Cold Turkey
Well, I spoke too soon about my attempt to quite smoking. Basically, even with Tabex I could murder a cigarette now. Haven’t had not even one for two days now, but boy does the inside of my mouth crave nicotine injested through smoke. I can only wonder how long this feeling is going to last.
Like I said, even though I am on a course of Tabex this now feels like Cold Turkey, although technically it isn’t. Then again, maybe it would be even worse without this supplement, I really don’t know.
“Cold turkey” is a slang expression describing the actions of a person who gives up a habit or addiction all at once, rather than gradually (easing the process through tapering off or using supplemental medication).
[…]
The term allegedly derives from the comparison of a cold turkey carcass and the state of a withdrawing addict — most notably, the cold sweats and goose bumps. It is often preceded by the verb “to go,” as in “going cold turkey.”
[…]
Although many people disagree, it has been said that nicotine cessation can be the most difficult form of cold turkey, more difficult than even heroin or cocaine. [1]
To be honest, I’m amazed that I’m resisting the temptation just to have one more “last” smoke to make myself feel a little better. Of course, I know that any cigarette at this stage is going to put me back on 50-60 a day. so I guess that’s what’s keeping me away from my nearest kiosk.
Kind of a pity, really, coz the first cigarette after three days without one the last time I gave up smoking was a real blast. I swear I felt high. Amazing this stuff is legal given how hard it is to quit the habit. Living without alcohol and caffeine is easy. Cutting back on smoking is a killer for me at least.
Still, I’m determined to try to beat it this time.
Not what I need to read, especially as I could really, really, REALLY do with a cigarette right now. Still, at least I know things should be better in 2-3 weeks. If I make it that far, of course.
No kidding. From 50-60 a day to absolutely none. The craving is starting to get intense, no question about it. What I’d give for a cigarette now, although maybe not as I suppose nothing is stopping me from buying a packet.
However, the temptation for “just one” is getting stronger and stronger. It’s only the fact that I feel better when I wake up now, and that I can actually taste things even after such a short time that is keeping me going on this.
I wonder what the craving would be like if I weren’t on Tabex. Hell, I suspect. Given that I’m usually “irritable, restless, and moody” even when I am smoking, one dreads to think. Incidently, in addition to the strong craving and salivation in my mouth, my eyes are tired.
On the other hand, I am sleeping better now and not least because my caffeine intake has coincidently been reduced as coffee-drinking nearly always accompanied smoking. Anyway, stupid habit especially proven by the difficulty associated with quitting.
It’s an addiction. Pure and simple.
Comment by Onnik — December 9, 2006 @ 8:12 pm
Onnik,
Your self-hating inferiority complex-plagued comments and opinions have once again proven to be wrong. 17 year-old Silva from Hayastan HAS WON the BBC Contest. And Iam proud to say that Armenians made that possible in the first round despite the likes of you.
And by the way Onno are you ready to live in a Kocharian prime-ministered and a Serge presidented Armenia in the next 10 years or so? Or are you searching for work in UK already? Poor starved soul.
PS These words are directed to you and I don’t care if you post them or not
Comment by Taslak — December 9, 2006 @ 9:08 pm
Hang in there and keep up the good fight of quiting those cancer-sticks.
Comment by Ara Manoogian — December 10, 2006 @ 1:42 am
Parliamentary elections will be falsified and might also be fully ‘implemented’ as planned however the same will not be true to the presidential elections. The regime or the path of governance will change (therefore a revolution) when the absolute need comes, it will all happen gradually and in natural form. The process is very similar to a fruit, when you ripen it artificially it doesn’t taste good and rotes very quickly . Temporary and artificial measures cause more trouble. I am glad it was not done in Armenia as it was done in Georgia and Ukraine.
The fruit will start to ripen after the parliamentary elections and will be ready to explode near or after the Presidential elections.
Comment by Haik N. — December 10, 2006 @ 2:00 am
It is great that you have made the decision to quit smoking. I have tried to convince (scare, plead, explain, “bribe”) my dad to stop smoking with no result. Then I realized that it is usually not enough to “want” to quit, there should be a comprehensive support system in place to help the person to succeed in the attempt–stop smoking programs, nutritional/exercise counciling, family/friends support. All of them are almost non-existent in Armenia. But, it is doable. Just to boost your patience, here are some interesting facts about the benefits of quiting (from American Cancer Society). It is never to late to quit.
20 minutes after quitting: Your heart rate and blood pressure drops.
12 hours after quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal.
2 weeks to 3 months after quitting: Your circulation improves and your lung function increases.
1 to 9 months after quitting: Coughing and shortness of breath decrease; cilia (tiny hair-like structures that move mucus out of the lungs) regain normal function in the lungs, increasing the ability to handle mucus, clean the lungs, and reduce the risk of infection.
1 year after quitting: The excess risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s.
5 years after quitting: Your stroke risk is reduced to that of a nonsmoker 5 to 15 years after quitting.
10 years after quitting: The lung cancer death rate is about half that of a continuing smoker’s. The risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, cervix, and pancreas decrease.
15 years after quitting: The risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker’s.
Good luck!
Comment by Nanul — December 10, 2006 @ 8:03 am
Hi Nanul,
Thanks for the comment and words of advice / points of interest.
Interestingly, I don’t think I exhibit any signs of the negative health consequences of smoking i.e. being out of breath, coughing etc.
However, I know that I’ve been lucky and one day it will kick in big time or worse.
Main thing for me was how much control cigarettes had over me. i.e. I usually had to do things around smoking a cigarette.
Well, the craving from yesterday seems to be gone this morning (famous last words), and I do have to say that I feel so much better waking up as a non-smoker than I did before.
Still, let’s see how the day progresses.
Comment by Onnik — December 10, 2006 @ 12:03 pm
I went through that a couple of times.
After 3-4 days the craving stops but it comes back later on. if you pass the 4th week barrier than your chances of becoming smoke free is 90%.
It is easy to stop the 1st time. It is harder to quite the 2nd or 3rd time ( i never tried a 4th time so I dont know).
It is 99% mental. You need to find that what will influence you to stop smoking. I know people who stopped smoking after they saw a damaged lung. Personally I ‘brainwashed’ myself thinking that if I put a cigarette in my mouth I will vomit and the smell give me headaches. You should maintain that mental state indefinitely otherwise you will start smoking even if you dont smoke for a year. It comes easier then it goes. Quitting is a life time commitment.
1% is the environment e.g. smoking in the buildings, your friends smoke, you think that stress will go away after smoking and etc.
It is better to quit at once ( cold turkey) than gradually. Gradually never worked for me, as there is always the “last one”.
No w I am smoke free but I guess it was easy for me.
Good luck.
Comment by Haik N — December 10, 2006 @ 2:55 pm
Haik, today has been surprisingly easy so far. Mouth still craving a cigarette, but not like I needed one yesterday. Another interesting thing regarding giving up smoking is that I now no longer need to run out to the local kiosk first thing in the morning. Poor guys will probably notice a drop in their profit soon.
Still feel like I should be, but then remember that it was only to buy my first dose of a nicotine fix. I kind of feel freer as a result. On the other hand, lack of concentration and being rather shaky because of nicotine withdrawal meant I accidently sliced through part of my finger with a kitchen knife last night.
Nothing major, but anyway, a sign of just how bloody strong the addiction can be.
Otherwise I agree with you regarding how dangerous it can be to venture into the same situations that people used to smoke in. To be honest, however, the bar scene really bores me now as there were only 3 good places anyway.
Likewise, never liked the cafe scene and they’re all closed now coz of the winter.
That said, what I am thinking about, however, is all those places I couldn’t stay long in without dashing out for a cigarette. That is, places where I couldn’t smoke. Not so many of them, but they do exist in Yerevan.
If I can’t yet use the health argument for giving up smoking, perhaps I can at least consider that I now have more personal freedom and am no longer a slave to the next nicotine fix. Well, that’s what I hope.
Let’s see. It’s still early days and I admit that I sometimes try to convince myself “Well, just one cigarette isn’t going to hurt, is it?”
Comment by Onnik — December 10, 2006 @ 4:17 pm
I puked when I heard her sing. She sucks. Maybe she can take some singing lessons? Like from the several good singers that, WE, Armenians do have. But immitating the “west” is not Culture, and I don’t thing having the “West-siders” and the “East-siders” in Armenia means culture.
So quit picking on Onnik and go Fuck yourself, K? Stupid Mo.
Comment by Armen — December 12, 2006 @ 10:06 am
Probably time to close this comments section methinks.
Comment by Onnik — December 12, 2006 @ 11:09 am