Giving up the weed

Re: Giving up the weed

Vikki Halliday LLB — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:50:58 GMT

Gillian,

The nicotine itself is addictive enough, but try changing a routine or habit you have had for the last twenty or so years, and one which has been your "crutch" in previous times of stress.

It's hard not to reach for them even after quitting for a month or more, and even more so because the actual habit is glamourised by TV and film. ( Ok so maybe I have an inferiority complex, was bullied at school and still feel sometimes that the world is against me.)

Re: Giving up the weed

Gillian Mostyn — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 16:55:34 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Certainly, I don't consider myself a habitual smoker any more.[/quote]

Which by definition means you think you've broken the habit - which after 3 months is all it is. After 3 months the addiction from the drugs themselves is certainly gone. Therefore I really don't understand this ciggie in a crisis' thing. Never having smoked, I am unable to give an informed opinion, but I really don't understand why anyone would ever reach for a smelly, cancerous, expensive and antisocial stick of plantlife. Beats me. I'll stick with my chocolate which will pile on the pounds and give me raging osteoarthritis and diabetes mellitus. Much healthier!

p.s. keep up the good work Arlo and others. If anyone ever tried to prise chocolate from my grasp I think there would be murder committed - and that isn't actually addictive in the true sense of the word.......

Re: Giving up the weed

Andre Escudeiro-Vieites — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 15:06:21 GMT

Thanks guys!

Re: Giving up the weed

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:08:10 GMT

Hi Andre

I'm into my third month, and my Champix course is due to finish in a couple of weeks.

During my time on Champix, I guess I must have smoked, what, 10 cigarettes in total (I was 20 a day minimum). A couple of those out of curiousity. 4 one evening when someone (probably me) refreshed my wine glass faster than expected over dinner. Remainder at moments of extreme stress (and I do mean extreme!).

Certainly, I don't consider myself a habitual smoker any more.

I still think that what the drug does is truly amazing. It really has made it easy for me to stop smoking, and I recommend it to anyone. Having said that, I fear that at the end of the course, it would be very easy for one of those very occasional fags to be the start of the slippery slope. I think in my case, I shall probably ask the doctor to extend the course for another couple of months, or at the least keep an emergency pack in the house, ready to pop in case of emergency!

Re: Giving up the weed

Vikki Halliday LLB — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 14:03:02 GMT

Yes I got it on the NHS, and am still off the weed, if you don't count one after a serious wine imbibing session one weekend, which I did not even enjoy.

Do not smoke at all during the hours of daylight and only alcohol has occasionnally weakened my (otherwise very strong) resolve.

Would highly recommend it.

Re: Giving up the weed

Andre Escudeiro-Vieites — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:46:43 GMT

Ah! I forgot to ask!! Is it available in the NHS?

Re: Giving up the weed

Andre Escudeiro-Vieites — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 13:20:58 GMT

Is everybody still happy with Champix? I am thinking about asking my GP for a prescription and I am interested in the long term success of the pill in your cases. Please be honest

Re: Giving up the weed

Arlo Guthrie — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 09:31:17 GMT

Well, I had a couple at dinner the other night, after resolve weakened by a few too many glasses of vin ordinaire. Didn't enjoy them, and other than that, I'm still going strong!

Re: Giving up the weed

Vikki Halliday LLB — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 21:17:07 GMT

3 weeks now Arlo, and going strong! Hows it at your end?

Re: Giving up the weed

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 25 May 2010 13:04:06 GMT

[quote user="Vikki Halliday"]But is that not for the individual to decide?[/quote]

Fair point

[quote user="Vikki Halliday"]Personally I'd give it some more thought as I would never have posted on any other "stop smoking" forum[/quote]

Yes, but you're giving up smoking. Would you feel a bit differently about posting if you were trying to give up ketamine?

[quote user="Vikki Halliday"] Why don't you invite BVA or the VBF to host a thread with input from counsellors or advisors?[/quote]

Yes, could do that, but still technically not possible to remain protected AND entirely anonymous.

Think it might be possible to set up a forum on our systems that requires neither a registration, nor login, thereby offering anonymity. I could take steps to hide it from public view (i.e. instructing search engines not to spider it), but at the end of it all, there would be nothing other than that to prevent anyone reading everything.

Re: Giving up the weed

Vikki Halliday LLB — Tue, 25 May 2010 12:34:00 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]a) I'm not sure whether or not someone with an addiction would feel comfortable discussing it in a forum for the profession, like this one[/quote]

But is that not for the individual to decide?

If they were protected and allowed to remain anonymous entirely, then perhaps people would take up the opportunity. Personally I'd give it some more thought as I would never have posted on any other "stop smoking" forum, but it does help to know you are not alone.

Why don't you invite BVA or the VBF to host a thread with input from counsellors or advisors?

Re: Giving up the weed

Arlo Guthrie — Tue, 25 May 2010 09:52:10 GMT

[quote user="Vikki Halliday"]Perhaps we should also start an anonymous thread Arlo. Joking aside, the veterinary profession has a real problem with addiction in many forms, as well as mental illness. Perhaps a separate forum "room" where vets could choose whether to post anonymously or not, and covering support for issues such as those above would be helpful to other members?[/quote]

This is something I was thinking about a while ago, but decided against because:

a) I'm not sure whether or not someone with an addiction would feel comfortable discussing it in a forum for the profession, like this one. I think if I had a problem of that sort, I'd want to discuss it in a context as far away from my career as possible (for fear that I might write something which inadvertently identifed myself).

I'd also probably talk about it with someone, rather than write something potentially incriminating.

b) Technologically, the only way to keep such discussions COMPLETELY private would be to password-protect and have each application to join the discussion approved. Even if I passed that task to someone else, I would still know who's who, which I don't think is right.

Re: Giving up the weed

Michael Woodhouse — Tue, 25 May 2010 00:43:14 GMT

Bloody good idea there.

Hello, my name's 'Frank' and I spend too much time on the internet.......

Re: Giving up the weed

Vikki Halliday LLB — Mon, 24 May 2010 21:44:28 GMT

Thanks Niall, and also Arlo, I finally feel I'm not alone!

Sounds crass I know, but this forum thread has given me extra incentive to quit, because if I ever had to admit I'd failed to any of you, I'd feel such an idiot!

Perhaps we should also start an anonymous thread Arlo. Joking aside, the veterinary profession has a real problem with addiction in many forms, as well as mental illness. Perhaps a separate forum "room" where vets could choose whether to post anonymously or not, and covering support for issues such as those above would be helpful to other members?

Re: Giving up the weed

Niall Taylor — Mon, 24 May 2010 17:26:02 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Tried everything: patches, chewing gum, inhalators, Alan Carr's hypnotherapy, zyban and cold turkey.[/quote]

Alan Carr is a minor deity as far as I'm concerned since I gave up smoking with the help of his book. One thing he says is that actual nicotine addiction only lasts a few days; any craving after that is purely psychological or habit-based. He also gave 2 lists of the disadvantages and the advantages of smoking - the disadvantages list had the usual health, financial and social stuff whereas the advantage list was just a blank page!

Well done you two, keep it up, it gets easier. The only problem I can forsee is how you get over your addiction to the tablets!

Niall

Re: Giving up the weed

Roberta Prina — Sun, 23 May 2010 22:04:55 GMT

[quote user="Gareth C."]

cigarrettes?

[/quote]

Considering my luck, I'll end up being addicted to both...

Re: Giving up the weed

Gareth C. — Sat, 22 May 2010 19:56:41 GMT

[quote user="Roberta Prina"]Can you advise anything as efficient to get rid of chocolate addiction...?[/quote]

cigarrettes?

Re: Giving up the weed

Roberta Prina — Sat, 22 May 2010 11:51:29 GMT

Can you advise anything as efficient to get rid of chocolate addiction...?

Re: Giving up the weed

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Fri, 21 May 2010 23:58:20 GMT

[quote user="Michael Woodhouse"]

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Champix [/quote]

Is it just me who thinks this sounds like a dog food?

[/quote]

Possibly invented by Goscinny and Uderzo

Re: Giving up the weed

Michael Woodhouse — Fri, 21 May 2010 22:53:11 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Champix [/quote]

Is it just me who thinks this sounds like a dog food?

Re: Giving up the weed

Vikki Halliday LLB — Fri, 21 May 2010 16:50:35 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]

What a coincidence, we're both giving up at more or less the same time, on the same drug ...

[/quote]

Oh and remember what Alan Carr says about that, " you're not giving up anything. You are getting your life bacK"

Re: Giving up the weed

Vikki Halliday LLB — Fri, 21 May 2010 16:48:55 GMT

[quote user="Arlo Guthrie"]Do you find it makes you less irritable too?[/quote]

Depends on whether I'm having a good day or not!

Seriously though Arlo, I feel more in control and have less frustration with people, probably because I'm not constantly wondering when I can next have a *** break!

I think I'm less irritable, but have not yet managed to take the step of throwing the packet and lighter away, makes me feel strangely nervous. Again possibly because I'm not used to leaving the house without a packet in my bag, and it makes me anxious, (maybe as it did previously if I thought I was going to run out!)

There's probably more psychology to this addiction than any other, but at least I have zero cravings!

Re: Giving up the weed

Arlo Guthrie — Fri, 21 May 2010 16:37:39 GMT

[quote user="Vikki Halliday"]Now on day three of not smoking, having been on Champix for 14 days[/quote]

What a coincidence, we're both giving up at more or less the same time, on the same drug ...

Do you find it makes you less irritable too? Or was irritability never a problem in the first place?

Re: Giving up the weed

Virginia Campbell — Fri, 21 May 2010 16:09:58 GMT

Well done both of you, keep it up!

Re: Giving up the weed

Vikki Halliday LLB — Fri, 21 May 2010 14:46:17 GMT

Have to agree Arlo, I've tried everything ; Patches, gum, lozenges (eurgh!), will power, Laser therpay and Zyban.

Now on day three of not smoking, having been on Champix for 14 days, and it really seems to have worked.!