[juleiie]

I miss this awful habit so much.

Ever since quitting years ago I never really recovered. It’s like 35% of my mental focus and clarity evaporated.

All these moments when something had to be figured out suddenly things became easy if you only went for a smoke. Solutions became crystal clear obvious and effortless.

At a price.

Without it is always like a little bit of heavy fog is obscuring everything. That I know could be instantly lifted by this terrible drug.

I even remember my first time what a transcendental clarity it summoned. It was as if some thick veil fell from me in an instant. That’s very, very addicting and just useful.

Does overclocking your brain is worth the accelerated parts wear and tear? Well I made a decision that it isn’t. That I am intelligent and privileged enough to hopefully achieve the things I want and enjoy them for longer.

[asdff]

Why not chew some nicotine gum? People cite things like blood pressure and cardiovascular effects, but seems like caffeine has these same issues and they might just be general stimulant related effects. Have you ever considered if you have add/adhd? You might benefit from adderall as well or some other stimulant. These also have extended release formulations.

I wish coca leaves were available stateside. Not sure the growing requirements, but it seems like they have a lot of similar neuro benefits without much of the harm from the narcotic derivative.

[sumanep]

Drink "yerba mate"

[asdff]

That is just caffeine.

[RetroTechie]

The trick is to hit a 'Ballmer peak', such that the overall experience is optimal. Long term effects included.

But for most psycho-active substances, such optimal dose / frequency is quite low (if not 0). A beer during a BBQ with friends? Fine. Some recreational drug to enhance the experience of say, a music festival? That I can understand.

But needing a smoke 10, 15..20x all day, every day? Look in the mirror, and admit: you're just an addict, damaging your health.

[juleiie]

Look, in our modern realities, somebody who goes through their day completely sober, raw and unfiltered is a much bigger freak than any common junkie.

I can understand the need to smoothen out the reception of reality but what I will never get is enjoyment to take all the bullshit of today raw and supposedly with pleasure.

Can you really blame me for being extra suspicious around sworn sober types?

[Pay08]

Have you tried doing something similarly meditative instead?

[juleiie]

I tried using matcha tea instead and it is kind of similar in that general direction but it doesn’t work quite the same mostly due to being constant effect for a few hours after a strong drink instead of a precise impulse.

It was alright for a couple of projects but the day I drink matcha is firmly a “matcha day” with its characteristic of great energy at first and then feeling kind of shitty the rest of the day. It shapes your day too much.

I am sure there are some substances that are similar to nicotine in mechanism and less harmful to the heart and blood thickening but they aren’t easy to get usually or aren’t well researched.

Despite all nicotine is fairly well known and tested on huge population not to mention virtually unlimited access for any interested adult.

[Pay08]

I don't mean any sort of substance, but a habit. That can be consuming something (be it cigarettes or tea) but it doesn't need to be. I used to be in a similar position as you (except with food). I've found that doing something similarly meditative, in my case listening to music, achieves much the same effect as food did.

[asdff]

Nicotine is a bonafide stimulant though, hard to get that any other way.