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.
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Wednesday, May 8, 2013
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:
. 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)
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