FIRST-WEEK IMPRESSIONS

Frieda Bush

This is the first week of class in the Free & Clear program at Group Health Cooperative. I was surrounded by 10 people who know all the ins and outs of smoking, how long it takes to smoke a king-sized cigarette, how much nicotine each brand has and a common sense of shame about engaging in a harmful habit.

I am in the process of "nicotine fading" -- smoking fewer cigarettes and switching to a brand that has less nicotine per cigarette.

I already feel better, coughing less and sleeping more soundly. However, I'm also dealing with conflicting emotions. I'm jealous of my workmates who have already quit. But I'm also anxious about quitting. The stress levels at work are rising and I'm afraid I won't handle it well without an occasional chance to step away from my desk and smoke.

Smoking feels like a great way to deal with anger when you really shouldn't say what you're thinking out loud. That is a large part of the reason I decided to combine Zyban with group support to quit this time.

I want to quit smoking and still have friends and family who will speak to me.

Amy Uptmor

-Day 1: I've used the patch before and was very satisfied with it -- I had absolutely no cravings. But today I have cravings. And I'm STARVING. I don't think I prepared myself mentally for quitting smoking this time around.

-Day 2: I am cranky; I cried twice today. I feel physically better, with fewer cravings. But I'd still like to smoke.

-Day 3: I bought a new box of patches today -- step 3, which delivers a dose of 7 milligrams of nicotine a day. I started on step 2 of the patch, which contains 14 milligrams a day. I started on step 2 because I didn't smoke that much -- half a pack a day, and ultra lights at that. But that doesn't make quitting seem any easier. The nicotine addiction is a small part of the battle. Smoking is a lifestyle that I've assumed for most of my adult life. This change is big, but I feel good about it.

I'm flying today and am wondering what I'll do during an airport layover other than smoke as many cigarettes as possible. The solution: I'm bringing two books and an orange to eat. Vitamin C has been a big help in this process.

-First weekend: My trip wasn't a problem smoking-wise, but I wasn't around smokers. The test will come when I'm around smokers again.

Jim Carlile

-Day 1: It is 1:30 p.m. on Monday and I'm going into hypnosis at 3:30 p.m. to quit smoking. I'm a bit nervous.

I don't know what the hypnotist is going to make me believe and it kind of scares me. Can she actually make me think that smoking is an awful thing? Will I hate other smokers? Will there be some void in my brain where my love of smoking used to be?

She talked me through what she would do -- put headphones on my head and talked to me through a mic while music was playing.

Post hypnotism: I don't want to smoke right now. I take a deep breath and it's like I just smoked. Or never smoked. Strange.

-Day 2: It's 2 p.m. -- one hour before going back to the hypnotist. I can't tell if what she did worked. I kind of want to smoke -- but it's the same kind of wanting to smoke that you get after smoking five minutes before. I'm doing all sorts of things like "breathing," taking three deep breaths, eating vitamins, walking, etc. and I can't help but wonder if the cravings I'm having are only normal for someone who's doing all this without the hypnotism.

Well, I got back in one hour and I have no idea what I'm in for this time. I'm less nervous, though.

-Day 3: I'm a little sick. It may be from the vitamin C packets I've been taking at the behest of the hypnotist. I'm feeling very weak as well -- and a bit nauseous. Don't want a cigarette, though. I feel too sick for one.

-Day 5: Yesterday wasn't terrible. No days have been terrible yet. Still a bit weak and shaky. I wanted a cigarette yesterday after I went to the hypnotist for the third and final time. On the way back, I opened the glove compartment and found an open pack of cigarettes with about 15 left. It was the biggest test yet. It felt so natural to get out of the car, put the pack in my pocket and walk into the building. I gave them away, though.

The Olympian Copyright 2000

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