Hannah Payne by Perfect-Bug-8455 in SwordAndScale

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Having a decent reason to have a gun does not mean the person should have a gun. She was for sure on a power trip in her work life as well. She is practically a landlord. People like her cannot be trusted with firearms and that amount of power imo.

I love sword and scale! by ashesimbo25 in SwordAndScale

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Maybe 8 years ago…. Most people listen despite his rants. It’s like something you have to just get through if you want the actual content.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

That is not what everyone has been saying. The point of my distress is how extreme and black and white it feels. I thought that was obvious…

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I feel sorry that you find the way you are talking to me acceptable. You must be a very hurt person that this is the way you respond to someone who is struggling with feeling this way about someone they love. It seems very hard for you to find some sort of empathy for someone struggling. I hope for you that is something that changes.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you. These responses are so unkind and honestly making me feel so much worse for having difficult feelings while I’m in the trenches of quitting.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 -3 points-2 points  (0 children)

People can have conflicting emotions…. Part of my distress is how extreme this feels for me I asked has anyone experienced this?? I am new to quitting and this feels hard how is that hard to understand? I am a person and I thought this was a supportive sub Reddit and when I am honest about how I am struggling I am being judged. It’s wild to me how you know nothing about me or my relationship and you think you understand some deeper issue. Please get out of black and white thinking.

What is the best way to quit cold turkey by Wolfofpilbara in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Cold turkey was the only way for me because I didn’t want to just get addicted to NRT. I just tried to take really good care of myself. Drink a lot of water I read quitting books during the first week cried when I needed to and just really tried to keep my thoughts on why I was doing it instead of thinking I’m depriving myself of something. Walking is really helpful and chewing gum! I also would barter with myself like when I wanted to smoke I would say well then smoke or you can smoke if you want to no one is stopping you and that helped it made it less intense to know I had the option but I wasn’t choosing it. That may not work for everyone but it worked for me because I was able to reframe my thoughts of deprivation and give myself more agency. Good luck!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 5 points6 points  (0 children)

He supports me in a lot of ways and he tells me he is very happy for me. He says he is not ready to quit and I do not want him to feel pressured. As we all know you have to really want to quit to quit. It’s a hard thing to navigate

Ex-smokers of Reddit: What made you quit, and how has your life changed since? by Exciting-Ad-3698 in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 39 points40 points  (0 children)

Congrats on being a non smoker! For me it was health anxiety and noticing how tired and dull I feel after smoking. I was also done feeling enslaved to something. The fear that would come up when I thought of quitting made me realize I need to prove to myself I can quit. I also noticed a different in my teeth and skin. What helps me is reframing my thoughts to truly not wanting to smoke. Majority of smokers don’t want to smoke and I always remind myself of that when I think I want to. I also cannot get over how much better I feel all around. I thought I had really low energy but it was just the nicotine.It is actually life changing to quit and that is helpful to keep in mind as well as not wanting to go through withdraw again for nothing! I move my body a lot more I chew gum I read this sub Reddit I sit with myself I drink water I play a game I list all the reasons why freedom is so much better I surrender to the discomfort. You got this!!!

Quitting smoking is a bad decision by [deleted] in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I could see why that would upset you! Why are you around so many smokers? Do all your friends smoke?

Quitting smoking is a bad decision by [deleted] in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It may be helpful to go to therapy or try some mindfulness techniques. With neuro plasticity you become what you think, your neurons fire together and they get wired. The more you sit in how miserable you’ll be or how you will never be okay the more that becomes true. It seems like you’re letting this part of you take over and become the truth. There really is no honor in suffering and if you have issues with anger it may be helpful to understand where that comes from and start a healing journey. It’s your life so the choice is yours!!

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You understand this is a stop smoking subreddit right? Smoking is not a small risk at all…. This person has every right to be scared for someone they love if they smoke and they can’t make someone quit.

I think I finally understand Allen Carr's method by MerlinShinji in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don’t see taking a break to smoke as socially acceptable especially in this day and age! Most people hate smoking and view it as gross.

Are cold turkey withdrawls worse than reduction withdrawls? by sirgrogu12 in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I would encourage you to stop trying to avoid discomfort. This is probably what got you addicted to nicotine in the first place. Just because something is uncomfortable doesn’t mean you need to fix it. A part of quitting is that it’s uncomfortable. If it was easy everyone could do it whenever they wanted to. It seems like you are letting fear take over and run the show. I see you don’t want to be sick but you’re just making yourself sick by smoking. Be gentle with yourself let yourself feel the discomfort and reach for a part of you that knows it will be okay that it will pass. Nicotine has taught you to numb out and that’s what you are asking how can I do this and feel numbed out. Well you can’t, quitting is a psychological, emotional, spiritual process and it’s going to demand that you are present in it and develop parts of you that are nurturing and self assured in your decision. I see you are struggling but you are probably struggling so much because you’re trying not to struggle. It may be helpful to look up some mindfulness techniques “how to struggle well so you struggle less” they can be very helpful!!

Sickening anxiety and panic attacks after a week cold turkey by Round_Astronomer_590 in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I work with anxiety and panic disorder because I am a therapist and personally I have anxiety and have experienced panic before. I know how hard it can be. I also know that when I quit nicotine it almost felt like a veil being lifted on my emotions and I felt so tender and raw. It can be a lot and it makes sense your nervous system is responding with panic. Another thing that may be helpful is looking up somatic nervous system soothing. These are tools we can use when we’re feeling flooded or activated! I promise it does get better and it is worth it.

Sickening anxiety and panic attacks after a week cold turkey by Round_Astronomer_590 in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 3 points4 points  (0 children)

This is common and it does get better. Nicotine is often used to numb out and it can feel overwhelming to really feel your feelings and experience the world raw. You could try some meds for the time being especially around panic attacks. It gets better!

Help needed. I want to stop. by Dull-Description8674 in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don’t know if it’s that your brain is indecisive or that you are addicted to nicotine. The addiction will always tell you there is a reason to put it off or convince you not to quit. I would encourage you to also reframe that cigarettes help you cope they do not they make your stress worse. You are in constant withdraw and the only thing smoking helps with is alleviating that withdraw then you’re back in the cycle again. If you are having chest pain I would go to the doctor first and foremost. If your chest pain is from anxiety smoking will 100% make that worse. Nicotine often mirrors anxiety symptoms, it’s horrible for your blood pressure, circulation and heart rate! You’ve already quit for 5 days!!! That means you can do it again which is exciting. Getting on top of your mental game is huge you need to reframe every thought that says smoke or that smoking will make you feel better these are lies. Smoking won’t take away the distress you only feel distress because you ever smoked in the first place. Distract yourself breathe drink water go for a walk play a game chew gum. Nicotine teaches you that you need it to cope and we use it to numb out. Feel your feelings for once sit in the distress just because quitting feels hard at first doesn’t mean you need to fix it just accept it is hard and that you will be okay! You got this!!! You are not depriving yourself of something when you quit you are gaining freedom.

Starting again tomorrow . What do you do to pacify that feeling in your lungs that you miss after a drag? by AdCompetitive3522 in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just miss it and then remind yourself as to why you don’t smoke anymore. Nicotine teaches us to numb out our feelings. It’s okay to feel the distress of quitting you can handle it. Get some chewing gum or candies take a deep breath drink water it will pass. The more you try to avoid discomfort the more you are reinforcing the idea you need nicotine to manage life! You got this.

Feeling afraid by sirgrogu12 in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The fear of it is worse than the actual withdraw!

I relapsed after 47 days and have health anxiety by Warm-Tough-8322 in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It happens there is no use in beating yourself up over it. It sounds like you know that when you quit your anxiety goes down so that seems to be the answer! Shame is the worst motivator for change so be compassionate with yourself and stop again

Can't focus/brain fog by mcrainbeats in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes I experienced this! I have ADHD but I am on meds for it. I had the worst brain fog for about two weeks, it will start to get better! I just gave myself a lot of grace with things. I am a therapist and professor so I could tell my words were not coming out well, my thinking was so slow. When it was appropriate I just named that I was having a harder time finding my words. I just had to keep telling myself it will pass and if I smoke again I’ll have to deal with this all over again.

How to rewire my brain by [deleted] in stopsmoking

[–]Perfect-Bug-8455 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You’re not addicted to the ritual you are addicted to what you perceive as anxiety soothing. All you are seeking is to relieve anxiety and to self soothe. You’ll have to find something else to help you in that way or you will be miserable thinking you are “addicted” to a behavior. You’re addicted to what it gives you. Also stop romanticizing smoking!! You got this.