To smoke or not to smoke?

[Softhearted]

I feel very bad about myself....

After quitting smoking 7 years ago, I picked up this bad habit again last week!

It was either that or totally breaking down.... I've been battling with major depression for years now, and I do know, this fall was the worst one in a long time! In my case it is either eat my way to death or smoke...

Of course, a lot of people around me, told me to go exercise it is good for deal with depression etc. bla bla bla...which I know, but they don't get that when you are really down, you don't feel to do anything espacially exercise... for fuck sake I even have problems getting out bed!

In anyway, thank you for listening, I guess I needed to vent off!

Soft

[DapperButch]

Originally Posted by Softhearted

I feel very bad about myself....

After quitting smoking 7 years ago, I picked up this bad habit again last week!

It was either that or totally breaking down.... I've been battling with major depression for years now, and I do know, this fall was the worst one in a long time! In my case it is either eat my way to death or smoke...

Of course, a lot of people around me, told me to go exercise it is good for deal with depression etc. bla bla bla...which I know, but they don't get that when you are really down, you don't feel to do anything espacially exercise... for fuck sake I even have problems getting out bed!

In anyway, thank you for listening, I guess I needed to vent off!

Soft

Oh, man, don't do it....put the cigs down!

Don't you remember how hard it was to quit? Please consider not putting yourself back there.

I just had my one year anniversary of quitting. Hardest thing ever to do.

If it was hard for you to quit, think back on that and maybe that will help you throw those smokes away! You don't want to go through that hell again!

[T D]

If you can manage to make yourself throw the cigarettes away and go for a walk you will actually feel much better. Not only will you get a little exercise, it will also distract you from your depression for a short time.

I'm sure you're thinking, yeah, easy for me to say. Honestly though, I've been right where you are more than once in my life and any type of distraction and physical movement will help you. You have to make yourself do it though. I soooo understand!!

Try to take care of yourself!

[Ebon]

Originally Posted by Softhearted

I feel very bad about myself....

After quitting smoking 7 years ago, I picked up this bad habit again last week!

It was either that or totally breaking down.... I've been battling with major depression for years now, and I do know, this fall was the worst one in a long time! In my case it is either eat my way to death or smoke...

Of course, a lot of people around me, told me to go exercise it is good for deal with depression etc. bla bla bla...which I know, but they don't get that when you are really down, you don't feel to do anything espacially exercise... for fuck sake I even have problems getting out bed!

In anyway, thank you for listening, I guess I needed to vent off!

Soft

I definitely understand this. I used to smoke, started when I was 20. I also struggled with depression. They kind of went hand and hand for me. It's hard as hell to quit unless you're ready. I promise you when you are ready you won't even want a cigarette. But trying to do it when you are not ready is just setting yourself up to fail. This is all in my experience.

Don't be so hard on yourself if you don't quit just keep on trying. Remember the only person that can change you or how you feel is you. You should start with baby steps. Make yourself get out of bed even if it's just to go for a walk, make yourself go for a walk etc... Eventually you will want to do these things because the Universe presents opportunities based on your mindset. It's hard to flip yourself into the mindset(breaking habits) but it can be done. I know because I did it. When I started exercising I was a smoker but my body stopped wanting cigarettes and food that was unhealthy for it. I also stopped drinking and I feel so much better. Your body will thank you. Also remember nobody is happy everyday so don't be hard on yourself if you have a day that you are sad. Shit happens.

Good Luck on Your Journey

[Nat]

After toying with cigarettes for the last 19 years, I finally got myself addicted this year. I managed to quit for now, but I'm not sure if I'm done done or not. I guess I want to be able to go back to being able to sometimes-smoke, but I'm not sure if that's a possibility anymore.

Anyway, I have been "smoking" cinnamon sticks. You don't light them, but you just breathe through them as though you were smoking. It can feel foolish, but it's satisfying in a weird way. You get the ritual of something with about the same weight and balance, plus the breathing exercise which is part of the pleasure of cigarette-smoking anyway. In fact, it's a more satisfying breathing exercise. It's weird how deep and low you can breathe in clean air that way - it kinda lifts my mood somehow. Anyway, for me I think it's mostly to psyche myself out, but it also has the added benefits of deep breathing and the ritual of holding and breathing through it. Once the chemical addiction began fading, I slowly became less attached to the cinnamon stick simulation, though I still do it.

[Nat]

PS. Nettle Tea lifts my mood and makes me feel well-rested. Like, almost a mild euphoria. Not sure if that's just a me thing, but the Herbs for Life lady did recommend it among her herbal recommendations for anxiety and depression. It might help you take a step in the direction of exercise. I know my best experience lifting out of depression was when I was walking 3 miles a day (to and from work), eating organic foods and no simple carbs/sugars and meditating daily. I'm in a bit of a valley right now with all that, but for my own depressed/anxious/adhd self, these are the only things that have been truly effective for my depression. Drugs have never helped, and most of them screw up my sex life, which I just really can't stand.

I understand the thing about not wanting to do anything. I've spent most of my life there. Nettle tea and meditation are very close to doing nothing, but they might give you the energy to do more physically, which might in turn regulate your brain chemicals / brain waves and pull your mood up. If you're interested in any guided meditations, I could recommend a few - just lemme know if you're interested.

[diamondrose]

My entire family on my mother's side smokes. My father's side doesn't smoke, but my father did for a brief time before I was born and later gave it up. It always seems that most things in me appear to come from my dad's side of the family. I have always been a non-smoker. I told my mother when I was 7 years old I would never smoke and I never did. I would give anything for my mom to give it up, but thankfully she has carried on with great health thus far!!

[asphaltcowboi]

no one in my family smokes except one of my bros. they hate that i picked up smoking and hate the way i smell when i visit them! and i thought my lifstyle would bother them (nope) i picked up smoking while i was a truck driver working 20 hrs a day. it helped me to stay awake and kept me from getting totaly board in the middle of the night. i wish i would have never started! i do not smoke in my house or car anymore and im working very hard to quit. but it seems about every 3 weeks or so ill go buy a pack smoke them in a couple days, then put them down again. i made it 3 mos last year and hope to do better this year.