I am a 3o-something year old wife, mother, daughter, friend, researcher, entrepreneur, art therapist, advocate, activist, musician and artist. I am also a smoker, have been since my late teens (ironically enough, I started smoking cigarettes just after taking a Health Psychology course at UNBC - the professor, who had just quit smoking herself, spent an entire semester lecturing us on how amazingly bad cigarettes are for everyone and everything... apparently for me that translated into, 'Sure, I'll have one'). With all these hats I wear, all the things I hold precious in life, why do I smoke?!? Its simple, I (a part of my brain that has been well conditioned) love smoking cigarettes. Even with all the horrible things attached to smoking (the following making the most impact on me):
| - coughing, - shortness of breath, - rank breath and stained teeth, - overall stink that my mint gum is not hiding, - yellow fingers and nails, - more coughing, - premature wrinkles, - exposure to carcinogenic toxins, - exposing my loved ones to those carcinogenic toxins, - increased risk of heart disease, | - increased risk of... everything, - now I'm coughing up nasty stuff, - decreased bank account ($$$), - decreased endurance, - seriously hindered lung capacity for participation in sports and arts activities, - decreased vocal tone and range, - despite what I justify to myself it is NOT a healthy coping mechanism for me and, - more flippin' coughing! |
There is still a part of me that loves smoking and probably always will. That means I am going to have to pull out all the big guns to conquer this beast - the worst breakup EVER! At Northwest Integrative Healthcare Centre (NIHC) there is a wealth of alternative health services available to support my healing, health and well-being - such as acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractics, registered massage therapy, reflexology, herbal remedies, and of course art therapy. For the whole me - my mind, body and soul. Within this arts-based ethnographic case study I also include my HATHA yoga practice because while this service may not be available (...yet...) at NIHC, it is very much a central element in my journey.
So this is the first of 8 monthly art blog posts. My hope is to share an alternative health and well-being journey into becoming cigarette-free and to inspire other kindred-spirit-smokers through whatever phase of quitting you may be. Be my guest and read on.
So this is the first of 8 monthly art blog posts. My hope is to share an alternative health and well-being journey into becoming cigarette-free and to inspire other kindred-spirit-smokers through whatever phase of quitting you may be. Be my guest and read on.
Once upon a ciggy-break....
Around my birthday - I told myself that after 16 years I do not want to spend any more time and money smoking cigarettes! As a birthday treat to myself I bought a spiral-bound sketchbook, some pencils, and started a visual journal of my 10th attempt to quit smoking cigarettes. When I put my mind to something I will do everything I can to make it happen... eventually. It took another six months before I would smoke my last cigarette, but for me it all started out with this journal entry:
As an art therapist I feel the need to mention that art made in therapy is different than art exposed to us through classes, media or in galleries. I do not mean to undervalue those creative communities, opportunities and environments - more so just to observe a difference, not better or worse, but a beautiful diversity within a culture of the Arts. Art Therapy is a reflection of the individual or group creating the piece (for the individual or group in that moment), therefore it should not fall under the same standards and scrutiny as art classes, media and galleries. The artwork I share with you today is not good or bad, it just is what it needed to be, for me, when I needed it. By sharing it I then offer it to others on a similar journey - take from it what you need... just remember, no two journeys are the same even if the destination is.
"When the soul is lost, ART comes spontaneously to its assistance."
-Hans Prinzhorn (Dada-Surrealist, 1922)
Over four months I worked on 7 entries that I reviewed and flipped through countless times before finally calling my family doctor to talk about my smoking-cessation options. It took another two months before I started the medication I was prescribed.
"When the soul is lost, ART comes spontaneously to its assistance."
-Hans Prinzhorn (Dada-Surrealist, 1922)
Over four months I worked on 7 entries that I reviewed and flipped through countless times before finally calling my family doctor to talk about my smoking-cessation options. It took another two months before I started the medication I was prescribed.
Just a little side note about what I know about medication (*I am not a doctor) - some of the smoking-cessation medication available on the Canadian market have some serious side effects (ie, vivid dreams, change in mood, suicidal ideation, etc.). For me, I notice and appreciate all the benefits medication provides me in the first few weeks after smoking my last cigarette - that is why I chose to start my journey this way. Medication is not essential to quitting, it is just one of many options. Have a conversation with your doctor, ask questions. Your health and well-being is yours, if medication isn't an option for you, that's okay.
On to the artwork...
There was no how-to-guide when it came to art therapy and smoking-cessation. Most people I asked gave me an 'I dunno' response and I was at a breaking point, in need of a change. To be honest when I first started my art-journey, I felt silly. But, I also knew that was natural (all change feels unnatural at first, that's why its so hard) and all part of the process (my creative process). Art allows you to explore and express anything (especially at times when words fail). Art therapy meets you where you're at in the moment, the most important audience is you. When I was working on these drawings I made an effort to acknowledge and set-aside my 'this is silly'-thoughts (stinkin'-thinkin' that holds me back) and the feelings and messages within me were able to flow onto the pages infront of me. As far as these drawings go, I feel they are pretty self-explanatory and anything else (beyond what I have already shared) would be insignificant compared to the thoughts and feelings they may inspire in you, at whatever stage you may be at on your journey.
Coming soon...
The next canvas in my journey is taking me to Dr. Candice Griffith, ND.
As a Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Griffith is a general practitioner trained as a specialist in natural medicine. She views the body as an integral whole where symptoms of disease are seen as warning signals of improper functioning of the body. She sees the process of seeing a Naturopathic Doctor as a learning process which includes various stages of reflection on health and information gathering. The initial assessment encompasses gathering the necessary information on all levels of wellness – physical, mental and emotional. The objectives are:
Dr. Griffith’s treatment modalities include Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Homeopathic Medicine, Western and Eastern Herbal Medicine, dietary and lifestyle counseling, vitamin/mineral and injectable supplementation. She also offers food and environmental allergy testing.
Dr. Griffith consistently maintains a focus on the importance of mind-body medicine. She also facilitates group discussions that are based on the connections between physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health and wellness. Her approach is to bridge personal health with the social dynamics that are unique to communities. In building strong individual awareness of health, she works towards building an integrated community approach to wellness.
Dr.Griffith carries professional liability insurance coverage, and holds prescriptive authority in the province of BC. For the past seven years, she has been working at the Gya’Wa’Tlaab Healing Centre, providing care to people who are affected by alcohol and drug addiction. For more information please visit: www.nihc.ca
As a Naturopathic Physician, Dr. Griffith is a general practitioner trained as a specialist in natural medicine. She views the body as an integral whole where symptoms of disease are seen as warning signals of improper functioning of the body. She sees the process of seeing a Naturopathic Doctor as a learning process which includes various stages of reflection on health and information gathering. The initial assessment encompasses gathering the necessary information on all levels of wellness – physical, mental and emotional. The objectives are:
- Identify factors that contribute to an individual’s state of health and the possible causes for disease.
- Identify obstacles that prevent an individual from improving their health.
- Explore personal philosophies that create the context required to understand the process of healing.
- Educate individuals on how to listen to their body and become active in the assessment process through self- awareness.
- Identify areas that Naturopathic Medicine is unable to address and insure the proper referrals are made, approaching the integration of treatment methods in healthcare.
- Engage the patient in an ongoing assessment of their health by providing the necessary tools to monitor their progress.
Dr. Griffith’s treatment modalities include Traditional Chinese Medicine, Acupuncture, Homeopathic Medicine, Western and Eastern Herbal Medicine, dietary and lifestyle counseling, vitamin/mineral and injectable supplementation. She also offers food and environmental allergy testing.
Dr. Griffith consistently maintains a focus on the importance of mind-body medicine. She also facilitates group discussions that are based on the connections between physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health and wellness. Her approach is to bridge personal health with the social dynamics that are unique to communities. In building strong individual awareness of health, she works towards building an integrated community approach to wellness.
Dr.Griffith carries professional liability insurance coverage, and holds prescriptive authority in the province of BC. For the past seven years, she has been working at the Gya’Wa’Tlaab Healing Centre, providing care to people who are affected by alcohol and drug addiction. For more information please visit: www.nihc.ca
Back at the Ranch...
I plan to end each entry with a table of tid-bit information; how much I've spent on cigarettes (lifetime estimate) vs. the cost of this smoking-cessation adventure. I leave any final conclusions to you, in honour of you and your journey. Until next time, in the words of funny-man, Russel Peters - "Take it and go!".
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