Any smokers here?

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I was wondering, are there any aspie smokers here? I'm an aspie who smokes sometimes, especially when I'm feeling down about being an aspie. Does anybody here smoke to cope with their Asperger's?

There are smokers here, but not me - I do not need such a crutch as tobacco.

I smoke to cope with stress....I started smoking to cope with hyperactivity.

I smoke because I've been addicted since I was seventeen. I doubt that I started to cope with the Asperger's, since I didn't know anything about Asperger's at the time, much less being one, even though I was, and the characteristics were obvious enough that other people took note of them and mentioned them. More likely it was to be "grown up," since almost all the grown-ups did, and of course I got hooked. Marijuana isn't _nearly_ as addictive as tobacco!

i used to think smoking wasnt too bad, till i tried it. it was disgusting, and i never did it again.

Quit about 3 years ago after smoking for 11 years.

I quit this year. I did use it to cope with stress, and frequently used it to escape from stressful social situations. I can't say that it worked particularly well for either, really, although I sure told myself that it did.

I'm in the process of stopping and so far, it's going Ok.
Champix works for me where willpower and nicotine patches have failed, and the only side effect so far is a slight metallic taste.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Varenicline

When I was late teens/early twenties, I did smoke in an attempt to "fit in" or to be edgy... What an idiotic thing to do! I haven't touched a cigarette in 20 years, and never would again. They make you stink, they make you sick, and they're expensive, and there is no benefit whatsoever to balance all the bad. I don't understand why anyone would smoke; and I especially don't understand how in Sam Hill I came up with such a dumb idea as to start back then. Had I continued, there's no way I'd be 44 now, and acting and doing things like a 19 year old, and be (God willing) in near perfect health with athletic body.

Charles

I quit over five years ago. It wasn't my first attempt but the method was the same - immediate stop and cold turkey. No gum, patches or substitutes. It wasn't too bad apart from about day 3-4 when I was struck by some strange attack (panic maybe?) and had to go to bed, where I could barely breathe. It felt like an elephant was standing on my chest and I feared I was having a heart attack. Thankfully that passed after an hour or two. It then took about a year before I could finally stop thinking about cigarettes. I'm so glad to be free of the most addictive substance I've ever experienced.

^^ I succeeded in stopping for a few years, several years ago, and I also "just stopped" and went cold turkey.
It was very uncomfortable for the first couple of weeks and I had similar panic-like things occurring, along with weird flashing hallucinations.

I think nicotine rates right up there with crack and heroin as one of the most addictive substances known and the hypocrisy of various governmental departments wittering on about the war on drugs while allowing the open sale of this stuff is just staggering.

Yup, I smoke.

Oddly, cannabis was a gateway drug to tobacco addiction for me, should have used a bong...

Hah - same here!

I smoke because of anxiety ... I'm trying to find a less destructive crutch.

I started smoking at 19 as an attempt to "fit in". It made me sick but I still carried on anyway. Now at (almost) 33 I am hopelessly addicted to the bloody things!

I started 3 years ago. Not too sure why really. Curiosity i guess. Im not sure if its an effect of smoking or not so maybe some of you quitters can answer this... I know people smoke to cope with stress, and Ive noticed since I started smoking that I barely have any meltdowns any more, but at the same time, I dont really have much for any kind of intense feelings anymore. I dont know if this dulling sensation is an effect of the nicotine and its resultant lack of energy or if its just me getting old.