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[quote="EvilKimEvil"]I used to smoke, but it wasn't very addictive at all. I stopped and started countless times without effort. I know that most people experience smoking as intensely addictive. My observations of typically addicted smokers indicate that it is both physically and psychologically addictive.[/quote]
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<table border="0" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1" width="100%" class="forumline"> <tr> <th class="thCornerL" width="22%" height="26">Author</th> <th class="thCornerR">Message</th> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row1"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>EvilKimEvil</b></span></td> <td class="row1" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="http://wrongplanet.cachefly.net/modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 12:50 am<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">I used to smoke, but it wasn't very addictive at all. I stopped and started countless times without effort. <br /> <br />I know that most people experience smoking as intensely addictive. My observations of typically addicted smokers indicate that it is both physically and psychologically addictive.</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row2"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>Belfast</b></span></td> <td class="row2" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="http://wrongplanet.cachefly.net/modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:39 pm<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody"></span><table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center"><tr> <td><span class="genmed"><b>katrine wrote:</b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="quote">But you're wrong - you would have been a great hunter-gatherer :lol: . Times of feast or famish: those who go for high calorie food - lots of it, put weight on fast, and don't waste unnecessary energy (=excercise) survive! <br />You're a genetic wonder! (and so am I) <br />Problem is our life-style evolved too fast, our bodies can't keep up.</td> </tr></table><span class="postbody"> <br />Thanks-guess I'm just in the wrong era, physiologically. Seems that desire to exercise & willingness/ability to eat healthily was always presented to me as both natural & normal-yet one more area in which I was an outlier, statistically. Appreciate the p.o.v. you provided. <br /></span><table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center"><tr> <td><span class="genmed"><b>katrine wrote:</b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="quote">And you're right about the whole body/mind thing. I agree you can't draw a line.</td> </tr></table><span class="postbody"> <br />Agree that whatever one's system finds rewarding has similar effect-pleasure is pleasure, just that what elicits/evokes that reaction differs with the individual. In some instances, one is driven by intellectual-emotional (conscious idea/thought/appraisal) level, in other instances one is motivated more by emotional-sensory (nonverbal, partly conscious) perceptions/concerns. <br /></span><table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center"><tr> <td><span class="genmed"><b>katrine wrote:</b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="quote">BTW I think we're programmed to be rewarded for eating (dopamine) and all substance abuse, including cigarettes, gives us the same reward.</td> </tr></table><span class="postbody"> <br />"Drugs" seem integral part of living environment of all creatures/organisms (don't mean newfangled pharmaceutical ones). Have read historical perspective: "Plant Intoxicants"-Baron Ernst von Bibra, "Food of the Gods"-Terence McKenna, "Intoxicants"-Ronald K. Siegel.</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row1"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>katrine</b></span></td> <td class="row1" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="http://wrongplanet.cachefly.net/modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:33 pm<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody"></span><table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center"><tr> <td><span class="genmed"><b>Belfast wrote:</b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="quote"> <br />For instance, eating healthy food & exercising are both things that my body (incl. my mind) has no desire whatsoever to do. Intellectually, know I "should"-but "should" has no traction in motivating me, when it comes to ingesting material or expending kinetic energy. Then I think to myself that I'm a "misprint", genetically, because a creature (me) that has these traits of being attracted to unhealthy habits (and lack of drive to perform healthy, life-sustaining actions such as proper food & regular exercise) isn't going to do well for the species.</td> </tr></table><span class="postbody"> <br /> <br />But you're wrong - you would have been a great hunter-gatherer <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif" alt="Laughing" border="0" /> . Times of feast or famish: those who go for high calorie food - lots of it, put weight on fast, and don't waste unnecessary energy (=excercise) survive! <br />You're a genetic wonder! (and so am I) <br />Problem is our life-style evolved too fast, our bodies can't keep up. <br /> <br />And you're right about the whole body/mind thing. I agree you can't draw a line. <br /> <br />BTW I think we're programmed to be rewarded for eating (dopamine) and all substance abuse, including cigarettes, gives us the same reward.</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row2"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>Belfast</b></span></td> <td class="row2" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="http://wrongplanet.cachefly.net/modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 2:07 pm<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">I don't wholly disagree with your metaphorical comparison. I used to ponder self-destructive reasons as being related to my smoking, but that was when I was teenager & wrapped up in idea of self as tough & tormented-so it's more a "post-hoc" reason, after the fact of taking up habit-not a genuine reason I began in first place. <br /> <br />Primary reason I do or don't do things is based on how it feels-which in itself is complex bundle of actions, hard to tease apart the components. <br />Mind is property of brain function, which is outgrowth of having a physical body (incl. brain)-so psychological vs. physical is artificial duality IMHO. <br />Realize that some behaviors aren't immediately pleasurable (such as beer-an acquired taste), yet some folks keep at it until the substance "works for" them-thereby hangs another question. <br />My cigs. are clove blend, so they're not just tobacco. Know they're supposedly worse for my health, but I prefer them significantly to plain old "tobacco-only" ones. <br />Where does one draw line between "relief of pain" (what gets called "withdrawal symptom") vs. seeking of pleasure (that gets called "hedonistic indulgence") ? It's not simple (clear cut or absolute), in my view. <br /> <br />For instance, eating healthy food & exercising are both things that my body (incl. my mind) has no desire whatsoever to do. Intellectually, know I "should"-but "should" has no traction in motivating me, when it comes to ingesting material or expending kinetic energy. Then I think to myself that I'm a "misprint", genetically, because a creature (me) that has these traits of being attracted to unhealthy habits (and lack of drive to perform healthy, life-sustaining actions such as proper food & regular exercise) isn't going to do well for the species.</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row1"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>katrine</b></span></td> <td class="row1" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="http://wrongplanet.cachefly.net/modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 12:34 pm<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">You messed with my head! <br />Now everytime I see some one smoking, I invision them cutting their arms. Seriously!! <br />I guess I'll never start smoking again....</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row2"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>ouinon</b></span></td> <td class="row2" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="http://wrongplanet.cachefly.net/modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Thu Apr 10, 2008 6:00 am<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">"Normal" people avoid seeing just how widespread dependent, addicted, and self harming behaviour is in our society, and discriminate against, denigrate, those whose dependencies, and self harming processes, are not the same or are "too" visible. <br /> <br />Because are like a terrible, and unbearable, reflection of their own state, people who are dependent but powerless, who can be scapegoated, must be banished, removed/cured, <span style="font-style: italic">or</span> hidden away/put together in a group until stop being like that ( children in school). <br /> <br /> <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif" alt="Cool" border="0" /></span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row1"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>ouinon</b></span></td> <td class="row1" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="http://wrongplanet.cachefly.net/modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:18 pm<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody"></span><table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center"><tr> <td><span class="genmed"><b>katrine wrote:</b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="quote"> I am around very self-controlled people all day (med students, doctors). You wouldn't believe how many have anorexia, or even drug addictions. </td> </tr></table><span class="postbody">That is interesting, because the last person I knew with anorexia was also a doctor, medical student. <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif" alt="Shocked" border="0" /> <br /> <br /><img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif" alt="Cool" border="0" /></span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row2"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>ouinon</b></span></td> <td class="row2" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="http://wrongplanet.cachefly.net/modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:14 pm<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody"></span><table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center"><tr> <td><span class="genmed"><b>katrine wrote:</b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="quote">No way - that's just silly <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0" /> Starting smoking, I mean. Slow suicide.</td> </tr></table><span class="postbody"> <br />Like "no exercise" is, apparently ! As bad for the health as smoking, if not more so. <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif" alt="Shocked" border="0" /> <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif" alt="Laughing" border="0" /> Inactivity can be officially reclassified as "self-harm", the results are so dreadful. <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif" alt="Shocked" border="0" /> <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif" alt="Laughing" border="0" /> <br /> <br />In fact in countries where tobacco is still the unsweetened kind, rough, turkish cigarettes for example, the consequences of smoking are far less severe than in the west where cigarettes contain between 20-25 % sugar to cover up the bitter taste of tobacco which is otherwise a potent/useful anti-addiction factor. And inhaling caramel is obviously not very good for the lungs. It also adds a sugar hit to each cigarette. <br /></span><table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center"><tr> <td><span class="genmed"><b>Quote:</b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="quote">Is so bad to be dependant on other people? We are social animals - even aspies!</td> </tr></table><span class="postbody"> Despite my preference for my own company, and an adult life spent fleeing dependency until fell into parenthood, I think that dependency is essential and healthy part of human life, and that the modern obsession with avoiding it may partly account for the rise in addictive behaviours which substitute for the more useful inter-human dependencies of old. The more people/society runs from it the more people will satisfy that need with artificial "agents" of dependency. <br /></span><table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center"><tr> <td><span class="genmed"><b>Quote:</b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="quote"> Your theory is very interesting.</td> </tr></table><span class="postbody"> Thank you! <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0" /> </span><table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center"><tr> <td><span class="genmed"><b>Quote:</b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="quote"> <br />The new thing/condition - I've forgotten the name - is in the same family as anoexia and bulimia, and is an obsession with living healthily.... SO BEWARE <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif" alt="Laughing" border="0" /></td> </tr></table><span class="postbody"> <br /> <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif" alt="Laughing" border="0" /> Yes, 16 years ago I dived into a major exercise and physical purity addiction. The most extreme period only lasted about 6 months, but the after effects were deep, and persisted for many years. I have a tendency to it. Which is why wonder if my need for "one" self-harming behaviour is actually a sign of mental health, a reaction against/resistance to, a return to such a complete/obsessive health regime. It's alright, not going to start smoking quite yet!! But it crossed my mind, ... attractively! <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" border="0" /> <br /> <br /> <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif" alt="Cool" border="0" /></span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row1"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>katrine</b></span></td> <td class="row1" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="http://wrongplanet.cachefly.net/modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 3:30 pm<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">No way - that's just silly <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0" /> Starting smoking, I mean. Slow suicide. <br /> <br />Is so bad to be dependant on other people? We are social animals - even aspies! <br />Your theory is very interesting. Yes, control is a big element of social sucess today, and dependency is therefore taboo. I am around very self-controlled people all day (med students, doctors). You wouldn't believe how many have anorexia, or even drug addictions. The new thing/condition - I've forgotten the name - is in the same family as anoexia and bulimia, and is an obsession with living healthily.... SO BEWARE <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif" alt="Laughing" border="0" /> <br /> <br />My plan - which I have trouble following - is to live a life where I think less of how others judge me. I seem to spend my life tidying up, cleaning, and fretting people will think I'm hopeless (which I'm not). I know how stupid it is, but I can't stop... don't want to stop...</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row2"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>ouinon</b></span></td> <td class="row2" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="http://wrongplanet.cachefly.net/modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:02 am<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">I really don't get what the "self harm" element in my current resistance to exercise is, but it's there... I was thinking I might almost find it easier to exercise if I started smoking again. Seriously! <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif" alt="Laughing" border="0" /> <br /> <br />As if I mustn't be "too good".I need some way of being "bad", even if I pretend it's <span style="font-style: italic">not</span> so bad. I seem to need to know I'm doing something that's not good for me; why? <br /> <br />Does anyone else get this? <br /> <br /> <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif" alt="Cool" border="0" /></span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row1"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>ouinon</b></span></td> <td class="row1" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="http://wrongplanet.cachefly.net/modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:44 am<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody"></span><table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center"><tr> <td><span class="genmed"><b>katrine wrote:</b></span></td> </tr> <tr> <td class="quote">I am addicted to nicotine. I chew nicotine gum, have for years. When I stop chewing gum, I start smoking. I can stop smoking again very easily - by chewing gum. ... However, I don't think it's only about self-harm. </td> </tr></table><span class="postbody">Is it possible that your addiction to gum is psychological, an addiction to "dependency", and you have just found out how to act out this relationship in a way which is relatively "harmless", compared to smoking. <span style="font-style: italic">Or</span> might that in fact be the reason you start smoking again, because the gum is <span style="font-style: italic">not</span> harmful enough to achieve the desired psychological effects? <br /> <br />Dependency is despised/pitied/rejected/resented/denigrated, almost taboo for any self-respecting adult in our society. Maybe the only way many people feel able to express their need for that kind of relationship/connection is with things which "excuse" their "dependency, camouflage their "choice" of it, because are widely considered "addictive" therefore irresistible. <br /> <br />One of the highest goals in western society is "independence", despite the fact that 100% independence is actually better known as death. I read somewhere that it ( i meant smoking, but it occurs to me that i've heard the same about reasons for suicide), is what people who dare not risk real dependency on real and fallible humans do.Maybe. But I think avoidance of this is practically encouraged in our society, even to the extent of increasingly transferring children's dependence to the state rather than their own parents. <br /> <br />Maybe the spread of smoking amongst the young is about ( perhaps quite naturally )desiring the ( taboo) state of dependency. <br /> <br /> <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif" alt="Cool" border="0" /></span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row2"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>katrine</b></span></td> <td class="row2" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="http://wrongplanet.cachefly.net/modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 9:08 am<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: </span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody">Yep - I voted other. <br />I think people's addictions vary: <br />mine: I am addicted to nicotine. I chew nicotine gum, have for years. When I stop chewing gum, I start smoking. (And I DO know better!). <br />I can stop smoking again very easily - by chewing gum. I realize I have to do something about the gum, but haven't found the right solution yet! <br />As long as it is gum, I'm not too worried, although it is very expensive. Rather that than cigarettes, alcohol or drugs. <br /> <br />I know others who are psychologically addicted. <br /> <br />However, I don't think it's only about self-harm. I think a lot of it is brain chemistry - lack of dopamine receptors, for example.</span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> <tr> <td width="22%" align="left" valign="top" class="row1"><span class="name"><a name=""></a><b>ouinon</b></span></td> <td class="row1" height="28" valign="top"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td width="100%"><img src="http://wrongplanet.cachefly.net/modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/icon_minipost.gif" width="12" height="9" alt="Post" title="Post" border="0" /><span class="postdetails">Posted: Tue Apr 08, 2008 8:16 am<span class="gen"> </span> Post subject: "Self-harm, Addiction, and Dependency"</span></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><hr /></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2"><span class="postbody"><img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_flower.gif" alt="flower" border="0" /> I think that the most troublesome aspect of smoking is the psychological addiction, that the chemical addiction is negligible; that exactly as with alcohol there are a <span style="font-style: italic">few</span> people for whom the tobacco in itself is a huge problem, but that the majority of smokers are addicted psychologically to the act/process of smoking cigarettes more than anything else. <br /> <br />For example; addicted to the relationship of dependence itself. "I <span style="font-style: italic">have</span> to have a cigarette!", and then the volupté of being able to satisfy their own need. A happy ending every 30 mins/hour or so, unlike their experience in babyhood, if fed by the clock for instance, when longing to suckle far more often. <br /> <br />I don't deny that most people who smoke more than a couple a day are addicted to the nicotine too, but firmly believe that withdrawal from it would be/is less painful and distressing than a bout of PMT, ( pre-menstrual tension) and/or a cold, <span style="font-style: italic">if</span> they weren't also massively dependent on the habit of cigarette smoking for psychological reasons. It is the psychological dependency which is so painful to break. <br /> <br />I decided recently, for the umpteenth time, that it is essential for my health that I do some small but regular aerobic exercise, but have difficulty making myself do it. Just as I have had trouble in the past stopping smoking, ( been smoke-free two and a half years), I find myself up against it about exercise. <br /> <br />It is as if I feel a need to "self-harm"/abuse to some degree in my life or I start to feel oppressed in some way. When I eliminate all "basic" forms of self-harm, as is more or less the case at the moment <span style="font-style: italic">if</span> I exercise, I feel under pressure. Whereas if there is something that I am consciously and deliberately doing despite knowing is probably bad for me, I feel freer or something. <br /> <br />I think that smoking is fulfilling, has been since the 70's, or earlier, when its ill effects on health became established, a self-harming function in our society. So now am wondering why people self-harm? Why do so many people in our society, me included, seem to need to do something that is explicitly bad for them? <br /> <br />I was remembering smoking, and how a bunch of us anywhere was like self-harming in public, ( as if we were cutting ourselves there in front of everybody), and that anyone who sat with us was part of the group because by breathing our smoke they were self harming with us. And how gloriously powerful it was, our smoke would frighten off all the "sensible", "adult" types who didn't self-harm. A puff was like a weapon. <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="Very Happy" border="0" /> <br /> <br />Any thoughts oh most great and thoughtful fellow wp members? <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" border="0" /> <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_question.gif" alt="Question" border="0" /> Anyone been addicted, is addicted, self-harms/ed, with insights on, or experience of this issue? <br /> <br /> <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_confused.gif" alt="Confused" border="0" /> <img src="modules/Forums/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif" alt="Cool" border="0" /></span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" height="1" class="spaceRow"><img src="modules/Forums/templates/subSilver/images/spacer.gif" alt="" width="1" height="1" /></td> </tr> </table>
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