Smoking Cessation

A great miracle has happened in my life which is I haven't had a smoke in two months and 18 days.  I didn't think I would get past the first day but I did.  I am using the a nicotine patch to help me with the withdrawal.  It is a great help with that aspect of me quitting but it is still very difficult.  Another part of quitting is the psychological part.  That is sometimes hard to deal with as well.

I am determined, come hell or high water to beat this problem in my life.  I am now a free man.  My slavery to the nicotine god has ended.  It's control over me has ended.  I no longer have to plan my day around my smoking habits.  I am able to do things for a long period of time without having to stop for a smoke break.  Health wise I feel much better than I did when I smoked.  The severe coughing jags are over.  I don't get out of breath so easily.  Also, food tastes better.  I am able to accomplish more things now.  Smoking took up a great deal of my time.  Another wonderful thing about quitting is all the extra money I have now.  Kim and I love travelling and we are able to do more of it since I quit.  I am able to buy things for myself once in a while.  I have purchased books, magazines, fishing tackle, and Kim and I get to eat out more often.  The blessings I have received from quitting are enormous and probably I couldn't count them all.

How did I do it?  Mostly by keeping busy.  When my mind and hands are occupied I don't have time to think about having a smoke.  When I get a real bad craving I tell myself just to put off having a smoke for the next hour.  By that time the craving has passed.  I also go find something to do to keep my mind off it.  Play the guitar, play a computer game, read a magazine or a book,  do some chores, do research online, and simply play around on my computer.  Of course I still fulfill my job responsibilities.  I can also accomplish more at work because I am not stopping all the time for smoke breaks.

Quitting smoking is a matter of mind over matter.  If a person believes they cannot quit they won't.  If a person believes they can they will.  There was a time when I believed that I couldn't quit and that's why all my previous attempts were unsuccessful.  I thought that because of my schizophrenia I couldn't quit because smoking really helps the mental state of someone with this disorder.  It simply helps people feel a lot better both physically and psychologically.  Nicotine has therapeutic qualities on people with psychiatric disorders.  For these reasons it is very difficult for consumers to quit smoking but it is still possible.  Now that I have actually quit the thing I have to focus on now is not to start up again.  Never take another puff because if I do that would start my active addiction all over again.  It would only take that one puff to get me smoking again on a regular basis.  After that one puff I would become a smoker again and probably smoke more then than I did when I quit.

I would like to end this success story by stating that "it truly is possible to quit smoking despite the obstacles that need to be overcome."  Recovery from nicotine addiction can be accomplished.

Bill C-54, the Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act

OTTAWA, May 7, 2013 – While Canadians mark Mental Health Week, the government’s Bill C-54, the 

Not Criminally Responsible Reform Act, is moving forward with fundamental flaws that will set back 

progress made in understanding mental health and mental illness, an alliance of national mental health 

organizations warned today. 

“We understand the need to protect Canadians from individuals who commit violent crimes,” said Chris 

Summerville, Alliance Facilitator and CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada at a news conference 

on Parliament Hill. “However, this bill, as it is currently written, will not do this. What this bill has done 

is tell Canadians that they should be afraid of people with a mental illness.” 

Summerville added the vast majority of people with a mental illness will never commit any type of 

crime, let alone a serious one, and that recidivism rates of individuals found not criminally responsible 

on account of a mental disorder are much lower than rates among individuals found guilty of a crime. 

 “The mental health community in Canada has made important strides in reducing the stigma associated 

with mental illness. We are concerned that in its present form, Bill C-54 will negatively impact the lives 

of people found Not Criminally Responsible on account of a Mental Disorder and unjustifiably increase 

the stigma towards people with mental illness,” said Peter Coleridge, National CEO, Canadian Mental 

Health Association. “Too many elements of the bill are simply not evidence based and will not result in 

the changes that Canadians and victims would like to see from such a bill. This issue is much too 

important to rush.” 

“The mental health community was not part of the creation of Bill C-54,” said Dr. Paul Fedoroff, Member 

Board of Directors, Canadian Psychiatric Association and President, Canadian Academy of Psychiatry and 

the Law. “Today, during Mental Health Week, we publicly offer not only to work with the government in 

creating an effective bill, but to also work with victims groups. We are confident that Canadians expect 

their government to work with the mental health community in crafting a bill that effectively and fairly 

deals with people with mental disorders in a way that serves everyone’s interests.” 

 The government’s Bill C-54 proposes amendments to the Criminal Code dealing with restrictions for 

people found not criminally responsible on account of a mental disorder. Given the significance of 

passing such changes, Canada’s mental health community has come together to form a working alliance 

in an effort to strengthen their voice on this critical matter, which is of vital importance to the mental 

health community and understanding mental illness. The alliance includes: 

 . Mood Disorders Society of Canada
. National Network for Mental Health
. Canadian Mental Health Association
. Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
. Canadian Psychiatric Association
. Canadian Psychological Association
. Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention
. Canadian Association of Social Workers
. Schizophrenia Society of Canada
(representing all Schizophrenia Societies
across Canada)

A Writing Career

I would like to have a career some day, not a job.  There is a difference between the two.  I have been doing a lot of thinking about what I would like to do and my decision has been made.  I want to pursue a writing career.  Although I do have two writing jobs  I want to be published enough to make a good living off my writing.  The next decision I need to make is what subject do I want to write about.  I cannot write about mental illness, concurrent disorders, addiction, and alcoholism because there will not be enough places to get published and earn a living off it.  To my knowledge there is only one magazine in North America on the subject of mental illness and I am not sure about addiction and alcoholism.

So, I need to pick a subject and this will have to be my next decision.  I've been mulling over different subjects in my mind.  I have a keen interest in many different topics.  Some of the subjects I have been mulling over are:

• Computers and technology.
• Science.
• Nature and conservation.
• Global warming.
• Fishing
• Music and guitars.
• Paranormal
• Philosophy

This is not going to be an easy decision to make.  I am not going to let my OCD interfere with making my decision and once it is made I will not let my OCD make me change my mind.  I am determined to make the decision and stick to it come hell or high water.  Nothing will get in my way.

I have faith, hope, and courage because recovery is truly possible.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

I went to Acadia Library today and did some research on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).  I wish to briefly share with my readers what I got out of my research.

 

 

When we are in a certain situation or events happen we generally have automatic thoughts in reaction to the event.  We are not aware of these thoughts because they are usually subconscious.  For some people these thoughts are maladaptive or dysfunctional.  This in turn creates maladaptive and dysfunctional behaviors.  Our behaviors are a direct result of our thoughts.

 

 

In CBT sessions the therapist helps the client identify these maladaptive and dysfunctional thoughts.  Then the therapist helps the client change these thoughts and helps the client change their behavior in certain situations.  If we can learn to have the correct thoughts in certain situations then we can carry out acceptable behaviors in the situation.

 

It is not the event itself that causes certain behaviors but it is our interpretation and perception of the event that creates certain behaviors.  If we have the wrong interpretation and perception of the event then our reactions to the event will be maladaptive and dysfunctional.  Our distorted thinking in certain situations is what causes our problems in dealing with the event.  Through CBT the therapist teaches us how to identify the problems and put into practice effective problem solving skills.  When we learn to identify the problem and how to solve the problem then we can learn how to think  and behave appropriately in the situation.

 

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to treat various types of disorders such as phobias, anxiety disorders (such as obsessive compulsive disorder),psychosis, eating disorders, addiction,and alcoholism.  Research studies have shown CBT to be very successful in treating many of  these disorders previously mentioned.  In fact in some situations CBT by itself produces better results than using medication.  At other times it is very successful using it in combination with medications.  Either way CBT is a very effective treatment for many psychiatric disorders.  Today, it is being used more and more by mental health professionals.

Beyond The Brain

Here is an interesting article.  It takes a different angle than most literature.  I'm not sure if I agree to it all but it definitely makes a person think.  It states that there is lot more to schizophrenia than just the biological model.  Some people even recover without medication.

If you are open to different ideas about schizophrenia give it a read.

Here is the link to the article.

http://www.wilsonquarterly.com/article.cfm?AID=2196

Converting the World

I have done lots of research on many different topics and subjects.  Mental illness, addiction, alcoholism, different types of philosophy, religions, science, psychology.  There is one thing I have noticed.  Everyone is out to convert everyone else to what they believe.  It doesn't matter who they are, what they believe or what organization they are advocating for, they are out to convert everyone else to their position.  Why?

I must confess there was a time in my life when I was guilty of the same thing.  Why do I need to convert everyone else to my position on different things in life?  Why does it matter?  If I am satisfied with what I believe or what my position is on something, and it works for me, and it helps me on my path in life, and helps me cope with all the bad things that happen in my life, why do I need to convert everybody else to it?  What's the purpose in doing so?

When I am surfing the net I have noticed that no matter what the subject, or organization, or the thing they are promoting they sound like vultures stomping all over everyone else as if they are their enemies out to destroy them.  Destroy the enemy or else.  I must be victorious. I must win the battle and completely obliterate my opposition.  I am the man, I am the ultimate authority,  you must surrender to me or else.  The whole world must succumb to me and believe the same thing I do, they must be obedient to me and my beliefs.  Why?

I personally believe that this is the very core and reason for all the wars and violence, terrorism, and Dictators stamping out all their opposition.  If a person studies all the past wars in history and really thinks about it, why were all these wars fought and why did so many people have to die and be destroyed.  Simply because the rest of the world must believe what I believe and must succumb to my beliefs and authority.  No matter what they are.

There is a saying in the 12 Step groups such as AA, Na, Ga and many others.  It goes like this:  Live and Let Live.  I will live my life the way I think I should and I will let you live your life the way that you think you should as long as neither one of us are hurting someone else in the process.

The only reason I wrote this is just to give my readers some food for thought.  Why why why must I convert the world?

The New Year

2013 is almost upon us.  My wife and I had a wonderful 2012.  I have accomplished a lot in the year gone by.  I have been pondering on what I would like to accomplish in 2013.  I have come up with some ideas of what I would like to accomplish.

 

First of all I am going to learn how to tie my own flies for fly fishing. I am going to specialize in tying streamers and streamer fishing.  The big trout and smallmouth bass like hearty meaty meals.  Streamers imitate hearty meaty meals better than other flies.  When it comes to fly fishing I am just a beginner but I intend to learn the craft.

 

Another thing I would like to accomplish is to focus more on my writing.  I want to do more writing on my blogs, write papers to print off and share with people, and make an attempt to break into the free lance writing field.  Some day I would to write a book and successfully get it published.  Writing is my gift and I love the act of writing itself.  I have a deep passion for writing.  Up to this point in my life I have mostly written about mental illness, addiction, and alcoholism.  I would like to branch out and write about other subjects as well.

For extra fun and relaxation I will spend a fair amount of time playing my computer games and x-box.  My favorite games are the air war games.  I can play those games for a long period of time between smokes.

My new years resolution is to cut back on my smoking.  I am not going to try to quit abruptly but slowly cut back until I get to the point when I don't have to smoke.  My psychiatrist told me it is impossible to quit abruptly but if I slowly cut back over a very long period of time I just might pull off quiting.  He thinks that is the only way for me to quit.  It is not going to be easy but the good things in life take a lot of hard work and determination.  I think I am up to the fight and a fight it will be.

I have plans for 2013 and I believe that "if we fail to plan we plan to fail."  I think that the reason everything has to all planned out to a tee and how to carry out the plan perfectly is the result of a symptom of my Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.  I believe there is no harm in that but it is a good thing to have everything all planned out.  It gives me something to look forward to and goals and objectives to work on in my life.  My plan is my map book for life.  It gives me a map to follow in life that will bring me to my destination in life which will never be accomplished until I leave this world.

I sincerely hope that all my readers will have a wonderful 2013 and will have a successful recovery this year.  Have faith, hope, and courage recovery is truly possible.