Sometimes we use nicotine to shut off our feelings. When we do this, it doesn’t make the feelings go away. Often they became resentments. After we stop using nicotine we will, in time, discover more clearly how we feel. At first, however, emotions that were usually smoked away may now feel awkward, confusing, and even seem overwhelming.
We often discover we now feel differently about some things. Feelings, like anger and sadness, can be clear signals that a situation needs to be addressed. With the courage we ask for in the Serenity Prayer (listed in another post on this blog), we move forward, dealing with the feeling.
Recovery also provides us with the opportunity to feel new joys. An ongoing gratitude for this new freedom is an exhilarating experience.
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September 24th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I always had a bad feeling about smoking women. They always seemed colder and less approachable (maybe, because I don’t smoke myself). However, your post makes sense… Some people might not be aware, that they are less emotional because of smoking.