Posted by noa on July 17, 2000, at 6:22:36
In reply to SICK OF THIS DAMN ROLLER-COASTER RIDE, posted by tina on July 16, 2000, at 18:40:58
TINA,
I know what I will say will not stop the insomnia and explosion of discomfort, but perhaps I can convince you to try to SUSPEND the conclusions you draw about this experience.
Right now, YOU ARE GOING THROUGH SEVERE WITHDRAWAL FROM A MAJOR DRUG--NICOTINE!!!
First of all, there are the feelings/neuropsychological sensations that the cigarettes helped to numb. Nicotine is very powerful, and no doubt it served a purpose for you. Now, you have to find other ways to deal with the inner experiences that previously were soothed by the nicotine.
But, also: WITHDRAWING FROM A POWERFUL SUBSTANCE LIKE NICOTINE CAUSES SEVERE DISTRESS!!!! Why do you think so many people go on smoking despite the dangers?! Because nicotine grabs a hold of your brain and body, all your nerves and all the tissues that those nerves serve, and clutches tight, and when you stop nicotine cold turkey, your body is in a kind of SHOCK.
Why do you think there is such a huge industry of products and services to help people quite smoking?! Because doing it cold turkey is DAMN HARD!!!!!
So, instead of attributing all of this suffering to your chronic psyciatric problems, and concluding that your life will feel like this forever, ATTRIBUTE THE SUFFERING YOU ARE EXPERIENCING RIGHT NOW CORRECTLY---IT IS DUE TO NICOTINE WITHDRAWAL.
I am not telling you to not continue your strategy of quitting cold turkey. Not at all.
I am just asking that you not let the experience cloud your thinking about yourself and your overall situation.
But, I do want to comment that my impression is that you expect too much of yourself a lot, and perhaps are being hard on yourself by not considering some form of medical assistance for quitting.
Forgive my shouting at you in caps, and my straightforwardness, but I know you understand that is said with love.
Noa
poster:noa
thread:40118
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000717/msgs/40711.html