MetaChat - The Quitter's Club: Disabling a trigger

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08 December 2006

The Quitter's Club: Disabling a trigger After learning from the guy on the phone at the NY state tax center that they received the paperwork I sent, but can't actually find it in order to figure out why I supposedly didn't report any withholding, I really wanted a cigarette. →[More:]My eyes were bugged out, and I swear, I was gritting my teeth. I could almost smell the sweet-sick smell of burning tobacco and the wonderful sharpness of a nicotine high, the only thing that could keep me from screaming at the top of my lungs, "WHY THE HELL CAN'T YOU FIND MY PAPERWORK WHEN THE PAPERWORK YOU SENT ME RECENTLY SAID YOU RECEIVED IT ON 11/14/06?????"

The mania has passed, but the psychological need for a cigarette hasn't. On average, I think about not having a cigarette at least once a day, mostly when I'm leaving work because the last fag of the day was always a nice one. When I had girl-time recently and I was maudlinly thinking about what might happen if my boyfriend decided to go back to being just friends, I thought about the epic drink-up and smoke-up that would necessarily take place after such an announcement with an almost wistful longing.

I really want a cigarette right now. But I won't have one.

Help me get through the longing?

post by: TrishaLynn at: 15:44 | 7 comments

here:

≡ Click to see image ≡

posted by jonmc 08 December | 15:47

This might help: I was an x-ray clerk for awhile. I filed and retrieved xrays and other radiological exams. Just before I was hired, a clerk misplaced a ct scan before it was examined by a radiologist. It took a while for the general practitioner to realize that the results hadn't been examined. By that point, the patient's (previously undetected) cancer had spread. If the chart had been read in a timely manner, the patient's treatment would have been a lot easier.

In other words, TL, dealing with the medical system really really sucks. If bureaucrats lose your taxs forms, it's a hassle. If clerks lose your medical records (which happens - it actually happened once more while I was working there, too), it results can be deadly. Stay healthy!

I don't mean to preach. I was always astounded by how that job was both mind-numbingly boring and panic-attack-inducing stressful

posted by muddgirl 08 December | 15:58

Take several deep breaths. Feels good, right? That's the feeling of your lungs slowly healing themselves. I make it a point to do this at least once each day. (Last cigarette: May 27th. I'm sure you've heard this a million times, but it gets easier!)

posted by Atom Eyes 08 December | 15:59

Four D's -- when an urge strikes, Delay (put off acting on the urge for any length of time that seems manageable, whether 10 minutes, an hour, or a day; if the urge returns at the end, delay again); Do Something Else (anything else - keep a sketchbook handy, play with pencils or rubber bands, do chores, take a quick walk down the hall); Drink Water (satsifies oral fixation, is just good for you); and Deep Breathe (helps relax you, reducing anxieties urging you to smoke).

Four years after I quit, I still carry a card in my wallet reminding me of these four things. They work.

Don't worry about whether you'll smoke at some hypothetical point in the future. Just concentrate on not smoking today. Pretty soon the days add up impressively, and you won't want to break your streak no matter how stressed you get.

And only thinking about cigs once a day? Man, that's great. You're doing well that it's only once. Since you know when you have a trigger point, at the end of the day, replace the smoking reward with some other rewarding activity you can do at that time.

posted by Miko 08 December | 16:08

Have a cinnamon stick. I am "smoking" one right now. It's delicious - it's about the same size as a cigarette so I can hold it like one; I can take a drag through it, I can chew on it, I can dangle it out my mouth (and it's even better because I can do that indefinitely and smoke doesn't get in my eyes) and, best of all, when the urge has passed I can tuck it behind my ear and wander around like a loon with a cinnamon stick behind my ear, which you totally cannot do with a lit cigarette or you'll catch on fire.

FIVE MOTHERFUCKING DAYS! FIVE DAYS! AAARRRRRRRRGHHH!11

posted by mygothlaundry 08 December | 16:34

Another benefit: cozy-smelling hair!

posted by Miko 08 December | 16:47

mgl: Hang in there. You can totally do it, I know you can. Just take it one day at a time.

posted by TrishaLynn 08 December | 18:48

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