I watched an Oprah episode on quitting smoking not too long ago and it was actually a bunch of garbage. The experts on the show knew very little about quitting smoking and a couple of times actually gave really bad advice to people with questions.

I went on the attached website and they had a test to see how addicted I was. Check this out.


I'm so glad that I took this test after I quit and not before, because I would have really felt helpless. I would have been scared to death to quit smoking and it would have only reinforced how hard quitting is.


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Here are my test results.
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THE FAGERSTRöM TEST FOR NICOTINE DEPENDENCE

You scored a 8 on the Fagerström Test for Nicotine Dependence.

8–9 points

Approximately 5 percent of smokers fall in this category. They:

Are a small group with extreme dependence.
Have a very small chance of quitting smoking.
Will experience handicapping withdrawal symptoms.
Will find support treatment and medication—over a long time and in high dosage—essential to quitting.
Are likely to experience smoking related disorders.
Are very susceptible to anxiety, depression, pain and alcohol dependence.

As a reminder, always consult your doctor for medical advice and treatment before starting any program.
__________________________________________ ________________.

So I was extremly dependent on smoking and had a very small chance to quit. Yet I did just that and it was not nearly as hard to do after getting educated.

Supposedly I would have handicapping withdrawal symptoms, YET my biggest complaint was that I was tired. I was fine quitting and hardly the junkie withering on the ground that this statement makes it out to be.

I would need medication to quit smoking. It says that it is essential for me to be able to quit smoking. Yet, I quit cold turkey, BUT in their opinion I would need HIGH DOSES of medication to be able to quit.

I don't think that I have any smoking related disorders.

When I was a smoker, I suffered from some depression and was such a high strung person always feeling anxiety. Since I quit smoking I feel so much more calm now. I actually used to drink a lot when I smoked. I drink so much less now since I quit smoking.

Another thing, when I smoked, I had OCD. I was never officially diagnosed, but when I smoked. I always had to check things 4, 5, 6 times in a row to make sure it was OK. Be it making sure the door was locked, the oven was off. The water faucets were off. The toaster was unplugged.

Now that I quit smoking, these symptoms have almost completely disapeared.

In all, that was the most irresponsible and innacurate test ever.



Eric

I freed myself on 7/7/04