This Has Nothing To Do With Skinny Jeans

Well, I have been smoke free (mostly) for the past four months, and I gotta say I feel great! No more coughing, especially when I laugh really hard. No more sinus infections, until last week when I inhaled a butt-load of dirt and dust while mowing my lawn.

And I can breath! I ran three miles the other day without getting winded. Previously, I was lucky to make it a mile and a half before hyperventilating. My neighbors used to find me passed out in their ditch. Usually, it was because I'd been running. I won't get into those other instances that running wasn't involved.

"How?" you ask, did I accomplish this incredible feat?

Assuming you're inquiring about the quitting and not the running or passing out, I could lie and say that my Green Lantern-like willpower pulled me through. But I won't. Although, I did quit cold turkey once, which was an amazing display of will. I've also quit using nicotine patches. A few times.

"A few times?" you say. How many times have I quit smoking? A LOT. I honestly can't remember how many times I have deprived myself of this disgusting, yet immensely satisfying habit. But I always fall back into it.

I feel you smokers out there nodding your heads. Word.

See, I come from a long line of quitters. And sometimes I like to quit the same thing over and over again just because I'm not doing anything else that needs quitting. And then I start again...somehow completely forgetting/dismissing the HELL I went through to rid the delicious nicotine from my system. So this time's going to be different...at least that's what I'm shooting for.

But that isn't the real point in the post. The real point revolves around the earlier question that I pretended you asked me: How?

The answer is drugs. I started taking drugs. Regularly. At least once, most of the time twice a day.

Its called Chantix. I've taken it before, and the stuff really does work. Granted, last time didn't stick, but I didn't take the complete course last time either.

Now, that being said, here's my issue with the whole Chantix thing. So many of my friends and family members are against smoking because it isn't good for you. And then the Christian ones claim its a sin because it desecrates your body which is supposed to be God's temple. I happen to agree with both.

Then I got to thinking. Sure, smoking ruins your lungs, clogs your arteries, gives you cancer, changes your voice, etc... All of which darkens your temple. But the same people that are against all of these things pat me on the back and congratulate me when they find out I'm taking Chantix.

Like Chantix isn't a drug.

Like Chantix miraculously makes you quit smoking without any negative consequences.

Let me tell you how Chantix has effected my temple:

1. Frequent mild to severe upset stomach
2. Frequent mild to severe dizzy spells
3. Frequent waking up at night
4. Frequent insane nightmares involving clowns, vampire bunnies, and that kid from Paranormal Activity.
5. Significantly diminished sex drive
6. Inability to feel happy or excited about things

Chantix actually blocks nicotine from reaching certain receptors in your brain. Those receptors would normally cause a chemical called dopamine to be released. Dopamine causes you to feel pleasure. So basically, by restricting dopamine release, Chantix causes you to get no pleasure from nicotine. However, it also dampens pleasure in other things--like sex, or even life in general.

Is it any wonder it's recommended that people diagnosed with depression not take this drug? Can you imagine a depressed person being cut off from what little pleasure they still may experience? Have you heard the stories of people using Chantix committing suicide?

So which is better? Smoking or Chantix? I haven't heard anyone tell me I'm ruining my temple as a result of using Chantix. Even though it completely alters how your brain functions, and decreases natural (some may even say God-breathed) sensations that human beings are supposed to feel...need to feel.

But don't you dare smoke! Its a sin!

After all that, I continue to take Chantix. It makes me miserable at times, but so does smoking. I go back and forth on whether or not to quit taking it. Long line of quitters and all.

I think my point here is this: Just because something is socially acceptable, it doesn't make it good. More often than not, I find myself standing on the side opposite society, believing in the things the masses are against, disagreeing with the things they are for.

And more and more, I find that I am okay with that.

Because 10,000,000 emo kids wearing skinny jeans CAN be wrong.