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From: bbanerje@sjuvax.UUCP (B. Banerjee)
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.med
Subject: Re: Request for reasons and ways to quit smoking
Message-ID: <174@sjuvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 21-Feb-84 16:54:57 EST
Article-I.D.: sjuvax.174
Posted: Tue Feb 21 16:54:57 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 23-Feb-84 04:16:01 EST
References: <241@heurikon.UUCP>
Organization: Saint Josephs Univ. Phila., Pa.
Lines: 45

>>2.  Methods to help someone quit smoking.  Personal experiences or ideas.
>>	Examples:  Employer sponsored financial rewards (details please)
>>		   Medications (what?, from where?)
>>		   Peer support
>>

Medications? HA!  Peer support? Never!  The best way is to quit
Cold Turkey.  The General Procedure  to follow is given.

a.  Some time when quite disgusted by habit, toss cigs out of the
window.  (This helps if you live several stories up).  When you 
get the urge to go down and retrieve them either

	i.  Swallow scalding coffee in copious quantities.
	ii.  Eat the junkiest food you can find.
	iii.  Nip your index finger smartly above the first joint.
	       make sure that you have enough restraint not to bite
		it off.

b.  Some time during the day you will go down and retrieve the cigs
you tossed out earlier (or replace them).  At this point you are 
probably feeling rather guilty, but also quite sorry for yourself.
At this point it is permissable to light up to calm the shakes.  Take
a few deep drags... The guilt will persist while you no longer feel
quite as sorry for yourself....NOW toss the lit cig AND the pack out
of the window again.

c.  Try to develop an attitude of martyrdom.  It's much easier when
you imagine that the entire world would go up in flames if you weaken.
Also, whenever you do weaken, as soon as the fit is past, toss the 
pack (Yes I know that they're expensive!).

Anyhow, the first week is supposed to be the worst.  Remember, you're
trying to break a multi-year habit !  It isn't meant to be easy.
Just remember, that if you've been smoking for a while, its cost you
on the order of $5K up front (for the cigarettes alone).  If you're
off for 3 days, the first lapse will cause you to feel dizzy and ill.
This should give you the impetus to keep on going.

"Four days and still Shaky! "
-- 


				Binayak Banerjee
		{allegra | astrovax | bpa | burdvax}!sjuvax!bbanerje