That’s… kind of extreme, but also sounds very effective. I’ve tried lesser methods against bad habits that aren’t quite as harmful as cigarette smoking, but they haven’t worked. I’m going to try your trick.
You need to actually induce gagging, to the point where your eyes water a little. I accept no responsibility if someone offers you a smoke and you vomit on them.
OK, gagging in exchange for quitting smoking sounds better than most deals Omega offers. Can I have some details about this? I.e., how long did it take, how much you were smoking before, how, where, and how often did you induce gagging, any other side effects. (For instance, does instant uncontrollable vomiting actually happen to you or was that just hyperbole?)
I did this a long time before I started reading lesswrong, the idea of doing it as an organized, self experimentation type thing didn’t even occur to me.
This was about five years ago so I can’t offer you much detail. I quit flat out, cold turkey. I think the gagging thing was most helpful in the initial two weeks when intense cravings where a problem particularly at parties etc. where people were smoking around me. I remembered to induce gagging I would guess about 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 of the time I consciously experienced a craving, which would have been dozens of times per day for the first week and far less over time. I did it whenever i caught myself thinking in any real detail about cigarettes, the taste, etc etc. One of my main reasons for quitting was were the queasy feelings upon waking—I’d remind myself of those general disgusted feelings, recalling as vividly as possible the unpleasant feeling upon waking up etc.
I have no idea which of the various things i did contributed to my success. I suspect developing the habit of physical exercise has been a big help because I find it impossible to run, swim or box if I have smoked in even the last week. I did relapse for a few months about two years later.
Instant uncontrollable vomiting definitely wasn’t a problem. I have a fairly low gag reflex, so I could gag a little to the point where I felt a slight response in my eyes and stomach muscles without worrying about actually vomiting, although for all I know this might increase the effectiveness of the technique.
My biggest caveat is that I had been truly addicted for at most a year and a half. It might not work so well for someone who’s been on the death sticks for decades. Particularly if it’s been entrenched into their routines.
That’s… kind of extreme, but also sounds very effective. I’ve tried lesser methods against bad habits that aren’t quite as harmful as cigarette smoking, but they haven’t worked. I’m going to try your trick.
You need to actually induce gagging, to the point where your eyes water a little. I accept no responsibility if someone offers you a smoke and you vomit on them.
OK, gagging in exchange for quitting smoking sounds better than most deals Omega offers. Can I have some details about this? I.e., how long did it take, how much you were smoking before, how, where, and how often did you induce gagging, any other side effects. (For instance, does instant uncontrollable vomiting actually happen to you or was that just hyperbole?)
I did this a long time before I started reading lesswrong, the idea of doing it as an organized, self experimentation type thing didn’t even occur to me.
This was about five years ago so I can’t offer you much detail. I quit flat out, cold turkey. I think the gagging thing was most helpful in the initial two weeks when intense cravings where a problem particularly at parties etc. where people were smoking around me. I remembered to induce gagging I would guess about 1⁄3 to 1⁄2 of the time I consciously experienced a craving, which would have been dozens of times per day for the first week and far less over time. I did it whenever i caught myself thinking in any real detail about cigarettes, the taste, etc etc. One of my main reasons for quitting was were the queasy feelings upon waking—I’d remind myself of those general disgusted feelings, recalling as vividly as possible the unpleasant feeling upon waking up etc.
I have no idea which of the various things i did contributed to my success. I suspect developing the habit of physical exercise has been a big help because I find it impossible to run, swim or box if I have smoked in even the last week. I did relapse for a few months about two years later.
Instant uncontrollable vomiting definitely wasn’t a problem. I have a fairly low gag reflex, so I could gag a little to the point where I felt a slight response in my eyes and stomach muscles without worrying about actually vomiting, although for all I know this might increase the effectiveness of the technique.
My biggest caveat is that I had been truly addicted for at most a year and a half. It might not work so well for someone who’s been on the death sticks for decades. Particularly if it’s been entrenched into their routines.
Ok, so you didn’t smoke-then-gag, just gagged when you thought about smoking. Thank you.
Well, you should. It’s a good thing. :-)