The smoking thread

[cleargreenwater]

[quote="AmyMarie"]I've never tried, but I want to try at least one lol. I have friends who smoke at school and apart from the fact I can't go by them when they're smoking otherwise I'll stink, I have no problem with it. Apart from the fact they are killing themselves when they do. My nan quit smoking after she had her heart attack, after 60 years of doing it. Is addiction really that addictive (if you know what I mean)? Because if my nan can quit after 60 years, can't other people?[/quote]

Some very fortunate people can remain "social smokers" and some can't. I think I had a lot of trouble with it because I was very young when I started, 13ish, so my body grew up on cigarettes and as long as I'd been an adult every last cell for those last 2 or so growth spurts came into creation in a body system functioning on nicotine. It was bad, and I dreamed about smoking for a year or two after psychologically, too. Your Nan was probably also put on an anti-depressant as part the medications for her heart attack recovery, which curbs the withdrawl symptoms and is pretty standard with doctors to help people with sudden health traumas like heart attacks and strokes Having the crap scared out of you by the medical establishment probably helps, too Those nasty commercials of people squeezing plaque out of arteries sure makes me very glad I quit, haha.

When you're ready to quit, and when the right motivation is there and it's the right time for the individual it can be done, like kicking any substance and/or habit. Some people that never happens for though, and it certainly isn't accomplished on demand. It's not any animals natural instinct to inhale smoke, and honestly my advice is to not try those first few times to counter that instinct because like any habit it creeps up on you.

[AdAstrα]

I don't smoke and never will. Not even gonna try it. It's not my thing.

[FlipMode]

[quote="AmyMarie"]I've never tried, but I want to try at least one lol. I have friends who smoke at school and apart from the fact I can't go by them when they're smoking otherwise I'll stink, I have no problem with it. Apart from the fact they are killing themselves when they do. My nan quit smoking after she had her heart attack, after 60 years of doing it. Is addiction really that addictive (if you know what I mean)? Because if my nan can quit after 60 years, can't other people?[/quote]

Don't bother trying it if you can help it. That one to try is what started it for me.

[SnowyCheetah]

I will admit I do have one once in awhile (and by that I mean I may go days weeks or over a month without one) but it's purely for stress relief. Being employed where I am is exceedingly stressful at times and during the last few months I just couldn't take it anymore, so I tried cigarettes. I know they're bad for me which is why I don't do it often; It seems some people get addicted easily and others can cut down or quit without much trouble. I am part of the latter, which is good because I don't smoke outside of work and really don't want to. It makes me smell bad and, as mentioned countless times already, is horrible for my health. It's also looked down upon in society.

It has allowed me to keep my job with far less stress than I would have had, but I really just need to get another job lol.

[Regulus]

The whole addiction thing is exactly what I mean. Personally, I don't care what people do in their own homes, but not judging someone for it is incredibly difficult to do. Knowing that smoking is not only unhealthy and expensive, but addictive as well, I just don't understand it. If we were back in the 1950's, when everyone smoked, and there was no evidence that it was bad, I can understand the choice to try it. But anyone who has picked up the habit within my lifetime must either have been be ignorant or... something else. Impulsive, maybe? I'm not saying this to be rude, I'm saying this because I really don't understand it.

Knowing what I've been told about it, I will never start smoking. And that's beside the fact that I have a very addictive personality.

And, just another thought; don't smokers want to be judged? While the addiction is the most likely reason for lighting up, correct me if I'm wrong, but don't most people start smoking for social reasons? That seems all too ironic to me.

[cleargreenwater]

^ Well, for me it was an anger/rebellion thing. My father growing up was a super health-conscious runner/jogger/exerciser, etc. He walked out on my mother and I, and I rebelled in a way I thought would disappoint him and get his attention. Egg on my face, I was the one that ended up giving myself an addiction and he never batted an eye or so much as sought visitation.

So the take-away lesson here folks is that whenever you want to do something destructive because you think it'll "show" or get back at someone?

Don't do it, they don't ------- care and you'll be the @$$

[SnowyCheetah]

On a side note, I never thought we'd have a thread about smoking on MLK. lol

[RayCat]

^ Lol x]

A question for the people who do smoke: What does it feel like? I mean, why is it so stress-relieving?

[KopsTheTerminator]

[quote="Regulus"]I don't know why anyone would start smoking in the twenty first century, now that we know how unhealthy of a habit it is. I know I shouldn't judge anyone for it, but, to be honest, that's really hard to do. Smoking means prioritizing other things above one's personal health, which makes absolutely no sense to me, no matter how I look at it.[/quote]

Fully agreed, I don't really understand it either.

[SnowyCheetah]

[quote="RayCat"]^ Lol x]

A question for the people who do smoke: What does it feel like? I mean, why is it so stress-relieving? [/quote]

It doesn't feel like anything but maybe a little burning sensation in your throat but it's the nicotine (the addictive chemical) that affects the brain in such a way that relaxation can occur. A lot like drugs lol