
Smoking Addiction & Recovery Support Group
The CDC claims that nicotine is a "very addictive drug" that can be "as addictive as heroin or cocaine." Nicotine is typically eliminated from the body within 2 to 3 days, however, physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms may last for much longer depending on the individual. If you are trying to kick the habit, this community is dedicated to giving smokers the...
Now they are waking up and that means congestion. You may clear some really nasty, perhaps foul smelling/tasting crud, over the next few days or weeks. That is really good. That is healing taking place.
The need to smoke is your body trying to tell you that something is different and it has learned that smoking will put it "right". Your body is rather stupid, so don't listen to it. You know better than it does. It could also be the junkie seizing an opportunity to have you relapse (youve already had a couple, or so). Flippin junkie will lie to you, so dont listen to it either. ( I do believe the junkie and your body are in cahoots. Beware!)
Know that this is a temporary condition, it will not harm you, and it is a sign of great healing taking place. What you are doing is wonderful and what you will be once the icky is over with is truly amazing. Focus on the future and let today care for itself.
Peace and blessings,
Shevie
Quit May, 2005
I noticed on your profile that it seems you have some acid reflux, too. I used to have that as well, back when I smoked. I'm 56 and the ENT said I have the esophgus of an 80 year old man, from years of acid reflux. Heck, even a glass of water would give me heartburn. He had me on Prilosec OTC up until I quit smoking. After I quit, I didn't need it. Now I can eat things (i.e., spicy food) I would not have touched back then and I rarely have any heartburn at all.
You keep at it, Jordan. Practice makes perfect.
Shevie
Quit May, 2005
I live in a major metropolitan area that has some serious air pollution problems (no, not LA, lol). During the high pollution days, especially when the ozone level was up, I'd smoke more. Normal was a pack a day, but on "dirty days" I'd smoke another 1/2 to 3/4 pack. Makes no sense does it? But I could actually roughly gauge the pollution level by how much I smoked.
After I quit I went through periods of a low level, nagging, constant crave that sometimes lasted for days. Could not figure out how to shake it, even after over a year quit. Then one day it hit me what it was. Air pollution.
I have an allergy to the air pollution around here, and something about smoking masks its effects. I'd smoke and feel better, but the masking effect would wear off in about 10 - 15 minutes, long before the nicotine level dropped enough to create a withdrawal feeling. So my stupid brain learned that smoking = "feel better" when the pollution levels were up.
After I quit my stupid brain was still wanting a smoke to cure the feeling the pollution caused, so it put me into that constant, low level crave whenever the pollution levels went up.
The solution was to retrain the stupid brain. At least it is trainable. When that weak crave started, Id repeat to myself, This is not a crave, its a pollution allergy. After a few months Id convinced the stupid brain to not want that smoke cure anymore.
So perhaps you could do something similar with your smoking cures congestion issue.
Peace and blessings to you,
Shevie
Quit May, 2005