are short of breath but you can't stop. You give your money away and just keep on thinking of the next cigarette.

It is a far better life without Nicotine, by the grace of God!