Wednesday, January 5, 2011

The psychological effects of 3 months of regular cigar smoking

I wish to report here that I have the following tobacco smoking history:
1. in college I smoked cigarettes (please dont shoot me)  I did so for about 2 years or so and became a smoker of maybe 1 pack a week or so.  Not a heavy smoker and It was exciting when consuming drinks.  I quit when I reached medical school although for a few years I might still 'steal' a cigarette once in a while if I went out for drinks.  That was it for a while.
I later had a very rare cigar. Enjoying it a little bit, but never pursuing the experience.  One year when I was maybe 33 I bought a cheap drugstore pipe that I smoked a little bit.  It never stuck and one day in a antitobacco smoking mood I just threw it out.   That was it for a while.
As of this current year, I began smoking an occasional cigar beginning in March.  In October of this year I began smoking almost 1 a day and by November/December I have been smoking one cigar or maybe 2 a day (except during Shabbas hours of course!  It is unlawful to light a fire during Shabbas). 
I wish to report that my mood is improved and that I find the smoking experience a moment of joy and solace whereby I feel connected to my inner self and away from the agitations of ruminant topics of discord that may have plagued me at some depth from years gone by.  I have also made the following observation.  Since November or so, I do not recall that I have been occasionally pulling out my beard hairs. (I have a full unshaven beard).  This is actually imporant.  Jewish law actually looks poorly on one who pulls out ones beard hairs.  A Jewish mans beard who keeps kosher is considered to have special mystical and spiritual value. Pulling one's beard hairs is considered a sign of slight mental instability.  It did not bother me when I did that, but it was not a very happy moment.  You know, you are sitting in your computer room or in the bed room and you might tug on a few hairs or try to pull out ones that you think might be loose.  I suppose that in this regard, smoking has afforded me a higher degree of mental stability that can be scientifically measured by this measure.   Just a thought. I realize that smoking tobacco products of all kinds is clearly associated with negative health risks and most physicians will clearly condemn it.  I no longer do.  I condemn cigarette smoking.   
I bought myself a new pipe today.  A nice experiences.  I am smoking the Fireside tobacco tonight and its a most pleasant smell and comfortable situation to experience.   I can alternate now and its a nice change.

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