Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 05/12/2008 - 3:42pm.
but what about if smoking is an unconscious psychological symbol?
In my case: of past, repressed memories/emotions of abuse. Smoking was at once, the clue, the Hansel & Gretel breadcrumb trail to recovering "lost" episodes of my past - and continued reinforcement of that reality, through self-abuse.
I too, have stumbled across the difference of "power" between the I-function, nervous system management and even the mind-body connection... where I'm discovering my body is developing a strong aversion to cigarettes, as I continue to heal from that past abuse, that led me to smoke in the first place. (I had a head injury and discovered that smoking helped quite a bit with cognitive function and control over dissociative symptoms - the pragmatic side of smoking).
So, I wonder? Which is stronger? the "I" function combined with physical dislike of my 40 year habit? Or the nervous & brain systems that rely on continued delivery of the "fix" that I rely on out of fear that I won't be able to control my awareness...
Trying to quit again... quit for 2 years without physical withdrawal symptoms about 10 years ago. Got emotionally triggered and have continued the slow, 40 year penance of self-abuse...
Good luck to you...
from a fellow traveler and quitter... wondering like you about "I" and biological systems...
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Narrative is determined not by a desire to narrate
but by a desire to exchange. (Roland Barthes, S/Z)
hmmm....
but what about if smoking is an unconscious psychological symbol?
In my case: of past, repressed memories/emotions of abuse. Smoking was at once, the clue, the Hansel & Gretel breadcrumb trail to recovering "lost" episodes of my past - and continued reinforcement of that reality, through self-abuse.
I too, have stumbled across the difference of "power" between the I-function, nervous system management and even the mind-body connection... where I'm discovering my body is developing a strong aversion to cigarettes, as I continue to heal from that past abuse, that led me to smoke in the first place. (I had a head injury and discovered that smoking helped quite a bit with cognitive function and control over dissociative symptoms - the pragmatic side of smoking).
So, I wonder? Which is stronger? the "I" function combined with physical dislike of my 40 year habit? Or the nervous & brain systems that rely on continued delivery of the "fix" that I rely on out of fear that I won't be able to control my awareness...
Trying to quit again... quit for 2 years without physical withdrawal symptoms about 10 years ago. Got emotionally triggered and have continued the slow, 40 year penance of self-abuse...
Good luck to you...
from a fellow traveler and quitter... wondering like you about "I" and biological systems...