What does tobacco do for you? Is a common question I ask.
Get the wheels turning ask yourself to identify the beliefs you have surrounding tobacco.
It could be feelings of stress and the belief that the only thing that will cure the stress is to have a cigarette. Or “I feel pretty good today,” “I completed all the laundry, cooked, cleaned washed every dish in the house,” leads to “I deserve a cigarette. “ We all carry our own beliefs and rules to nearly every situation, e.g. if I don’t do this than this… or If I do this than this…. A constant running tally whether its work, home, school, or play and cigarettes or other forms of tobacco, fit right into the equation because they have been there- planned- thought about- made time for.
Think perception, if you perceive the above statements as true, try asking yourself this; what is the probability that it is actually true? See what you come up with and find the evidence for or against the statement. For example: “I actually found I am more anxious when I have to find a place to smoke so then by doing the smoking I have 1) found a place and 2) I am easing my cravings”. This takes time and practice; you may find you have to avoid places or thing until you are comfortable in your new routine to then insert those things in again.
For those of you actively quitting or have quit what are some of these beliefs you hold about your tobacco products whether positive or negative and how do they fit into your day to day routine?
Stay tuned for next week’s blog and think just how these beliefs/perceptions play into the rituals of smoking.
Virginia Fitch-Braun, MS
Check out more from the Mayo Clinic Blog
thanks for sharing-how many days are you clean from using heroin-NICOTINE? I used nicotine to slowly kill MYSELF-the excuses I used were all the ones you blogged-the deeply root cause in ME-pride-I didnt know Gods love-long story short I was ignorant of the drug NICOTINE-when I heard how it gave cancer to those on tv who were sueing the drug dealers-I could care less-MY mind set at that TIME-YEARS AGO-poor things it wont happen to ME-raised and trained in HELL on earth-alcohol-child rape-perverted sex taught by adults to ME a innocent child-age 5-I used the DRUG NICOTINE-because I was trained too-on the REZ- these were gifts of the whiteman to ME-an ignorent child who accepted any gift to be noticed and most of all to be accepted and loved-I obey and follow the adults who trained ME-THEN I HEARD OF CHOICES AT AGE 33-thats a whole NEW adventure-please I am talking about ME-no one else -ignorant in a lot of areas still yet open minded to BELIEVE IN MY HEART-MY DADDY-MY LORD JESUS-MY HOLY COMFORTER-WILL FINISH THE WORK IN ME GOD BEGAN BEFORE HE CREATED THE WORLD-A rough start doesnt mean it has to end that way! In Jesus name amen please take what helps and let go of the rest-thank you