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Smoking 101

Posted by Unknown | Posted in , | Posted on Wednesday, February 16, 2011



Let me kick off by justifying the educating, and somewhat judgemental, role that i've acquired on the topic. I was a chain smoker for about 4 years during which time i took three breaks each lasting  for approximately 1 month, 2 weeks and 3 months, respectively. My latest smoke-free period, which is currently ongoing, started OCT 27 2010, almost about 4 months ago. The reason i call it a "smoke-free period" and not quitting is because i haven't given much thought to the idea whether i will smoke again or not. So i haven't quit, but i also don't smoke. I lie exactly in the grey area, where i am neither a smoker nor a non-smoker. I am both and i am none. Which is why the perspective in my position is as clear and the opinion as pure as it gets.


What is Smoking?

Smoking, despite of its literal and diversified meaning, is usually termed specifically in reference to cigarettes (and so is to be inferred from the context that follows).
So, In depth, what exactly is the idea or motive behind the act of smoking? What does it symbolise? Fear? Psychological disorder? Rejection? Anti-socialism? Inferiority complex? Depression? Agression? Power? Dominance and control? Self-confidence?
Well, It portrays all of them and none of them.

To one person it may be suicidal, wrong, immature.. While to another, it might be the complete opposite. Extremists exist on both the ends. However, both the parties, in favor and against, see only part of the picture and are therefore biased in their respective opinions. If a person truly understood the concept of smoking he/she would have a neutral opinion. The idea is very complex indeed.
Smoking is not just puffing on a roll of tobacco. Its a lot more. Each cigarette is different and what each person gets out of a cigarette varies from person to person and depends on each person. Just like the reason why a person starts smoking is unique.

What is the reason a person smokes?

Nothing specific or particular like abusive childhood, troublesome upbringing, financial problems, stress, loneliness, sadness or unhapiness. There are no standard or pre-defined reasons. A person may smoke simply because he/she is too happy. It doesnt matter what the reason is. All that matters is that the person feels justified to smoke. Mostly its not a single reason. A series of events through life lead the person to that cigarette and a string of reasons make it feel right. There are always reasons, which mostly cant be shaped into words. Nobody smokes solely due to the addictive element of a cigarette. Though it might be the reason when you are trying not to.  People smoke because they WANT to smoke. And the only way one can ever quit successfully, is by overcoming this WANT.

Who is a smoker?

This question has no right answer. Because smoking is not who a person is. Its just what the person does. Theres a very common misconception about the idea, however. Most non smokers despise smokers because the general belief is that a smoker is a 'criminal'. Quiet an assumption. But how can u profile an individual based on one habbit, when you can't even figure out  the origin of the habbit?
Some non-smokers think high of themselves just because they don't smoke. Even if everyone admitted to the statement that smoking is wrong, no one would say that not smoking is right. Not doing wrong per se is not right. Its neither. For example. You do wrong, you get kicked. You do right, you get awarded. You dont do wrong, nobody really gives a fuck. Anyone out there not smoking thinking he/she is doing the world a favor can get his/her head out of his/her ass. Its get real o clock.

On the contrary if a smoker believes that smoking is something great, something more than a habit, he/she is either delusional or in denial. Either way the person's got issues.

A smoker can be of any gender, race, class, profession and age group. So, if all you are told about a person is that he/she smokes. All you can deduce from that information for sure is that the person has atleast one functioning arm and is capable of breathing. Thats about it.

How does a person become a smoker?

Mostly an individual transforms after the second time he/she smokes. Not the first. When deciding to taste a cigarette for the first time, curiosity is what overwhelms pretty much anything else. At that instance nobody is thinking about a life-long commitment. Its when the person smokes for the second time, (not necessarily the second cigarette) he/she commits. Usually without even realizing it. A person is likely to be introduced to the habit by means of a social group; friends, colleagues, neighbors etc. Doesnt matter who, when and where. Nothing in the semantics. If anyone, blame it on the bitch they call Fate.


How to decide to quit?

People around you might be able to help you decide, they might even be able to assist during the process, to a certain extent. But lets get one thing straight. Nobody and nobody can MAKE you quit but yourself. The idea cannot be planted in your head, it must originate from there. Some people persuade the smoker to make promises, to take oaths on the lives of dear ones, to swear not to ever touch another cigarette again. Classic emotional blackmail. It might seem effective on the outside but make no mistake that the person is infact being forced against his will. Such smokers usually develop other addictions and feel frustrated most of the time because they didn't give up by choice. Plus a high fraction of the type reverts back. Your decision must be based on your own free will.

How to quit?

There are several cases where people tried to quit wanting to, but failed to do so. They didnt succeed because they thought they wanted to quit. They decided in a rush. Usually as the result of some mishappening, serendipity, stresser or anything that had a major impact on their psych. But the after effects of such incidents wear out sooner or later and these people indefinitely smoke again. Emotions resolve, resolutions evolve... its simply science.

Submission of both your body and your soul to the idea of quitting is not only vital, its mandatory to the process. You need to find a reason. Its not about finding a hundred reasons why smoking is bad for you. The key is to find that one reason why not smoking is good for you. It cant be because of the people or the society. Your sub-conscious doesnt give a fuck about them. You need to give it a reason for itself, something that influences you directly. And it cant be anything even remotely related to health. You will never be able to quit if you NEED to, only if you WANT to. So the fact that smoking kills you wont help, you knew that when you first started. You ruled that out the moment you set your precious lips on that bud. So the reason has to be something that you didnt consider when you first started smoking. Because whatever you did consider didnt work since you already smoke, regardless. Whatever didnt work out then wont work now. The reason has be a new development substantial enough it makes you willing to quit. Once you start looking you will come across it. If you dont, keep digging. Give it time, it'll come to you whenever you are ready. And when you are, put the reason to a test.

There are basically two ways to quit:

1. The first one is commonly known as: Cold Turkey;

Quit in a heartbeat. Today you are smoking 2 packs and tommorrow you go clean. Not a single cigarette. Personally, i believe this is the worst way to go about quitting. You might be able to go on and on for days, maybe even weeks but one day there will be a relapse. And you will fall. You will fall hard. And when you do you'll realise you can hardly ever do it again. To even try again will require a lot more power and reason. The longer you were cold for, the harder it will be to muster up the will for a second run. Cold turkey is a dangerous way to go about quitting. If you dont succeed in the first run, the odds will be even lesser in the next go round. It works in the short-term, for which you jeopardize your chances of ever quitting in the long term. Quitting is a very sensitive process. You cant go hyper about it and challenge yourself to the cold turkey. Cold turkey sure has a lesser rate of success but that doesnt mean its any harder. The second process is the real deal. The real challenge.

2. The Second one is a step by step process that you'll have to construct on your own from the basic model. Nobody knows you better than you yourself. And so only you can devise a plan that both your mind and body will adhere to.
Design your process considering the following basic factors:

1. Gradually reduce your intake. If you smoke a pack a day. Start by smoking half the cigarettes daily for a week. And reduce further each week. Until you are down to 3 cigarettes a day. Keep with that for some time and when you are ready, stop completely.
2. The nicotine urge will be deadly. Use tobbacco substitutes such as nicotine gums, nicotine patches, or chewable tobbaco for a month. Something that is not as easily available and as common as cigarettes. Or else you are just jumping drugs.
3. After one month or so you can give up on tobacco altogether.

What will help make the process easier:

1. Stay away from smoke. If a person smokes in front of you. Excuse yourself. Do not at all costs be anywhere around smoke or a smoker while he is smoking.
2. Keep reminding yourself of the Reason.
3. Keep yourself occupied as much as possible.
If you have a relapse and smoke a cigarette or two do not consider it over. Resume the process after that. It will be far easier than before. By then your body will be used to lesser levels of nicotine. The craving will be bearable. Just remember if you can go for atleast 3 months without a smoke, you can go on forever.

The Aftermath:

So once you have been smoke-free for 3 whole months you will notice the champagne starts pouring from the heaven, out of the skies.
No you wont. Infact nothing will happen. You'll notice the sky looks the same. Wind feels the same. Flowers smell the same. Ofcorse you knew that but you were expecting atleast some kind of change. A reward would be nice. But all you have earned is the hope to live for a few hypothetical years that you couldnt have otherwise. And the money that you'll save or realistically speaking spend elsewhere. All very remote and far-fetched. What is in for you today? The answer is nothing. You have been mind-fucked. Even the people around you do nothing more than just acknowledge. Only you know what quitting meant. Been to hell n back, truth is you want to be hugged but even something less; a pat on the back, would be nice. Well crash and burn, you wont get squat. People have since long formed an opinion about you. In their eyes you'll always be a smoker. Once a smoker, always a smoker.
Quitting is one of the hardest things you will ever have to go through. It will come at you and everything you've got. Summon all your power and will. Be prepared for collateral damage. Something will have to give. And though i've constantly mentioned the term quitting. The full glory of knowing you've quit cant be enjoyed. Not until your last breath. You can never be sure. Its only in your last moments that you can say for certain you've quit. Cliche as it may sound, its true. In all these years, i've never come across a single person who managed to quit sucessfully. No first hand accounts. All i've heard are stories. Stories like 9/11 and landing on the moon.
All in all, nothing is promised, but who knows what you may achieve. if you want to quit, take a leap of faith.. 

Smoking is over-rated, personally i don't give a fuck whether a person smokes or not. Life is too fucked up to worry about it. Why worry about smoke, while you are running on fumes. 

Feedback & suggestions to sarmed@lostinperdition.com