Damn analogs!! Why so addictive?

[sonnyinbc]

Here's what I know. I still smoke some cigs, but nowhere near what I did before I started e smoking. What I know is that I will always call myself a smoker simply because there is no group I detest more than the anti-smokers, and under no circumstances would I in any way identify with them.

Stopped by to chat with some of my old working mates about 2 weeks ago and showed them the ecig. Of course, these two happened to be really rabbid anti smoking crazies. Just my luck huh??

Anyway, after showing them there is no second hand smoke, no chems,etc. Their comment--"Well, you`re are still smoking".. I was so ticked, almost could have smacked one of them in the chops! Seems like some people on this planet have nothing better to do than make sure that no one, but no one can exact any pleasure from anything.??

Seems like some people just live to hate something or something?? And can never learn to embrace anything?

[sherid]

It has never been about health or about "the children" with the rabid anti smokers. They are just a group of zealots who cannot stand to see others enjoying themselves, thus the coming bans on alcohol or any substance that brings enjoyment. Last week's announcement was "no safe level of alcohol" When they can't control others, they create new reasons for why there should be no smoking or drinking.

[Kate]

Aye, mean minded Sonny.

I haven't had a smoke since July last year. My nurse at the doctor's surgery said I am a non smoker. I thought I was an ex smoker and that non smokers were people who had never smoked but she said I graduate to being an ex smoker after a couple of years (or something).

I think you're right Sherid, it's about being able to exert control and authority. Authoritarian thinking is very common nowadays.

[booboo]

you know... in all the "twelve step" programs... addiction is considered to be genetic.. an alcoholic is an alcoholic at birth.. so on... and it HAS been at least partially proven through the fact that alcoholics are sugar addicts.. if they NEVER picked up so much as a glass of beer.. they'd still be addicted to sugars.. bigtime chocolate eaters in most cases..

I come from a long line of alcoholic (smokers) and I have never heard of the sugar thing. I just assumed we were born with our genes screaming for booze, lol. Nature, nurture, a combo platter, it didn't really matter to me, cuz watching 3 generations of drunks destroy their lives and each other taught me one thing: stay away from alcohol, or I would do the same thing. So hereditary or not, there is a choice ultimately involved. At least there was for me. I also hated that they all smoked, and wasn't so smart and strong to avoid that. But addicts are addicts and if it's not alcohol and cigs, it would get channeled elsewhere. I do believe there is an ocd component to it all.
But back to the sugar thing, I was surprised because even though I didn't really eat sweets until about 5 years ago, my whole family is the only one I know of who drinks soda constantly. I mean 24/7 every single one of my extended family have a pop in hand. I watch people who only drink with meals, or suck down a whole pop and are done, or eat without a drink and I am stunned. I literally mean 24/7, and on a good day, 2 cans will last that long, on a bad day.......well
So anyway. thanks for pointing that out. Very very interestng

[shakey ceasefire]

Some interesting points here....

Why did I start smoking cigarettes 20 years ago? Because I needed to stop smoking speed and weed. It worked. I replaced 2 really bad habits with one - and it didn't seem like such a bad thing at the time.

But then I was stuck with a perfectly legal habit, that was a no-high, stealth killer. I was never a heavy smoker, 1/2 pack a day or so. So maybe the fact that I haven't had an analog in 3 plus weeks (since I started vaping) is just beginner's luck. Maybe I'm a bushy-tailed happy bunny. Guilty as charged. I want to believe. I need to believe! I believe that I will never smoke again. Cross my heart and hope to die of anything but COPD, lung cancer or emphysema.

I understand that I have not beaten my addiction. I didn't beat my addiction to smoking meth 20 years ago, I merely replaced it. It worked at that time with that awful habit, and it's working now with this awful habit. Whatever works..........

As far as alcoholism and sugar is concerned ... if I want to get away from the booze, I'll whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies, brownies or cupcakes and I'm good. It works like magic.

Big shout out to all the Metal Heads on this board. I'm in 2 active extreme metal bands, and getting my e-smoking supplies ready to go on tour this summer. I've already made it through several stressful gigs without a smoke. That being said, I don't think it's very neighborly to judge a fellow board member on their use of tobacco, and I don't think it's fair to sabotage the enthusiasm of a "happy bunny" like me, even if I am a newbie and most likely overly enthusiastic.

A little enthusiasm can go a long way. Thanks for reading!

[getsetgo]

I stopped analogs a few days ago after being a smoker for the last 16 years, I was smoking about 25-30 a day! My son asked me to stop. Even with the e-cig I was dubious as to whether I would manage it! I have tried to stop smoking dozens of times using every available method out there from accupuncture, patches, lozenges to hypnotherapy. Never got past a few days!

The only exception was Champix, found it very easy to stop using that and stayed stopped all the time I took the tablets, someone could have offered me £1000 to have an analog and I just couldn't have smoked it, but the minute I stopped the tablets the cravings were back with avengence and I caved in and started smoking again!

So far so good, I am also using a 24 hour patch with my e-cig, only get a real strong urge for an analog first thing in the morning but finding the rest of the day pretty easy.

I know its early days but this feeling now is similar to when I was on Champix, I just don't want an analog, the patches on there own are just not enough for me, I would be climbing the walls from day 1, but combined with the e-cig I have found a winner! Maybe its the feeling that the e-cig is like a cigarette with regards to the throat hit and vapour? Who knows but its working for me!

Will keep you posted!
Lisa

[Mark_T]

Just spent an hour reading the whole of this thread. Watching people pour the heart out, talk about things they likely dont talk about easily or often with their friends and family. I can see friendships being forged.

My story is a simple one, I`m 41, been smoking for 2 decades, and looking for a "prop", some miracle cure to help me stop with the analogs before they killed me. Read about ecigs on another forum i frequent, and with some added willpower, i stopped smoking the day my 901 arrived. It wasnt easy, but im now on Day 46 of being analog free and cant see myself going back to them. My wife is still smoking, mainly outside but sometimes in front of me too, (she always asks first) and it doesnt bother me. I can resist, and am starting to become critical of the smell. Oh my God, am i going to be an ex-smoking-nazi-type, i wonder. Maybe theres some truth in the statement i read earlier here about training your mind to become anti-analog as a way to help you quit.

[angel.white]

Hmm. I'm planning on ordering mine from Pure Smoker, but that won't happen until at least the 20th, and then probably a week to arrive, so I've got about two weeks to smoke still. This thread made me go do research, which got me all excited about all these cigs I'm never going to get to smoke again :/

In the offtime, I'm going to have fun, though. I've been on basically Marlboro lights for the last 4 or 5 years, because someone told me menthol crystallized in your lungs (I believed that until I did the research today, even after all this time I still love menthols). So I think I'm going to have Kools, Camel Menthol Wides, and American Spirit Blacks during my waiting period.

In some sense, I think I don't want to quit. I'm ambivalent, I guess. The part of me that does want to quit is really really hoping that vaping is sustainable and can replace smoking, and is considering going straight to no nicotine liquid and using a patch for a while so that I can disassociate the nicotine from the smoking, and then just smoke nicotine free for however long I need or desire to.

That was a really long sentence, I think I'm going through precognitive withdrawal O.o

[sbuck]

I agree, e-cigs are different for everyone. After a while they might lose that appeal factor, just like changing analog brands...

I guess I am one of the lucky ones because I had no intention of stopping analogs, I only wanted to try the e-cig to see if I could cut back.

Within 3 days, I was completely off analogs and have never had the desire to go back and I smoked analogs for 30 years.

First off sorry to hijack this thread(well it sort of fits in). I'm too new to post a new thread, and this may be kind of personal to dnakr and make no sense to the rest of you all, but I had to find them and say it...

This is to dnakr - I don't know if you will even get this or see this.......

Are you the one who posted a while back on the grocery game message board?????? If so, I want to say THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! I found out about e-smoking because of that post. I have been vaping since Jan. and have completely stopped analogs since Fri, March 13. If it was you, I don't know if you really are another GG or if you were just looking for forums to spread the word, but if you are the person who turned me on to this and I am forever thankful. If you really are another GGer, nice to meet you. If not, thanks anyway.

If this is not the dnakr that I am referring to, then I am sorry. I just figured the handle was kind of unique and different and it might be the same person since the link I found led me here.