MetaChat - The Quitter's Club: License to Bitch?

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05 January 2006

The Quitter's Club: License to Bitch? For those of you who have successfully quit smoking or know people who have, I've got a question:→[More:] I know that nicotine withdrawal makes one irritiable and cranky, thus bitchy. I've been wallowing in bitchiness ever since I quit on New Year's Day, and it has escalated since I got home thanks to my stupid ex-boyfriend/current roommate. He says that since it has only been since October that I went back to smoking full time, I should get over the bitchiness soon. I say that since I've been smoking for five years, it should take longer.

Who is correct?

post by: TrishaLynn at: 12:36 | 32 comments

I'm chewing the gum, so very marginal withdrawal (certainly getting less nicotine than my usual pack a day, probably 5 to 6 pieces of the 2mg gum a day), and I had a serious rage fit this morning, like something that i haven't had since teenagerhood, it was pretty scary. Point being, the nicotine is out of your system pretty fast (or in my case still in my system) but the bitchyness might be more a function of the psychological results of quitting rather than the physiological ones. I am no longer sure what the fuck is going on. Strangley I have quite before and experienced none of these feelings, I wonder know if this was because subconsciously I knew I would go back to smoking and I'm totally committed to quitting now.

I am very angry at my body and brain right now, I feel betrayed. I am also still convinced that I will never be happy again because smoking was the only thing that made me happy. I am convinced of this at a bone deep level, even though I know it is bullshit. Addiction is some seriously messed up shit. Really really a kick in the head for someone who considers themselves a real individualist.

posted by Divine_Wino 05 January | 12:48

Also my spelling has gotten even worse.

I might have to do something really awful, like beat someone to death or go on a gouging spree or something.

This sucks today.

Shit.

posted by Divine_Wino 05 January | 12:51

Kind of depends on how naturally one reverts to bitchiness when stressed, no? The five year stress seems more realistic to me. I know that when I finally quit (20 years ago) the fact that I'd successfully quit for 6 months in the past - only to backslide - actually increased my stress.

posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson 05 January | 12:51

You can beat me to death if you want, Divine_Wino, but I'm not paying for the plane ticket.

posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson 05 January | 12:53

Y'all can do it. Keep up the excellent work. Just take it a day at a time. When I go running and want to stop and catch my breath I just try to make it to the next corner, and when I get to that one, make it to the next corner.

posted by sciurus 05 January | 12:55

Thanks to working in retail, I revert to bitchiness very quickly. It just feels worse because I know that whenever I got stressed in the past, I could go outside, have a cigarette or two and it would all go away. Now? Nothing.

There are a few things that I'm totally hesitant to do now, too. Like driving in my car for more than an hour. I used to smoke while driving, to help keep me awake and alert. There's nothing like the fear of burning yourself or something in your car to keep you awake during long, nighttime drives. Now? Nothing.

posted by TrishaLynn 05 January | 12:57

You can do it!
You can quit!
You can do it!
I'll do a split!

::does splits::

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO QUITTERS!

::shakes pom poms::

READY, OK!
Give me a S! S!
Give me a M! M!
Give me an O! O!
Give me a K! K!
Give me an E! E!

What's that spell? DEATH!

GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO QUITTERS!

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 05 January | 12:58

ThePinkSuperhero, your cheers are the best!

posted by mcgraw 05 January | 12:59

Wow, that was kind of hot. I should take up smoking just so I can quit.

posted by sciurus 05 January | 12:59

You can do it!

I am *so* hearing that in the voice of Tony Little, the gym guy.

posted by jonmc 05 January | 13:03

That is very sweet Florence (very Teutonic Cannibal, if you know what I mean), I don't want to beat any specific person to death, just a person. I'm thinking it's gonna have to be with a shovel too, which means I have to go get a shovel, it never fucking ends.

posted by Divine_Wino 05 January | 13:04

TrishaLynn: While driving, a cold bottle of water and a loud radio are your best friends. I do a lot of driving, and two things I've discovered you pretty much can't fall asleep while doing (while driving) are drinking (water) and singing loudly.

posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson 05 January | 13:07

As a fellow quitter, I know how powerful that pointless edgy rage can be. The range of false emotions I've experienced is incredible.

The best thing I've found for reducing bitchiness (other than nicotine lozenges) is an increased awareness that whenever I'm starting to feel edgy, that I need to make a very conscious effort to relax.

Failure to do this early tends to lead to a vvery thorough degradation of my decision-making skills.

posted by mosch 05 January | 13:18

Also, they refilled the vending machine today. The cheesehorns, breakfast claws, and raisin-ettes have gone with the proverbial wind. I'm having a Big Texas Cinnammon Roll instead, which, according to it's label won Pastry Of The Year in the Automatic Merchandiser Reader's Choice Awards. I feel honored just being in it's presence.

Seriously, that must be some awards banquet. I just picture everyone in tuxes and evening gowns lined up at a bank of glittering vending machines, shiny change at the ready. Ah, sportin' life.

posted by jonmc 05 January | 13:24

It also has a picture of a smiling cartoon pastry chef whos chef' toque identifies him as 'Eddie.' I kind of love him.

Plus it is one good cinnamon roll.

posted by jonmc 05 January | 13:28

It's Raining: The problem is there isn't anything to sing along to that I like because regular radio has shitty songs on it. And I've also got a small bladder, which means that I'll be stopping more than I'll be driving.

posted by TrishaLynn 05 January | 13:33

according to it's label won Pastry Of The Year in the Automatic Merchandiser Reader's Choice Awards.

Are you serious?

posted by Specklet 05 January | 13:34

As reported earlier, I've been using the patch and it has been going well for over 2 weeks. But yesterday morning I forgot to put a new one on and I was a basket case by 10 AM. It was liking quitting cold turkey all over again. I went home yesterday at lunch and got a new patch on, but I ain't been right since.

Last night I went to the grocery store looking for a particular type of chicken and a particular vegetable. Neither of them were there. I stood in the store, utterly dumbfounded, torn between bursting into tears, flinging my basket across the store, or some combination of both. I honestly could not think what to do next. All because my nicotine supply had been interrupted. I remember feeling like that when I had tried to quit cold turkey in the past.

So I bought some country ham and jolly ranchers candy.

I really, really try not to take out my crankiness on my co-workers or friends. I know they understand and are rooting for me, but I don't like to subject to my assholish behavior unless its some big deal.

Still going nuts here. Ain't smoking though.

posted by Marxchivist 05 January | 13:37

I've had lots of vending machine adventures. [self-link]

posted by sciurus 05 January | 13:38

Whenever I tried the patch I had the most bugged out David Lynch nightmares. I could not hang.

Trisha:

Then you're fucked, sell your car.*

*You see, I'm a complete asshole, I this is horrible. Fuck!

posted by Divine_Wino 05 January | 13:43

I cheated last night when I went for drinks I only smoked half cigarettes but I had about 7.

I am regretting it today and I need to remember that it isn't worth it but its just the moment itself that it is so hard to say no...

posted by Lola_G 05 January | 13:44

Are you serious?

I never kid about snackfood, specklet.

Well, I do, but I am completely serious. That's what the label says.

posted by jonmc 05 January | 13:45

C! U! T! E!
Smoking is not, it's stinky!

Q! U! I! T!
Stub it out now, 1, 2, 3!

L! U! N! G!
They will thank you, yes siree!

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 05 January | 14:22

*coughs up lung at thepink's feet*

posted by jonmc 05 January | 14:23

scuirus, your vending machine adventures are amusing!

jon, I'm sorry I doubted you. It's just that I couldn't believe there's an Automatic Merchandiser Reader's Choice award.

posted by Specklet 05 January | 14:31

Remember, once you've quit... when others around you quit, outside you can be all supportive and "I'm with you man", but inside you can be all smug and superior and "How do *you* like it, jerkwad?"

P.S. It's not people at the Automatic Merchandiser's Awards Banquet, it's vending machines, in tuxedos and evening dresses.

posted by Capn 05 January | 14:47

DW: Oh, I wish I could give up my car but like cigarettes, they've become a bad habit. I mean, I live in Flushing! It's not like living in Astoria, for God's sakes.

I should give up the damn car. And get a scooter instead. That should make me happy, and piss off the ex at the same time. *smirk*

posted by TrishaLynn 05 January | 14:54

Remember, once you've quit... when others around you quit, outside you can be all supportive and "I'm with you man", but inside you can be all smug and superior and "How do *you* like it, jerkwad?"

That's probably going to be how I make it through this, spite, it's one of my strongest virtues.

posted by Divine_Wino 05 January | 15:03

"Fuck off, fuckfinger". "Fuck-a-doodle-doo". "Go fuck a goat, you fucking goatfucker". "Fuckity fuck-fuck fuck-fuck-fuck".

When I find myself about to rage at something or somebody, it helps me to say the stupidest "fucking" thing I can think of. It serves two purposes: I get to say "fuck", which is inherently therapeutic, and it ends up making me laugh, also therapeutic.

posted by timefactor 05 January | 15:36

And now, a cheer for the less than supportive people in your life.

::shakes pom poms::

I can do it!
I can quit!
If you don't help
you're a piece of shit!

I'm trying to be healthy
So get some class
Smoke yourself silly
and get off my ass

I'll do it without you
I don't give a fuck
I'll just keep on saying
YOU REALLY REALLY SUCK!

woo woo go quitters!

::jumps around, turns 7 cartwheels in a row::

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 05 January | 15:50

if tough love is what you need
to stop that nasty habit
Then I'll be your asshole
you worthless piece of horseshit!

If your feeling kinda stressed
cuz you haven't had a suck
then make me your scapegoat
and tell me to get fucked!

*YAY!*

≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by Hellbient 05 January | 18:24

I would join ThePinkSuperhero in the cheering squad, but honestly, you don't want to see me in the outfit. So instead I'll say the !RAGE! portions of the quitting-smoking experience are very real, but also transitory; it helped me to regard them rather like a fever-spike in a bad but short-lived case of the flu. Also, it helped to go out and slam the car door REALLY HARD like six or seven times at the worst moments. (It made the neighbors a bit wary, too, but whatever.)

Hang in there, nonaddicts-in-the-making! I quit back at the end of October, and although there were some unpleasant moments in November, I now feel ... just really *good,* physically and mentally. And far from missing the cigarettes, I find that catching even a waft of secondhand smoke makes me vaguely nauseated

posted by kat allison 05 January | 19:05

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