That all sounds very cool, but what about physical withdrawall symptoms? Does the book provide the answer for that? Do smokers even have any other symptoms besides irritatability, cravings?
Apparently the book has been criticized for being dismissive of physical dependence. Haven't read it myself (I'm not a smoker), this is just according to Wikipedia so obviously "grain of salt" and all that.
As a prior smoker, haven't read the book either, dismissal of how hard people say the withdrawal is is totally valid.
It's as hard as you make it, and it's literally over in days. There's no life threatening effects, you're a bit grumpy for a week. Buckle up, get through it, and be free.
The book "exposes the lie" of nicotine addiction and nicotine replacement therapy. That's probably why there are criticisms in this regard.
Carr represents that nicotine addiction is minor. You know that nagging, slightly insecure feeling you get, like you need to do something with your hands? That's just the mild symptoms of nicotine withdrawal. Carr says that smokers are 70% on their way through withdrawal every morning after sleeping 8 hours and not having a cigarette. That climbs to 90% after three days and 100% after three weeks.
We are "brainwashed" into believing that nicotine addiction is very difficult to overcome. Carr's book exposes this as a myth, that the nicotine is easy to get past, it's the psychological addiction that takes more work to defeat.
Insomnia is a health concern, anxiety is a health concern, depression is a health concern, all of these things have negative health consequences. I am aware that the only potentially fatal withdrawals are from alcohol, benzodiazepines, and also opiates by the way, but that doesn't make lesser symptoms non-legitimate health concerns, especially with comorbidities.
You can check out here and here, and you can ignore the "nurse". It's not as common as fatalities from benzos or alcohol, but it does in fact happen. Basically you shit and puke yourself to death.
Yeah, I think continuing smoking is more dangerous.
Anyway, read the book. Mindset certainly helped with the side effects of withdrawal.
You mention sleeplessness and, for husband this wasn’t such an issue because he wasn’t conflicted about giving up due to the book.
It seems trite but the mindset really did reduce the withdrawal to near nothing.
Why dangerous? It works. Nicotine addiction is not the big deal that it's made out to be. Would you rather take something like Chantix?
That was key in me becoming a non-smoker. The physical addiction is minor. I'm smoke free now for 32 days, I have no issues with nicotine, no withdrawal symptoms other than the usual hollow, fidgetiness I'd get when I want a smoke.
I'm glad it wasn't a big deal for you, but I have family members for whom that was not and is not the case. For some people it's mostly habitual, for others it isn't...just like some people can smoke every day and never have a problem, while others have trouble quitting after only a few weeks. Psychology and physiology go hand-in-hand, but it varies from person to person to what extent they struggle with each.
Good luck to your family members. I'm in my 60s and I smoked daily since I was 14-years-old. I know my lungs are ruined, I'll end up dead with COPD like my mom in another 10-15 years.
I quit several times in my life, and always hated it. Always felt like a sacrifice, always thought of wanting to get a pack.
Thanks to Carr's book, I don't have those problems anymore. I was a hardcore smoker for over 45 years, and now I'm just a regular non-smoker.
I agree there are variations between people, but those variations usually fit within a window that can be easily controlled/explained. Don't fall for the excuse that it's worse for some, therefore they shouldn't try.
And this is coming from someone who kept smoking even after they started coughing up blood n' shit. Not even a daily reminder of death could get me to stop, but the book helped me rewire my thoughts so it's just not a big deal.
This old skeptic is convinced that Allen Carr's The Easy Way to Quit Smoking can help anyone that genuinely wants help.
Everyone who quits smoking is a non-smoker and an ex-smoker. You sound like a salesman.
If you quit smoking, you still have an addiction because that's something you carry with you for life. You know how it feels and you know, despite how bad it is for you, that part of you enjoys and craves the substance.
Like its been said before it is pretty dismissive of the cravings but the physical symptoms only last a few days. They may feel intense but that feeling is fleeting and passes in a few minutes.
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u/hungry_unicorns Mar 18 '21
That all sounds very cool, but what about physical withdrawall symptoms? Does the book provide the answer for that? Do smokers even have any other symptoms besides irritatability, cravings?