The Devils Advocate

[denicalis]

Are cigarettes the evil or is the propaganda and the way people actually live the evil? Yes, I realize cigarettes have many bad health risks, but has anyone looked at the benefits? For certain conditions there are benefits. So, I would say for certain people stop torturing yourself and hating yourself because you can not seem to quit. Maybe it is because it is helping your body more then it is hurting you. POINT IS, get informed. Make a wise decision about smoking or not smoking. For some people its just stupid and pointless, for others there may be benefits. It is hard to find information in the US on any benefits because of the biased information we are provided. With all medications you must ask yourself... do the benefits out weigh the risks. If there are no benefits for you smoking other then the fact you are addicted then, ya, when you are ready it is probably time to stop.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1265067/health_benefits_of_smoking_cigarettes.html

In my case I have bad pain all over my body, Bipolar 1, anxiety (no it doesnt help that). But for the bipolar and pain, ya I noticed a difference when I quit for more then a month. The physical and mental withdrawals were gone. But, my hallucinations associated with my bipolar came back. My mood went more towards depressed. I became more tired all the time eventhough I would exercise. The pain in my body increased along with the shaking.

Anyways, best of luck. <3 Kati

[KarenDiane]

They have meds for bipolar, anxiety and pain. Not one of them includes nicotene. The only thing I've ever heard that cigarettes might be good for is decreasing a person's risk for Parkinsons disease. I don't see how that one thing outweighs the dozens of health risks that cigarettes pose. I smoked off and on for 17 years and I never, ever deluded myself into thinking that I was doing my body a favor. I think that you are angry and depressed and trying to make yourself feel good about making bad decisions.

[kathyjo]

I'm sorry Kati. I sure hope that things get better for you!
Good luck!

[denicalis]

I will maybe have a change of heart if I am guaranteed I will live past the age of 40 with my neurological condition.

[kathyjo]

Oh, forgot to say that I am and will be on Advair for the rest of my life : (  I have a mild case of COPD, from smoking : (

[kathyjo]

I smoked for 40 years and like Jade, it was stress and emotions that kept me at it for so long...ergo my passion for quitting.

I also smoked through 2 pregnancies and while my kids are beautiful, I can't help but think that it has caused both of them difficulties, daughter with asthma and a son with a chest (mild) deformity. Not only did I smoke through the pregnancies, but I smoked through and up to their adulthood : (  This is why I called it a selfish addiction. I will always carry the weight of this on my shoulders, but instead of the guilt, I use it to make me more committed to my quit.
Jade and I go way back (November 2007 for me, further back for her) and we are the only ones that have stuck around this forum, trying to help others who are trying to quit.

Stick around, sooner or later you just may have a change of heart : )

[Jade59]

Just to address the part where you say you felt worse physically.  That's interesting because I have Fibro among other painful issues and I must say, I never felt better physically than when I didn't smoke.  

I returned to smoking purely due to anxiety and depression.  The depression is better, but not the anxiety and I am back to feeling simply dreadful on a physical level.  

[denicalis]

I have tried quitting... 10 times? Hated it. Never made me feel better months after, only worse.

I envy you. This is not sarcasm.

It is better not to smoke by far, it has its benefits... unfortunately its in the nicotine and not the cigarette itself.

But that's a lot of money saved <.< only costs me $26 a month /makes my own.

I just wanted to give the other side, so maybe the people with Parkinson's or pain, etc. did not have to wonder why they felt so much shittier months after quitting and hating themselves for starting back up again and feeling like failures if that is the route they chose.

Good for you. I like sensible conversation.

[kathyjo]

Thank you, I need it : )
---
2y 4m 2w 6d 19:42 smoke-free, 19,244 cigs not smoked, $4,618.56 saved, 2m 6d 19:40 life saved

[denicalis]

Yes, I am entitled to my opinion and you are entitled to yours, but not for one second will I buy into me smoking outside as polluting your air.

It is silly. And my bipolar and brain disease is much more likely to take me away from my family then smoking ever will. So, that is why I said it is on a personal basis.

But saying it is selfish, well, sounds like propaganda. Maybe I should tell everyone who drives up to the McDonalds window to order from the $1 menu at lunch time every day, no matter how thin or what their circumstances are, or even how healthy they are, that they are selfish and they will place a burden on their family for eating that crap. OH YA, and that heart issue is the #1 cause of death in the US and not cigarette smoking. And heart disease NOT relating to cigarettes.. actually relating to obesity.

So put that into your equation? Maybe more people should smoke. Maybe then they would eat less.

research

Good luck to u!

[kathyjo]

One thing you forget to take into consideration and that is that it's a selfish addiction....secondhand smoke and we all know about the damage it does, and dying from smoking related diseases that can take you away from those who love you and the burden illness related medical issues put on our already hurting economy. Put that into your equasion and I think the good outweighs the bad....the good being a non-smoker.

You have your own opinion, and you are entitled to it, but the majority of people who quit will benefit from it.
Good luck to you!