Hi soon to be non smoker.
What are your smoking emotions? This is a question I routinely ask my quit clients. There is rarely just one emotion, but a combination which includes some or all of the following.
Shame, Frustration, Sadness, Fear, Anxiety, Despair, Doubt, Grief, Rage, Regret, Hate, Depression, Disgusted, Lonely, Bored, Scared, Impatient, Apprehensive, Embarrassed, Guilty, Indifferent, Destructive, Miserable or Stressed. Forgive me if I left out your favourite emotion, but at least you know what it is!
Some of these emotions you direct at yourselves, some at cigarettes, and some even at those who are on your back to quit.
Hopefully you don’t experience them all, however what is common is to experience different ones at different times, at different intensities, perhaps depending on how you feel, or maybe it depends on your location.
e.g. you may feel shame smoking near a café but not in the privacy of your home. Or you may feel fear if passing a hospital while smoking but not with your smoking buddies having a beer.
Handing over $40 for a packet in Australia can create regret in the moment, but later that may shift to guilt as you try to find a place to smoke where your co-workers won’t see you.
Looking at a full ashtray at home may cause frustration or despair, but in another location may just ramp up your desire for a smoke.
Wondering if a client or potential partner can smell cigarette smoke on your clothes may cause embarrassment, but you couldn’t care less being covered in a cloud of smoke in your car.
You may feel anxious if you haven’t had a cigarette for a couple of hours but you survive perfectly on a long flight or a busy day in the office.
Trying to quit may bring up doubt or fear that you will not succeed, and if you fail you may feel angry or even rage at yourself for giving in, again.
At times you may feel indifferent about smoking, at other times, sad or fearful about your future.
Feeling lonely or bored may be reduced by smoking, but you know that nothing has changed.
You may be impatient to escape your work or even your family to light up a cigarette, but then guilt may set in quickly and you then become impatient to finish this time and relationship wasting stick of plant.
I’m sure that you have experienced some of these situations. Or perhaps you could take a moment to notice your emotions and when they affect you.
To quit smoking the fast effective way just call me for a complementary chat on 1300 203 422 in Australia.
You can quit with me at Buderim on the Sunshine Coast, or from anywhere using Skype
Regards
Ian Newton
